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 He has been replaced by Karen McNamara, a WorkCover public servant who reportedly has backing from the party’s right, who was defeated by Whitaker in the original preselection vote in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-
BH@4548,
You forget one rule for the born to rule,but anything goes against labor ,including the justice system.
by Schnappi on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:19 pm
He’s usually got wind of some description, judging by his behaviour.
by Son of foro on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:21 pm
vic,
I didn’t know staring someone down involved rogering with a red hot poker up their nether regions.
by Greensborough Growler on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:21 pm
guytaur@4549,
could be right and bet a lot of egg on face liberals are phoning asking who would you support as leader.There goes an increase in phone bills payed by muggins.
by Schnappi on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:22 pm
rummel
Sort of thanks!
A three second read that, as you suggest, makes you feel like going for a wash.
I can deal with diversity of views even at the edges – but his stuff is way ‘out there’.
Not someone I could stomach having a drink with and I think you’d think likewise.
by CTar1 on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:23 pm
Why did slipper use a letter head from the Speaker’s Office when the allegations are against him not the Office of the Speaker.
by rummel on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:23 pm
Interesting timing for the release from Slipper – a bit of the evening TV news, but not so much. In time for the Friday newspapers; just.
by Laocoon on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:24 pm
Election now!
by Son of foro on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:24 pm
rummel his office is still speaker ,he only stood down from ,never resigned from it.
by Schnappi on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:25 pm
Speers trying to say that limos cost more than cabs. D’oh!
Maybe Slipper could have caught the bus? Or the train?
What are these f**kwits on about?
Incidentally, typical limo hire prices for the Audi that he uses:
http://www.sydneylimousinehire.com/pricelist.htm
by Bushfire Bill on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:25 pm
daretotread 4183 – I agree with your point of not wanting to start the rudd wars again and I am not intending to bag him for I think he has many strengths that suit being Foreign Affairs minister.
I was responding more to TLM Constant bagging of the PM and I agree the remainder of your post.
by mexicanbeemer on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:26 pm
I was wondering who’d mention this first. I should have put a fiver On it being you, rummel.
HE’S THE SPEAKER, YOU IDIOT!
by Bushfire Bill on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:26 pm
rummel,
Nitpicking and missing the real story.
by Greensborough Growler on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:27 pm
I will agree that an election today is silly. An election in 33 days will be fine
16 months and counting to the next election.
by rummel on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:27 pm
Did the Anglicans defrock Mr Slipper?
If so, will he be refrocked now that all is well in our earthly paradise?
by Boerwar on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:28 pm
That’s a Tuesday. UNAUSTRALIAN!!!!!
by Son of foro on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:29 pm
Speers may try to find out that Qld Limousines in fact charge the same as Taxis.
So we have the first lie in Ashby’s statement of claim. That Slipper did not fill in the dockets. He did.
Next.
by ruawake on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:29 pm
High Anglican Archbishop Peter Hepworth did not ‘defrock’ Peter Slipper, merely asked him to step aside whilst investigations were ongoing, similar to the parliamentary situation.
by C@tmomma on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:31 pm
Seems ashby has been exposed ,and as a liberal and a convicted criminal ,one would think the utegate boys would have had a better selection ,wonder who will pay ashbys legal costs?
by Schnappi on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:32 pm
Its an emergency election…. Public holiday = very Australia
by rummel on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:32 pm
News Limited caught with pants down.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/business/breaking-news/onus-on-peter-slipper-to-show-innocence-george-brandis/story-e6freuz0-1226339131038
by guytaur on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:33 pm
Sometimes it is cheaper to use a limo than a taxi. Getting to Perth airport from Mandurah for eg.
by confessions on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:33 pm
davidwh @ 4478
by bemused on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:33 pm
chris murphy @chrismurphys
Details If the James Ashby allegations are false Tony Abbott’s career is right on the line over this stinker
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/abbott-slippery-on-slipper-swan-says-20120424-1xi1o.html
by Greensborough Growler on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:33 pm
Seems ashby has been exposed ,and as a liberal and a convicted criminal ,one would think the utegate boys would have had a better selection ,wonder who will pay ashbys legal costs?Murphy is expensive.
by Schnappi on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:34 pm
Brandis was on Sky earlier squealing that it was time for Slipper to prove his innocence.
Over to your Senator.
by confessions on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:35 pm
What technical thing do you do so that you can watch the Leveson Enquiry live?
by Boerwar on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:36 pm
by confessions on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:37 pm
BW
Its not on yet. When it is here is the direct link. http://www.levesoninquiry.org.uk/hearings/
by guytaur on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:37 pm
BW,
It’s on ABC24 which you can watch on the TV or by going through their website if you want to watch on line.
by Greensborough Growler on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:38 pm
BB – is Murphy acting for Slipper. He’s a character but he knows his stuff.
BTW – did you see my message re taking a trip to the MNC on 11th May. Pt Macq is over the road from Wauchope. OK, it’s a bit further and around the corner!
by BH on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:39 pm
You watch ABC24.
by This little black duck on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:39 pm
Brandis should go too.
by WeWantPaul on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:39 pm
#TheDrum has no credibility at all now with the total domination by Judith Sloan, Peter Reith and the #IPA Hacks
by The Finnigans on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:39 pm
Press red on Sky News.
by confessions on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:39 pm
I will laugh if this turns around and bites Abbott on the ass.
by rummel on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:40 pm
or http://www.levesoninquiry.org.uk/hearings/
or http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/house_of_commons/newsid_8167000/8167512.stm
by This little black duck on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:40 pm
According to Asby:
There three dockets from January 27th, all filled out according to Hoyle.
by Bushfire Bill on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:40 pm
Finnigans
Agreed. At least yesterday they had a panel willing to attack NewsCorp.
by guytaur on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:40 pm
WeWant Paul,could include pyne,and utegate abetz.
by Schnappi on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:41 pm
Boerwar,
There you go. You can have it in quad!
by This little black duck on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:41 pm
@rummel/4585
For once I agree with you -but who knows with Aus Media, after Fail Media in UK.
by zoidlord on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:42 pm
Hmmm. Did Slipper time this for the media to see? While thinking about Murdoch and influence?
by guytaur on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:42 pm
rummel
The letterhead bit – possibly didn’t think about it or maybe did and decided they’re attacking him as Speaker and responded in kind.
by CTar1 on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:42 pm
Now, who’ll be in The Big Chair on May 8?
by This little black duck on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:42 pm
@TonyAbbottMHR How can you keep on relying the tainted vote of Speaker Slipper to stay on as the leader of the Liberal Party. Resign now
by The Finnigans on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:43 pm
Funny comment from Shorten.
by Diogenes on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:43 pm
TLBD
It will be Speaker Slipper. It is more a question of who will be in the big chair opposite JG.
by guytaur on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:43 pm
CTar,
A case of “I am The Speaker I am.”
by This little black duck on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:44 pm
I would think that this absolves all of us from ever having to take
rummel seriously ever again.
by Ian on Apr 26, 2012 at 6:44 pm