Essential Research: 56-44 to Coalition
The latest weekly Essential Research survey shows no change on last week, bar a one point drop in the Greens vote to 10 per cent: the Coalition is on 49 per cent of the primary vote and Labor on 32 per cent, with the Coalition’s two-party lead at 56-44. Essential also found plenty of interesting questions to ask about the Labor leadership. Respondents were asked to evaluate the performance of various actors during the challenge, with Kevin Rudd coming out least badly (33 per cent good, 35 per cent poor), “Labor Party ministers” the worst (10 per cent and 52 per cent), the media also very poorly (14 per cent and 43 per cent), Julia Gillard not well at all (23 per cent and 49 per cent) and Tony Abbott hardly better even if it might be hard to recall what he did exactly (25 per cent and 40 per cent).
Sixty-two per cent of respondents said the leadership challenge was bad for the government and 47 per cent that it has made them less likely to vote Labor (64 per cent among Coalition supporters, obviously including many who wouldn’t vote Labor in a pink fit), against 13 per cent who said it was a good thing and another 13 per cent (or perhaps the same 13 per cent) who they were more likely to vote Labor. A question on Kevin Rudd’s future produces a miraculously even three-way split with 29 per cent saying he should stay in parliament and again challenge for the leadership, 28 per cent saying he should stay in parliament and not challenge for the leadership and 30 per cent saying he should resign from parliament.
Respondents were asked to indicate whether they supported the Australian system of leaders being elected by MPs (36 per cent), American-style presidential primaries (31 per cent) and British-style election by both MPs and party members (11 per cent). Fifty-six per cent believed MPs should be guided by public opinion in leadership contests against 30 per cent by who they believed was the best person. The poll also points to a slight increase in support for an early election since the end of January, up three to 44 per cent with support for a completed term down two to 46 per cent.
We have also had Newspoll publish results from last week’s polling on the most important political issues and the best party to handle them. Such figures are invariably very closely associated with voting intention, and since this was a 53-47 poll result, it finds Labor improving considerably since the question was last asked as part of the poll of October 7-9, which was a 57-43 result. Labor has recovered big leads on its traditional strong suits of health, education, industrial relations and climate change, and closed the gap on the economy, interest rates and national security. Full tables from GhostWhoVotes.
Categories: Federal Politics 2010-
DavidWH – Twiggey can go off to SA as far as I’m concerned. Screw ‘em to the wall.
The companies that are run in a manner that judges costs and profits got a result that they found acceptable.
Those that are a little more ‘personally’ involved whinge and complain.
Not a satisfactory result, I think.
by CTar1 on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:01 pm
Boerwar:
Why aren’t you using AdBlock so you don’t see any ads on your screen?
by confessions on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:02 pm
bk
been tidying all day
what did he say
oops he is just on his ABC
*sigh*
by gusface on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:02 pm
The spectator in a word no and have expressed that opinion a number of times.
by DavidWH on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:02 pm
G
Just because the British love their mass murderers does not mean that we have to follow them. If Crikey is consistent and allows the use of any mass murderer in its advertising, I’m OK with using Kitchiner. Anglophone mass murderers should have equal rights with non Anglophone mass murderers. Fair is only fair.
As for using him to advertise smart leadership, what a laugh. The Brits were glad when the cruiser he was traveling went down, taking him with it.
by Boerwar on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:06 pm
what Abbott will or won’t do or say in 2013 is a moot point.
He won’t be leader.
by rosemour on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:07 pm
Confessions
I don’t mind all ads – just unethical ads.
by Boerwar on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:09 pm
b
i think the issue is that he is sanitised in the mind of the general public
perhaps if the hun had won ww1 then we would be seeing him demonised
the reality is the victor writes the history
by gusface on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:09 pm
Here’s another anomaly. You’ve got 62% of Lib/Nats saying the leader of a party should be the person the voters favour. And yet 44% of them want Rudd to resign from parliament, and 17% think he shouldn’t challenge again. That’s 61% of Lib/Nats against the idea of the most popular ALP candidate not leading his party.
It’s a similar story, though not so pronounced, on the ALP side.
If you can’t find consistency of opinion across the polling, it’s hard to put a lot of faith in these attitudinal questions.
I’d say a lot of the Lib/Nat responses reflect their twin hopes of Rudd causing as much trouble as possible and an election being held as soon as possible. On the ALP side it’s more like: we like Rudd but he’s had his go now.
by Aguirre on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:11 pm
Plenty for the govt to run with now:
1. Gillard’s Team Gets Things Done
2. In Your Guts You Know He’s Nuts
3. Anyone But Abbott
4. Abbott’s Team Of Useless Men
5. Abbott’s Policy-Free Zone
6. The Media Makes Stuff Up (Dont Write Crap)
A simple comparison of the talent in Gillard’s team compared to the corresponding lack of talent in Abbott’s team is illuminating.
I recently posed this conundrum to some Liberal voters in my workplace: “Name me some talented people on the Coalition who you would trust to run the country”
Apart from Robb and Turnbull (and a long, uncomfortable silence), they were stumped. They didnt name Abbott either, but instead reluctantly agreed with “In Your Guts You Know He’s Nuts”.
I’m not so sure a repeat of the mining tax chant “Billionaires! United! We’ll Never Be Defeated!” would have the same result now….and Swan’s confidence today seems to support this feeling.
Similarly, Emma Alberici’s dissection of Pine may be a sign that intelligent journalists are willing to focus on the opposition being manifestly unprepared for government.
Abbott declaring he will be Australia’s new PM will hopefully draw focus on the obvious fact that the self-declared next Emperor has no clothes and his team is bereft of talent. “Useless Men” has legs.
Abbott demands an election immediately, but has no policies beyond “No”. That’s partly why the Lateline interview with Pine was so timely. He was completely unable to answer the simple question “If the Coalition won an election tomorrow, what would the Coalition do?”
The only question I thought Emma missed was when Pine pushed the “Gillard cant be trusted” theme. There are many examples of Abbott being tricky, shifty and outright deceptive. So why should we replace an untrustworthy leader with another untrustworthy leader?
Each time Abbott calls for an immediate election, the government should demand he release his policies , given he wants the election immediately. And the MSM should pursue an answer.
by Mr Pajama Pudding on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:12 pm
I don’t really remember much about his character.
by confessions on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:12 pm
Great!, now only 6 in one hundred need to change their mind, and they have eighteen months to do it!.
And with 14% uncommited, the polls are WORTHLESS!.
by 1934pc on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:14 pm
aguirre,
It seems to highlight the stupidity of asking detailed technical questions to people on subjects they have no real knowledge.
by Greensborough Growler on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:15 pm
G
I agree that Mr Kitchiner’s story has been ‘sanitised’. It is high time that it was filthied up a bit with reality. The smart leadership people should know that they are using a mass murderer to advertise their smart leadership gear.
Neither smart nor ethical, IMHO.
by Boerwar on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:15 pm
1934c
Might that be 4 in a 100?
by Boerwar on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:17 pm
b
his image has been used before
remember the masses arent educated,just indoctrinated
by gusface on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:17 pm
Just allowing a bit of slack!.
by 1934pc on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:18 pm
catching up, but I posted this on the previous thread:
From Dessert Fox some pages back
I knew a person who was a “National Treasure”. He was married to my Great Aunt (does that make him my “Great Uncle” ?)
Speaking personally (and knowing why the person I knew was a “National Treasure”) I think its a discrace that Palmer was awarded this “honnour”. I don’t know how they award anyone with the title “national treasure” but Clive Palmer certainly hasn’t done anything of significance that has added to our nations fabric, in the way that most “national treasures” have.
by Mick Collins on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:19 pm
5% will do nicely
by Dan Gulberry on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:20 pm
Emma Alberici is a two edged sword. She’s done journalistic ‘hit jobs’ in the past.
by CTar1 on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:21 pm
1934pc @111
the polls are WORTHLESS
especially and completely at telling us who will win an election in 18 months time.
by Brian Mc on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:23 pm
G
Yes, the image was used extensively to persuade very large numbers of Britons, appropriately enough, to get themselves slaughtered in WW 1. It has been used almost endlessly ever since in many contexts. It is a powerful image.
It is time we stopped using uncritically images of British mass murderers.
by Boerwar on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:24 pm
The only thing I remember was him being thoroughly unsympathetic and possibly challenged by her success.
IIRC, there was a particularly unpleasant scene after she gave birth, pointing to a man more interested in addressing his own emasculation than he was being a loyal husband and a good father.
If I were him, I’d be a bit upset by it as well …
by Danny Lewis on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:29 pm
It’s all good.
BW will be on to General Sir John Monash next .
by CTar1 on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:30 pm
I’m with Boerwar. Get rid of the symbol of British Imperialism and mass murder. They should change to this more harmless and friendly image.
http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.123posters.com/images/art/a-pp0240.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.123posters.com/unclesam.htm&h=432&w=288&sz=43&tbnid=1vN34dRwE1ZnNM:&tbnh=102&tbnw=68&prev=/search%3Fq%3Duncle%2Bsam%2Bposter%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=uncle+sam+poster&docid=Y0PHx4EspGSAzM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=W1BUT4PCH6m0iQelhsiXAg&ved=0CF4Q9QEwCA&dur=2250
by Greensborough Growler on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:36 pm
Bring back Doug Anthony.
by CTar1 on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:42 pm
Abbott must be getting a bit worried that he is not setting the agenda anymore.
His big announcement on indexing defence superannuation has been ignored.
by ruawake on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:42 pm
ru
Journo asked about it at the NPC today
by victoria on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:43 pm
Abbott’s a martian
by CTar1 on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:44 pm
Yep but it seems to have had zero coverage in the media.
by ruawake on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:45 pm
ru
Abbott has not said how it was going to be funded. Therefore it is another thought bubble me thinks
by victoria on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:46 pm
CTar1 @ 123
Boerwar’s obsessions are becoming tedious.
Added to which he can’t even get Kitchener’s name right.
by bemused on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:46 pm
ruawake @ 126
His big announcement on indexing defence superannuation has been ignored.
I didn’t see what Abbott had to say but I did hear the question on this (put rather abrasively) at the Press Club and thought that the Treasurer was well prepared (on something that was a far way from the subject of his talk) and answered very well indeed.
Swannie is looking good post the non-coup and the media-egges-in-the-face and he’s not the only one.
by Brian Mc on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:49 pm
CTar1
Sir John Monash probably did more than any single Australian to bring on AGW.
Unwittingly, of course.
Apart from that, I have great admiration for Sir John Monash.
by Boerwar on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:52 pm
Did Abbott release apolicy today? Did he manage to do it without having an allergic reaction?
by Puff, the Magic Dragon. on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:54 pm
I bet he will not.
by ruawake on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:56 pm
BW – 9 hours in the air. Rest. Shame about coal or the plague, or the Hundred Years War, or what ever.
by CTar1 on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:56 pm
Hello bemused
Still sniping away with your ad hominem attacks? I am ready at any time to accept your abject apology for all the times you have viciously and erroneously slagged me on the topic of Mr Rudd.
You were wRONg from the get go and you have so far lacked the decency to say so. Instead, at the first opportunity, you do your jackal pack ad hominem attack.
by Boerwar on Mar 5, 2012 at 4:58 pm
Rua 135 well at least that is a policy of sorts.
by DavidWH on Mar 5, 2012 at 5:00 pm
DavidWH
Totally unfunded.
by victoria on Mar 5, 2012 at 5:00 pm
Boerwar @ 137
How was I wrong?
I quite enjoy some of your posts. The exceptions are when you get onto your obsessions.
by bemused on Mar 5, 2012 at 5:00 pm
CTar1
Yep. If only my extended family were neither peripatetic nor cosmopolitan, I could do stay at home. I would be happier that way, but you can’t always get what you want.
by Boerwar on Mar 5, 2012 at 5:01 pm
BW, Finns & Boerwar Fukushima Inc can call on its resources in Japan
by The Finnigans on Mar 5, 2012 at 5:03 pm
Rua
I bet he will. It is part of the Coalition strategy to sandbag military seats. You will note that he is not applying it to the APS generally. They can go and get farmed, as far as Mr Abbott is concerned.
by Boerwar on Mar 5, 2012 at 5:04 pm
I have no problems at all with people making money, creating wealth and employing lots of people.
Billionares cross the line when they use their wealth and power to influence public opinion in favour of their own selfish interests and not in the interests of the nation, which lay the foundation for that wealth to be crested in the first place.
DavidWH agree???
If not, pull your head out of it, your brain is in need of fresh oxygen
by Centre on Mar 5, 2012 at 5:04 pm
It must be a blast not being one of the masses Gus.
by forrest on Mar 5, 2012 at 5:04 pm
Victoria when the black hole is $70 billion what’s a billion or two more?
by DavidWH on Mar 5, 2012 at 5:04 pm
forrest
us lemurs are not that numerous
by gusface on Mar 5, 2012 at 5:06 pm
Finns
Are we still getting sudden and unexplained leave without permissions in our Fukushima clean up workforce?
by Boerwar on Mar 5, 2012 at 5:06 pm
Abbott is being a bit tricky calling them service pensions. The are superannuation payments made to service personnel and are indexed by CPI.
Abbott is trying to infer that the superannuates are really old age pensioners.
by ruawake on Mar 5, 2012 at 5:09 pm