Newspoll: 55-45 to Coalition
GhostWhoVotes tweets that the latest fortnightly Newspoll has the Coalition’s two-party preferred lead at 55-45, from primary votes of 32 per cent for Labor (up two on last time) and 46 per cent for the Coalition (up one). The personal ratings are good news for Tony Abbott: his approval rating is up four to 36 per cent and his disapproval is down three to 52 per cent, and he has opened up a lead over Julia Gillard as preferred prime minister of 40 per cent (up three) to 37 per cent (down three). Julia Gillard is respectively up down one to 32 per cent and up two to 57 per cent. Newspoll also ran a teaser last night showing Abbott favoured over Gillard for economic management 43 per cent to 34 per cent, and Wayne Swan and Joe Hockey in a statistical dead heat for preferred Treasurer (38 per cent to 37 per cent).
We also today had yet another 54-46 result from Essential Research. After losing a point on the primary vote over each of the two previous weeks, Labor was back up one to 34 per cent, with the Greens down one to 10 per cent and the Coalition steady on 47 per cent. Essential’s monthly measure of leadership approval found both leaders’ personal ratings essentially unchanged – Julia Gillard down one on approval to 36 per cent and up one on disapproval to 53 per cent, Tony Abbott steady on 35 per cent and up two to 53 per cent – but contrary to Newspoll, Gillard made a solid gain as preferred prime minister, her lead up from 39-36 to 41-34. However, only 31 per cent expected her to lead Labor to the next election against 47 per cent who said they didn’t (hats off to the 22 per cent who admitted they didn’t know); while for Tony Abbott the numbers were 47 per cent and 25 per cent.
A question on government control of media ownership has support for more control and less control tied on 24 per cent, with 34 per cent thinking it about right. There was also a question on the impact of Gina Rinehart on the independence of Fairfax newspapers, which I personally find a little odd – the issue would mean little outside of New South Wales and Victoria. I also had my doubts about the question on whether Australia is “fair and just”, but the question asking for comparison with other countries is interesting: Canada and New Zealand are seen as Australia’s main partners in freedom, the UK does less well, Japan and France less well again, and the United States worse still. China however sits well below the rest of the field.
Categories: Federal Politics 2010-
About as funny as “I should screw myself”? Which was the original from Rummel. I didn’t take offence though, and nor should you.
Neither was said with vitriol — poor humour perhaps, but no malice.
by jenauthor on Feb 17, 2012 at 6:40 pm
“I have my own blog – don ‘t need your condecending BULLSHIT”
Unbelievable – you mean your own cricket bat!
by Dr John on Feb 17, 2012 at 6:41 pm
mari
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
by Boerwar on Feb 17, 2012 at 6:42 pm
Gee Frank… a little bit over the top wouldn’t you think? Roll with the punches mate.
by Bushfire Bill on Feb 17, 2012 at 6:43 pm
IMHO that kind of scenario would definitely be rated MA18 so they would /should have been classified as adult.
by Gaffhook on Feb 17, 2012 at 6:44 pm
Because dirt files are asterixed with little flags about the appropriate time for release?
Which would be now.
by Boerwar on Feb 17, 2012 at 6:45 pm
David
I must admit I haven’t been keeping up with the ins and outs of the campaign in Qld and I suppose I am running on prejudice against Newman. It seems to me that the Newman family reflects the NSW Right in their “everyone gets a job in turn” attitude.
Why do you think Labor would not refer the allegations on?
by MTBW on Feb 17, 2012 at 6:45 pm
I couldn’t give a flying fig about SSM. Whatever homosexual and lesbian couples want to do in their own time, with their own money, is OK by me.
The bloody agonizing over it here is something to behold.
by Bushfire Bill on Feb 17, 2012 at 6:45 pm
I agree with this.
I think when the election campaign begins next year the polls will change as people will put more emphasis on the policy differences and what it will mean to them rather than get lost in personalities and media beatups.
by Rex Douglas on Feb 17, 2012 at 6:49 pm
BB – I’m with you on this.
by Gary on Feb 17, 2012 at 6:50 pm
William@4835:
Thank you. Make it permanent. We don’t need to read the sort of garbage that Frank puts out.
by don on Feb 17, 2012 at 6:51 pm
Exactly what i have said previously. majority of the population couldn;t give a ff about it .
by Joe6pack on Feb 17, 2012 at 6:52 pm
me three
by Mick Collins on Feb 17, 2012 at 6:53 pm
Mick Collins
Me four
by poroti on Feb 17, 2012 at 6:54 pm
MTBW in the absence of somthing concrete my guess is the in-laws tried something legal but ethically questionable and Labor is using this to taint Newman. That’s politics and if Newman wants to play in the big pond then he has to wear it. I just think Bligh went too far by using parliament the way she did this week.
There are two possible reasons why this hasn’t been referred to the CMC yet. Either they are waiting to closer to the election date when it will have more impact or there is insufficient in it to impact Newman. Either is possible but I think the voters deserve to know now if their is substance to it. It shouldn’t be a game.
by DavidWH on Feb 17, 2012 at 6:55 pm
don
I’ll second that William!
by MTBW on Feb 17, 2012 at 6:56 pm
Me too.
by leone on Feb 17, 2012 at 6:56 pm
Ok PBs
Discuss:
by Mick Collins on Feb 17, 2012 at 6:56 pm
Anyone else agree with anything anyone else has said?
by William Bowe on Feb 17, 2012 at 6:57 pm
My own view on marriage is that it should be privatised.
by William Bowe on Feb 17, 2012 at 6:57 pm
Agree. I fully support Same sex marriage.
by rummel on Feb 17, 2012 at 6:58 pm
Sigh… reading some of the comments on this article…
http://www.theage.com.au/business/brighten-up-aussies-treasury-chief-says-20120217-1tcyo.html
… is pretty depressing.
The Reserve Bank governor has been accused of being a Labor stooge, everyone knows someone who can’t find a job, Billabong let 80 (count ‘em: 80!) people go and so on and so forth.
We are ruined, in a depression, going broke, doomed… and all the fat cat public servants can do is talk up the economy?
They should be arrested for fraud.
(all in comments).
by Bushfire Bill on Feb 17, 2012 at 6:58 pm
+1
tic.
by rummel on Feb 17, 2012 at 6:59 pm
See William? I can be a force for good as well as evil.
by Bushfire Bill on Feb 17, 2012 at 7:00 pm
“About as funny as “I should screw myself”? Which was the original from Rummel. I didn’t take offence though, and nor should you.
Neither was said with vitriol — poor humour perhaps, but no malice.”
jenauthor – I don’t take offence and I am just on for some humour and attempting to learn something which is very very rare with contributors on this blog – I am certainly now realizing that.
by Dr John on Feb 17, 2012 at 7:01 pm
I agree with a bloke at the local that said vb is a terrible beer
by Joe6pack on Feb 17, 2012 at 7:01 pm
MC,
It’s too early in the electoral cycle to my mind. The Opposition will need realistic or, at least, saleable economic policies at this time next year with a new leader.
by Scarpat on Feb 17, 2012 at 7:01 pm
One thing Gillard could be sure of: Alan Jones wouldn’t object.
by Bushfire Bill on Feb 17, 2012 at 7:01 pm
William Bowe,
I agree with you there
by janice2 on Feb 17, 2012 at 7:02 pm
DavidWH
Point taken David!
BTW I enjoy your posts on here. It seems to me you say what you think without fear or favour and they are the type of posts I enjoy. Keep up the good work!
by MTBW on Feb 17, 2012 at 7:02 pm
SSM?
How did surface-to-surface missiles get into Bludger?
by Boerwar on Feb 17, 2012 at 7:03 pm
Joe6pack
Who says it’s a beer ?
by poroti on Feb 17, 2012 at 7:03 pm
I just think anyone who is not interested in participating in a genuine manner should have the integrity to just walk and let those who do enjoy the place enjoy the discussions. Personally I hate permanent bannings but haven’t been here long enough to make a call.
by DavidWH on Feb 17, 2012 at 7:03 pm
jenauthor, And my turn to gloat – I just has $5000 on the first winner at Mooney Valley at $4.20 and they gave $4.40 later
by Dr John on Feb 17, 2012 at 7:04 pm
There does appear to be a bit of a surface consensus that Black Caviar is the real thing. After that Bludger is all downhill, agreement-wise.
by Boerwar on Feb 17, 2012 at 7:04 pm
For anyone too lazy to look up William’s link on privatised marriage, I agree with William.
This cuts the rug out from religious objections.
by lizzie on Feb 17, 2012 at 7:05 pm
poroti
Reconstituted sewage is closer to the mark.
by Joe6pack on Feb 17, 2012 at 7:05 pm
DJ
As a frog watches a snake… are you ahead, over a lifetime?
by Boerwar on Feb 17, 2012 at 7:05 pm
MTBW and DWH
Firstly regarding sending to the CMC the allegations about Seb Monsour have only relativity recently come to light I think – they post dated the Floods of Jan 2011 so it is not like there has been extended delay etc although I have little doubt that they have been timing it for the election period. Also new head of CMC takes over today I think.
Queensland post Fitzgerald is not at all like the NSW right. If anything they are over puritanical especially in Labor. There probably still is corruption lurking but very little obvious in Labor ranks – not sure about unions and mining companies etc.
by daretotread on Feb 17, 2012 at 7:06 pm
Good stuff! You can buy dinner then! for all of us
by jenauthor on Feb 17, 2012 at 7:07 pm
sounds like the vb is Dr John…
by Scarpat on Feb 17, 2012 at 7:07 pm
Bill, for all we know some of those ‘comments’ come from astroturfers. The conservatives do have form in that regard.
When the lower unemployment statistics were released yesterday, in the ‘comments’ section at the end of the online story, at least two nicknames posted (within a few minutes of each other) the Gary Morgan ‘unemployment and underemployment figure’, which was about twice as high as the official ABS figures. (The same figure apparently bandied about this morning on hate radio). A little too coordinated to have been simple coincidence, I suspect.
by Cuppa on Feb 17, 2012 at 7:07 pm
The main point that stands out for me re Newman is the fact the LNP appears to have either not bothered to do any forensic investigation into the family business interests prior to selecting him to ‘lead” the party or they did but it was so inept they missed all this.
All of this should have been picked up and the LNP ready to go with a strong defence or Newman was told thanks or no thanks.
Guilty or not it should have been taken care of.
I do not care, I hope he gets shafted but geez talk about not being professional.
by Doyley on Feb 17, 2012 at 7:07 pm
oops ‘on Dr John’
by Scarpat on Feb 17, 2012 at 7:07 pm
There should not be any legal marriage which is in any sense a religous marriage.
There should be civil relationship contracts.
If, thereafter or therebefore, without let or hindrance, someone wants to get married religiously to somebody else, let them. Just so they understand it means nothing in the face of temporal law.
by Boerwar on Feb 17, 2012 at 7:08 pm
lizzie
Lordy, lordy. How judgemental.
by Boerwar on Feb 17, 2012 at 7:10 pm
Am off to swim some laps …. nite folks!
by jenauthor on Feb 17, 2012 at 7:11 pm
BW
Something is seriously wrong. I agree with you re marriage
, 
by daretotread on Feb 17, 2012 at 7:11 pm
In France, only civil marriage is recognized by the State, religious marriage is optional.
by Scarpat on Feb 17, 2012 at 7:11 pm
Dig the redesigned Parliament House website.
by William Bowe on Feb 17, 2012 at 7:12 pm