The West Australian has published a Westpoll survey of 400 voters in the outer southern Perth seat of Brand, held by Kim Beazley from 1996 to 2007 and by Gary Gray thereafter. The two-party vote is said to be 50-50, but it’s hard to square this with primary vote figures of 43 per cent for Labor (3.2 per cent below their result in 2007) and 42 per cent (up 3.4 per cent) for the Liberals. On 2007 preferences it would have been approaching 52-48, pointing to a swing against Labor of 4 per cent. Oddly, we are also told that if the old boundaries were in place the Liberals would be leading 45 per cent to 41 per cent on the primary vote and 52-48 on two-party (I make it 50-50), even though the redistribution has only boosted Labor 0.4 per cent by Antony Green’s estimation. The poll had a typical Westpoll sample of 406, giving it a high margin-of-error of a bit below 5 per cent.
Other findings:
• Fifty-six per cent of respondents oppposed the resources super profits tax, with only 25 per cent supporting it.
• Julia Gillard was found to be preferred over Kevin Rudd as preferred leader, 34 per cent to 31 per cent.
• Thirty-nine per cent said Tony Abbott’s “gospel truth” remark made them think less of him, against 54 per cent who said it made no difference.
• The government received “poor” ratings of 82 per cent poor rating for handling of the insulation program, 81 per cent for asylum seekers as poor (against 14 per cent good) and 60 per cent for climate change policy (against 29 per cent0 good).
• By contrast, and in good news for Julia Gillard, 46 per cent rated the government’s handling of the school hall construction program as good against 43 per cent poor.
• Respondents were split down the middle on the federal government’s health reform package, rated good by 45 per cent and poor by 46 per cent.
Abbott’s a fool. Kevvie thrives in this sort of environment and has such a handle of issues that he is easily able to demolish the Oppositions whole election platform whilst demolishing the original pretext for the motion to suspend standing orders.
Motion of No Confidence? Pffff. 😉
I did
🙂
and I knew the henry report had input from the minerals council.
Do I get a gold star?
So, between them the Libs AND the Govt have laid the groundwork for Howes to do a fairly comprehensive demolition job on Palmer in the NPC this week?
[So, between them the Libs AND the Govt have laid the groundwork for Howes to do a fairly comprehensive demolition job on Palmer in the NPC this week?]
Er yep, it seems like it.
The PM did well but we all know which clips will be shown on telly tonight. It will be Abbott calling Kev a liar and not much else.
Yeah they called the government on transparency but what about the media?
gusface
2!
While we wait:
[i am in no party friends! if there is a Hung Parliament after the election, I will have to get a new mob ph number to escape the media!!]
On which side is the Member for Ryan voting? 😀
imacca,
[So, between them the Libs AND the Govt have laid the groundwork for Howes to do a fairly comprehensive demolition job on Palmer in the NPC this week? ]
I hope 7 and 9 get the worm out of the cupboard and give it a good run at the NPC.
[Who knew that this advertising campaign was in the budget?]
I think it came up in Insiders.
Wow, Britney mentions the 1% change in 2PP in essential and rudds drop in net satisfaction. Isnt the main headline the 11% change in Abbott’s net satisfaction?? That’s a very steep fall. Prediction- newspoll shows similar for abbott and shanahan ignores it??
With the coalition’s 2PP holding up and Abbott’s satisfaction dropping, the Turnbull forces must be getting excited
[I think it came up in Insiders.]
It came up on PB on Saturday I think.
Michael Johnson will be unending trouble for the LNP from now until the election.
Where is Albo going with this??
Albanese potentially referring potential breaches of privelage in relation to allegations to the Member for Ryan…mmmmm
[It came up on PB on Saturday I think.]
Ah, so that’s why it came up on Insiders.
Is Albo’s last the political equivilent of a sapper going out and laying a mine??
Laocoon 1651
Love the faux Maverick act. Of course, he’s just playing the “I am now completely independent; my vote could go any way” act to filter off a little support from some ALP supporters, as well as voters who think the two parties have too much control. Rest assured, if re-elected, all support and confidence will go to the Liberals. I daresay he will vote close to, if not 100% of the time with the Liberals. And the first chance he gets, he’ll rejoin the Liberal party ranks. He’s as independent as Nick Minchin is.
William
Without divulging confidences, does Google Analytics show any interesting network addresses accessing Polly Bludger?
Glen
Mate, the problem is that Abbott’s Mob can’t frame a question properly.
“The question” starts the moment the member starts the first word & ends with the last word! That’s normal Standing Orders in every gathering which uses Fed Gov Standing Orders, inc just about every formal Trade Union meeting, Commercial/ Club AGM.
Oppo members get up, ramble on for a paragraph or so, and finish with the question they want answered. As Speaker Jenkins repeats often enough for six short planks to register, he is following convention, specifically the last (Coalition) Speaker’s rulings. Sauce for the goose is source for the gander remember!
Tape today’s proceedings tonight and LISTEN to the idiotic, rambling “everything but the kitchen sink” questions. As all that rambling is part of the question, it’s fair game. In fact, just about every question the Opposition asks is so rambling, lax and predictable they are (as I typed earlier) effectively Dorothy Dixers.
Until the Opposition learns to frame a question that is so succinct that it’s answered the way they want it answered, the Gov will continue to make mince meat out of it. Don’t blame the Speaker & Government for the Opposition’s QT incompetence
[Is Albo’s last the political equivilent of a sapper going out and laying a mine?? ]
This mine should have the effect of blowing up both Johnstone “and” the LNP in the one big bank if it gets referred to Privileges!
Alannah MacTiernan wants some changes to the Super Tax:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/31/2913773.htm
[This mine should have the effect of blowing up both Johnstone “and” the LNP in the one big bank if it gets referred to Privileges!]
If true then McIvor is in the poo, if Johnson fibbed he is in the poo, if the Australian fibbed they are in the poo.
[Alannah MacTiernan wants some changes to the Super Tax:]
Frank, it’s time to picket out front of her office
Sadly Alannah MacTiernan would be better off retraining for another career.
Excuse my ignorance – but what is the story abort Michael Johnson?
abort = about
About Time:
[Excuse my ignorance – but what is the story abort Michael Johnson?]
Johnson claims that senior LNP officials, including Bruce Mcivor, encouraged him not to stand at the next election.
Albanese has asked Speaker Jenkins to determine if this sort of interference breaches parliamentary privileged.
Country Kid
wtte of pressure on him to resign/not stand as MP (allegedly from head of LNP, reported in The Australian), being in apparent contravention of various legal provisions not to intimidate MPs
Something his mother should’ve done?
Sorry. Couldn’t help it! 😉
[Excuse my ignorance – but what is the story abort Michael Johnson?]
The Australian reported Johnson saying he was pressured by the President of the LNP to resign and not stand at the next election. This is a breach of Parliamentary Privilege and a criminal offence under the Electoral Act if true.
[We did. Yesterday.]
I miseed it obviously, what was the national emergency requiring the PM to unlock advertising funds.
I think Rudd’s making the rules up as he goes along, he certainly isn’t sticking by them.
If the oil keeps spewing, that means Obama probably isn’t coming in mid-June. Does that give Ruddie the option of an early July election? Would he (can he) pull the trigger? Think he’s got to be in France on 19 July to rebury the diggers. So it’s probably got to be before or after that.
[I miseed it obviously, what was the national emergency requiring the PM to unlock advertising funds.]
All those boat people flocking to WA to get mining jobs?
Hi All,
Been busy looking after my Son today, but I just managed to send this off to the Insiders.
Have no clue what’s happened today in the world of politics. Hope to catch up with the comments later on.
I am writing to voice my concerns over yesterday’s episode of Insiders. I have watched this show religiously for several years and it has always been a Sunday morning institution at our place. I have always considered it to be the number one program for politics on Australian Television. In the past, I have found Barry Cassidy to be an outstanding journalist with high professional standards. The show has been well-researched, informative, fair, balanced and good natured.
Since the start of this year, however, I have found that the quality and the integrity of the show have deteriorated quite markedly. In the last few months, and especially yesterday, the show has stopped delivering a balanced platform for both major parties and politicians to present their ideas and policies for review. I was so incensed with the program yesterday I felt compelled to write and to complain. I have also forwarded my criticism and comments to my local Member in Federal Parliament, and to the Friends of the ABC.
Something quite sinister is happening to The Insiders. The program is rapidly becoming a mouthpiece for the Federal Opposition and is beginning to resemble an extension of the News Limited Empire. During yesterday’s episode, Cassidy and his panel of journalists took a scatter-gun approach to attacking the government in a biased manner. On a number of occasions, the panel of journalists were allowed to attack the government with lies and misinformation without the scrutiny of Cassidy. Furthermore, there was no critical analysis of Coalition policies that were released during the week. Errors committed by opposition ministers were brushed aside with flippant and glib remarks by Cassidy and the other journalists. This is not the usual, non-partisan approach that the ABC prides itself on. The high standards and principles that the ABC adheres to were thrown out the window yesterday.
As stated above, I was especially disappointed with Cassidy’s lack of ability and willingness to facilitate a robust and balanced discussion. It is no secret that Cassidy does not like the Prime Minister and that is his prerogative. Despite this, as the host of a publicly funded show, he has a responsibility to conceal his personal disdain and to provide the taxpaying viewer a fairer and balanced approach to politics. He came across extremely unprofessional yesterday and like I intimated earlier, this has been getting progressively worse since the start of the year. It is fundamental to a public broadcaster’s role in a democratic nation, to assist the voter to make a better and more-informed choice at election time. The Insiders and Barry Cassidy are no longer living up to those standards and responsibilities. It might well be the case that Cassidy has approached his used-by-date. In my opinion, this once good and fair journalist is no longer capable of hosting a show that delivers a robust and balanced approach to politics. Yesterday was the last straw for me and my family and we have no intention of watching the show into the future. We have better things to do on a Sunday morning. It is a pity, as The Insiders was a great program. We are deeply offended that our hard-earned tax dollars would be wasted and misused by the ABC to fraudulently promote one political party over another. Maybe it’s time to ‘Can the Cass’ and The Insiders.
Yours Sincerely
Psephos #1643
The Opposition should have. But from what I’ve heard from Abbott, Hockey et al, I don’t think any of them has done her/his homework, do you?
It (or a reference to it) should be in the sections covering the ways in which Mining companies, Small Businesses, Super funds etc as well as the Public will be informed of the changes and their impact.
No way Treasury would have let that type of change through without appropriate budget line/s for advertising/ information packages in appropriate places! Even small incorporated clubs’ auditors pick up on that sort of thing. The “Emergency” would allow those funds’ fast-tracking.
Barnaby, at least, should have picked up on it – he’s an accountant in a small town (St George) & would have been the Hon. Auditor more than once for more than one org in a lifetime … P& C school tuckshop, golf club etc etc. But if he has the sulks after being sacked by mobile phone after the press knew about it, good on him! Abbott’s er … not very well equipped with People Skills.
A few more stories like this will expose the Lib and miners lies.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/full-steam-ahead-in-the-pilbara–despite-tax-clash-20100531-wqeb.html
Rudd already has that option, and no, he won’t have parliament dissolved before 1 July. He wants to have elections stay on cycle.
Malcolm watch pt9
[@TurnbullMalcolm Transcript of interview with Monica Attard on Sunday Profile is posted on my website here http://tinyurl.com/2ckd62y ]
Newspoll published in tomorrow’s Oz to be 50-50
OO:
[3500 insulation workers on the dole:…]
Yeah Hunt has a lot to answer for.
Johnny – I don’t watch insiders because they usually seem to have a collection of people on the program I wouldn’t bother to read (so why would I waste my time listening to them). They aren’t “insiders”. They’re just blowhards. But I did just saw a clip of Shanahan and Bolt and Maley on the program on Sunday. What a joke.
If Cassidy had any self-respect, he’d invite two or three opposing politicians onto the program and let them duke it out. Then I might watch.
CLIVE PALMER
CLIVE PALMER
CLIVE PALMER
CLIVE PALMER
CLIVE PALMER
CLIVE PALMER
CLIVE PALMER
CLIVE PALMER
CLIVE PALMER
CLIVE PALMER
CLIVE PALMER
CLIVE PALMER
Thanks Pebbles. End of that theory.
Interesting piece by HillbillySkeleton over at politicalsword. Lots of food for thought especially with most of us discussing media bias a lot.
http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/post/2010/05/30/The-Canberra-Press-Gallery-will-decide-who-governs-this-country.aspx
Quuestion Time Podcast is up:
Britney on Agenda repeating the proposition that the government is now saying that the GBNT IS causing a deterioration in mining share prices.
It is the misleading scare campaign that is causing the concern – not the substance of the taxation proposal.
Their ABC assisting the Govt in Exile aka The Libs: