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-
Oops heckling.
by confessions on Mar 6, 2012 at 4:39 pm
I thought McCrann could not be that bad. So I read
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/business/terry-mccranns-column/wayne-swans-assault-on-free-speech/story-e6frfig6-1226289847408
Holy crap, talk about writing crap. Terry is stuck in crapville.
by ruawake on Mar 6, 2012 at 4:43 pm
It was one protester!
What a racket.
by confessions on Mar 6, 2012 at 4:43 pm
Is the Liberal Party front bench in lock-down today? I have not heard a peep from any of them.
by ruawake on Mar 6, 2012 at 4:49 pm
Abbott held a news conference from Horsham earlier.
He is no longer setting the agenda.
by confessions on Mar 6, 2012 at 4:49 pm
A friend just sent me this joke. Not pc as it mentions the working class
——————————————————————-
A little boy goes to his dad and asks, ‘What is Politics?’
Dad says, ‘Well son, let me try to explain it this way:
I am the head of the family, so call me The Prime Minister.
Your mother is the administrator of the money, so we call her the Government.
We are here to take care of your needs, so we will call you the People.
The nanny, we will consider her the Working Class.
And your baby brother, we will call him the Future.
Now think about that and see if it makes sense.’
So the little boy goes off to bed thinking about what Dad has said.
Later that night, he hears his baby brother crying, so he gets up to check on him.
He finds that the baby has severely soiled his nappy.
So the little boy goes to his parent’s room and finds his mother asleep.
Not wanting to wake her, he goes to the nanny’s room. Finding the door locked, he peeks in the keyhole and sees his father in bed with the nanny..
He gives up and goes back to bed.
The next morning, the little boy say’s to his father, ‘Dad, I think I understand the concept of politics now. ‘
The father says, ‘Good, son, tell me in your own words what you think politics is all
about.’
The little boy replies, ‘The Prime Minister is screwing the Working Class while the Government is sound asleep. The People are being ignored and the Future is in deep sh$t.’
by Pegasus on Mar 6, 2012 at 4:50 pm
Meanwhile mari gets closer to playing Hallelujah at volume 11.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2110613/FBI-investigation-Rupert-Murdoch-News-Corp-Russia-amid-claims-billboard-firm-bribed-officials.html#ixzz1oJT7mHCX
by poroti on Mar 6, 2012 at 4:53 pm
by confessions on Mar 6, 2012 at 4:56 pm
Last month
George Megalogenis articulated something I’ve been thinking about for a number of years. Sometimes Governments hang on one term too many (usually because the Opposition isn’t ready for office). Then, come the next election, they get thumped.
It will be interesting to see what happens in Queensland given the Newman factor. It may well be that Labor might be better off just losing than just winning. But then again, a narrow loss didn’t spell the doom of Menzies (although that might well have been more due to the DLP than anything else).
I’m also not sure how to interpret Mega’s column in light of the current Gillard Government. Is this one term to many, might the next term (if they win) be one term too many, or was the last election result during the one term blues (like Hawke in 84 and Howard in 98)?
by B.C. on Mar 6, 2012 at 5:01 pm
The hands?
McCrann’s every word is living proof of the old axiom about he who pays the piper. He simply takes the cash to do his master’s bidding and writes accordingly. There’s really no more to it than that.
Same with Bolt. Whose picture only just comes second after McCrann’s.
by Son of foro on Mar 6, 2012 at 5:04 pm
Do nothing Govt.
by ruawake on Mar 6, 2012 at 5:04 pm
Outside Parliament House in Sydney Carr was heckled by a protestor calling out “you’re a sell out”. Carr responded to the gathered journos that heckling is a good thing. He said wtte “these days you get heckled in the old days they used to throw eggs.”
by MTBW on Mar 6, 2012 at 5:12 pm
http://delimiter.com.au/2012/03/06/gillards-pc-hack-surfaces-in-stratfor-leaks/
more in the article, gives full background
by Leroy on Mar 6, 2012 at 5:18 pm
ruawake,
NBN isn’t a vote changer for me.
Raising the level of the NewStart allowance is.
by Pegasus on Mar 6, 2012 at 5:23 pm
Roxon’s Dept are putting together what is jokingly called “My Flood”. A publicly available database of flood topography for all Australia.
People will be able to input their address and see the likelihood of flooding. Guess who is opposing this?
Yep, local govt and the insurance industry.
by ruawake on Mar 6, 2012 at 5:24 pm
Jesuz Horsey, that joke is ancient, so are you.
by The Finnigans on Mar 6, 2012 at 5:24 pm
A hint to those who want it raised. Stop comparing it to the old age pension. Try comparing it to the minimum wage.
by ruawake on Mar 6, 2012 at 5:27 pm
It’s good to see that Labor is finally echoing Bob Brown’s rhetoric in muscling up to the mining lobby.
Looking for a coherent, cohesive and future-oriented vision?
http://bob-brown.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/australia-should-secure-its-future-fair-dinkum-mining-tax
by Pegasus on Mar 6, 2012 at 5:33 pm
905 Pegasus
Posted Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at 4:50 pm | Permalink
Really?, the working class?. I know you are just jokingly prodding but it is revealing just the same.
You are one of those who can afford to be green.
by forrest on Mar 6, 2012 at 5:35 pm
http://tinyurl.com/86pspbr (click google link)
by Leroy on Mar 6, 2012 at 5:37 pm
Afternoon bludgers, a new blog post that might be of interest:
“Business? Mankind was my business”
http://andrewcatsaras.blogspot.com.au/
by Aristotle on Mar 6, 2012 at 5:38 pm
Pegasus
Brown continues to lie over the Greens company tax policy. It is to increase company tax to 33%
by ruawake on Mar 6, 2012 at 5:38 pm
ACOSS factsheet on NewStart, minimum wage…
http://acoss.org.au/uploads/ACOSS%20Allowances%20Factsheet%20Feb%202012.pdf
by Pegasus on Mar 6, 2012 at 5:43 pm
Yep. It is so transparent.
by confessions on Mar 6, 2012 at 5:46 pm
At least we are honest with ourselves & everybody else.
Finns & Boerwar Fukushima Inc – we are the capitalist running dogs where greed is good with a heart of gold. We dont patronize the working class like the Greens do. We cant afford to be Greens.
by The Finnigans on Mar 6, 2012 at 5:46 pm
poroti
Posted Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at 4:53 pm | Permalink
Meanwhile mari gets closer to playing Hallelujah at volume 11.
‘FBI investigation into Rupert Murdoch News Corp moves to Russia’ amid claims billboard firm bribed officials
Alleged investigation seems to have grown from phone-hacking scandal
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2110613/FBI-investigation-Rupert-Murdoch-News-Corp-Russia-amid-claims-billboard-firm-bribed-officials.html#ixzz1oJT7mHCX
Can’t wait and don’t think I will have to wait much longer, the wait has been worth it Poroti and I am just so happy it is about to climax
by mari on Mar 6, 2012 at 5:46 pm
The flooding at Wagga Wagga and other inland towns/cities is the downside of establishing settlements beside a watercourse in a very dry continent.
On the one hand, the Murrumbidgee River at Wagga and countless other centres provides the necessary water to sustain an urban population. On the other hand, the occasional flooding can be devastating. Remember that the Murrumbidgee at Wagga is carrying water from a very extensive catchment upstream.
A feature of many rivers is extensive floodplains, as in the area to the north of Wagga. New housing was supposed to be prohibited in susceptible areas but Google maps shows quite a few dwellings in a small suburb on the floodplain. Extreme flooding as at present would threaten the CBD if the levee is breached but hopefully that will not now happen.
by citizen on Mar 6, 2012 at 5:47 pm
He he he
maybe it should be:
by The Finnigans on Mar 6, 2012 at 5:48 pm
When was the last time you were unemployed Pegasus?, can you also tell me what the fortnightly rate was at that time.
I give short shrift to people who haven’t been there.
by forrest on Mar 6, 2012 at 5:48 pm
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/pm-enlists-business-leaders-to-help-cut-red-tape/story-e6frg8zx-1226290657449
More in the article.
Also, see this for some background info.
http://www.hawkerbritton.com/hawker-britton-media/publications/510/the-coag-business-advisory-fourm.htm
by Leroy on Mar 6, 2012 at 5:50 pm
Don’t forget Tuesday in the US is Super Tuesday in the Repug Ugly Pageant with 10 states up for grabs.
by poroti on Mar 6, 2012 at 5:51 pm
Sometimes, you cannot just spend your way to success:
by The Finnigans on Mar 6, 2012 at 5:55 pm
I doubt very much that Mr McCrann is dancing to the tune of a paymaster in the sense that the content of what he writes is determined by the person or organisation who pays him to write stuff.
It is clear to me that he believes what he writes. It is invariably internally consistent in terms of economic theory. It is also often coloured by what I take to be a deeply depressed world view.
I wouldn’t want to be in Mr McCrann’s shoes for quids. He lives in a see of pain caused by the majority of people, organisations and governments all around hime which simply refuse to abide by the strictures of a Dry, Individualistic, Economic Rationalist Economic Theory.
by Boerwar on Mar 6, 2012 at 5:56 pm
Ruawake was right earlier on: the opposition have virtually disappeared from the news the past couple of days.
Abbott gave a press conference earlier and was asked about a Ben(?) or Brendon(?) Johnston who is running some sort of campaign to bring on an early election. I missed the question, and can’t find anything reported on it, so don’t know whether he’s another of those nutter truckers or 2GB-loving freaks, or what his campaign is.
In any case, Abbott enthusiastically endorsed whatever it is he’s doing.
by confessions on Mar 6, 2012 at 5:58 pm
Not quite:
by This little black duck on Mar 6, 2012 at 6:00 pm
Finns
Mr Marx was a turgid writer who had, in common with all the authors of the Old and New Testaments, a complete and utter lack of a sense of humour . If Mr Marx had been more creative, I am sure that he would have invented, ‘Greed is Good with a Heart of Gold.’
Now it is too late for him to do so: Patented, Trade-Marked, Copyrighted and Intellectual Propertied.
Eat your heart out, Mr Marx.
by Boerwar on Mar 6, 2012 at 6:00 pm
ru
It can’t be a good sign if you need a 11m levee!
by Diogenes on Mar 6, 2012 at 6:02 pm
had telstra dude today
interesting convo
main thrust
“bring on the nbn”
most adls2 have about 8meg download/upload speed
90-95% is for downloads
in other words it is fairly fast for downloads, but shite for uploads
with the NBN the 8 meg thingy is like a snail V a jet fighter
during the convo we got talking about politcs, he admitted he liked abbott and the fibs, but since they were showing such complete ignorance about the NBN, he would definitely vote ‘for the other mob”
at this point I did an invisible fist punch into the air
life is good
by gusface on Mar 6, 2012 at 6:03 pm
Sorry Karl actually patented ‘Greed is not Good with a Heart of God’
by Dr John on Mar 6, 2012 at 6:04 pm
Aristotle,
Thanks for providing the link to your latest thoughtful blog.
Yes, criticisms of the GDP as an indicator of national wellbeing and progress have been made for years.
The GPI (Genuine Progress Indicator) has been advocated for a while.
Australia Institute: https://www.tai.org.au/file.php?file=discussion_papers/DP14.pdf
by Pegasus on Mar 6, 2012 at 6:05 pm
Wagga Wagga’s major environmental/urban interface problem is not flooding. It is salinisation:
http://www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/resources/documents/Salinity_in_the_Wagga_Wagga_Local_Government_Area2.pdf
It is is just that salinisation does not provide pretty moving piccies and/or human drama for the MSM. There it ain’t news. Therefore it ain’t real.
Sic vivetur.
by Boerwar on Mar 6, 2012 at 6:10 pm
c
Just who is this Abbott the Truth Insulter?
Is he just an urban myth?
by Boerwar on Mar 6, 2012 at 6:12 pm
P
Show me the money and I’ll show you the real indicator.
by Boerwar on Mar 6, 2012 at 6:13 pm
Aristotle great blog post and very timely I was only just finished reading a christmas carol this afternoon and thought exactly about Scrooge and the parallel vs the mining barons sitting on their fortunes and seeking to extend their largesse. the medical research facilities, great educational institutions and art foundations that could be funded with their fortunes is stagerring. This is what Rockefeller did with his oil fortune in the early 20thcentury. reinhart should be doing the same. that is the discussion we need to have in this country.
by the spectator on Mar 6, 2012 at 6:14 pm
Whatever happened to salinity, I remember Howard saying he would spend squillions on it, did it ever happen?
by ruawake on Mar 6, 2012 at 6:14 pm
by confessions on Mar 6, 2012 at 6:19 pm
@928
No response for the working class Pegasus?.
It was a legitimate question asked without rancour.
I’m interested, that’s all.
by forrest on Mar 6, 2012 at 6:19 pm
Hey, Marx had an eye for a striking phrase. There’s a reason writers like James Joyce borrowed from him sometimes.
by rishane on Mar 6, 2012 at 6:21 pm
The Spectator – she pulled Rose from poverty to porteous
by Dr John on Mar 6, 2012 at 6:23 pm
WB, apologies that this is off topic but I think it is worth us all taking a look and thinking of the people that do so much but their stories are so rarely told.
http://www.youtube.com/embed/MDOrzF7B2Kg
by HaveAchat on Mar 6, 2012 at 6:26 pm