Newspoll: 54-46 to Coalition

Monday, June 11, 2012

by William Bowe

Federal Politics 2010-

GhostWhoVotes reports that Newspoll has the Coalition’s two-party lead at 54-46, unchanged from the previous poll, with the primary votes at 31% for Labor (down one), 44% for the Coalition (down two) and 14% for the Greens (up two). Julia Gillard’s net approval is 4% less bad than last time, her approval up two to 32% and disapproval down two to 58%, while Tony Abbott is respectively up one to 32% and down one to 59%. On preferred prime minister, Gillard is up two to 42% and Abbott is up one to 38%.

It should be noted that most of the polling period (Friday to Sunday) covered what in every state but WA was a long weekend, when an unusually large number of potential respondents would be away from home. Given that absent and postal votes tend to favour the Coalition, it might be anticipated that this would bias the result slightly in favour of Labor, although measures may have been taken to correct for this. As far as I can tell, Newspoll used to abstain from polling over the Queen’s Birthday weekend, but changed this policy last year.

UPDATE: Essential Research has two-party preferred unchanged on last week at 56-44, from primary votes of 49% for the Coalition (down one), 32% for Labor (down one) and 10% for the Greens (steady). The monthly personal ratings have Julia Gillard up a point on approval to 32% and down four on disapproval to 56%, with Tony Abbott down four on approval to a new low of 32% and up one on approval up one to 54%. Funnily enough, Newspoll and Essential concur that both leaders’ approval ratings are 32%. Gillard and Abbott are tied at 37% on preferred prime minister, compared with a 38-37 lead for Gillard last time.

Other questions gauge public trust in various institutions, recording a remarkable drop for the federal parliament from 55% to 22% since the question was last asked in September, and other sharp drops recorded for trade unions (from 39% to 22%), environmental groups (45% to 32%), business groups (38% to 22%) and, for some reason, the Reserve Bank (67% to 49%). The poll also finds 60% disapproving of bringing in overseas workers with only 16% approving, 32% believing labour costs and taxes might drive mining companies away against 49% who expect them to carry on regardless.

UPDATE 2: Roy Morgan makes it three polls in one day by reporting its face-to-face results, which it evidently does on Tuesdays now rather than Fridays. This result is Labor’s best since March, their primary vote up half a point to 33% with the Coalition down 2.5% to 42.5% and the Greens up two to 12.5%. On two-party preferred, the Coalition’s lead has narrowed from 55.5-44.5 to 52-48 on previous election preferences and from 58-42 to 55-45 on respondent-allocated.

Categories: Federal Politics 2010-

5107 Responses

Comments page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 100 | 101 | 102 | 103 |

@lancearmstrong: My official statement re: @usantidoping’s latest witch hunt. http://t.co/zbqCjQS7 #unconstitutional

by guytaur on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:00 pm
There’s a $500 fee to register a political party, but after that all you have to do is prove you have at least 500 members at regular intervals.

by William Bowe on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:01 pm
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-14/power-price-jolt-in-robertson27s-nsw-budget-reply/4070840

by guytaur on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:01 pm
william
thank you

by Boerwar on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:02 pm
I keep my own dirt file on Tony Abbott & his COS Peta Credin. I put it in my compost bin and they are dirty dirty and dirty #auspol

by The Finnigans on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:02 pm
Guytaur

It is getting a bit of a run at Fairfax, albeit down the pecking order:

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/its-fine-to-scrutinise-coalition-members-says-gillard-20120614-20bfs.html

by Lynchpin on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:02 pm
Jason Koutsoukis was banished soon after to be the Age’s “Middle East stringer”.

He was hardly ever heard from again.

Zoomster and BB – I was just thinking the same thing. What happened to Koutsoukis after that article? He had a couple of appearances on ABC and spoke positively about Labor and was then gone … for good by the look of it.

by BH on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:03 pm
@2889 – you’re welcome Puff. Is there some way I can help you?

Having a bad day, week, month, year, life? Anything you want to get off your chest?

by Compact Crank on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:03 pm
Lynchpin

Oh I missed it. Must be hard to find

I think its fast disappearing under real world stories.

by guytaur on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:04 pm
My north coast rellies carry a spray bottle of dettol for cane toads. Dead in about 30 secs apparently.

by PoK on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:04 pm
If you have money
@annabelcrabb: Hey – you can bid on dinner with Nicola Roxon and Gareth Evans here: http://t.co/K05dKKRi Or me.

by guytaur on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:06 pm
The Greens say GOvt hasnt gone far enough with the Marine Parks & the Fishing Industry says it has gone too far. Yep, the Govt got it right

by The Finnigans on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:06 pm
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/by/jason-koutsoukis

He is a foreign correspondent

by my say on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:07 pm
Meanwhile the Greens are deeply disappointed.

Tones is instinctively deeply disappointed.

It’s also said that Steve Irwin would be deeply disappointed.

I’m sure Mr Wilke is disappointed as well.

Bob’s on now – is he disappointed too?]

(Bob’s not – he’s happy to be leaving)

Lance Armstrong is deeply disapointed and so are the Maroons.

There seems no end to the list of todays deeply disappointeds.

More later.

by CTar1 on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:09 pm
PoK

My north coast rellies carry a spray bottle of dettol for cane toads. Dead in about 30 secs apparently

An RSPCA guy up in Darwin was laughed out of town when he advised that the proper humane way to kill cane toads was to smear them with hemorrhoid cream.

MARK COLVIN: It's been dubbed the "bottom-line" defence against cane toads.

The RSPCA in Darwin says haemorrhoid cream is the only humane way to eliminate the feral pest because it acts as an anaesthetic.

It's warned that the use of golf clubs or cricket bats to kill the toads amounts to animal cruelty, and could be punished with hefty fines.

It's a dilemma that Darwin residents are now confronting as the cane toad begins to arrive in ever increasing numbers.

Anne Barker reports.

(sound of golf club swing)

GOLFER: Great drive.

ANNE BARKER: The golf club "thwack" is what some believe is the only sure way to eliminate the hated cane toad

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2006/s1555314.htm

by poroti on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:11 pm
@2910 – Annabel can feed me dessert anytime she wants. (Mrs Crank might get a bit more cranky, though).

The other two not so much.

Why not Biggles with Cheryl? – now that would raise some cash!

by Compact Crank on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:11 pm
CTar1 at 2913. Brilliant. Reads like a Leunig cartoon!

by Lynchpin on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:12 pm
http://www.google.com/#sclient=tablet-gws&hl=en&tbo=d&biw=1280&bih=800&q=pictures++of++happy++fish&oq=pictures++of++happy++fish&aq=f&aqi=g-K2&aql=&gs_l=tablet-gws.3..0i30l2.1388.12138.0.12176.25.17.0.7.7.0.2584.7622.2-1j14j9-1.16.0…0.0.WJu15IR-HOw&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=ffb3749c157ce0c7

by my say on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:13 pm
The above a not dissapointed

by my say on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:13 pm
Poroti

The RSPCA in Darwin says haemorrhoid cream is the only humane way to eliminate the feral pest because it acts as an anaesthetic.

In respect of a cane toad, where does one apply the cream?

by Lynchpin on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:14 pm
This “dirt unit” beatup may be a bit of a media litmus test, as if any were needed. The idea that political parties don’t keep surreptitious watch on their opponents is risible. It’ll be media hypocrisy writ very large if they make an issue from this, while accepting Abbott’s denials of his own dealings.

by BSA Bob on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:15 pm
PoK

April,May 2006 in Darwin saw the best ever toad eradication scheme. In a deal between a brewery a pub and the RSPCA it went like this. Bring in a live cane toad to the RSPCA and you got a voucher for a free middy of Coopers Pale Ale at the pub in town. Max 6 per day per person.

by poroti on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:17 pm
40 years ago when we did such things I used to attack cane toads with cricket bats etc. They are damn hard to kill and often come back after laying still for hours. They swear a quick spray with dettol does the trick.

by PoK on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:19 pm
Lynchpin

In respect of a cane toad, where does one apply the cream?

As I said, the guy was laughed out of town. The NT News had a field day. That particular “bloody southerner” ended up retreating back to Melbourne (?)

by poroti on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:20 pm
The brewery method sounds much better than dettol though.

by PoK on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:20 pm
as they say in the trade, GOTCHA!

http://blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/simonbenson/index.php/dailytelegraph/comments/unit_its_a_dirty_word/asc/P0/

Simon Benson
Tuesday, August 28, 2007 (4:21pm)

IT’S a dirty business but someone’s got to do it. So why not Tony Abbott?

LAST week the Health Minister finally admitted, on behalf of the Coalition, that a US style Dirt Unit did indeed exist in Government.
The dirt unit consists of a group of handpicked researchers who scour the public and not so public files for `dirt’ on political opponents.
Presumably, it is charged with scouring the strip clubs of the world in search of Labor MPs as well.
Abbott’s combative nature often gets him into strife - like an on-the-record version of Bill Heffernan. And that is part of his charm.
But last Friday night he blindly walked into a partial admission of the worst kind during a debate with union boss and soon to be Labor MP Bill Shorten, over the `Rudd Peccadillos’.
Shorten badgered Abbott about the infamous Dirt Unit that every journalist knows exists (because they receive phone calls from it) but is constantly denied by Government.
This is what was said at 5.30pm on Friday on radio:
RADIO HOST:``But you wouldn’t be being a good political party if you didn’t have some people trying to look into the past of your opposition?
BILL SHORTEN: Tony, are you saying you don’t have a dirt unit and it doesn’t have people trying to scour up the backgrounds of Labor candidates?
TONY ABBOTT: Of course. Obviously you want to look at the files and all that kind of stuff.
SHORTEN: What files do you have?
ABBOTT: But this idea that the Government is responsible for the predicament that Kevin finds himself in is just nonsense. I mean, Kevin should cop it sweet. I think he should move on, rather than trying to make political mileage out of this by blaming the Government for his problems.
RADIO HOST: ``Tony, he’s conceded his mistake but you just said, yes, of course, we’ll have people look at the files. What files are you referring to?
ABBOTT: Things that are on the public record.’’
So there you have it.

by sprocket_ on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:24 pm
shock jocks know no bounds. wants to upskirt the PM

http://www.smh.com.au/act-news/pm-upskirting-comment-sends-radio-shock-jock-offair-20120614-20c0g.html

by Gaffhook on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:24 pm
PoK

40 years ago when we did such things I used to attack cane toads with cricket bats etc.

One of the funniests bits of radio I ever heard was on Darwin’s local ABC. A school had gone on a “toad busting” drive at a local lake. The reporter asked one of the pupils how you should kill the toads. The kid gave the politically correct script then added with enthusiam “But its more fun using a cricket bat”.

by poroti on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:24 pm
PoK

The brewery method sounds much better than dettol though.

Whatever you do, don’t get them confused…

by zoomster on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:25 pm
Lynchpin – I think the ABC has beat me to the ‘deeply disappointed list’ concept.

It’s a very ‘no news’ day so they’re working their way through the list interviewing them until some actual news event happens or Leveson starts.

by CTar1 on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:26 pm
Good fodder for the new broadcasting regulations.

by Gaffhook on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:26 pm
sprocket@2925

Tweet it to Miss Libtika

by victoria on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:29 pm
Why not Biggles with Cheryl? – now that would raise some cash!

Or Pru and Johnny!

by sohar on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:29 pm
Told my OH about the cream for cane toads. We were wondering how much each one would need and where to apply it (thanks lynchpin).
OH remarked “That’s a shit of a job.”

by lizzie on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:30 pm
sprocket@2925

Tweet it to Miss Libtika

Seconded!

by Lynchpin on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:30 pm
http://www.crikey.com.au/2012/06/14/keane-journos-v-bloggers-just-doesnt-matter-any-more/

Thursday, 14 June 2012
Keane: journos v bloggers just doesn’t matter any more
by Bernard Keane

This morning Fairfax gave us the views of Martin McKenzie-Murray on the future of journalism and why blogging can’t replace the sort of Woodward-and-Bernstein-style investigative journalism we all want. The issue is particularly piquant currently as Fairfax and News Limited go about sacking staff in an effort to prop up the newspaper business model for a while longer, in the hope that someone works out a new one they can move to.

McKenzie-Murray tries to elevate himself above what he describes as the turf war between seasoned journalists and bloggers, graciously allowing that both sides might have a point about each other. But he offers a series of straw men, and rather old ones, too. Most of the article is aimed at the contention that bloggers and “citizen journalists” can’t replace high-quality journalism provided by the mainstream media. No kidding — of course bloggers can’t replicate the efforts of full-time investigative reporters — they usually have day jobs of their own.

by Leroy on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:32 pm
My favorite radio piece ever was an announcement that opium poppies had been found growing at a certain location near Mildura, giving not only the precise location but a detailed description of the poppies.

by zoomster on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:33 pm
hey sprocket, that article about Abbott’s hypocrisy been tweeted?
happy to do the honours if you wish.

by Henry on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:38 pm
Has this been linked?

James Massola

JAMES MASSOLA, Online political correspondent

Former Howard government advisor Greg Barns ... he says the Coalition had its equivalent of a ‘dirt unit’.
Former Howard government advisor turned barrister Greg Barns has accused Tony Abbott of being “clever with words” by claiming the previous Coalition government did not operate a “dirt unit”.

http://afr.com/p/national/politics/howard_govt_ran_dirt_unit_ex_advisor_WNBPKUOjCUqhQWFgXSI5gM

by victoria on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:38 pm
More partisan and fact-free climate crap from the Oz.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/if-a-carbon-tax-is-the-answer-what-is-the-question/story-e6frgd0x-1226394823423

How can anybody conclude that carbon pricing/trading will not reduce emissions? (Ziggy’s been to the same school of ‘how to interpret data’ as all of the Oz’s other climate ‘experts’)

Trading schemes in the US and EU have reduced emissions beyond expectations and have indirectly reduced costs to businesses and households (due to investment in lower emissions power, technologies and reduced energy consumption). They have seen investment in lower emissions and energy efficiency technologies, with new jobs created. These systems over-allocated free permits and have suffered the GFC, and prices have currently fallen. This is partly because of large shifts in power generation and energy efficiency technologies which have seen quantum falls in emissions rather than the linear/gradual falls the schemes and allocations of permits were based on. This will happen here once the Noalition drops their ‘we’ll rescind the scheme’ pledge – most large emitters (the only ones liable for the ‘tax’) have had plans to reduce emissions since 2000 when Howard killed off a planned ETS and most international investments and borrowing factor in carbon pricing. Even the coal industry factors in this stuff – most cynically designing new port facilities to cope with a 1-2m rise in sea level whilst at the same time funding disinformation campaigns.

Longer-term analysis still says a global prices of $30 per tonne CO2-e are likely before 2020 if the global economy recovers. Over 30% of the world’s economic activity is currently covered by carbon pricing/trading schemes. Once China gets the scheme they are trialling going and integrate this with the global trading system – which will happen, and either the US or just most of the larger states in the US join then we will have something over 60-70% of global emissions covered by such schemes. Australia will suffer if we don’t become part of this – we’ll lose investment opportunities and nobody is going to want as much of our coal (unless viable and long-term ‘clean coal’/CC&S does eventuate, which might buy a few more decades) – I’m looking forward to Gina, Twiggy and Clive falling in the Fortune 500 rankings when this kicks in sometime within the next 2 decades.

The Noalition’s stance is the equivalent of backing policies to promote horses and steam locomotion 100 years ago.

Carbon pricing is the most efficient way to do this, and a way to get a global market addressing the issue. It is a global effort/response to a global problem and as one of the richest and highest emitting economies in history, we need to be part of it. It is also the morally right thing to do – same as not having slavery (oh, that’s right, they also back workchoicesII and coolie labour agreements to make sure workers don’t get to uppity).

As usual, one of the few left of centre thinkers allowed at the Oz, gets it right
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/gallery-e6frg6zx-1111120349509

How do Kudelka and Leak get away with it? – do Rupert or Chris Mitchell struggle to understand or just dismiss cartoons? maybe they think it makes them look balanced. If a picture says a thousand words, then we’d need a pictorial novel from Kudelka each week to balance the rest of the crap.

by sustainable future on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:38 pm
Lance Armstrong – continually tested throughhis career – none failed.

They have the samples and the technology to test past ones – no failed tests.

The USADA are now saying that, based on 2009-2010 blood results that there is a profile of doping – despite him being subject to the UCI’s Biological Passport system which uses the same data and hasn’t breached him.

They are relying on the statements of people who are proven and admitted drug cheats and liars who have everthing to gain (including personal vendettas against Armstrong) and nothing to lose from bringing Armstrong down.

The one good thing that willcome from this is that when Armstrong beats this it wil hopefully end all the crap.

For those of you who don’t know – Amrstrong was tested by the University of Texas as a young Athlete – he is off the scale on lung capacity and VO2Max measurement even for and elite athlete.

I’ll admit my bias – I am a huge fan – but the facts just don’t add up on the allegations made.

by Compact Crank on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:41 pm
Stephen Spencer
@sspencer_63

@markatextor @jamesmassola How about this one? blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph… (and you'll never guess who is distributing it)
11:19pm Wed Jun 13 via web

who? I want to know

by victoria on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:42 pm
CC

So now the concept of innocent until proven guilty works for you?

by victoria on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:42 pm
Stupid me!!

Stephen Spencer @sspencer_63 1h
@Jsus1 No, as this makes clear blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph… (and yes, it's the govt putting this about!)
View conversation

by victoria on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:44 pm
“@CliveFPalmer: I’ll announce my plans for LNP pre-selection in Lilley by the July 3 deadline. I have more billboards going up in Lilley next week #auspol”

by guytaur on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:45 pm
Keane: journos v bloggers just doesn’t matter any more http://www.crikey.com.au/2012/06/14/keane-journos-v-bloggers-just-doesnt-matter-any-more/ – my Q is, why they’re afraid of us? as we’re not afraid of them

by The Finnigans on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:45 pm
Clive Palmer @CliveFPalmer 5m
I'll announce my plans for LNP pre-selection in Lilley by the July 3 deadline. I have more billboards going up in Lilley next week #auspol

by victoria on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:46 pm
@AP: Magnitude-4.1 quake shakes Southern California: http://t.co/KLkJQqVx -AB

by guytaur on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:47 pm
For Guytaur

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-14/labor-dirt-unit-unleashed-on-opposition/4070120

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/its-fine-to-scrutinise-coalition-members-says-gillard-20120614-20bfs.html

by davidwh on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:47 pm
zoomster

My favorite radio piece ever was an announcement that opium poppies had been found growing at a certain location near Mildura

In sheepens land a few decades back a policeman made an interesting discovery. In the sleepy city of Hamilton,retired cow cocky central, he spotted a garden full of opium poppies. He then noticed that they were in gardens all over the city.Virtually all being grown by pensioners.With the flowers being so much showier than ordinary poppies the seeds had been widely passed around at lawn bowls clubs across the city. Nobody knew they were opium poppies until the new pc Plod arrived in town

by poroti on Jun 14, 2012 at 2:49 pm

« Previous | Next »