Essential Research: 56-44 to Coalition
This week’s Essential Research shows no real change in voting intention on last week, with the Coalition up a point on the primary vote to 49 per cent, Labor and the Greens steady on 31 per cent and 11 per cent, and two-party preferred steady at 56-44. The poll also measures Bob Brown’s approval rating at 42 per cent and disapproval at 34 per cent (including very favourable figures among Labor voters of 60 per cent and 15 per cent); has 31 per cent favouring Kevin Rudd as Labor leader over 16 per cent for Julia Gillard (Gillard leads 40 per cent to 33 per cent among Labor voters); and 30 per cent favouring Malcolm Turnbull as Liberal leader with 23 per cent for Tony Abbott (Abbott leads 39 per cent to 26 per cent among Coalition voters). Further questions on the mining boom have 66 per cent believing it has benefited them “not at all”, 51 per cent supporting the mining tax (down one on mid-March) and 29 per cent opposing it (down five).
Federal preselection happenings in New South Wales:
• The NSW Liberal Party state executive has voted to dump Garry Whitaker as its candidate for Craig Thomson’s seat of Dobell. He has been replaced by Karen McNamara, a WorkCover public servant who reportedly has backing from the party’s right, who was defeated by Whitaker in the original preselection vote in December. Whitaker has since been struggling with allegations he had lived for several years without council permission in an “ensuite shed” on his Wyong Creek property while awaiting approval to build a house there.
• More proactivity from the NSW Liberal state executive in neighbouring Robertson, a seat the party was disappointed not to have won in 2010. Local branches have had imposed upon them Lucy Wicks, who herself holds a position on the executive by virtue of her status as president of the party’s Women’s Council. Wicks was identified by the Sydney Morning Herald last year as a member of the “centre right” faction associated with federal Mitchell MP Alex Hawke, which in alliance with the moderates had secured control of the state executive. Like the Dobell intervention, the imposition of Wicks occurred at the insistence of Tony Abbott – local branches in both seats have called emergency meetings to express their displeasure.
• Michelle Hoctor of the Illawarra Mercury reports Ann Sudmalis, the candidate backed by retiring member Joanna Gash, won Liberal preselection on Saturday in Gilmore with 16 votes against 10 for her main rival Andrew Guile. Rounding out the field were Alby Schultz’s son Grant, who scored four votes, and Meroo Meadow marketing consultant Catherine Shields on one. For those wondering about the small number of votes, the NSW Liberals’ preselection procedure involves branches being allocated a number of selection committee delegates in proportion to their membership, rather than a massed rank-and-file ballot.
• Imre Salusinszky of The Australian reports the Nationals are in the “‘initial stages’ of discussions with popular independent state MP Richard Torbay about endorsing him for a tilt at independent federal MP Tony Windsor in New England”. Torbay has been the independent member for Northern Tablelands since 1999, and served as Legislative Assembly Speaker during Labor’s last term in office.
Categories: Federal Politics 2010-
Keating!
by Puff, the Magic Dragon. on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:00 pm
Hilarious, Victoria, but indicative of the problems the Liberals have with adding up and subtracting.
by Gorgeous Dunny on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:00 pm
Wow love pjk
by my say on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:00 pm
QC Opinion. Keating Spot On.
by guytaur on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:01 pm
Poroti – you must have ESP!
by Allan Moyes on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:02 pm
My wish is Jays command
by poroti on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:02 pm
GD
Hilarious indeed. That person thought they were being so clever.
by victoria on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:02 pm
poroti,
Mr Jay is leaving nose tone unturned.
by This little black duck on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:03 pm
Ll seems to have reacted exactly like me.
by guytaur on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:04 pm
‘sHonour is calling him for what he is.
by This little black duck on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:04 pm
Paroti
Thats like when you know the phones going to ring and who it will be
by my say on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:05 pm
lol
s’Honour doesn’t buy it.
by Puff, the Magic Dragon. on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:05 pm
Liberal Defender @Liberaldefender Reply Retweeted Favorite · Open
@Thefinnigans Tony Abbott can take whatever pressure is put on by people like you
by The Finnigans on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:05 pm
Rupe, we’re only up to 1997. Relax, baby!
by This little black duck on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:05 pm
What’s this about Howard and Keating ?
by zoidlord on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:06 pm
This article features heaps of things I’m sure Jay will bring up.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2006/jul/23/newscorporation.rupertmurdoch
by poroti on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:07 pm
Temper, temper!
by This little black duck on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:08 pm
Calm down Rupe! Betraying himself with projection!
by ajm on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:09 pm
I think there’s a big gotcha coming…
by drake on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:10 pm
When is popz going to tell them to “farck themselves”?
by Last name red wombat on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:10 pm
He thinks all pollies try to have the papers on their side.
He doesn’t think Blair and Brown were trying to work him out.
Hmm.
by This little black duck on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:11 pm
Mick77 @ 3495
Ahhh, those were the days.
The major purpose as I saw it was to bring the troops home and not in any way to blame or vilify them. I reserved my loathing for the Liberal party which bears the guilt for 508 young Australians and countless Vietnamese killed.
I never got arrested, but I did get paid a visit by the ‘thought police’ after I put an article in the local paper about my branch of the Young Labor Association opposing the war, urging resistance to National Service and pledging support to draft resisters.
One of our sources of amusement was to fill out National service Registration cards in the name of any local Libs we knew.
by bemused on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:11 pm
by victoria on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:13 pm
Very subdued yes
by guytaur on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:13 pm
Damn,
just got used to scrolling past the other one
by Ian on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:13 pm
2985
My knowledge is limited to cab companies and you’re probably right. However, I’d expect that hire car companies would need to be accredited by Cabcharge to be able to claim. That is, if they expect Cabcharge to pay.
by Gorgeous Dunny on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:14 pm
Ian @ 3524
Ian, that is a deeply wounding remark…
by bemused on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:15 pm
I think Mr Murdoch wouldn’t mind using Cabcharge right at the moment.
How’s that for joining dots!
by This little black duck on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:16 pm
“Another five minutes”
Rupert’s prostate must be playing up.
by Bushfire Bill on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:17 pm
Popz getting a quick nanna nap in
by Last name red wombat on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:17 pm
Another toilet break for Rupert ?
by Lord Barry Bonkton on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:17 pm
Let me summarise again – Rupert has admitted tonight that he is all about #RegimeChange to suit his own interest #auspol
by The Finnigans on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:18 pm
Is Kung Fu Wendy there?
by Last name red wombat on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:18 pm
Pretty obvious this Liberal Defender twitter account is taking the Mickey
by Burgey on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:18 pm
Something nice for the break
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/apr/24/leveson-inquiry-murdoch-david-cameron
by poroti on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:19 pm
Finns
so if Abbott only ever speaks the truth, then he was right to say that he sometimes lies?
It’s so confusing….
by zoomster on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:20 pm
So that’s where Abbott gets it from. Same ethics!
by BH on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:20 pm
lnrw
Yep – here: http://yfrog.com/ocr68dorj
by Dan Gulberry on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:20 pm
They just showed Tony Abbot at Sydney Memorial service. Blink you would hav missed him. I certainly did in previous updates.
by guytaur on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:20 pm
I just noticed not one liberal has joined us this evening for our champagn supper
by my say on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:21 pm
speaking of (would be) media moguls, I wonder what has happened to Gina Rinehart’s apparent attempt to become a director at Fairfax?
by Laocoon on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:21 pm
At least we can laugh mate.
by Ian on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:22 pm
Pegasus,
No personal attack there Peg. Just a historically accurate response to your suggestion that we had it good and that future generations such as yours are going to be sacrificing your future standards of living to make ours some sort of paradise.
Our lives have been mostly hard and our limited retirements are going to be just as tough too.
Show m where I have been personally attacking you! You mostly duck for cover & disappear when you get get caught out on making false claims. This seems to be pretty similar to your normal response.
by scorpio on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:22 pm
I just heard, the prime minister julia gillard, said in one sentance
by my say on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:23 pm
guytaur @ 3538
I saw him on TV earlier today and thought it was the Canberra service at the War Memorial. Could he do both?
It was definitely him with that unmistakeable simian gait.
by bemused on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:24 pm
i want that coloured wool fabric, re julia’s coat.
by my say on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:25 pm
Don’t forget there’s more comedy gold coming up later tonight as Barnaby Joyce live-tweets Lateline.
Make sure you’re wearing a corset to stop your sides splitting for that.
by Dan Gulberry on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:26 pm
bemused
He probably did
by guytaur on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:26 pm
Ian @ 3541
About the only thing in this world that keeps us sane.
by bemused on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:26 pm
Back
by guytaur on Apr 25, 2012 at 9:26 pm