Newspoll: 52-48 to Labor

What will presumably be the last Newspoll of the year adds to impression given by other pollsters of slight movement to the Coalition as the year draws to an end.

More evidence that the Coalition is ending the year in a very slightly better position than it’s been in over the past few months, this time courtesy of Newspoll in The Australian, which records Labor’s lead narrowing to 52-48 from 53-47 a fortnight ago. The Coalition now leads 39% to 36% on the primary vote, after a 38% draw in the last poll, with the Greens steady at 10%. Malcolm Turnbull is down two points on approval to 32% and up one on disapproval to 55%, while Bill Shorten is respectively down two to 34% and steady at 51%. Turnbull holds a 41-32 lead as preferred prime minister, compared with 43-33 in the last poll. The accompanying report has further results on the salience of jobs, asylum seekers and same-sex marriage as political issues. The poll was conducted Thursday to Sunday from a sample of 1629.

UPDATE (Essential Research): After a week at 51-49, Essential Research moves back a point in favour of Labor, who now lead 52-48. The most interesting aspect of the primary vote is that One Nation have gained a point to reach a new high of 8%, with the Coalition down one to 38%, and Labor, the Greens and the Nick Xenophon Team steady at 36%, 9% and 3%. The most interesting of the supplementary questions records approval ratings for senior government ministers, which finds Julie Bishop to be by far the government’s most popular figure, with 52% approval and 23% disapproval. Christopher Pyne, Barnaby Joyce, Greg Hunt, Peter Dutton and Scott Morrison more or less break even, but George Brandis has a net rating of minus 8%, and Hunt records a particularly high “don’t know” rating.

A “party trust to handle issues” question records a slight deterioration across the board for the Coalition since August, the biggest mover being “controlling interest rates”, on which their lead has narrowed from 12% to 7%. On a series of “party best at looking after the economy” questions, the Coalition has an 11% lead over Labor on “handling the economy overall”, but a less helpful 33% lead on “representing the interests of the large corporate and financial interests”, with nothing separating the parties on “handling the economy in a way that best helps the middle class” and “handling the economy in a way that helps you and people like you the most”. Also canvassed: voluntary euthanasia, Gonski funding, climate change, and where we go when we die.

Author: William Bowe

William Bowe is a Perth-based election analyst and occasional teacher of political science. His blog, The Poll Bludger, has existed in one form or another since 2004, and is one of the most heavily trafficked websites on Australian politics.

2,249 comments on “Newspoll: 52-48 to Labor”

Comments Page 44 of 45
1 … 43 44 45

  1. daretotread @ #2148 Sunday, December 11, 2016 at 5:40 pm

    Bemused
    Sorry mate but that is being a ostrich. No prizes for not seeing what is coming. I assume you have home insurance. I am sure when you purchase it you contemplate the range of unlikely but possible events.
    This is supposed to be a political blog formed by people with a wider interest in politics and the world. Sadly it is incredibly parochial.

    Most try to sick within the bounds of plausibility.

  10. Fake news again.

    Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has labeled false the claims made on Sunday by News Corp that, “Centrelink is ignoring Islamic polygamy, paying spousal benefits to Muslim families with multiple wives in an effort to save taxpayers’ money”.

    In a story by Samantha Maiden which was splashed across multiple front pages, it was claimed that, Centrelink ‘legalises’ multiple Muslim wives. The article suggested that, “The welfare agency has revealed it refuses to collect data on polygamous marriages under Islamic law, despite the fact some families are claiming to be living in a domestic relationship with more than one woman when claiming welfare.” However, Mr Cormann told Sky News that the assertion was false and single welfare recipients receive a higher rate than those in a partnership.

    “The government of course doesn’t recognise multiple marriages,” he said.

    “They question when it comes to welfare payments is do you get the higher single rate or do you get the lower partner rate?”

    http://nofibs.com.au/news-corps-fake-wives-club-qldaah-qldpol-auspol-mediawatch/

  13. “The government of course doesn’t recognise multiple marriages,” he said.

    “They question when it comes to welfare payments is do you get the higher single rate or do you get the lower partner rate?”

    That doesn’t exactly sound like an explicit refutation of the claims in MAiden’s article.

  14. Mari:

    Yes I’ve seen that on Facebook this morning. Lots of my friends are excited at the prospect of being able to fly direct to London.

    Barnett won’t be premier by then anyway.

  15. The Sydney Morning Herald
    Just now ·
    Losing the prime ministership has yielded at least one benefit for Tony Abbott, who regards reading as “the best way to cultivate the mind”: he has more time to read. However, he does regret one effort – E L James’ erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey.

    I’m pretty sure 50 Shades isn’t aimed at male readers. But in any case, why even admit to having read it even if you did? Abbott is one very strange individual.

  19. ‘fess,

    Lots of my friends are excited at the prospect of being able to fly direct to London

    My first time out without my parents involved flying to Perth, then a cabin on a merchant ship to Hong Kong (sheep on board. Smell OK for Bush Guy).

    Then a bit of movement to Macau for a flight to Lisbon.

    After that Sud ‘Express’ to Paris and the ferry /train to Dover. And then another train.

    It’s all too easy these days to do a cheapie!

  23. A little whimsy:
    George Washington, “I cannot tell a lie”.
    Richard Nixon, “I cannot tell the truth”.
    Donald Trump, “I cannot tell the difference”.

  24. c@tmomma @ #2168 Sunday, December 11, 2016 at 6:32 pm

    What do you know, Tony Abbott’s reading list reinforces his ideological bent:
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/fifty-shades-thrillers-and-western-history-tony-abbott-reflects-on-his-reading-habits-20161211-gt8jts.html
    As opposed to maybe trying to read something which might broaden his outlook.

    With a little creative thinking some here could equip him with appropriate BDSM garb and using a two way rack broaden (and lengthen) his outlook.
    Fine work being done today. 🙄

  28. A little whine:
    Recent trip back from New York was the stuff of nightmares. 29 hours. Multiple delays. Obnoxious passenger in front of HI who would jam his seat back when food or drinks were served, resulting in HI wearing most of it. Finally after HI and seat getting flooded with hot coffee, complained to Chief Steward, who moved us halfway down the A380 and provided clean and dry pyjamas.
    New York, however, was a buzz. Can’t see places like New York taking Trump lying down.

  30. One train of thought

    Frank Rich
    Frank Rich – Verified account ‏@frankrichny

    By holding back RNC emails, Putin didn’t just help install Trump in White House but has means to blackmail GOP to do his bidding post-1/20.
    9:13 AM – 10 Dec 2016
    4,576 RETWEETS5,863 LIKES

    Reply to @frankrichny
    Replies
    Robert Stanton
    15h15 hours ago
    Robert Stanton ‏@Robstantinople
    @frankrichny Yep.
    story
    15h15 hours ago
    story ‏@storyfor60min
    @frankrichny It has been my opinion for months, Russia plans to blackmail @realdonaldtrump because of debts he owes Russians.

  32. Victoria

    I smell a bit of propaganda there. Reds under every bed and all that. Glenn Greenwald in The Intercept.

    “A Clinton Fan Manufactured Fake News That MSNBC Personalities Spread to Discredit WikiLeaks Docs”
    https://theintercept.com/2016/12/09/a-clinton-fan-manufactured-fake-news-that-msnbc-personalities-spread-to-discredit-wikileaks-docs/

    https://theintercept.com/2016/12/09/a-clinton-fan-manufactured-fake-news-that-msnbc-personalities-spread-to-discredit-wikileaks-docs/

  33. Victoria,
    I’ve been wondering for some time whether Trump will make it to inauguration or will the USA descend into civil war. Given the divides in the country and that they don’t seem averse to such horror, it wouldn’t surprise.
    If Putin did manipulate the election outcome and has the means to blackmail Trump, Australia ought to be back pedalling into the middle distance. However, with Turnbull at the helm, I doubt that will happen.

  35. poroti @ #2179 Sunday, December 11, 2016 at 6:52 pm

    KayJay
    Perhaps Tones is into Opus Dei gear like the cilice ?

    I think he may be silica from the ears up. I had to look up cilice. My education with PB is growing.
    Yesterday I was watching the WBBL being played at North Sydney oval. The families gathered were having picnic layouts and the children of various ages were playing at this and that.
    At one stage the camera captured a little kid about to bowl to a bigger kid with a little bat (all this in an area away from danger). The little kid of about knee high started his run up – I guess he had learned to run the day before – up he ran to just the right spot and threw the ball (tennis?) towards the batsman who made the appropriate wild swing. I have heard no more about this great peace of TV but would not be surprised if he was no balled because of his throwing action. Shame really.
    The cricket is really excellent and the women are really excellent. If only Vaness O’Hanlon was in the commentary box with the other lot. 🙂

  36. Got to see a pre-release version of Red Dog 11 this arvo.
    The Pilbara is pretty.
    Unusual cameo by John Jarrat as a banjo playing Lang Hancock.
    Maybe Red Dog will make it to Wolf Creek one day.

  37. monica lynagh @ #2178 Sunday, December 11, 2016 at 6:49 pm

    A little whine:
    Recent trip back from New York was the stuff of nightmares. 29 hours. Multiple delays. Obnoxious passenger in front of HI who would jam his seat back when food or drinks were served, resulting in HI wearing most of it. Finally after HI and seat getting flooded with hot coffee, complained to Chief Steward, who moved us halfway down the A380 and provided clean and dry pyjamas.
    New York, however, was a buzz. Can’t see places like New York taking Trump lying down.

    Passengers like that should be shown the door.

  38. Victorians are a strange people
    I am in Melbourne and saw in Federation Square a small sign leading to an abysmal exhibition of “the Story of Federation”. Not surprisingly it made next to no mention of the main reason the colonies federated but what caught my eye was where and when the Federal story began.
    A special prize to the person who can tell me the occasion of the first inkling of federation. Victorians are excluded from the competition

  40. Poroti
    Love that Air New Zealand ad, have seen it before and it is so good
    Confessions
    You don’t have to be posh ,to go on those planes, after all they let me on,they just want your money!!!

  41. Passengers like that should be shown the door.

    … But on a plane flying at 10,000 metres that would mean… oh… I see.

  42. In the one polygamous relationship I am aware of the 2nd wife, who was easily 30 years younger than the primary couple was geting the carers pension. This would be somewhat more than making an arrngement for a 2nd partner’s pension.

  44. Bemused, unfortunately, we were rather high in the sky at the time.
    The steward was terrific though and organised that we wouldn’t be sitting anywhere near him on the leg to Australia. I wonder if he also arranged a ring of empty seats around this person, just to lower the aggro.
    It was quite disconcerting, really, as, at first, we’d just politely explained that if he put his back rest back sharply, it could upset things on the attached table. All we ever got from him was growls.
    Perhaps he is a One Nation supporter?
    The level of rudeness and inconsideration for others seems consistent.

  50. For me the end of life debate is stymied by the overwhelming concentration on assisted suicide which affects a relatively small population.

    An issue that affects far more is virtualy ignored and that is the failure of patients and families to make appropriate end of life plans. Every day in every hospital you find multiple poor demented people who are bed bound, doubly incontinent and comatose who are transferred in from nursing homes with pneumonia. They have no quality of life and should not be actively treated but have not left a living will. For whatever reason the relatives insist on full active treatment and under current law must be treated. They usually return to the nursing home only to come back in a few weeks

Comments Page 44 of 45
1 … 43 44 45

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *