Newspoll: 54-46 to Coalition
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-
Mod Lib
YAWN
by Centre on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:11 pm
guytaur
Newman is moving up the “despicableness” scale.
by BK on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:12 pm
STOP SMURFING AROUND! THE INTERNET IS SERIOUS BUSINESS.
by ShowsOn on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:12 pm
That would be Howard Restoration, which is what the Liberals are offering now.
by confessions on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:12 pm
@BBCBreaking: David Cameron “doesn’t recall” if Rebekah Brooks asked him to review the Madeleine McCann investigation http://t.co/YAxFS8CR #Leveson
by guytaur on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:13 pm
When were you in Darwin?
by Mod Lib on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:13 pm
Leveson
jay stalking cameron now
by Lyne Lady on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:13 pm
Hanumen prawns ring any bells?
by Mod Lib on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:13 pm
by CTar1 on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:13 pm
bemused
It does not matter what the PM does or does not do, someone is going to whinge. It is beyond worrying about. JG may as well do what she needs to do, like collect info on the enemy and let the usual suspects do their thing which is snipe and carp.
by Puff, the Magic Dragon. on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:14 pm
Confessions:
Consider this Exhibit 1
by Mod Lib on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:15 pm
PTMD @ 3509
All the more reason to give them less to target. It is really basic stuff.
by bemused on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:16 pm
BK
I take it the bottom of the scale is “Utterly & Completely, and without hope of redemption.”
by Puff, the Magic Dragon. on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:17 pm
Puff
Something like that.
by BK on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:17 pm
Mod Lib
Hanuman,The Magic Wok,Thailicious it was all good. The Wisdom Bar ? My name be on the wall of wisdom
by poroti on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:19 pm
bemused
If JG does that they will have achieved freezing her into immobility. She will be too afraid to move, for fear of someone criticising her. It is a basic bullying tactic and Abbott is a bully.
by Puff, the Magic Dragon. on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:19 pm
#leveson going too fast to keep up with.
by CTar1 on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:20 pm
That quaint British phrase Quangos again. I Immediately think Sir Humphrey Appleby and Sir Desmond Glazebrook.
by guytaur on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:21 pm
Via Twitter
Many here should pay attention to these wise words
by spur212 on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:24 pm
Poroti,
To be honest, I hadn’t noticed the efforts to hide it – plainly they have been unsuccessful!
Disclaimer: I have no problems with male baldness – OH has taken to a number 1 clip on a regular basis, which is fine by me provided he sweeps up afterwards
In a similar vein, I’ve decided after approx 20 years of a lot of fun colouring my hair, I’m now adopting grey with a vengeance…
(but I won’t change my charming little black cat gravatar – yet)
by fiona on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:24 pm
12.22pm: The Guardian’s deputy editor, Ian Katz, has just tweeted:
ian katz@iankatz1000
Hard to say which bit of that text more excuciating. Yes he Cam? Professionally in this together? OE’s charm personified. Views?
14 Jun 12 ReplyRetweetFavorite
12.21pm: The Guardian’s Dan Sabbagh has just tweeted:
Dan Sabbagh@dansabbagh
Brooks text implies clear common cause w Cameron; NewsInt and the Tories were allied. “Professionally we’re definitely in this together”
14 Jun 12 ReplyRetweetFavorite
12.18pm: Cameron describes Gordon Brown’s allegation of a deal between the Tories and News International as “absolute nonsense from start to finish”.
by guytaur on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:25 pm
The govt ‘dirt unit’ story today is a perfect example of the sort of de-contextualised ahistorical reporting typical of a gullible, ill-informed press gallery – the natural consequence of nearly two decades of downsizing, defunding, sackings, and loss of institutional memory, in all the major media organisations, including the ABC.
Those reporting today’s Piss-on-the-PM story have no understanding of public administration and cannot provide any explanatory context. This “story” sounds like just another load of hysterical garbage thrown at the PM as part of the daily news cycle, to drown out any positive news.
So far, we understand that ministerial staff have been instructed (not by Gillard herself) to research and background opposition frontbenchers, by looking through public records available to anyone, in order to equip their ministers with sharper responses in debate. This resulted in last week’s exposure of the 34 coal-mining shareholders in the opposition ranks, an exposure that went virtually unreported at the time (the better story being Combet singing a Lucky Starr song) and now completely forgotten by the airheads in the press gallery.
How does looking up public share records constitute a “Dirt Unit” operation? The staffers doing the research belong to the minister not the public service, and they are accessing public information. Does any reporter have any evidence otherwise?
These same reporters are apparently unable to distinguish current practice under Gillard from past practice under Howard. Does nobody in the press gallery remember the notoriously ideological Abbott/Abetz Dirt Unit during the Howard years? This was an entirely different kettle of fish, allegedly accessing secure government information (not just public records) and standing over public servants and corrupting public administration, at will, for over a decade.
Those Abbott/Abetz Dirt Unit files were taken out of office in 2007, stuck up their jumpers, and are now stinking up the parliament with foul allegations, the sole purpose of which is to bring the government to its knees, no matter what the cost to our political discourse, and public trust in our public institutions.
The airheads in the press gallery have no idea what is going on, and how they are being manipulated, and the ABC news division, once a national treasure, is now a national embarassment.
But tomorrow is another day, and fortunately the ignoramuses in the press gallery will not be a match for the unfiltered internet records of the court proceedings in the Ashby/Slipper and Jackson/Thomson matters, which the Fifth Estate will pounce on and analyse to death over coming days. The direct transmission of the Leveson Inquiry is pretty good too. So who needs a press gallery?
by susan winstanley on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:26 pm
PTMD @ 3515
Rubbish!
She just stays squeaky clean while others do that sort of stuff.
She is the PM, she doesn’t need to do everything. She should stay above all of that and be seen to be above all that while Abbott wallows in the muck.
by bemused on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:26 pm
To me, the PM did well today re the “dirt unit ” rubbish.
Got on the front foot and did not try to hide or deny. Any attempt by her to do so would have left her open for any future beat up on this issue. I am sure the MSM would have been waiting for a denial or some half hearted explanation. She did not give them one. Not saying they will not try again but she did not back down today and put her position on the record.
I think the one with problems is Abbott. It stated today that the coalition does not have a ‘dirt unit”.
He has already been caught out by Oakes and he further leaves himself open when any suspect info gets out there re labor in the future or the libs try to go personal again against a labor pollie.
Just my take.
by Doyley on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:27 pm
Cameron rattled now – and on to Andy.
by CTar1 on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:27 pm
fiona
Nor do I.I reckon if you got it flaunt it
It is the lengths some people go to hide it which provides so much amusement.
by poroti on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:27 pm
How is this an eg of denial of the present polling situation for Labor – your actual specification of the denial you claim to see here?
by confessions on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:28 pm
SW
Well said
by victoria on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:31 pm
Doyley
Agreed
by victoria on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:31 pm
I think the PM jumped on the grenade (the dirt unit) well today. Turned from something potentially damaging to a neutral
by spur212 on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:34 pm
Being on the front foot is most often the best approach.
by BK on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:35 pm
Susan Winstanley,
May I have the temerity to summarise you thus?
A total ignorance of history plus an ability to live only “in the moment”?
by fiona on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:36 pm
Gillard’s ‘yeah, so what?’ response was excellent, but it did not smother the grenade.
by susan winstanley on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:36 pm
Some more food for thought regarding journalism.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/13/fit-to-print-newspapers-journalists-decline_n_1593545.html
by guytaur on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:37 pm
Susan Winstanley,
My apologies – I meant your summary with respect to most of present-day journalists …..
by fiona on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:39 pm
Howard ran a dirt file and abbott runs one 24/7
Greg Barns@BarnsGreg
Howard govt ran a ‘dirt unit’: ex-advisor http://www.afr.com/p/national/politics/howard_govt_ran_dirt_unit_ex_advisor_WNBPKUOjCUqhQWFgXSI5gM
by Schnappi on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:40 pm
If anyone believes the Libs don’t have EXACTLY the same kind of “Dirt Unit” then I will eat my hat (not that I customarily wear one,but I do have two straw jobbies for hollies-up-the coast-time…they look quite tasy)
by Bushfire Bill on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:40 pm
But tomorrow is another day, and fortunately the ignoramuses in the press gallery will not be a match for the unfiltered internet records of the court proceedings in the Ashby/Slipper and Jackson/Thomson matters, which the Fifth Estate will pounce on and analyse to death over coming days. The direct transmission of the Leveson Inquiry is pretty good too. So who needs a press gallery.
Susan from what i read the way both are downsizing
There want be a press gallery, it seems a very unnessary expense,
The so called press could watch qt on the net or tv, use skype, phone ministers.
Ss the lst one turns off their office light i doubt it will be noticed by the public
Whom i doubt know they are even there.
I woukd say this old fashioned, way of doing things is left over from pre tv days
by my say on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:42 pm
Only the ABC seems to be running with it. The issue will be forgotten about tomorrow, unless some new ‘explosive’ angle can be found in the interim by the commercials.
by confessions on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:42 pm
That’s better fiona – thought I was in for a pile-on for a moment there!
Yes, re your description of the press gallery – furiously pedalling the 24/7 news cycle.
I might feel sorry for the buggers if they weren’t so full of themselves.
by susan winstanley on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:44 pm
Guardian Editor
ian katz@iankatz1000
Cameron looking staggeringly shifty about extent to which he discussed Coulson appointment with Rebekah Brooks #Leveson
by guytaur on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:46 pm
Susan W – you’ve hit the weak spot in the current crop of journos. Few have any recall of recent history.
I’ve saved somewhere on my desktop a story related by Arthur Sinodinos after he left Howard’s office. He said that Howard spent 2/3rds of his day in Canberra trawling media and other stuff on the Opposition and anything that he could exploit politically. He said that Janette Howard was a huge help in gathering info and would ring Howard or vice versa up to 10 times a day.
That was beside the Dirt Unit being run out of Phillip Ruddock’s office in Sydney and other Lib offices.
The hide of Abbott’s blatant rejection of a Lib dirt unit today should have been thrown back in his face by those at his presser. Thanks go to Bob Brown for the huge blast he gave Abbott and Abetz about their dirt files.
Doyley is right – the PM did exactly what she should have. She used full frontal attack when asked about it. Perfect response and one that has been missing for awhile.
by BH on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:46 pm
@AP: Mass surveillance: UK authorities release new details of plan to track all citizens’ communications: http://t.co/jZ5YH9kQ -CJ
This will show more polls plummeting for Cameron Government
by guytaur on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:47 pm
Fiona did u see my post re cocker spaniels, i wasnt up set by it at all
Just thought when i lookec at our boy, i would see,
Him lol
But no chance of that ,
Loved your take on 6 year old re darta ,
Our grandson is 6
Never stopps talking ask so ma y questions and knows everything
by my say on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:47 pm
Schnappi @3535,
thanks for that link.
that is why I think the PM did well today.
Any denial would leave her open to revelations like that. Another ‘liar ” moment for the MSM.
Abbott is now the one with honesty problems on this issue.
Interesting that James Massola brings it up BTW.
by Doyley on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:48 pm
Precisely.
Even worse is that the Liberals openly parade their dirt unit in public, and with highly personal angles which aren’t on the public record, or necessarily involve publicly elected figures: the Slipper stuff, Liberals such as Pyne and the unelected Brough having contact with the unelected Ashby at seemingly critical timepoints given the Ashby court claim, going on national primetime TV to publicly undermine their own parliamentary leader, the LOTO’s unlected CoS crying out in QT trying to disrupt the elected PM as she spoke.
These are serious examples of potential and actual misconduct. Yet supposed Labor voters want to lose sight of the forest because the trees look oh so shiny.
FFS.
by confessions on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:48 pm
@BBCBreaking: David Cameron says he asked Andy Coulson about #hacking before appointing him: “I asked for assurances and I got them” http://t.co/9mUApMjH
by guytaur on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:49 pm
Clarke and Dawes tonight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3wKCzIw5Gs&feature=youtube_gdata_player
by victoria on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:49 pm
my say@3537, agree.
It is kind of ridiculous watching pressers with microphones stuck up noses, and everyone getting all hot and bothered, shouting over each other. What is that all about? You can see the same press pack scenes in movies from the 1950′s (although the men usually wore hats).
Shirley we can move on from this silly public spectacle (and save money and energy) by switching to digital and ditching the egos.
by susan winstanley on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:49 pm
@BBCSport: So whether you’re on Apple IOS5 or Android, you can now watch @bbcsport videos over 3G or WiFi. #euro2012 #bbcfootball
by guytaur on Jun 14, 2012 at 9:49 pm