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

ACNielsen: 53-47

The first post-budget poll is an ACNielsen survey of 1400 respondents, and it’s given Labor its second weakest poll result since the election of the Rudd government. The first was the same outfit’s 52-48 result from September last year. ACNielsen’s previous survey in March had Labor’s lead at 58-42. The poll finds that:

• Labor’s primary vote is down three points since March to 44 per cent, while the Coalition is up six to 43 per cent.

• The Coalition has opened up a most unlikely sounding five point primary vote lead in Victoria, after trailing by 20 per cent in March.

• Kevin Rudd’s lead as preferred prime minister is down from 69-24 to 64-28.

• Rudd’s approval rating is down 10 points to 64 per cent, and his disapproval is up 10 to 32 per cent. Turnbull’s ratings are unchanged at 43 per cent and 47 per cent.

• While 56 per cent believe the budget to have been fair, only 40 per cent support the budget’s phased increase in the age of pension eligibility from 65 to 67, and 38 per cent say the budget will make them worse off personally. Twenty-three per cent say it will make them better off.

The print edition will presumably feature a full chart with none-too-reliable state breakdowns.

UPDATE: No such budget narrowing from Essential Research, which has Labor’s two-party lead up from 61-39 to 62-38. However, Kevin Rudd’s approval rating is down nine points from three weeks ago to 61 per cent, while his disapproval is up eight to 29 per cent. Turnbull is respectively up two to 30 per cent and up one to 49 per cent. Interestingly, fewer people found the budget bad for them personally than had expected to beforehand. Twenty-five per cent say it will make them more likely to vote Coalition against 22 per cent Labor. Peter Brent has ACNielsen’s state, area, gender and age breakdowns here.

717 Comments

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  1. 601
    bob1234
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:31 pm | Permalink

    Good news week guy: “If a bomb goes off, and Rudd can’t get to his new bunker quick enough, all he has to do is hide behind Joe Hockey.”

  2. 602
    Generic Person
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:31 pm | Permalink

    No 599

    Just so you know, there’s nothing wrong with a PM residing in Kirribilli House. If you think there is, you’re out of touch with Australians.

  3. 603
    ShowsOn
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:31 pm | Permalink

    GP, do you really expect us to believe that the profligate spending of Howard did not produce a corresponding increase in inflation?

    G.P. thinks that when Liberals spend, that money comes from trees. But when Labor government’s spend, that is stolen from rich people or borrowed from foreign governments.

  4. 604
    Greensborough Growler
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:32 pm | Permalink

    GP,

    Your Howard love knows absolutely no bounds. Keep it up! I love the focus on a has been who ain’t coming back.

  5. 605
    bob1234
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:34 pm | Permalink

    It seems William Bowe himself predicts big things for the Greens, probably to the despair of Laborites on here. And the ABC’s Antony Green reckons that the Greens will retain Freo at the next election. What better people could we turn to for their opinion? Checkmate.

    http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/05/18/freo-by-election-the-beginning-of-big-things-for-the-greens/

  6. 606
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:35 pm | Permalink

    In any event, the Australian people couldn’t care less. They re-elected him three times and his residing in Sydney was not a reason for his loss in 2007.

    Oh yeah, it was the burning issue of every election. What a purile statment.

    Poeple won’t vote Rudd out of office because he got stroppy at the air stewardess – doens’t make him right.

    Your devotion to your former leader borders on the Animal Farm levels. Like Boxer you cannot move from “John Howard is always right”.

  7. 607
    ShowsOn
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:36 pm | Permalink

    Just so you know, there’s nothing wrong with a PM residing in Kirribilli House. If you think there is, you’re out of touch with Australians.

    LOL! Guess what G.P., I AM AN AUSTRALIAN, and Phillip Ruddock and Amanda Vanstone are no longer in charge of the department of immigration, which means I can’t be deported.

  8. 608
    dogma
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:36 pm | Permalink

    lateline announced newspoll yet?

  9. 609
    Vincent Vega
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:36 pm | Permalink

    That inflation was a real problem in early 2008 is evidenced by ABS data that sees it go from 3.0% in the December quarter 2007 to 5.0% in the September quarter 2008.

  10. 610
    Cuppa
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:36 pm | Permalink

    Dave, thanks, I’ll keep an eye out. Centre, wasted is right. Wasted boom, wasted decade.

    Gotta love the justice that rewarded Howard with 10 interest rate rises in a row in response to his inflationary profligacy, which gave the emphasis to the Coalition 2004 election lie: to keep interest rates at record lows.

  11. 611
    Centre
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:38 pm | Permalink

    Bob if the Greens don’t eventually support Labor’s CPRS they will no longer be relevant. They will forever be considered as an extremest party.

  12. 612
    Greensborough Growler
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:39 pm | Permalink

    Bob,

    William also predicted a Labor win on Saturday.

    As always, the Greens cherry picking the news that suits.

  13. 613
    bob1234
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:39 pm | Permalink

    Bob if the Greens don’t eventually support Labor’s CPRS they will no longer be relevant. They will forever be considered as an extremest party.

    I think that when push comes to shove, they will belatedly support it.

  14. 614
    Generic Person
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:41 pm | Permalink

    No 607

    What a crying shame.

  15. 615
    polyquats
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:41 pm | Permalink

    Very selective reading of the history of Kirribilli House, GP.

    In 1956-57 the Commonwealth Government restored Kirribilli House for use as a residence for overseas guests of the Commonwealth and the Prime Minister of the day and his family.

    http://www.theaustralianafund.org.au/kirribilli.html

    It was intended to be used by the PM when he needed to perform official duties and extend official hospitality when in Sydney. To suggest that it was simply an alternative accommodation to the lodge is to rewrite history, and to ignore the hue and cry that occured when Howard (or was it Jeanette?) through the hissy fit over having to live at the lodge.

  16. 616
    Oz
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:41 pm | Permalink

    I think that when push comes to shove, they will belatedly support it.

    I don’t think they will, but it’s definitely not going to make them irrelevant. Voting for a crap policy because Labor’s only argument is “It’s better than nothing” is what will make them irrelevant.

  17. 617
    ShowsOn
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:42 pm | Permalink

    What a crying shame.

    Your hatred of democracy is un-Australian.

  18. 618
    Dario
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:44 pm | Permalink

    lateline announced newspoll yet?

    It doesnt start for another hour…

  19. 619
    bob1234
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:44 pm | Permalink

    but it’s definitely not going to make them irrelevant

    I agree with this.

  20. 620
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:45 pm | Permalink

    The Greens can only support the CPRS if they can “improve” it. Nothing to be gained for them voting for it as is.

    (Though that statement possibly completely contradicts previous statements made by me on the subject!)

  21. 621
    Centre
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:46 pm | Permalink

    OK Oz, reject it, and give all your preferences to the liberals so you can have a better ETS under them LOL.

  22. 622
    Generic Person
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:47 pm | Permalink

    No 617

    It’s more a hatred of morons.

  23. 623
    Diogenes
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:48 pm | Permalink

    GG

    From dim memory, the rest of the Dem Senators voted with Lees and Howard. I assume Howard needed more than just Lees’ vote and the other Dems could have saved their Party but didn’t.

  24. 624
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:49 pm | Permalink

    It’s more a hatred of morons.

    Play nice GP, you are as liable as any of us here to make statements covered in idiocy, no need to get personal.

  25. 625
    Greensborough Growler
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:49 pm | Permalink

    Grog,

    While Oz and Bob get their messages from Greens HO straight, it’s more likely the Libs will support the ETS. Therefore, the Greens will be left out on the limb playing the banjo of irrelevant deliverance.

  26. 626
    Cuppa
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:50 pm | Permalink

    They {Greens} will forever be considered as an extremest party.

    No more extremist than the Liberals. I’ve seen a graph of where on the L-R spectrum people perceive the parties to be. The Liberals were perceived as being further to the right than the Greens are to the left.

  27. 627
    Greensborough Growler
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:50 pm | Permalink

    Diog,

    I don’t think Natasha the Scot Destroyer supported it.

  28. 628
    Gusface
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:51 pm | Permalink

    From dim memory, the rest of the Dem Senators voted with Lees and Howard. I assume Howard needed more than just Lees’ vote and the other Dems could have saved their Party but didn’t

    Dio
    read andrew bartletts blog
    quite enlightning re gst harradine etc

  29. 629
    ShowsOn
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:51 pm | Permalink

    It’s more a hatred of morons.

    Morons are part of democracy too, how else could you explain Phillip Ruddock and Amanda Vanstone becoming immigration ministers?

    You’re working at full speed tonight G.P.!

  30. 630
    The Finnigans
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:52 pm | Permalink

    It’s more a hatred of morons.

    #622, is your nappy too tight tonight?

  31. 631
    Centre
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:52 pm | Permalink

    How embarrasing for the Greens GG. To have an ETS determined by Labor with support from the Liberals. It will be yes indeed. Who needs the Greens?

  32. 632
    Gusface
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:53 pm | Permalink

    It’s more a hatred of morons.

    I read that as mormons

  33. 633
    Greensborough Growler
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:53 pm | Permalink

    Finns,

    GP and friends should be talking more about the lessons they learnt, than the morons they are.

  34. 634
    Centre
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:53 pm | Permalink

    Not if they don’t support the ETS Cuppa @ 626. ;)

  35. 635
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:54 pm | Permalink

    Agreed GG, but I don’t think that will hurt them. Nothing to be gained form the Greens being seen to suport a ETS that the Liberal Party is happy with.

    They’re not ever going to be the second party in the country, so it’s best for them to be seen as strong on the one issue their voters want them to be strong on.

    The only risk for the Greens is that the Libs don’t support the policy, and thus we get nothing. Their voters might think something is better than nothing.

    So ideally the Libs suport it, and the Greens can play the “it’s a bad polciy and we need your vote to improve it” card.

    If the ETS doesn’t go through, they are left holding the “You voted for us to get an ETS, but we voted for nothing rather than perfection” card.

    So all in all, some big stakes poker is getting played at the moment.

  36. 636
    Dario
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:55 pm | Permalink

    I think Bartlett & NSD were the 2 Dems that voted against it (of 7)

  37. 637
    Gusface
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:57 pm | Permalink

    #622, is your nappy too tight tonight?

    Finns

    I was going to ask someone else the same thing last night
    ;)

  38. 638
    dogma
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:58 pm | Permalink

    lol Dario, trying to keep the eyes open and shooing the teens off to bed so I can watch it. 3 polls in 24hrs, trying to speed read 6 pages of PB and read Poss’s latest post…there’s alot going on.

  39. 639
    The Finnigans
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:58 pm | Permalink

    Diog, with John Huntsman. All i have to say is beware of a Mormon bearing gifts or knocking on my front door (i usually just tell them to farq off):

    The fool and The Lady of the lake - She is an imprisoned opposition Nobel Prize winner and the hope of a nation. He is a Morman from Missouri on some quixotic spiritual mission. When he swam ashore at her guarded home last week in Yangon, their fates were bound together forever. Now pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and Vietnam vet John Yettaw are in prison and the future of Myanmar may be on the line.

    http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/KE16Ae02.html

  40. 640
    Greensborough Growler
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 9:58 pm | Permalink

    Grog,

    My guess is the legislation will be rejected first time around and the Government will re introduce to present as a DD triggger around September.

    It is then that the Libs have to make a call. Libs will not want to fight an election on anything but the economy because, strange as it might sound, that is their only hope of winning.

  41. 641
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 10:00 pm | Permalink

    Certainly NSD did. Her finest hour. I don’t remember whether the Pear did or not. No doubt he will come and tell us.

    What a pity NSD came into politics too young, and for the Silly Party. She left just as she was developing into a mature politician. She’s only 39 even now, plenty of time to make a comeback if she can find a more sensible party…

  42. 642
    Centre
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 10:01 pm | Permalink

    Yes Grog, big stakes poker is at play here, and I reckon the Greens are going to lose if they are not seen as responsible enough to ever make an agreement with a major party on their very core issue.

  43. 643
    steve
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 10:01 pm | Permalink

    GG, are the Libs going to run on interest rates always being lower under a coalition government?

    http://www.rba.gov.au/ChartPack/interest_rates_australia.pdf

  44. 644
    Steve K
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 10:02 pm | Permalink

    If the PM feels more comfortable living in Sydney, so be it.

    It was Mrs Bucket who insisted on living in Sydney. Little Johnnie simply did as he was told.

  45. 645
    bob1234
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 10:02 pm | Permalink

    What a pity NSD came into politics too young, and for the Silly Party. She left just as she was developing into a mature politician. She’s only 39 even now, plenty of time to make a comeback if she can find a more sensible party…

    The Democrats were a great party during it’s heyday… but would never win over the vote of extreme right wingers such as yourself.

  46. 646
    Greensborough Growler
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 10:03 pm | Permalink

    steve,

    They’d run under orgasms are better under a coalition if they thought they could win.

  47. 647
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 10:05 pm | Permalink

    Certainly NSD did. Her finest hour

    As said previously, I think the GST is good policy, but it was absolutely the wrong move politically for the Democrats.

    She’s only 39 even now, plenty of time to make a comeback if she can find a more sensible party…

    And given the Dem’s are gone the stigma of coming back for the ALP wouldn’t be as bad as it was for Kernot.

    I voted for NSD for the president of the Adelaide Uni Student Association back in 90 (or 91?). Incedentally she used her initials on all her campaign posters.

  48. 648
    The Finnigans
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 10:05 pm | Permalink

    GG,

    Orgasms are always better under the Labor because it offers more stimulus.

  49. 649
    bob1234
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 10:05 pm | Permalink

    They’d run under orgasms are better under a coalition if they thought they could win.

    There’ll always be more orgasms under a Labor government.

    Because everyone knows Liberal supporters can’t get any.

  50. 650
    Frank Calabrese
    Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 at 10:07 pm | Permalink

    Because everyone knows Liberal supporters can’t get any.

    Except when John Howards starts talking about Workchoices :-)

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