GhostWhoVotes relates that the latest Newspoll has Labor leading 52-48, up from 51-49 last fortnight. Labor is up a point on the primary vote to 36%, and the Coalition down one to 40%. More to follow. UPDATE: The Australian report relates that Bill Shorten’s approval rating is up three points to 36%, which is the first time a poll has moved in his favour in quite a while. UPDATE 2: Full tables here; to fill in the blanks, Shorten’s disapproval is steady at 43%, Tony Abbott is up two on approval to 40% and steady on disapproval at 50%, and Abbott’s lead as preferred prime minister nudges from 42-36 to 43-36.
Today’s Morgan result, combining its regular face-to-face and SMS polling from the last two weekends, was the Coalition’s worst since the election, recording a 1.5% shift on the primary vote from the Coalition (to 38%) to Labor (38.5%), with the Greens down a point to 11% and Palmer United up half a point to 4.5%. On 2013 election preferences, this gives Labor a 53.5-46.5 lead, up from 52.5-47.5 a fortnight ago, while on respondent-allocated preferences the shift is from 53.5-46.5 to 54.5-45.5. Morgan has also been in the business lately of providing selective state-level two-party results, which are presumably based on respondent-allocated preferences. From this poll we are told Labor had unlikely leads of 56.5-43.5 in Queensland and 52-48 in Western Australia, together with leads of 54.5-45.5 in New South Wales and 55-45 in Victoria, and an unspecified “narrow” lead in South Australia.
UPDATE (Essential Research): Essential Research has Labor back up a point on the primary vote after it fell two last week, now at 37%, with the Coalition up one for a second week. The Greens and Palmer United are at 9% and 4%, with others down a point and the other loose point coming off rounding. Respondents were quizzed about the attributes of the major parties, which provides good news for Labor in that “divided” is down 14% to 58%, and “clear about what they stand for” is up 8% to 42%. Those are also the biggest movers for the Liberals, respectively down 6% and up 7%, although they are still performing better than Labor on each at 50% and 32%. The worst differential for Labor is still “divided”, at 26% in favour of the Liberals, while for the Liberals it’s “too close to the big corporate and financial interests”, which is at 62% for Liberal and 34% for Labor.
A question reading “as far as you know, do you think taxes in Australia are higher or lower than in other developed countries” turns up the fascinating finding that 64% of respondents believed they were higher versus only 8% for lower, while 65% believed taxes to have increased over the last five years versus 9% for decreased. Forty-seven per cent believe the current level of taxation is enough versus 33% who believe they will need to increase. The poll also finds 50% opposed to following New Zealand’s example in holding a referendum on changing the flag versus only 31% supportive.
[I think Williamson is already in the “big house” maybe wrong!]
Yep, his bail was revoked. In the slammer already.
Them were the days, back in 1621 – they could really come up with ‘penalities’ –
[ Thugs, scoundrels and womanisers: the worst behaved MPs in history
Here one Labour MP picks his top 10 bad apples in British and Irish parliamentary history.
3. Giles Mompesson (Great Bedwyn, 1614 and 1621) was fined, expelled from parliament and told to parade up the Strand “with his face in a horse’s anus” for extortionately abusing his royal monopoly for the licensing of inns and manufacture of gold thread in 1621.]
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/shortcuts/2014/mar/23/worst-behaved-mps-in-history
lizzie
Armed robbery gets you serious jail time.
Assault gets you a bag of lollies.
[“How much do you get for armed robbery? Assault? All Thomson ruined was his career and his reputation. I’d say that’s enough.”]
Yeah let’s just let him off from stealing money from low paid workers so he can get a blowjob.
I’m delighted he is headed to the big house he’ll have 3 long hard months to think about “I’ve done nothing wrong”
[How much do you get for armed robbery? Assault? All Thomson ruined was his career and his reputation. I’d say that’s enough.]
More for robbery maybe less for assault in some circumstances. The short sentence does not exist in NSW much anymore; would have been fully suspended or an intensive correctional order or maybe home detention.
There is a strong deterrent element in the sentence.
The damage he has done is substantial, mostly as a result of his lying. A huge bill of costs to NSW ALP and a bloated FWA bill investigating what he has now admitted. Even a fund raiser (where the audience had to listen to Bob Ellis, as well)predicated, falsely, on his innocence.
And of course, loss of seats for the ALP on the central coast. Deborah O’Neill is now staring at Eric Abetz for a living thanks, in part, to the lies of Craig Thomson
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/water-buffalo-on-the-loose-in-newtown-20140325-35f4t.html
Buffalo in King Street Newtown!
Sweden hits 50% renewable power 6 years earlier than the 2020 goal.
http://www.climatecentral.org/news/three-eu-countries-hit-2020-renewable-benchmarks-early-17167
Just out of interest: what is the LNP’s back-up plan, you know, just on the off chance that 97% of scientists are correct, and bunch of cranks and hopelessly compromised coal billionaires turn out to be wrong?
[parade up the Strand “with his face in a horse’s anus” for extortionately abusing his royal monopoly for the licensing of inns and manufacture of gold thread in 1621]
Getting the requisite synergy of movement to make horse and man look mildly co-ordinated might take some practice
[And of course, loss of seats for the ALP on the central coast. Deborah O’Neill is now staring at Eric Abetz for a living thanks, in part, to the lies of Craig Thomson]
Very true. Thankfully, Hartcher & co. are doing their best to square the ledger.
Frodo and shellbell
I am with you! His behaviour was disgusting.
@farrm51: Labor complains in code about Speaker Bronwyn Bishop AKA Doloros Umbrage. http://t.co/h6LB65wonM
Soon Press Gallery are going to have to address Bishop performance.
Is News Ltd site
psyclaw@92
[3) In this way, after much patient and complex analysis, they have found that the plane crashed off Perth
Now I don’t know what Kelly was doing during his answer …. ducking off to the loo, painting her toenails, texting a friend, making a cuppa ….. who knows, but she was certainly not engaging with her interviewee.
Her immediate response to his explanation was: “Well if the plane’s position was so obvious, why has it taken so long to release this information?”]
🙂 Yep, OH said at the time “I can’t work out whether she’s dumb or dumber’.
I felt sorry for the bloke who had so patiently explained it all. Just hope he doesn’t think we’re all like Aussie journos.
MTBW 156
I have seen some animals stumbling up Erko St, coming out from the Imperial but usually in the wee hours and never that big.
Simon
They were a different breed though!
I love that it happened in Newtown.
“@PaulBongiorno: AG Brandis gives 5 minutes notice for a news conference and 20 minutes later still hasn’t turned up”
Its made my day MTBW. Many memories there. Thanks.
The bulls are probably looking for the gorillas operating as security outside the Marlborough Hotel, King Street.
Simon
You are welcome!
Brandis finally turns up. On 24 now
@abcnews: Labor takes veiled swipe at Speaker Bronwyn Bishop, says Parliament is run as ‘protection racket’ for Tony Abbott http://t.co/012hx0mquR
Re Dave @152 – a bit harsh on a perfectly innocent animal.
Personally, I’d have given him 2 years and $25k fine, all suspended but require Thomson to attend every HSU meeting within 50 kms of the Central Coast and otherwise to work for them in a menial capacity as a volunteer doing clerical or other work as directed ex-gratia for not less than 12 months, as well as paying back all of the money.
Each time he failed to comply without adequate cause, a further month would be added to the time required, and if he failed 3 times, he could serve the balance of the time in custody. If he hadn’t done at least 12 months by the time the 2 years expired he could pay the fine as well.
Ignoring Williamson’s sentencing and a possible appeal by Thomson I assume that there is more to come on ex-HSU officials.
It doesn’t matter who you are if you break the law you deserve your punishment. Well in theory anyway as it doesn’t always end up that clean. However these crime commissions certainly do help see people brought to account more often than in the past.
guytaur
Labor should be taking more than a veiled swipe at Bishop she is disgracefully partisan in her approach.
She is also up herself!
Re Fran @172 – Craig might prefer the horse.
Anyway, justice has been done in the case of Craig Thomson. He defrauded members of his union and even if the rules were vague, must have known he was doing the wrong thing. Hopefully justice will also soon catch up with all the other executives and CEOs, pillars of the community all, fiddling their corporate credit cards and expense accounts.
Senator Rights 4 Bigots ploughing ahead reminds me of attitude with Workchoices.
Sentencing has to be relatively simple not full of alternatives and contingencies
Steve777
[Hopefully justice will also soon catch up with all the other executives and CEOs, pillars of the community all, fiddling their corporate credit cards and expense accounts.]
Ha ha! Yeah, right. 😛
guytaaur
[Labor takes veiled swipe at Speaker Bronwyn Bishop, says Parliament is run as ‘protection racket’ for Tony Abbott ]
Cute pun but wrong. Parliament is not extorting money from Tony Abbott. They’d have been better describing parliament as “a safe house” or “sanctuary” or even “refuge” for Abbott. If they’d done the last, they could have asked whether he met the “well-founded fear of persecution test”. With “safe house” comes all of your secret agent riffs. And with sanctuary you bring in all the churchy stuff or maybe “protected species”.
MTBW
I agree about Bishop.
guytaur
[Senator Rights 4 Bigots ploughing ahead reminds me of attitude with Workchoices.]
Now it’s okay to be a racist. But it’s NOT okay to call someone a racist.
Bolt’s glass jaw is now safe.
Fran
Good point.
Davidwh
[if you break the law you deserve your punishment.]
I’d say that you owe restitution to those you have wronged, assuming it’s possible to give it. Some of your restitution could be as cautionary tale, but punishment for its own sake has no warrant, IMO.
I’m not into ‘just desert’. It sounds religious.
“@JaydeVincent: Craig Thomson granted bail @tennewsmelb”
This was a good i/vw by Bowen with Fran Kelly this morning.
http://t.co/ajMg8AhxjF
Re Frodo @154 – you, the party you support and certainly its financial backers in the IPA, Mining, Finance and so forth don’t give a stuff about low paid workers, in fact they think they’re paid too much, so spare su the crocodile tears.
Has anyone mentioned that Quentin Bryce is no long Governor General as of today.
She was one classy lady! We have been very well served by her manner her humour her compassion and interest in the plight of others.
She is leaving very big shoes for her successor to fill let’s hope that he is up to it.
Bigots and racists are people too….just because they can call you a slime low life scum sucking jew thieving Jesus murdering pig sty dwelling hook-nose….Does not mean you have the right to call the racist. That would be so unfair.
SNIP: See article 11 of comment moderation guidelines.
Fran That’s a good idea re Thomson doing penance at the HSU but it could make those working alongside him angry.
He’s lost a lot but Labor has lost more including the very good local member, Deb O’Neill. It’s a pain to have to say that Richo was right when he checked Thomson out in 2007 and said don’t preselect him. NSW Labor ignored the advice.
TP
You are in good form today!
Doogie giving Brandis a kicking. Says Brandis should apologise or resign.
TPaine:
[Bigots and racists are people too….just because they can call you a slime low life scum sucking jew thieving Jesus murdering pig sty dwelling hook-nose….Does not mean you have the right to call the racist. That would be so unfair. ]
Worse than unfair. Defamatory.
BH
[Fran That’s a good idea re Thomson doing penance at the HSU but it could make those working alongside him angry.]
Yes, it might, but it would be salutary for Thomson to be obliged to confront those he trampled on so recklessly. And perhaps the angry amongst them would come to learn why he did it, and begin to grasp see the problem of graft as an organisational failure rather than merely the product of the venality of one or two men. They could begin to make sense of it, and be better armed against future “Thomsons”.
Learning is a good thing, but of course, as a teacher, I favour andragogy.
Some dumb reporter obviously doesn’t know what bigotry is. After Doogie’s denunciation of bigots and bigotry she asked Doogie “what about” an “Adolf Abbott” sign at the MiM.
BH
[It’s a pain to have to say that Richo was right when he checked Thomson out in 2007 and said don’t preselect him. NSW Labor ignored the advice.]
Say what you like about Richo but for all his sins he knows the ALP and how it works.
He can be utterly obnoxious but he knows his stuff.
I have said here before ages ago that when I was at Glebe in the Seat of Port Jackson I had been there all day on polling day in 1995 and Richo rang me to ask what booths were in.
It was about 6:15pm and I said I only had one very small booth I gave him the numbers and he replied “we have won Government”.
I hope that come the new Senate there are the numbers to block Senator Brandis changes. I assume current one will block.
poroti
I am going to be ageist now…how old was she?
Maybe the Liberal Party can open a retail wing – Bigots’R’Us
I imagine the ‘Tony Action Figures’ – complete with interchangeable red speedos and blue ties – would be popular.