Newspoll: 56-44 to Coalition
James J reports Newspoll has the Coalition lead steady at 56-44, from primary votes of 28% for Labor (down three), 46% for the Coalition (down two) and 11% for the Greens (steady), with “others” for some reason hiking five points to 15%, which GhostWhoVotes tells us is the highest since February 2006. Julia Gillard is up two on approval to 29% and one on disapproval to 62%, while Tony Abbott is down two to 30% and up four to 61% – apparently his worst net result ever. Even so, his lead as preferred prime minister has opened from 39-36 to 40-36.
Also out today:
• The weekly Essential Research has Labor recover the point it lost last week to trail 56-44, from primary votes of 33% for Labor (up two), 49% for the Coalition (steady) and 10% for the Greens (steady). Further questions find 53% thinking it “likely” an Abbott government would introduce industrial relations laws similar to WorkChoices against 22% unlikely, and 37% thinking “Australian workers” would be worse off under Abbott against 32% better off. There is also a rather complex question on amendments to surveillance and intelligence-gathering laws.
• Morgan face-to-face, conducted over the previous two weekends, has two-party preferred steady at 54-46 on previous-election preferences and down from 57.5-42.5 to 57-43 on respondent-allocated. On the primary vote, Labor is up 2% to 31.5% and the Greens down 2.5% to 12%, with the Coalition steady on 43%.
Preselection news:
Newcastle (NSW, Labor 12.5%): Labor’s member since 2001, Sharon Grierson, has announced she will not contest the next election. The Newcastle Herald reports the front-runner to succeed Grierson as Labor candidate is “her long-serving staffer and Newcastle councillor Sharon Claydon”. The Liberals have preselected Jaimie Abbott, principal of media training company Gold Star Media who has worked in the past as a public affairs officer with the RAAF, media adviser to Paterson PM Bob Baldwin, and television and radio journalist.
Petrie (Qld, Labor 2.5%): Sandgate Pest Control managing director Luke Howarth has won LNP preselection from a field of ten candidates, emerging a surprise winner over the John Howard-endorsed John Connolly, former Wallabies coach and unsuccessful state candidate for Nicklin.
Rankin (Qld, Labor 5.4%): Jamie Walker of The Australian reports David Lin, Taiwanese-born founder of the Sushi Station restaurant chain, will take on Craig Emerson after winning LNP preselection from a field of six candidates.
Melbourne Ports (Vic, Labor 7.9%): NineMSN reports that the Liberals have again preselected their candidate from 2010, Kevin Ekendahl, a manager at non-profit social enterprises organisation Try Australia.
Throsby (NSW, Labor 12.1%): Bevan Shields of the Illawarra Mercury reports that Mark Hay, military prosecutor and son of state Wollongong MP Noreen Hay, has announced he will not as rumoured be launching a preselection challenge against Stephen Jones in Throsby, as he is about to take a posting with the Royal Australian Navy.
Categories: Federal Politics 2010-
Either NSW or Vic will sign up for a test site within the next few days.
This still has some way to run.
Who will grab the money first ?
NSW or VIC ?
by Doyley on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:48 pm
Typical Coalition: kick people with disabilities in the guts to score a political point; encourage boat people drownings to score a political point; break tradition and protocol in order to kick a domestic government, bad mouth the economy at every opportunity in order to score political points; bad mouth a carbon pricing mechanism in order to score political points and on, and on, and on.
Coalition version of being ‘caretakesr’: take care to kick people in the guts in order to score political points.
If this is the sort of serial bastardry they engage in when in Opposition, what untrammelled bastardry are they capable of should they get hold of power?
by Boerwar on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:49 pm
Tom,
I wonder who will be “helping the AFP with its inquiries.”
by This little black duck on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:49 pm
Was Mr Howard informed of the visit to Vasta in advance?
by sammut fulvio on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:50 pm
Doyley,
Bails. he has some decency.
by This little black duck on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:50 pm
Just got off the phone to a potential customer in Qld.
He couldn’t stop whingeing about Gillard-this and Gillard-that.
I reminded (actually informed) him that “Little Big Man” Campbell had today said Qld was “bankrupt”.
He hadn’t heard that.
“F**k HIM!”came the reply. “No wonder I can’t sell any-bloody-thing!”
Food for thought.
by Bushfire Bill on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:50 pm
AFP asking Vasta questions – will he be going to the cross bench until it’s resolved???
by womble on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:50 pm
Good help the ACT. ACT Labor have sold them self to the devil.
The ACT Greens have made election commitments to hold a one-year trial free Wi-Fi hotspots at Canberra bus interchanges and free Wi-Fi hubs in Civic. They also aim to enable at least ten buses with Wi-Fi. The trial will cost $100,000.
by rummel on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:51 pm
daretotread @ 2278
Can’t help it. John Mills played the role.
Great movie BTW.
by bemused on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:51 pm
Federal police officers have visited the Brisbane home of a federal Coalition MP amid a reported investigation into an email exchange with a former girlfriend.
The Australian Federal Police confirmed it had attended a Brisbane house this morning “in relation to an ongoing enquiry” and spoke to the Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta.
“Mr Vasta and the other resident of the premises were co-operative with police and are currently assisting with enquiries,” the AFP said in a statement.
“It would not be appropriate for the AFP to comment further.”
Comment has been sought from Mr Vasta, but Nine News reported that a statement from the family said the AFP was not looking at matters pertaining to Mr Vasta’s parliamentary duties.
Instead, the issue involved a dispute between him and a former girlfriend.
Nine said it understood the dispute centred on an exchange of emails.
An AFP spokeswoman refused to confirm whether the investigation related to Mr Vasta’s parliamentary duties or the other issues.
Mr Vasta is yet to return calls from this website.
Mr Vasta was one of three Brisbane Coalition MPs whose offices were raided by the AFP in 2007 amid allegations of printing allowance misuse, but the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions later decided there was insufficient evidence to pursue the matter.
Mr Vasta said at the time he always knew he had done nothing wrong and would be cleared.
Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/brisbane-coalition-mp-quizzed-in-federal-police-probe-20120725-22qfl.html#ixzz21cejZbiA
Why would the AFP be looking into a domestic matter?
by ruawake on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:52 pm
@rainbowreporter: .@MikeKellyMP Campbell Newman can’t afford #NDIS, 2 busy feathering his mates nests, bashing queers & sucking up 2 the Pharisee LNP #auspol
by guytaur on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:52 pm
rummel
Have you ever been to Austin Tx? Free wi fi across the entire city.
by ruawake on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:53 pm
rummel,
Quite innovative to encourage public transport.
by This little black duck on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:54 pm
Blackmail?
by rummel on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:54 pm
Tony abbott has lost a vote
Ross vasta , is now a tainted vote
will Abbott run from vasta’s tainted vote
by Meguire Bob on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:54 pm
@SpudBenBean: .@LiberalAus You lying bastards. YOU have abandoned Australia’s disabled just to play partisan politics. You disgust me. #auspol #myliberal
by guytaur on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:54 pm
more on Vasta
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/brisbane-coalition-mp-quizzed-in-federal-police-probe-20120725-22qfl.html
by Space Kidette on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:54 pm
How long til we see pyne and abbott calling for vasta to resign
by Meguire Bob on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:55 pm
Best Pommie military movie ever was Guns At Batsi.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guns_at_Batasi
Followed closely by Ice Cold In Alex and The Guns Of Navarone.
Both of the latter had the same director?
Who was it?
by Bushfire Bill on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:55 pm
Pyne and Abbott and thier whop , must leave the floor of the parliament
they will not accept tainted votes
by Meguire Bob on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:56 pm
Boerwar
SOP and SNAFU . I well remember being amazed at the praise heaped on Howard over his toughness in the first years of his regime . I thought of those he was “tough” with. Aborigines,single mothers,unemployed,,disability penioners,Uni students and wondered if a pattern was forming…….apart from him only picking on those who cannot fight back. Coals ? Bullies-R-Us.
by poroti on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:56 pm
SBS playing the “she was unable” card.
by This little black duck on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:57 pm
Sounds like the ex girlfriend might have been around when the printing fiddle was going on. Maybe she has decided to spill the beans?
by Tom Hawkins on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:57 pm
@AP: Britain’s GDP down more than expected, extending recession into a third quarter: http://t.co/JyBZF5ju -MS
by guytaur on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:58 pm
J.Lee Tompson I think
by Schnappi on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:58 pm
Ru
Someone is telling fibs!
by Dee on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:58 pm
ru
Have you heard anything on the grapevine re Vasta?
by victoria on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:59 pm
Tone and Yappy will have lots of problems with “tainted vote”.
by This little black duck on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:59 pm
email is electronic communication. Electronic communication is Federal Law and policed by Federal Police
by guytaur on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:59 pm
at this point of time abbott can not accept vasta’s vote in parliament
by Meguire Bob on Jul 25, 2012 at 6:59 pm
Dee,
It says it relates to a series of emails. The emails must be on a server in the ACT or commonwealth property.
by Space Kidette on Jul 25, 2012 at 7:00 pm
Schnappi
Turnbull was a champion debater: perhaps debating counted as “sport”. But I believe he also played a bit of rugby.
by meher baba on Jul 25, 2012 at 7:00 pm
During my working life I had much contact with probably the saddest group in our society …… the parents (aged 60-90) of adult children with intellectual disabilities (aged 40-70 years
There aren’t many demographics in Australia who carry the daily (24/7) physical
workload and anxiety of these poor souls …. “what will happen to him/her when I die?”.
So I take a very dim view of today’s events. Those four, Newman, Barnett (the wilful worst two) and Bailleua and O’Farrell (the sycophant wankers)need to get back to Monte Christophe as fast as their rubbery legs can do so ….. All four are counts who have no place in any decent society.
Oh for a Simon Sheikh to gather the disability community together and vote en bloc ….. with the occurrence of disability consistent across electorates, they would hold the election result in their hands.
JG should go with the ACT, Tas, and SA. When they are a success the disability community interstate network will take care of those four pricks.
Barnett made me puke, whining that it was such a disappointment a decision was not made.
by psyclaw on Jul 25, 2012 at 7:01 pm
Simkin doing COAG. They got stuck into each other.
by guytaur on Jul 25, 2012 at 7:01 pm
the money could be better spent fixing the ACT health files that were fiddled with to create better reports into ACT health.
by rummel on Jul 25, 2012 at 7:01 pm
Nope.
by ruawake on Jul 25, 2012 at 7:02 pm
If abbott allows vasta to remain in parliament
slipper should be back in the chair
and thomson is not a tainted vote anymore
by Meguire Bob on Jul 25, 2012 at 7:02 pm
meher baba
was not being devious, but knew all were rhodes scholars, but was curious about turnbull, being Kalgoorlie born, knew a lot about Hawke
by Schnappi on Jul 25, 2012 at 7:03 pm
ru
Thanks
by victoria on Jul 25, 2012 at 7:03 pm
seenothing about vasta on twitter
by Schnappi on Jul 25, 2012 at 7:05 pm
Good start for one of our Olympians
@Lukewarmed: Congrats @matthew_mitcham on being the Number 15 must follow Twittering Olympian! http://t.co/NUgcSbtQ
by guytaur on Jul 25, 2012 at 7:08 pm
rummel,
I have a list of about 100 causes. How long is yours?
Leaving aside that I think public transport should be free, if that project means that the taxpayers have to pay less for public transport then that money can go to such as you suggest.
by This little black duck on Jul 25, 2012 at 7:08 pm
Slipper will be back. I suspect he’s had enough, and the Indies now KNOW enough.
by Bushfire Bill on Jul 25, 2012 at 7:09 pm
Snappy,
Wait for it, wait for it, …
by This little black duck on Jul 25, 2012 at 7:09 pm
Who is/ was John Vasta. Wasn’t he in the Lieberal party? A rel of Ross V?
by psyclaw on Jul 25, 2012 at 7:09 pm
Has that name been mentioned anywhere today?
by Tom Hawkins on Jul 25, 2012 at 7:10 pm
Among all the bickering here about Rudd v Gillard and the sloganised, simplistic, count your chickens bleating of the anti-Labor right-wingers here, today’s NDIS meeting underlines why I vote Labor.
A Labor government trying to do something ground-breaking for the disadvantaged, resisted by Liberal leaders only interested in the bottom line and the top end of town, all spun by a right-wing media desperately trying to rescue them from their own small minded actions.
by Swing Required on Jul 25, 2012 at 7:11 pm
SwingRequired
Ditto.
by psyclaw on Jul 25, 2012 at 7:12 pm
psyclaw @2332
I couldn’t agree more. I worked as a volunteer for a local disability service for years. I know just how tough life can be for those caring for an adult child with disabilities. My own son was born with physical disabilities but he is independent, has a good job and looks after himself. I’m lucky that his disabilities did not prevent him from leading an almost ‘normal’ life.
Something that rarely rates a mention is that too many parents with disabled children have to cope with it all as sole parents. Nothing breaks up a marriage like caring for a child with disabilities. I lost a good friend a few years ago. She had a massive heart attack at 60 years of age, worn out from caring for her severely disabled daughter on her own. There are too many like her, living with the constant fear that they will die and leave their adult children to cope on their own and workoinh themselves into an early death because they lack support and cannot afford to pay for the help they desperately need.
The LNP premiers have no idea and no empathy. To them people with disabilities are just bludgers who are a drain on state resources that could go to better things – like jobs for failed former treasurers. A pox on the lot of them. Fatty O’Barrell’s smarmy, smirky claims to be ‘disappointed’ today said it all. He just wasn’t interested unless there was political gain to be got.
by leone on Jul 25, 2012 at 7:13 pm
Schnappi: Kim Beazley (played rugby) and Neal Blewett (AFL I think) were also Rhodes Scholars.
by meher baba on Jul 25, 2012 at 7:13 pm