Essential Research: 58-42 to Coalition
This week’s Essential Research poll gives Labor its worst result since the company opened for business in 2008: a primary vote of 29%, down two points on last week, and a two-party preferred deficit of 58-42. The former is particularly alarming for Labor, as Essential typically has Labor’s primary vote a few points higher than the phone pollsters. The Coalition and the Greens are steady on 50% and 11%.
With respect to the economy, 66% allowed that it had performed better than other countries’ over the past few years (although this was down from 70% in August last year), with 15% believing it to be worse (up from 10%). In the event of another global financial crisis, 42% would better trust the Liberal Party to deal with it than Labor, on 25%. Forty-six per cent anticipate the economy will get worse over the next 12 months against 23% who think it will get better (the figures when the question was asked a year ago were 37% worse and 27% better).
Sixty-two per cent believe a politician accused of an offence should stand down from their positions, against 27% who believe they should be allowed to continue. Questions on banking suggest the public to be well to the left of the elites on these matters: 55% would support the establishment of a government-owned bank, 74% forcing banks to charge rates in line with the Reserve Bank, 81% capping chief executive’s salaries, 92% limiting bank fees to the costs of the service and 59% a super profits tax on banks (the numbers opposed were respectively 23%, 16%, 12%, 5% and 21%). Fifty-nine per cent would support a levy on large transactions of currencies, bonds and shares, with 16% opposed.
Categories: Federal Politics 2010-
I have moved on.
by bluegreen on May 8, 2012 at 12:05 pm
bg
Slipper dirt file
by guytaur on May 8, 2012 at 12:06 pm
bg
Now that is interesting!
by victoria on May 8, 2012 at 12:06 pm
I would be interested to know.
by Son of foro on May 8, 2012 at 12:07 pm
Kathy Jackson could probably complain about how the presumption of non-innocence was applied to her on PB as well.
by davidwh on May 8, 2012 at 12:07 pm
BH
Yeah, I heard a bit of the fruit cake – cooking the books 3-word slogan – before flicking the switch.
by kezza2 on May 8, 2012 at 12:07 pm
Vic
I really hope its a Soveriegn wealth fund. Now that would set the cat amongst the pigeons. Put Turnbull in charge of it.
by bluegreen on May 8, 2012 at 12:08 pm
bluegren
media rumours I have seen for 18 months and not just the sleaze media but all media keep talking about leadership change ,besides regime change,rumours are what they are for the gullible.
by Schnappi on May 8, 2012 at 12:09 pm
As I said. Countermoves. A very delicate balance.
by bluegreen on May 8, 2012 at 12:11 pm
Perhaps Kroger is covered by the deal Abbott did with Gray regarding that the Opposition can keep two extra Shadow Ministries provided there is no change of LNP personnel.
I fKroger went it might mean that Abbott would have to totally re vamp his Shadow Ministry and tell at least two to take a pay cut.
by Greensborough Growler on May 8, 2012 at 12:14 pm
bg
Delicate balance, my ass.
You mean the Kroger faction throwing its weight round, don’t you?
The General ain’t going down without biffo.
by kezza2 on May 8, 2012 at 12:18 pm
by victoria on May 8, 2012 at 12:18 pm
Why in the hell is Lenore Taylor on about Rudd?
by Gary on May 8, 2012 at 12:18 pm
Brandis’ logic-chopping claim that Gillard should not accept Thomson’s vote because Howard did not accept (for a while) Colston’s vote is a demonstration of how to twist the facts to suit an argument. And morally vacuous.
What Brandis omits to mention is that Colston ratted on both his party and his electorate by offering his vote to the other side (and will forever remain the Quisling Quasimodo from Queensland). That is pretty disgusting, to betray your electorate for personal gain.
By contrast, Thomson has not ratted on his party or his electorate by offering his vote to the other side. He has been suspended from his party, but he remains a qualfiied member of parliament and has no intention of betraying his electorate.
Further, no matter how horrifed Senators Brandis, Abetz and Ronaldson are at Thomson’s alleged transgressions as a union official before he entered parliament, Thomson is still innocent until proved guilty.
Until such time as Thomson resigns, or he is disqualified under section 44 of the Constitution, he is fullly entitled to sit in parliament and exercise his vote on behalf of his electorate. This is irrespective of how distasteful his alleged activities as a former union official might be.
Men with far worse sins tucked away in their carpetbags have sat and voted in this parliament before. Just ask the historians (King O’Malley springs to mind).
by susan winstanley on May 8, 2012 at 12:18 pm
by victoria on May 8, 2012 at 12:18 pm
SW
Well said
by victoria on May 8, 2012 at 12:20 pm
Seeing as how there is no poll out today I though I’d just update on the current betting market – Sports Bet Odds:
PM Next election:
Jules – $2.50 and lengthening
Kevvie – $3.25 and shortening (no pun intended)
Party Win next election:
ALP – $4.85 and lengthening
Coalition – $1.18 and shortening (see above)
Are they wrong? How could they be so wrong? Why don’t they understand?
by Compact Crank on May 8, 2012 at 12:21 pm
As sharp as a bowling ball.
by Space Kidette on May 8, 2012 at 12:22 pm
CC – if the polls change so will the betting.
by Gary on May 8, 2012 at 12:23 pm
SK
?
by victoria on May 8, 2012 at 12:23 pm
Well Peter Slipper has ensured he gives good images for the news tonight.
by bluegreen on May 8, 2012 at 12:23 pm
It’s helpful to recall the many woes of Dominic Strauss-Kahn(?). There are numerous ones, all about parties, prossies, and of course the NY rape allegations.
Why do “high class” prossies exist. One answer only. They serve the big end of town. They are considered to be either “entertainment” or “away from home comforts” or “party guests” for high fliers. They are rarely paid for by individual punters. They ply their trade usually in 5 star hotels (sometimes 5 star harbour cruisers). They are part of the reason FBT was introduced (non cash benefits).
The total lack of expenditure/accounting/credit card procedures of the HSU suggest such big end of town conduct i.e. spend the union members’ (shareholders’, taxpayers’) dosh as if there was no tomorrow.
It’s possible that this is what Thompson has done, i.e. line up “entertainment” for out of town guests. When he says he’s innocent, he may be referring to the fact that he didn’t buy the prossy service for himself, but for others.
If so, this makes him culpable, but no more culpable than the corporations who spend money in a similar vein. And no more culpable than the other HSU execs who preceded and followed him, i.e. KJ and MW and others.
And for a perspective but not as an excuse, $6K spent on such services over 5 years is not an awful lot of such behaviour if you do the maths i.e. $6K divided by $500 divided by 5 years.
by psyclaw on May 8, 2012 at 12:24 pm
bg
As I have previously stated, Slipper may be a lot of things, but stupid he aint
by victoria on May 8, 2012 at 12:24 pm
victoria,
Latika.
by Space Kidette on May 8, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Rudd’s in good form over on his Twitter page today, obviously enjoying life as a backbencher, and just returned from visiting his son in China.
by Thornleigh Labor Man on May 8, 2012 at 12:25 pm
@1463 Susan – you cling to those principles like a life jacket from a sinking ship – and good onya. He could be accused of multiple genocidal war crimes but will still be innocent until proven guilty. Yay!
Meanwhile the rest of Australia is getting on with life and making judgements about what they see and hear – how’s that working for ya?
by Compact Crank on May 8, 2012 at 12:25 pm
Swan in 2010
http://www.theage.com.au/business/after-paying-debt-swan-will-consider-sovereign-fund-20101201-18gqa.html#ixzz1uF0sx3J8
by bluegreen on May 8, 2012 at 12:26 pm
That’s nice dear.
by Gary on May 8, 2012 at 12:26 pm
SK
Of course!
by victoria on May 8, 2012 at 12:26 pm
TLM
Warms the cockles of my heart
by victoria on May 8, 2012 at 12:27 pm
bg
I’m hoping it’s a nice rabbit to be pulled out of the hat. I’ve had enough nasty rabbits already.
by Diogenes on May 8, 2012 at 12:27 pm
Meanwhile the rest of Australia is getting on with life and making judgements about what they see and hear – how’s that working for ya
Just love the propaganda That at least I do not pay for.
by Schnappi on May 8, 2012 at 12:27 pm
TLM, what did he eat for breakfast this morning? We must know.
by ltep on May 8, 2012 at 12:27 pm
Is a SWF the bunny in the hat?
Reserve bank is for it.
New Head of Treasury is for it (although Ken Henry wasnt)
Malcolm Turnbull is for it.
by bluegreen on May 8, 2012 at 12:28 pm
The funny thing is that even if Labor’s vote was to improve by 2% for example, as a result of the budget, then the Gillard true believers here would be touting it as proof that she’s going to win the next election.
Labor ain’t going to win on a 2PP vote of 45%, which is about the best Julia & Wayne can get out of the budget sweeteners.
by Thornleigh Labor Man on May 8, 2012 at 12:28 pm
CC – have fun while it lasts because eventually Abbott and his cronies will come one hell of a cropper.
by Gary on May 8, 2012 at 12:29 pm
David @ 1454
KJ has had a dream run here and by the MSM. She appears to be an untouchable, like Ashby.
But when the court cases get going and al info comes out I suspect the MSM wand the conserves will include her in their sights.
At the moment they like that she is acting as the conservos agent.
by psyclaw on May 8, 2012 at 12:29 pm
@1468 – but obviously they are wrong aren’t they – everyone here is saying the polls will improve – why are people investing their hard earned (that’s why betting markets are so reliable – it is hard earned that sets the price, not an question and answer session with no consequence) – aren’t they wrong? Shouldn’t everyone be laying the ALP at $4.85? That’s a 385% return in 18 months!!!!
by Compact Crank on May 8, 2012 at 12:29 pm
That’s nice dear.
by Gary on May 8, 2012 at 12:29 pm
A SWF would lock away future mining boom profits from Abbott to spend.
It would political genius to do it now.
by bluegreen on May 8, 2012 at 12:29 pm
Victoria and Gary: Yes, it eats you up inside that the lynch mob didn’t kill off Rudd, he’s still discussed as an alternative to Julia, the odds on him getting back the leadership are shortening all the time.
by Thornleigh Labor Man on May 8, 2012 at 12:30 pm
I predicted this yesterday
by bluegreen on May 8, 2012 at 12:30 pm
How long was Rosemour banned for?
by bluegreen on May 8, 2012 at 12:31 pm
Dio
As ShiftyPhil said, by pairing Colston with one of his own senators. However, you don’t do this if you will actually lose the vote because of it. Principles only apply if there’s no cost.
Abbott probably wants Gillard to refuse Thomson’s vote with a similar pairing.
by triton on May 8, 2012 at 12:31 pm
Verballing now. Some here are saying the polls may improve. Let’s see.
by Gary on May 8, 2012 at 12:31 pm
TLM
Yawn
by victoria on May 8, 2012 at 12:32 pm
Whatever you say evan.
by Gary on May 8, 2012 at 12:32 pm
@1486 – fun? The ALP is the Gov – they are the ones having fun – and doesn’t Thomo know how to have fun!!
by Compact Crank on May 8, 2012 at 12:32 pm
You’re a laugh a minute. Go on stage.
by Gary on May 8, 2012 at 12:34 pm
What the hell is a Sovereign Wealth Fund?
by Diogenes on May 8, 2012 at 12:34 pm