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-
David Rowe is a cartoonist so therefore not to be over analysed. It’s a good cartoon BTW and it will be interesting when it and others from this era of Oz politics are exhibited in Old Parliament house in 20 years time. I wonder what kind of Australia will we see then.
Where Rowe gets it wrong is depicting Swan to be on his own. It would have been more accurate to show millions standing with him. The size of the miner’s bank accounts and the size of their trucks will pale into insignificance when the Australian people get a say.
by Tom Hawkins on Mar 7, 2012 at 11:09 am
abbott not smirking as much ,looking anxious .
by mickt on Mar 7, 2012 at 11:10 am
OzPol Tragic
Just a plastic shopping bag. Just like the Tiananmen square guy carried when he faced down the tanks. It would be marvelous if by some miracle the guy survived the aftermath. It is one of the bravest things I’ve ever seen .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-nXT8lSnPQ
by poroti on Mar 7, 2012 at 11:10 am
Yes Danny. Made me fear backpackers, though.
by joe2 on Mar 7, 2012 at 11:13 am
ducky
Yes I am here – mercifully 50 km away from Abbott and his mates.
by BK on Mar 7, 2012 at 11:13 am
Bk,
I was hoping for nearby with a couple of overripe tomatoes. Nothing violent, of course.
by This little black duck on Mar 7, 2012 at 11:14 am
Good fun on Super Tuesday: Grinch to win Georgia.
by This little black duck on Mar 7, 2012 at 11:15 am
BK @ 1228
Thanks for the links. You (always) save me all the hard work of finding stuff! Yep, the pic of Tones is ugly.
by Super on Mar 7, 2012 at 11:15 am
The Guardian is blogging Super Tuesday live
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/mar/06/super-tuesday-results-live
by This little black duck on Mar 7, 2012 at 11:17 am
http://tinyurl.com/7jjbp4d (click google link)
more in the link
by Leroy on Mar 7, 2012 at 11:19 am
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8431065/vic-nurses-call-off-industrial-action
more in the article
by Leroy on Mar 7, 2012 at 11:23 am
by Leroy on Mar 7, 2012 at 11:25 am
Leroy
Regional migration is encouraged by better services such as Health, education, NBN, clean energy initiatives. The tax free thresholds are going to be increased to 18,000. The National policy sounds a little hollow
by victoria on Mar 7, 2012 at 11:26 am
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/120306/super-tuesday-newt-gingrich-wins-georgia-news-or
by Leroy on Mar 7, 2012 at 11:27 am
ducky
We currently have a very plentiful supply of tomatoes – sauce making is well under way.
by BK on Mar 7, 2012 at 11:27 am
Romney wins Virginia.
by This little black duck on Mar 7, 2012 at 11:28 am
1270 Victoria
Racial prejudice is expressed in so many ways. A relative of mine said that all Spaniards and Italians speak “very very loud”. Although I told him that I had been to Italy and that Italians speak in a normal voice, he wouldn’t listen. Almost any task is easier than changing people’s minds.
by gigi on Mar 7, 2012 at 11:28 am
Romney will also win Vermont according to FoxNews.
FWIW!!!
by BK on Mar 7, 2012 at 11:28 am
Interesting look if they had announced a settlement of theirdisputes (Reinhart v Fairfax) over access documents concerning the Rinehart family battle which are on before the HC on Friday
by shellbell on Mar 7, 2012 at 11:29 am
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/06/2678311_nationwide-map.html
Super Tuesday Nationwide Map, has rolling talley of how many delegates each candidate has. Useful.
by Leroy on Mar 7, 2012 at 11:30 am
Tony, in Bendigo making promises he will be unable to keep even if he wins government.
http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/politics/tony-abbott-reaffirms-pledge-to-index-military-pensions/2477224.aspx
by joe2 on Mar 7, 2012 at 11:30 am
TheFinnigans天地有道人无道 @Thefinnigans Reply Delete Favorite · Open
Latest GDP 2.3% annual – still a fucking BISON – bit.ly/xjX8Dy
by The Finnigans on Mar 7, 2012 at 11:32 am
joe2
Abbott was in Bendigo yesterday mouthing off about the “Australian company Thales”.
Surely our Sophie would have briefed him that Thales is a huge, French owned multinational.
http://www.thalesgroup.com/Group/About_us/At_a_Glance/
Then again . . . . .
by BK on Mar 7, 2012 at 11:44 am
I think Tony Abbott’s parental leave scheme is very bad public policy. However, I would take issue with at least one item in the above report:
How does the scheme hurt productivity? It seams to me that business groups come out with such claims and never have to justify them. Productivity just seems to be a stick they use to beat any idea they don’t like.
by B.C. on Mar 7, 2012 at 11:46 am
The Finnigans
THe JWH Coalition government set a few record highs that are not too flash.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/reporting-crime-drop-just-doesnt-pay-it-seems-20120306-1ui95.html#ixzz1oO4wUq2H
by poroti on Mar 7, 2012 at 11:52 am
gigi
I like the way people generalise.
by victoria on Mar 7, 2012 at 12:01 pm
According to Bob Carr, eggs are the go. Got any chickens handy?
by Bushfire Bill on Mar 7, 2012 at 12:01 pm
BB
Yes, six layers.
by BK on Mar 7, 2012 at 12:02 pm
I think that was fairly perceptive of Mr Lee. There’s not much value in the manufacture of commodity items (which is why Germany tends to concentrate on the high value stuff). Certainly China doesn’t make much manufacturing Barbie dolls:
Barbienomics: the reality of manufacturing
Barbie and the World Economy
Some Assembly Needed: China as Asia Factory
This is something they understand in China:
China’s Barbie Doll Economics
It also has implications for Australia. If all we do is export ore, and if the companies doing the mining and exporting are predominately foreign owned then we aren’t necessarily getting much return on our assets. Unlike manufacturing, or even agriculture, mining is exploiting a finite resource. There’s an opportunity cost.
Of course we also have the problem that historically speaking, Australia hasn’t had sufficient domestic capital to exploit such resources on its own (or so it’s claimed).
by B.C. on Mar 7, 2012 at 12:06 pm
Note his appointment tomorrow
http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/gina_drops_in_on_her_newspapers_can_i_be_far_behind/
by Leroy on Mar 7, 2012 at 12:06 pm
Leroy
Bolt going to the Age!!!! Thank goodness I cancelled my subscription
by victoria on Mar 7, 2012 at 12:08 pm
At least Bolt will be a little more balanced than Grattan, Hartcher & Carney.
by gough1 on Mar 7, 2012 at 12:10 pm
gough1
Touche
by victoria on Mar 7, 2012 at 12:12 pm
I really can’t see how this “class warfare” argument will wash. Trying to group the middle-class, who aren’t even the target of either a carbon price or the health means test, with billionaires, is just plain dumb and surely beyond even the liberal spin doctors capacities.
by joe2 on Mar 7, 2012 at 12:13 pm
In BizodSpeak “productivity” = “profits”.
Abbott is basically asking companies that make $5 million-plus to subsidize their competitors’ PPL responsibilities. An Abbott government wouldn’t be paying for Abbott’s PPL scheme, private enterprise would. It’s the Levy you’re having when you’re not having a Levy.
Put another way, it’s the crock of shit you’re having when you ARE having a crock of shit.
It’s against every conceivable premise of equality of welfare, which is why it’s lucky that Abbott calls it a “work entitlement”. Easy for him to say, but someone (else) has to pay for it.
It allows well-off earners to continue their well-off lifestyles. It values one baby more than another. It will lead to people like pensioners claiming they should be paid a pension based on their terminating salary (tell me why the same logic shouldn’t apply?). It encourages the idea of $150k being a “middle class” wage. Rorters, doing cosy deals with their employers, will have a field day. Liberals, going on about independence and how wonderful it is for people to look after themselves will be aghast.
In short: it’s all wrong, except for one thing: voters like to be bribed. And they’ll expect more if this gets through, like subsidized nannies (don’t laugh, it’s already firmly on the list). Why they don’t have a policy of “FREE BEER” for Dads I don’t know, this PPL scheme is THAT stupid (and free beer would be cheaper, by a long chalk).
The bright light on the horizon is that Abbott is staking his personal stature in the party on it. It can be used (as the story above shows) by internal party forces to nibble and nobble away at him. Abbott has to be prepared to die in a ditch over it or else he’s badly damaged by caving in.
by Bushfire Bill on Mar 7, 2012 at 12:15 pm
Problem is that any new Right Wing commentators in The Age will be simply added to the Fairfax existing ones who attack the ALP anyway. If there is a move to to put him in there, it may be part of a strategy to seize the high ground of the “upmarket” press to influence the debate on mining, climate change etc. The Age sells a lot less than The Herald Sun.
by Leroy on Mar 7, 2012 at 12:15 pm
You and me too, but think Bolty could be stirring!
by mari on Mar 7, 2012 at 12:16 pm
mari
Not sure. Remember Bolt has a program on Channel 10. Reinhart was instrumental in Bolt getting the gig.
by victoria on Mar 7, 2012 at 12:18 pm
Bolt:
Gina joins Twiggy and Clive Palmer in proving Swan’s point exactly, to a “t”, precisamundo.
And don’t think that Grattan, Hartcher, Coorey and Whatshisname will be happy. They won’t. What if Gina makes him Political Editor?
by Bushfire Bill on Mar 7, 2012 at 12:19 pm
B.C.
More and more China and other major developing countries are “commoditising” many of the manufactured products that we have been making locally.
Once gone these products will never be made here again. Successful Aussie manufacturers are those that recognise this irrefutable fact and tailor their operations to provide goods and services that these overseas countries cannot (and will not) match.
What I am talking about here is the customisation of product at low volume and its supply within confidently achieved short lead times.
We are in the process of moving from High Volume/Low Variability manufacturing to Low Volume/High variability configuration.
It is not a journey for the faint hearted.
by BK on Mar 7, 2012 at 12:21 pm
You are right, how is it going, still falling audiences?
Is that why Hartcher, Coorey Gratten Carney etc are falling over themselves to bad mouth ALP?
by mari on Mar 7, 2012 at 12:25 pm
by victoria on Mar 7, 2012 at 12:26 pm
I get a lot of CNC-machined stuff made for my business. I get it all made here, in Sydney, because I can’t afford to have poorly toleranced products giving me grief from China.
I design in 3D, work out the problems as best I can, then hand the file to someone who speaks English and who is within an hour’s drive from my office. He will critique the design, suggest changes to make it practical, we agree on the final form and he makes them in job lots. Not 1s and 2s, but 50s and 100s.
You could not POSSIBLY do this with the Chinese. 50,000 is a small order for them, and their poor production standards (versus their excellent prototype standards) leave a lot to be desired.
by Bushfire Bill on Mar 7, 2012 at 12:26 pm
mari
I would be interested to know the current circulation of The Age and SMH.
by victoria on Mar 7, 2012 at 12:27 pm
Hard for Bolt to more egotistical than proclaim on his newspaper blog that he is visiting its rival.
He wont go if he is mindful of history. The fawning he gets on his HS blog presumably will not be replicated (at least to the same extent) at the age.
As well he is fresh from bombing on Melbourne radio.
Add one more for good measure – Devine, having been taken on by Fairfax to its discredit, went back to the DT.
by shellbell on Mar 7, 2012 at 12:27 pm
BB
You are entirely correct.
There is a huge difference between price and cost (ie short term and long term).
by BK on Mar 7, 2012 at 12:28 pm
What’s the bet The Australian has the hide to mock Gina’s takeover of Fairfax and her agenda?
by Bushfire Bill on Mar 7, 2012 at 12:28 pm
BK @ 1338
Interesting comments you make and quite true.
Did you see a Foreign Correspondent program a few weeks ago about Bavaria?
Dealt quite well with their manufacturing success and how it works. They can even manufacture footware successfully, but it is highly specialised.
by bemused on Mar 7, 2012 at 12:31 pm
is that why Hartcher, Coorey Gratten Carney etc are falling over themselves to bad mouth ALP?
However Alan Moir is not afraid of the big bad wolf. A brilliant cartoon in this morning’s SMH.
by Brian Mc on Mar 7, 2012 at 12:32 pm
george’s latest creation.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/64041833@N04/6808728742/in/photostream
by BK on Mar 7, 2012 at 12:33 pm