Reflections on the Miracle of Democracy at Work in the Greatest Nation on Earth

Newspoll: 59-41

The parliamentary year has ended with a striking result from Newspoll: Labor leads 59-41, up from 55-45 last fortnight, with Kevin Rudd leading Malcolm Turnbull as preferred prime minister 66 per cent (up three) to 19 per cent (down two). Kevin Rudd’s approval rating of 70 per cent is one point shy of his previous best from April, while Malcolm Turnbull’s approval and disapproval have both gone five points in the wrong direction, to 47 per cent and 32 per cent (The Australian offers a graphic and a nifty preferred prime minister tracker showing figures back to early 2006). Nonetheless, the leadership ratings suggest voting intention would have been even worse for the Coalition if Brendan Nelson was still leader. Turnbull’s approval rating is still seven points higher than Nelson’s best result, and the 47 per cent gap on preferred prime minister is roughly equal to what Nelson managed when Rudd’s approval was in the mid-50s. Elsewhere:

Essential Research also has Labor leading 59-41, up from 58-42 last week. Also featured are questions on the performance of Julie Bishop as Shadow Treasurer, the relative popularity of Julia Gillard and Julie Bishop and “global terrorism and international unrest”.

• The Australian Parliamentary Library has published a paper providing statistical details from every election since federation, along with a precis detailing the circumstances of each election.

• Sky News, Foxtel and Austar have announced that a public and political affairs television network called A-APAN, along the lines of the American C-SPAN, will be launched on January 20 next year. It will feature coverage of parliament and committee proceedings, industry meetings, and congressional and parliamentary coverage from the United States and the United Kingdom. It will be available on pay TV and digital free-to-air, the latter initially only in Sydney.

• Colin Barnett says the proposal for fixed terms in Western Australia will feature “a mechanism if there is some catastrophic behaviour of a government that you might be able to bring on a poll”. It will also provide for flexibility in the announcement of a date in either February or March, rather than fixing a precise date.

• Antony Green has weighed in on the recent criticism of New South Wales’ system of fixed four-year terms.

1,313 Comments

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  1. 101
    Cuppa
    Posted Monday, December 8, 2008 at 11:34 pm | Permalink

    Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews has confirmed that {Spotlight employee} Ms Harris's case follows the example of Billy, a fictional character from a government information booklet who sacrifices penalties and other conditions to get a "foothold" in a clothing store job.

    http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19259698-421,00.html
    News Ltd, 26 May 2006

  2. 102
    Gusface
    Posted Monday, December 8, 2008 at 11:35 pm | Permalink

    harry
    Im more than happy to be educated about occams razor.(ive heard the term but have never delved into its meaning).

    but does it apply to snails ;)

  3. 103
    Dario
    Posted Monday, December 8, 2008 at 11:35 pm | Permalink

    One more thing - hats off to Glen for at least turnig up tonight to face the bowling on a very hostile pitch.

    Absolutely

  4. 104
    Ron
    Posted Monday, December 8, 2008 at 11:35 pm | Permalink

    ShowsON

    “I am still on the thesis that FIRST TERM Labor governments tend to get a landslide win in their SECOND term.”

    This is a thread on FEDERAL politcs You made a foolish statement on Federal proved by hawke 1984 a reduction , whitlam 74 a reduction , and Libs Howard 98 reducton

    Now retrospectively you’re claiming you were refereing to State politcs …what on a Federal thread …not only irrelevantly …BUT history shows no correleation of State 2nd terms to Federal 2nd terms You reely ar an amateur politcal poster , and your 2nd excuse was worse than th first

  5. 105
    Dario
    Posted Monday, December 8, 2008 at 11:36 pm | Permalink

    Im more than happy to be educated about occams razor.(ive heard the term but have never delved into its meaning).

    Basically, “keep it simple stupid”

  6. 106
    Posted Monday, December 8, 2008 at 11:37 pm | Permalink

    ShowsOn, due to your repeated abuse of it, you are no allowed to use the word “troll” under any circumstances.

  7. 107
    Spam Box
    Posted Monday, December 8, 2008 at 11:38 pm | Permalink

    59-41….It’s hardy a surprise though is it?… love him or hate him, Rudd’s gone about his business in a way that very, very few people in all honesty could have done, or would have done any different if they could. It’s a tough job but somebody’s gotta do it and the K-man has done it well

    Jesus, after a year of screaming and squirming, even the “wedges” got through

    Merry Christmas Kev… you earn’d it

    Don’t *mess* it up ;)

  8. 108
    vera
    Posted Monday, December 8, 2008 at 11:39 pm | Permalink

    59/41 more lovely numbers

    A Sir Joh quote
    on condoms: “We don’t want any of that sort of thing up here.”

  9. 109
    Oz
    Posted Monday, December 8, 2008 at 11:39 pm | Permalink

    Dunno why you’re all so excited. The 59 Labor 2PP is coming off the back of a record 15% Green vote.

    I can dream. =(

  10. 110
    fredn
    Posted Monday, December 8, 2008 at 11:42 pm | Permalink

    Im more than happy to be educated about occams razor.(ive heard the term but have never delved into its meaning).

    Basically, “keep it simple stupid”

    No: Divide until simple and then concur.

  11. 111
    Spam Box
    Posted Monday, December 8, 2008 at 11:43 pm | Permalink

    vera – 108

    Would you believe, I knew a guy who knew this guy who met a guy that painted something very similar to that on the Story Bridge maybe 22 years ago ;)

  12. 112
    ShowsOn
    Posted Monday, December 8, 2008 at 11:45 pm | Permalink

    This is a thread on FEDERAL politcs You made a foolish statement on Federal proved by hawke 1984 a reduction , whitlam 74 a reduction , and Libs Howard 98 reducton

    I’m not allowed to refer to state elections!? I didn’t know you had been made a moderator.

    …BUT history shows no correleation of State 2nd terms to Federal 2nd terms You reely ar an amateur politcal poster

    Consider this isn’t the point I was making, I consider this more Ronning.

    You reely ar an amateur politcal poster

    So why do you always respond to my posts?

  13. 113
    vera
    Posted Monday, December 8, 2008 at 11:51 pm | Permalink

    spam box I beleive,
    talking about Qld 22yrs ago, I have Rodney Rude joke book and some of his cracks about the Qld cops around that time are priceless

  14. 114
    Ron
    Posted Monday, December 8, 2008 at 11:53 pm | Permalink

    Trying to educate you ShowsON that Hawke 1984 a reduction , whitlam 74 a reduction , and Libs Howard 98 reducton mean SECOND terms at Federal ar not a landslide as you implied , and we ar posting on a FEDERAL poll thread….and now that you claim you were referring to State history well remeber State history is also irelevant Now furthermore 2 years out from a poll showing hubris & talking lanslides is not wise either , but th warm feeling is OK

  15. 115
    ShowsOn
    Posted Monday, December 8, 2008 at 11:56 pm | Permalink

    you claim you were referring to State history well remeber State history is also irelevant

    Why is state history irrelevant if I am arguing that it is relevant?

    Do you think this stuff up yourself or do you use a random word generator?

  16. 116
    Ron
    Posted Monday, December 8, 2008 at 11:56 pm | Permalink

    Later Joh was asked by a journo how he’d stop condoms coming into queensland …………..”don’t you worry about that”

  17. 117
    Oz
    Posted Monday, December 8, 2008 at 11:57 pm | Permalink

    I don’t get the condom one.

  18. 118
    Dario
    Posted Monday, December 8, 2008 at 11:58 pm | Permalink

    Why is state history irrelevant if I am arguing that it is relevant?

    Do you think this stuff up yourself or do you use a random word generator?

    Hahaha, it’s not worth it mate ;-)

  19. 119
    Spam Box
    Posted Monday, December 8, 2008 at 11:58 pm | Permalink

    113 – ah memories (of deeds done by others of course) ;) … It was a terrible(fantastic) time to be a youngish Queenslander

    Rodney R didn’t know half of it ;)

  20. 120
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 12:00 am | Permalink

    No more back-and-forth of any kind between ShowsOn and Ron. It’s boring.

  21. 121
    Greensborough Growler
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 12:01 am | Permalink

    Ron,

    My random word generator says “Ron is right”.

    Is it correct, incorrect or a total confusion to the cut and paster pseudo intellectual who criticises witout substance.

  22. 122
    Spam Box
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 12:03 am | Permalink

    117

    you kinda had to be there to appreciate the joke :D (bridge structures and all)

  23. 123
    ShowsOn
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 12:06 am | Permalink

    SNIP: Breach of #120 deleted – The Management.

  24. 124
    steve
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 12:09 am | Permalink

    About time Newspoll put out their quarterly Queensland state polling too so we can see if a small ball hiding in the shadows can continue improving in the polls or will the tactic be an abject failure. The last poll was on the 24/9 so we will soon see if silence is golden for the Borg and his merry band of followers. Somehow, I think he will be flushed out of hiding well before the next election.

  25. 125
    Greensborough Growler
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 12:09 am | Permalink

    SNIP: Bickering deleted – The Management.

  26. 126
    ShowsOn
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 12:11 am | Permalink

    SNIP: Bickering deleted – The Management.

  27. 127
    Ron
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 12:13 am | Permalink

    SNIP: Breach of #120 deleted – The Management.

  28. 128
    Greensborough Growler
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 12:15 am | Permalink

    William,

    It was more barkering than bickering!

  29. 129
    evan14
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 12:23 am | Permalink

    How soon before Turnball is knifed in the back?
    Nothing beats a dysfunctional Liberal Party Opposition LOL
    Last week’s disaster in parliament must have hurt them badly HA HA

  30. 130
    zombie mao
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 12:25 am | Permalink

    So Kevin is now officially bigger than Jesus.

  31. 131
    evan14
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 12:25 am | Permalink

    Poor Glen: I admire him for defending the indefensible, but these Liberals are a joke.
    Maybe he should move to New Zealand?

  32. 132
    Ron
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 12:26 am | Permalink

    Well GG , you’re last man standing …so thanks for #121

    Now can you explain a pseudo intellectual professing love of footy , and barracking for both teams in a 2 team town

  33. 133
    evan14
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 12:26 am | Permalink

    Wait until Kevy’s approval rating gets to 69%
    I’d say the honeymoon is still continuing, and the bride is very satisfied.

  34. 134
    Pica
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 12:31 am | Permalink

    evan14 @129 – as Socrates suggested earlier (I think he s/he’s gone beddy byes) Bishop will be the first to feel the steel, I reckon Turnbull won’t get spiked till we are closer to the next election, tip wont forget he’s cohones this time round (and then he’ll be slaughtered by the smiling assassian schoolboy, the ruddy Ruddster).

  35. 135
    Frank Calabrese
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 12:32 am | Permalink

    So Kevin is now officially bigger than Jesus.

    I’d be careful saying that, lest you cause a reaction like this :-)

    http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ6NL3iNNMs

  36. 136
    Ron
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 12:32 am | Permalink

    why would you take notice of 66% PPM (to just 19%) , when 2PP is 59/41

  37. 137
    Frank Calabrese
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 12:34 am | Permalink

    Actually, THIS will be the result.

    http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo42684XU9Y

  38. 138
    PAAPTSEF
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 12:43 am | Permalink

    one piece of evidence that Howard or any Minister created workchoices to reduce the pay of people? You cannot!

    McFarlane, Industry Minister, August 05:
    “We’ve got to ensure that industrial relations reform continues so we have the labour prices of New Zealand,”

    I’m pretty sure this didn’t mean they wanted to fight for better wages and conditions for NZers..

  39. 139
    Dario
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 12:46 am | Permalink

    http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/greenhouse-targets-locked-in/2008/12/08/1228584743287.html

    It is expected the Government, in its white paper to be published next Monday, will aim to reduce greenhouse gases by 2020 by between 5 per cent and 15 per cent

  40. 140
    Ron
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 12:55 am | Permalink

    No use supplying 1/2 th relevant quote and losing its context

    “The final figure will be set after an international meeting on climate change in Copenhagen late next year, when the intentions of the rest of the world will be better known.”

  41. 141
    zombie mao
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 1:19 am | Permalink

    http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/files/newspoll-dec9.jpg

    ALP primary 48 :O

  42. 142
    Fulvio Sammut
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 1:37 am | Permalink

    Ok, I’ll say it. I have to. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.

    For the first time in his illustrious career as a sycophant Dennis Shanahan has written an entirely objective political article completely devoid of spin.

    The Liberal Party has finally broken his heart and spirit.

    Now back to eating the twenty seven hats I commited myself to.

  43. 143
    Boerwar
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 4:28 am | Permalink

    Tsk, tsk, Sharman Stone. First lesson of being in Opposition: losers do not get to re-write history.

    ‘Humane’? (see below, from Liberal Party Web Site).

    Whacking kids into detention; whacking asylum seekers into detention for years in the most bizarre arrangements and then being forced to release 90% of them because they were actually genuine refugees; Lying and vilifying the desperate and the powerless – for ‘throwing children overboard’; shared responsibility for drowning a boat load of women and children in SIEV X…

    No, Sharman Stone, not ‘humane’. Pure bastardry.

    The only lesson learned by the bastards who perpetrated all this is that electorally it worked some of the time. Turnbull and Stone have the potential to be reasonably decent people. They should stay well away from replicating this loathesome filth.

    Stone could make a good start by stopping the lies about ‘humane’.

    http://www.liberal.org.au/news.php?Id=2259

    “The Coalition dealt with the problem humanely and decisively. We brought people smuggling to a halt with the introduction of Temporary protection visas, the excising of Australia’s 4000 or more northern islands as migration zones, and the Pacific solution of offshore processing of people’s claims for asylum, “Dr Stone said.

  44. 144
    ltep
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 6:50 am | Permalink

    A nice way for Labor to end out the year and certainly the Opposition deserve it after the shambles they’ve been has been well and truly demonstrated.

  45. 145
    fredn
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 6:55 am | Permalink

    Boerwar

    If the Liberals ever want to see my vote again they will face up to the Howard years and apologize, pretending things were not as they were will not work for me.

    Glen

    The Liberals need to shutup, stop pretending they can win the next election and try to get some decent members into the next parliament. They real issue is, can they attract people with two neurons to rub together, if they can’t they have to wait until the current crop of capable labor members get old and senile, and hope that the NSW mad right ( yes labor has the same problem) manage to destroy Labors future.

  46. 146
    bob1234
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 7:07 am | Permalink

    HAHAHAHA

    I bet GP is shattered.

    Coalition for another 13 years of opposition!

  47. 147
    Bushfire Bill
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 7:17 am | Permalink

    But get this…

    shanahan’s clearly lost his cool and his last sentence is priceless:

    This poll is the sort of thing at the end of the year that only brews more trouble among dissatisfied MPs, who realise they've been in Opposition for 12 long months.

    A month is a year for the Libs, in Dennis’s mind. Poor dears. Almost makes me feel sorry for them.

  48. 148
    fredn
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 7:20 am | Permalink

    Said much better than I could:

    http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/time-to-put-the-small-l-back-into-liberal-20081208-6tzp.html

  49. 149
    centaur009
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 7:37 am | Permalink

    We were discussing the other day that the next fed election will be in a year and half only. That’s not that long to keep the momentum going. Once the kidies get their pressies, the polls should drift even further apart

  50. 150
    dave
    Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 7:47 am | Permalink

    With tongue in cheek I suggest we get the abc to rerun the howard years – we might get the polls for the fib party to go even lower

    :)

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