Newspoll: 59-41 to Coalition
Word on Twitter is that Newspoll has the Coalition’s two-party lead out from 56-44 to 59-41, from primary votes of 27% for Labor (down two) and 51% for the Coalition (up three). But for a 26% result in the September 16-18 poll, this would be the lowest primary vote Labor had ever recorded since Newspoll commenced in 1985. The two-party figure ranks as the Gillard government’s equal worst result, along with the poll of September 2-4. Newspoll hasn’t always reported two-party preferred results, but my own calculations tell me there remain unbroken records from the respective honeymoon periods of Rudd (63-37 in February/March 2008) and Howard (60.5-39.5 in April 1996). Julia Gillard is up a point on disapproval to 63% and steady on approval at 28%, while Tony Abbott is down two on approval to 33% and up one on disapproval to 55%. Tony Abbott has widened the preferred prime minister lead he gained in the previous poll, from 41-39 to 41-36. As always, the sample for the poll was around 1150, with a margin of error of 3%.
Categories: Federal Politics 2010-
Victoria I think the reason why so much attention was being given to Thomson was because there was an impression, rightly or wrongly, that the issues were being deliberately delayed, information was being withheld from authorities and the government continued to express confidence in Thomson. Therefore there was media and political mileage in continuing to pursue the matters. That has all changed dramatically in the past week.
While the legal issues may take a long time to work through I think the investigations themselves will now happen reasonably quickly. So we should know sooner rather than later if any of the parties have something to answer.
by davidwh on May 4, 2012 at 9:31 am
confessions + hugh moran
Re Morrison.Four or five years ago there was a global “attitudes” study part of which included questions regarding willingness to trust a stranger. Despite what all the main religions teach they found a direct inverse correlation between degree of religiosity and willingness to trust a stranger. So strangely enough, around the world it was the “heathens” who were most likely to help a stranger out.
by poroti on May 4, 2012 at 9:31 am
davidwh
I dont buy that excuse. If the govt were not in minority, the question would be Thomson who?
by victoria on May 4, 2012 at 9:33 am
davidwh
You bet there was an impression. Mr Abbott frothing at the mouth do declare Mr Thomson guilty for political advantage. That is where the impression came from.
by guytaur on May 4, 2012 at 9:33 am
BK
How are you feeling this morning?
by victoria on May 4, 2012 at 9:34 am
One thing about lawyers and barristers. They know when it is prudent to remain silent.
by Darn on May 4, 2012 at 9:38 am
Darn
Agreed
by victoria on May 4, 2012 at 9:41 am
I presume, the 6 weeks over seas does not apply to pensio ers holidaying
That had better be clarified, before , the rumours begin
by my say on May 4, 2012 at 9:41 am
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/gillard-unwavering-as-she-acknowledges-hard-times-ahead-20120503-1y1px.html
by guytaur on May 4, 2012 at 9:42 am
Victoria of course that was the political mileage aspect. Having said that it would have been a tragedy if the things going on at HSU were allowed to continue simply because there was no political advantage in shining a light on the situation.
by davidwh on May 4, 2012 at 9:43 am
Son of Foro, the url now reads: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-03/focus-on-food-as-pm-turns-to-asia/3990152 … nothing about “fluff”
Someone’s wrist might have been smacked, because the article isn’t at all negative.
by OzPol Tragic on May 4, 2012 at 9:43 am
OPT
Good to see that people including from here can have an impact.
by guytaur on May 4, 2012 at 9:45 am
Good to see the PM confirms she is resolute and strong on such an important day.
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/gillard-unwavering-as-she-acknowledges-hard-times-ahead-20120503-1y1px.html
May the Fourth be with you, Prime Minister.
by Greensborough Growler on May 4, 2012 at 9:48 am
http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/politics/2012/05/murdoch-bashing-alone-can’t-make-miliband-man-people
by guytaur on May 4, 2012 at 9:48 am
My son is on Youth Allowance (student) and is intending to go OS in June for a month.
I rang Centrelink to clarify – and was informed there would be no change to his Allowance if OS for up to 13 weeks. It was the same for DSP. I’m pretty sure there was no limit on Age Pension though.
by kezza2 on May 4, 2012 at 9:49 am
by Leroy on May 4, 2012 at 9:49 am
GG
4th May important day?
by victoria on May 4, 2012 at 9:50 am
guytaur
Loved this bit.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/gillard-unwavering-as-she-acknowledges-hard-times-ahead-20120503-1y1px.html#ixzz1tr0KSPui
by poroti on May 4, 2012 at 9:54 am
vic,
It is if you are a Star Wars fan.
by Greensborough Growler on May 4, 2012 at 9:56 am
GG
Oops. Should have noticed the clue in your post!
by victoria on May 4, 2012 at 9:57 am
It appears that Morrison belongs to a “fundie” religion that believes that every word in the Bible is correct. Ah well, that’s his problem.
However, I was reminded of an item on Fry’s QI. (I have no references to back this up)
Apparently the Pilgrim Fathers did not flee England because they were being persecuted for their religion, but because they felt there was too much moral laxity in England, the Anglicans were too easy-going, and they wanted to create a nation in which they could control people’s behaviour to keep them on their standards of the “straight and narrow”.
That gave me a far more believable framework for American attitudes to religion.
by lizzie on May 4, 2012 at 9:58 am
poroti
Yes its a great article. Full credit to Mr Coorey. It’s no wonder a few people have linked to it. This is my favourite part as it says what will keep Labor going for another 100 years.
‘It’s not always easy,” she said. ”You don’t, in accord with those great Labor values, just get to do the easy popular things. Sometimes you have to do the outright, very, very hard things, the downright hard things.”
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/gillard-unwavering-as-she-acknowledges-hard-times-ahead-20120503-1y1px.html#ixzz1tr1N4sOh
by guytaur on May 4, 2012 at 9:58 am
Politician who understands new media doesn’t understand politics.
http://www.news.com.au/technology/mp-likes-own-party-hate-group-on-facebook/story-e6frfro0-1226346297029
by Greensborough Growler on May 4, 2012 at 9:59 am
Peter Hartcher has maintained his rage with this Gillard beat-up in the SMH today. The headline, “Dear foes: Invade us in 2028″, is about as childish as it gets. To put Hartcher’s motives beyond any doubt, he finishes with this little pearl: “Defence modernisation ”has not been given as high a priority after Kevin Rudd departed,” says (The Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s Andrew) Davies.”
Despite the manner in which he holds himself out, Hartcher is not an objective commentator and should not be taken seriously.
by drake on May 4, 2012 at 9:59 am
Australia has an agreement with other countries regarding pensions.
When you first apply for an age pension, you are required to apply for a pension in any country that you have worked and paid taxes in, before they will process your application.
Many people overseas get Australian pensions (including, you may remember, the pension supplement at the time of the GFC) and many people in Australia receive a pension from Oz as well as from another country.
by don on May 4, 2012 at 10:01 am
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/pyne-concedes-he-may-have-sent-email-20120504-1y2oh.html#ixzz1tr2eNLEk
by lizzie on May 4, 2012 at 10:01 am
drake
Never forget speech Hartcher gave after the August 10 election and minority govt was formed. He did a speech at Institute where G Henderson presides. Anyhow he explained how we would definitely back at the polls in Feb 2011, as the minority govt would be unworkable.
by victoria on May 4, 2012 at 10:02 am
lizzie
Gee whiz Pyne cant recall something from a month ago? He now concedes he may have sent email???
This has a strong stench
by victoria on May 4, 2012 at 10:06 am
Currently on 2GB discussing how the Gillard government has left us undefended when we’re invaded.
The motorized artillery apparently would have saved the day. Now we may as well just hand over the keys to Australia to the Chinese (or whomever) when they come to take what they have previously been buying.
We should be buying more Hornets because, even though they don’t have the range or armaments to fight modern fighters, at least we’d be showing “them” that we’re fair dinkum about sending pilots off to drown in the Timor Sea when the Hornets run out of fuel.
We’re relying too much on the Yanks, and let’s face it who can believe Obama when he says he’d come to save us? He reads his speeches from a teleprompter. QED.
So that’s it: we’re stuffed forever more. Gillard (according to a caller) should be tried for treason.
by Bushfire Bill on May 4, 2012 at 10:06 am
Australia spends $20B on the illegal Iraq war, Afghan war, and War on terror. what for? #auspol
by The Finnigans on May 4, 2012 at 10:07 am
Eleventy Joe sent me a message:
by Space Kidette on May 4, 2012 at 10:08 am
Missed by // that much.
by Gary on May 4, 2012 at 10:09 am
Christopher Pyne said he got nothing to hide. WTF. He was trying to hide he sent email to James Ashby & caught out. http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/pyne-concedes-he-may-have-sent-email-20120504-1y2oh.html#ixzz1tr2eNLEk
by The Finnigans on May 4, 2012 at 10:09 am
victoria
The right and the media always says that minority government does not work. Just ask my say. Lost of Tasmanian experience in minority government. Same with Victoria, NSW and Western Australia. Yet minority government gives the people real say in policy formation. Good minority governments like our federal one can be much much better than a majority one. Just look at how much legislation has been passed by this government. It has passed more legislation more quickly than any time since Whitlam. The negotiation that happens before legislation is presented has brought well thought out and great outcomes for the Australian people.
by guytaur on May 4, 2012 at 10:10 am
Christopher Pyne concedes he ‘may’ have sent e-mail.
He either did or he didn’t!
Honestly, that man could not even lie straight in bed at night.
He’s as crooked as a dog’s hind leg, as me old mum used to say.
However, I do believe he is telling the truth when he says that he didn’t do the dirt
by C@tmomma on May 4, 2012 at 10:10 am
Lizzie,
I saw that QI episode too.That was surprising, but it fits that the Pilgrims were seeking a place to set up a perfect society based on their religion, which was very proscriptive.
The C of E was pretty lax by their standards. People could still dance and women did outrageous things like run drinking houses and wear peacock feathers in their hair.
by Puff, the Magic Dragon. on May 4, 2012 at 10:11 am
The Finns
It is truly amazing. He cant recall something from a month ago that involves someone who just happened to make a claim against the Speaker of the federal parliament!!!
Pyne expects us to believe that crap???
by victoria on May 4, 2012 at 10:12 am
BB
Wow 2GB has become a branch office of the Tea Party of the US. The teleprompter line is a direct steal from them. The same ones that go on about President Obama being born in Kenya and that the Government of Hawaii in the 40′s and now conspired to conceal that fact.
by guytaur on May 4, 2012 at 10:12 am
lizzie
Re the Pilgrims.The Puritans were fun police every bit as bad as the Taliban. Google up “Puritans ban christmas”. You may like to read this short article.
http://blogs.berkeley.edu/2010/11/24/pilgrims-puritans-and-their-american-legacy/
by poroti on May 4, 2012 at 10:13 am
c@tmomma
I am with you. Qld LNP comes to mind.
by victoria on May 4, 2012 at 10:13 am
Sorry, hypersensitive track pad.
As I was saying…it is probably correct for Pyne to say he didn’t do the dirty work of liasing with Ashby over the Sexual Harrassment & Cabcharge Claim. He was the guy who got the OK from Ashby when he was down in Canberra, then left the rest up to the Queensland LNP.
These suppositions are merely that, educated guesses. However, I’ve been correct up to this point.
by C@tmomma on May 4, 2012 at 10:14 am
Wouldn’t that make it turn to vinegar ?
by Peter of Marino on May 4, 2012 at 10:15 am
Interesting to see Barry Cassidy in/on The Drum this morning speculating “leadership” – again.
It is not so much he has this topic, but his discussion and conclusions have been the stuff of PB for months and months.
He goes through the usual possibilities (Rudd, Shorten, Crean, Smith) and dismisses them one by one to come to the general conclusion that the PM is no in any hurry to change jobs at the moment.
To all intents and purposes, other than someone interim to tide Labor over, kind of thing, after the coming destruction of the party come 2013, there is really nobody else but the JG!
I mean, wow! Such incisive comments!
by Tricot on May 4, 2012 at 10:17 am
victoria
Pyne has changed his story three times, but only when he was found out.
He may not have planned it, as c@tmomma says, but he must have known what was going on. His hans are not clean.
by lizzie on May 4, 2012 at 10:17 am
I’m looking forward to Pyne’s escalating “so what?” statements. You’ve gotta love a series of denials that go: “No, no, no, can’t recall, well yes, so what?”
by Aguirre on May 4, 2012 at 10:18 am
Pyne Abbott et al, have their hands dirty imho. Hope Slipper has had the foresight to see what was going on
by victoria on May 4, 2012 at 10:21 am
Tony Abbott’s fingerprints are all over the Slipper Affair.
Well, the wine bottle anyway.
And he signed off on it.
by C@tmomma on May 4, 2012 at 10:22 am
victoria
Some supplemental info.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/star-wars-day-may-the-fourth-be-with-you-day-as-the-daily-telegraph-appears-on-channel-ten/story-e6freuy9-1226346501771
by guytaur on May 4, 2012 at 10:22 am
poroti
Having been educated in a C of E school, where AFAIR the worst restrictions were not playing sport on Sundays, I have always had a horror of the non-conformists who seemed to be restrictive about everything. Always found Dylan Thomas amusing for that reason.
by lizzie on May 4, 2012 at 10:22 am
Vic,
Hence the extended tantrum.
by drake on May 4, 2012 at 10:24 am