Newspoll: 54-46 to Coalition
GhostWhoVotes reports (though James J in comments had the numbers 45 minutes earlier) that Newspoll has the two-party preferred vote at 54-46, compared with 55-45 a fortnight ago and 59-41 the fortnight before. The primary votes are 32% for Labor (up two on last time), 46% for the Coalition (up one) and 12% for the Greens (steady). Julia Gillard’s approval rating is up three to 30% and her disapproval down three to 60%, while Tony Abbott is respectively down three and up four to 31% and 60%. Julia Gillard leads as preferred prime minister 40-37, reversing Abbott’s 40-36 lead last time.
Today’s Essential Research was less encouraging for Labor: it had them losing one of the points on two-party preferred which were clawed back over previous weeks, the result now at 57-43. Primary votes were 50% for the Coalition (up one), 33% for Labor (steady) and 10% for the Greens (steady). Other questions gauged views on the parties’ respective “attributes”, with all negative responses for Labor (chiefly “divided” and “will promise anything to win votes”) rating higher than all positives. The Liberal Party did rather better, rating well for “moderate” and “understands the problems facing Australia”. Bewilderingly, only slightly more respondents (35%) were willing to rate the state of the economy as “good” than “bad” (29%), with 33% opting for neither, although 43% rated the position of their household satisfactory against 28% unsatisfactory.
UPDATE (29/5/12): Morgan have broken the habit of a lifetime by publishing their weekend face-to-face poll results on a Tuesday, never having been known in the past to do it earlier than Thursday. My best guess is that they wished to offer a riposte to Newspoll’s relatively encouraging figures for Labor – “today’s Newspoll showing a swing to the ALP is simply unbelievable”, says Gary Morgan in the accompanying release – with their own results, which show Labor support at an all time low on every measure. The poll has Labor’s primary vote down 4.5% on the previous week to 27.5%, the Coalition up 3.5% to 49% and the Greens up 2.5% to 13%. This translates into 61.5-38.5 on respondent-allocated preferences and 58-42 on preferences as they flowed at the previous election.
Categories: Federal Politics 2010-
Political reform in Syria should start with the current government resigning so that democratic elections can be held.
The government should also be investigated for crimes against humanity.
by ShowsOn on Jun 1, 2012 at 6:56 pm
Diogenes
On a brighter note, reality just intruded on a West Virginian preacher man.
http://www.mariettatimes.com/page/content.detail/id/222142/Veteran-snake-handling-pastor-dies-after-bite-.html?isap=1&nav=5019
by poroti on Jun 1, 2012 at 6:57 pm
One cannot know the mind of HRH, but I will hazard a guess that Howie got that gong for getting Australia to support Britain in a war – Iraq.
by Puff, the Magic Dragon. on Jun 1, 2012 at 6:57 pm
The 1.4 million workers, or one in six workers, who earn minimum award wages and depend on the outcome of the Annual Wage Review (previously known as the Minimum Wages Case ) to keep pace with inflation and cost of living expenses have once again been dudded.
These workers include cleaners, retail and hospitality staff, child care workers, farm labourers, and some factory workers. They include large numbers of women and part-time or casual workers employed in the private sector in lower-skilled jobs.
Unions had advocated a $26 rise, while business groups wanted to constrain wage rises to as low as $9 a week.
The ACTU’s reaction to FWA’s latest minimum wage rise:
http://www.actu.org.au/Media/Mediareleases/Minimumwagedecisionwillwidenthegapbetweenthelowpaidandtherestofworkforce.aspx
Summary of ACTU Submission to Fair Work Australia, March 2012: http://www.actu.org.au/Images/Dynamic/attachments/7563/actufactsheet1203-minimum-wage-final.pdf
Decision by FWA, Annual Wage Review, 2011-12: http://afr.com/rw/2009-2014/AFR/2012/06/01/Photos/907cbab0-ab80-11e1-ad5d-90a851ba734a_minwage.pdf
by Pegasus on Jun 1, 2012 at 6:57 pm
Seems newman is reneging on his cut green tape bullshit.
Tony Burke@Tony_Burke
This is my response to Qld Dep Premier Seeney today concerning the Alpha Coal project. http://tinyurl.com/7kzr86x
by Schnappi on Jun 1, 2012 at 6:58 pm
It wouldn’t surprise me if former Labor PMs have been offered similar honours in the past but have simply refused them.
by ShowsOn on Jun 1, 2012 at 6:58 pm
JohD
Indeed. The salient feature of the Al Jazeera report is the US threatening to go it alone in Syria. If they do, we should make it absolutely clear that we will not be joining the US in yet another of their wars.
Bottom line for Australia: Syria’s eventual role in the regional sectarian and hegemonic struggles between Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Israel have nothing at all to do with Australia’s national interests.
Note that two of those countries are not democracies at all and that one of those, Saudi Arabia, is a client state of the US. No problems with a lack of democracy there, apparently.
by Boerwar on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:01 pm
poroti
Natural selection in action.
by Diogenes on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:02 pm
So John Howard got The Order of Merit from the Queen – who the hell gives a damn?
by MTBW on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:06 pm
Boerwar
Exactly. Why no outcry about the Saudis bankrolling Wahabisn around the globe and the loonism that entails ? No coincidence that the 9/11 highjackers were almost wall to wall Saudis.
by poroti on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:07 pm
poroti
Osama bin Laden does come to mind.
by Boerwar on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:09 pm
On the Alpha stuff up by Seeney.
Good grief, we are being ruled by fricken amateurs. Seeney resign before you do real damage.
by ruawake on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:10 pm
poroti, oils aint oils
by The Finnigans on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:10 pm
Leroy,
I know it’s decided by the Queen but I’d be astounded if she didn’t have genuine soundings taken before going ahead. It’s now almost 5 years since Howie got the boot – wouldn’t be surprised if the Queen was in fact advised to wait for a decent interval to minimise negative reaction.
by ajm on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:11 pm
rua
This morning I posted about the contempt that Messers Baillieu, O’Farrell and Newman have for the environment.
They never, ever make a decision that supports conservation or protection. Given a choice the environment comes second every time.
They are extinction merchants.
by Boerwar on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:14 pm
I think it is a full-scale atrocity agitprop campaign being waged right now. Just saw a pice on SBS beyond belief.
The “International Community (actually the west plus Bob Carr)” is determined that full scale war begin. Disgraceful.
by JohD on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:14 pm
give up on qld. changing for at least 3 terms.
by Joe6pack on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:16 pm
New post at The Daily Derp:
Poor Widdle Diddums Tony
by Dan Gulberry on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:16 pm
Poroti,
Waal, that jes’ goes to show that his faith weren’t strong enough to please The Lord…
by fiona on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:16 pm
The Finnigans
Ah yes,that sweet sweet deal made back in ther ealy 70′s where the Saudis promised the Americans that they would only accept US dollars in payment for oil.Whilst the US of A promised to protect the house of Saud. Something to do with the end of the gold standard and the US being technically bankrupt when the French demanded the gold they were owed. All good fun.
by poroti on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:17 pm
4,300 strikes me as a pretty good hit rate (there were 62,000 voters in the last general election for Mayor), particularly given (1) it is pretty much a suicide mission against Clover Moore and (2) the very, very weak state Labor results in the state seat of Sydney (where Labor came fourth!!)
by Laocoon on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:19 pm
@CraigEmersonMP Emmo, hope you are working hard for the BISONs at gay Paree. They are now well fed & Abbott readied http://thefinnigans.blogspot.com.au/
by The Finnigans on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:20 pm
The award was most likely for public service. As much as most here hate the guy, he was in parliament for 33 years and did do some good things, like giving Indonesia $1 billion after the tsunami, and the gun buy back after Port Arthur.
by ShowsOn on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:20 pm
You gunna tell Clive that.
by ruawake on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:21 pm
We are being governed now by a party that has a absolute majority. democracy ?
Don,t like it piss of back to canberra and whinge. Play know it all from there
by Joe6pack on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:21 pm
Err what? How do you know there won’t be some massive scandal that causes the LNP to lose the next election?
Of course most first term governments get elected, but to extrapolate out from that and say you can predict what will happen in not only the election after that one but even the election after that one makes no sense whatsoever.
by ShowsOn on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:22 pm
Schnappi, Tell you a story related to rats and spinal injuries.
My Dad died in 2002. He’d been a quadraplegic for the last 9 years having fallen over at home and damaging his spinal column around C3/C4.
Now I’ll say here this isn’t a sympathy story but rather the greatness of Australia that Abbott wants to wreck.
Dad spent 3 months in Royal North Shore Hospital and then another 3 months in rehab–all under the supervision of Dr John Yeo–the number 1 spinal doctor in Australia at the time.
But you see, Dad was a pensioner and yet he was still afforded the best care that Australia could offer.
Among the funny stories that we had with Dad over that time (going camping with the problems of catheter and “evacuation of the bowels” for example ), one of the best stories was when he was still in North Shore.
An actor who had a significant role in the first Crocodile Dundee movie came into North Shore with significant spinal injuries. He was scheduled for some tests one day but because of emergencies he was put back down the list
Well didn’t he jump up and down. wtte”Don’t you know who I am? I want to speak to your supervisor ” etc you can picture the scene.
The hospital staff including doctors apparently in no uncertain terms told him ” We dont give a f— who you are and who you know or how much money you’ve got. In here you are the equal of everyone else and will be treated accordingly”
There are some great people in Australia and some great systems in place. And yet the Libs and their mob want only the rich to have access to those services
by RNM1953 on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:23 pm
And speaking of that Vic, the Herald Sun had another headline Abbott would not have liked yesterday:
SPEAKER TALKS TOUGH AS ABBOTT TRIES TO ESCAPE PARLIAMENT
What wonderful imagery.
Admittedly it was on page 14, but hey, a good headline is a good headline.
by Darn on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:25 pm
Shows On
Good points BUT for one thing.Getting a gig as an OM supposedly requires..
Can’t see where the Howie Yowie fits in.
by poroti on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:26 pm
Look at the size of the loss and be realistic . It will take at least 3 terms
by Joe6pack on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:27 pm
RNM
What a lucky country we live in!
by MTBW on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:27 pm
View details ·
http://ellinghausen.tumblr.com/post/24167345817/manager-of-opposition-business-christopher-pynes
by victoria on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:30 pm
J6P
Have a look at the voting percentages, not seats. Seeney, Flegg, Lurch, Newman all have a talent for stuffups and if there are enough they’ll go. Look at Borbidge Sheldon who got turfed real quick for developers, and anti environment. Same mob, different shoes.
by muttleymcgee on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:31 pm
FFS – the damage was done in one election so don’t think you can be sure about the next election result let alone the election following that
by Tom Hawkins on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:31 pm
Darn
Page 14. If it were a Labor MP, i suspect it would be on the front page
by victoria on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:31 pm
yes, like our $290M of AWB bribes to Saddam that was used by Saddam to buy weapons from UK. How appropriatement.
by The Finnigans on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:32 pm
Telecommunications in Australia has always been a natural monopoly.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_monopoly
The best outcome for business is when the natural monopoly is allowed to do its ‘thing’ and then the retail players can work off the natural monopoly’s base.
The solid natural monopoly will provide a solid low profit platform. Then the retail businesses can go nuts and use market forces to compete and increase productivity.
The big mistake that was made with the PMG/Telstra mess was that they tried to break up the natural monopoly itself.
This lead to a lot of economic waste with duplicated infrastructure and what-not.
The structural separation of Telstra and the NBN is at the same time the most right wing and the most left wing of policies.
If gives the natural monopoly life which in turn gives the retail market proper life. (right wing)
But at the same time it gives (virtually) all citizens equal access to a significant resource. Something that very very rarely happens in public policy. (left wing)
by deflationite on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:32 pm
PTMD @ 5202
Maybe we got a little bit of an insight if we listened to Breakfast on ABC radio this morning. Robert Lacey (whoever he is) was asked about the Queen’s politics and said she was left of centre. Startled me, but he went on about how well she got on with her Labour Prime Ministers, didn’t like Maggie Thatcher and realised that to preserve the Monarchy she needed to be popular with the general public.
by bemused on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:32 pm
Joe6pack, been doing any soundings around the country of late?
by Harry “Snapper” Organs on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:33 pm
Size of loss is irrelevant. In 1993 Labor lost 14 seats on a 9.1% swing in S.A. At the 1997 election, the Liberals lost 11 seats on a 9.5% swing and were reduced to being a minority government after just 1 term.
If the LNP governs over the next 3 years assuming it can’t lose the next election then expect it to suffer a massive backlash at the next election.
by ShowsOn on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:34 pm
RNM1953
And The NDIS would further enhance the quality of life for Australians, no matter their financial position.
by victoria on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:34 pm
Abbott lacking direction: Barnett
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/13841285/abbott-lacking-direction-barnett/
Barnett is damning Abbott with faint praise.
by confessions on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:36 pm
Rubbish. Not even coherent. Too many ports, Colonel Blimp?
by muttleymcgee on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:37 pm
bemused
Maybe PJK will be next in line! If that happened it would be loudly applauded on here.
by MTBW on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:37 pm
True. 51% or there abouts will win most elections. Stuff up enough and that can be achieved at any election by an opposition. If the pendulum can swing one way, it can certainly swing the other.
by Gary on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:37 pm
PJK would be far more deserving than the lying Rodent
by muttleymcgee on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:39 pm
BS If Queenie offered something he’d say No.
by Tom Hawkins on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:39 pm
No, this is simply how politics works in W.A. To be popular, you just say whoever is in power, or likely to get into power in Canberra, has no idea what they are doing and doesn’t take care of W.A.’s interests.
The last thing you do is think about the national interest, which may or may not involve handing more money to W.A.
by ShowsOn on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:39 pm
Exactly. It is quite likely Hawke, Keating and Whitlam have all been offered many similar honours but have just rejected them. In fact it is possible Queenie only makes offers when there has been advanced word that the honour will be accepted if offered.
by ShowsOn on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:41 pm
muttleymcgee
I love PJK and would be thrilled to bits for him if that ever occurred but let’s be consistent.
Joe Public doesn’t really care anyhow.
by MTBW on Jun 1, 2012 at 7:41 pm