With Victorian Premier Steve Bracks having visited the Governor this morning to observe the formality of issuing the election writs, the campaign period is now officially under way. As promised earlier, the Poll Bludger election guide will definitely be in business from tomorrow. In the meantime, I have knocked together the following graphs indicating the progress of the two-party contest in the past term, as recorded by the two major polling agencies. First up, Newspoll:
The numbers indicate the timing of the following events. 1. The government’s Scoresby Freeway tolls backflip; 2. The Royal Children’s Hospital consultancy tendering controversy; 3. Opposition calls for a royal commission into police corruption; 4. Refunds announced for speeding fines due to faulty cameras; 5. Federal election campaign and Coalition freeway funding promise; 6. Police Minister Andre Haermeyer dumped in reshuffle; 7. New Police Minister Tim Holding admits he didn’t read a memo regarding the police files issue; 8. Robert Doyle’s backflip on freeway tolls; 9. Commonwealth Games; 10. Ted Baillieu replaces Robert Doyle as Liberal leader.
Next up, Roy Morgan:
There have also been four ACNielsen/AgePoll surveys conducted since late last year, which have produced impressively consistent results.
| Pub date | ALP | LNP | GRN | ALP 2PP | LNP 2PP | ||
| 24 Oct ’06 | 42 | 40 | 13 | 56 | 44 | ||
| 21 Aug ’06 | 43 | 41 | 11 | 55 | 45 | ||
| 25 May ’06 | 43 | 41 | 10 | 55 | 45 | ||
| 25 Nov ’05 | 43 | 39 | 11 | 56 | 44 |
