The first Newspoll survey after the end-of-year break shows the Coalition recovering to 54-46 after the shock 59-41 result of December 9. The Australian spruiks this as the Coalition clawing back support, but a more likely explanation is that the previous poll was a rogue. Kevin Rudd’s lead as preferred prime minister is down from 66-19 to 60-22.
UPDATE: Graphic here. Rudd’s approval is down seven points to 63 per cent; Turnbull’s is down two to 45 per cent, his weakest result to date.
Elsewhere:
• Essential Research’s weekly survey has produced a status quo 59-41 result, along with a 56-20 preferred prime minister lead for Kevin Rudd that marks little shift from the previous time the question was asked in late November. Also featured are questions on expectations of the year ahead economically and for the Barack Obama presidency. Most interestingly, respondents were also asked to name their favourite prime minister since World War II, which produced a win for John Howard on 28 per cent. This is largely because those supporting Liberals (45 per cent of the total) showed no interest for contenders other than Howard and Bob Menzies (11 per cent), whereas the Labor loyalist vote was split between Kevin Rudd (20 per cent), Bob Hawke (12 per cent), Gough Whitlam (9 per cent) and Paul Keating (8 per cent).
• Former Tasmanian Tourism Minister Paula Wreidt has retired from politics, creating a vacancy in the electorate of Franklin that will be filled by a countback on February 2. This provides a clear entry to parliament for Daniel Hulme, the only remaining unelected Labor candidate from the 2006 election. My election guide entry tells me Hulme was an “Australian Taxation Office worker and former Young Labor president described by Sue Neales of The Mercury as a ‘right-wing pro-development campaigner’”. Hulme was the last man standing after Paul Lennon’s exit in the middle of last year resulted in the election of Ross Butler – who, according to Peter Tucker at Tasmanian Politics, has raised eyebrows with his performance. If Hulme declines to nominate, or if any further Labor vacancies arise in Franklin before the next election, we might see the unprecedented activation of the clause which would allow Labor to initiate a by-election rather than have the seat go to another party. Still more from Peter Tucker.
• More casual vacancy news: the last remaining Australian Democrats MP, South Australia’s Sandra Kanck, has been replaced following her retirement from her upper house seat by David Winderlich. More from Andrew Bartlett.
• The NSW Nationals have intriguingly announced they will preselect a candidate for a yet-to-be-determined winnable seat at the 2011 state election by conducting an American-style primary, open to all voters enrolled in the electorate. Peter van Onselen notes in The Australian that “parties in countries such as Britain and Italy have increasingly embraced primary contests, more often than not with electoral success to follow”. The most likely electorates for the trial are said to be Dubbo, Port Macquarie and Tamworth, each traditionally Nationals seats currently held by independents.
• Counting continues in South Australia’s Frome by-election, on which I have written an overview in today’s Crikey. Read about and comment on the progress of the count in the post below.
South aussie proposed new hospial under fire , Obama-ites not only create libertarien myths of there man these intellegentsia create myths that a new modern Hospital is worser than refurbing a relic
First objection for intellegentsia is th ‘name’ (Marj) , as diog says 1/2 opposition wuld diminish if th “Marj” name was changed…..1/2 would diminish ? , what sort of priority is that , worrying about a name , I mean even if Rann da man called new Hospital th John howard” , so what , a new modern hospital with its benefts is more important than ‘progressive myths of politcal correctness of a name BTW whats wrong with a great aussie marjorie jackson anyway VS existing “royal’ name making Monarchisit smile and republicons wishin for a Republic , but side issue th name anyway
we want infrastucure spending , we want new mosdern hospitals and ‘servises’ thats what Labor does as ‘services’ been run down , and some people want to not praise but nit pick names….what put monies instead of a new modern hospital into tax cuts ala Kiberal way where progressive tax system means higher incomers get most money , hospitals service all peoples irespective of incomes
Same problam happened in Cairns when anna wanted new Hospital development ex airport monies Now redoing relic was looked at but costs vs benefit and public inconnvenience (read sick people not proparly attended to) was considerd unacceptable especialy health inconveniense and spending over 2 billion to refurb and ending up with a ‘repainted’ relic and not as big as new hospitl….and a Review was done Well onviousley th dissenters didn’t put up a plausable argument in Review ….and doctors opposition , do you exclusivly ask Lawyers to decide on public policy on th Law cause they know law….no , as there views ar not broad enough to cover all of our public’s intersts
Labor is delivering a new modern hospital, and tainting that over a ‘name’ or poor cost benefit anilysis just gets headlines to make Murdoch earn more
John Ryan
#600
John well said , you capturd foolishness of Bree calling “Barnett a statesman” perfectly , and suppose he’ll elevate Julie Bishop to th same level shortly
Can anyone explain Glen Milne and Julie Bishop’s logic in this bit from the Sunday Tele ?
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24958884-5014099,00.html
Wayne Swan states the bleedin’ obvious – our interest rates are 4% higher than the US.
Julie Bishop interprets this as Swan directing the RBA – when every “economist” has been saying there will be a rete drop in Feb. What does Julie want? an interest rate rise??
Good to see Milne back from holiday – still writing stuff that will not win him a Walkley. 🙂
Westpoll: 56-44 to Liberal in WA.
Ronster
1. The Generational Health Review never mentioned building a new Hospital. It recommended improving the existing peripheral hospitals so patients could be treated closer to home. John Hill is just lying about that.
2. The Marj will be smaller than the RAH. It’s being done to CUT BEDS. The RAH can house 1200 patients, although Labor and Lib governments have cut it down to 600. The QEH will close and lose it’s 350 beds. The Marj has 700 beds and 100 chairs which they pretend are beds.
3. There was NO consultation whatsoever with ANY group, medical or otherwise, about building the Marj, a fact which Rann freely admits to.
4. There is a lot of history and world-wide prestige associated with the RAH. It’s like Coca-Cola losing it’s brand name. The brand is very important in attracting overseas doctors, which we need as most doctors don’t want to work in the public health system.
5. The new name “Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Hospital” is terrible and I haven’t met a single person who likes it. It’s too long, she’s not even South Australian, she’s done next to nothing for medicine and her greatest claim to fame is being able to run fast when she was a little girl. And it would appear that she is a megalomaniac to boot. We are home to Howard Florey, who co-invented penicillin. Some might suggest that he would be more worthy than a runner from NSW.
While we are talking SA health I have a little barny going on with Flinders Medical Centre, these guys are world beaters in research.
One of the “prognostic markers” in my disease is FMC-7 it is used world wide.
But the main prognostic indicator is the mutation status of the immuno gobulin variable heavy chain. This test is only available in Australia at the FMC. But if you live outside of Adelaide you cannot get it done. (I sent blood to Southampton Uni in the UK – to get a result – non-mutated = bad).
There answer is we are using the test as a research tool not for clinical use, geez if they tested everyone diagnosed in Oz it would be less than 5 tests a week.
End of whinge. 😉
A very happy Australia Day to all and also a very happy and prosperous New Year (tomorrow as well) to our Chinese Friends, tis the Year of the OX. The barbie and the Yum Cha will be flying and frying tomorrow.
[The Ox is the sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work. This powerful sign is a born leader, being quite dependable and possessing an innate ability to achieve great things. As one might guess, such people are dependable, calm, and modest. Like their animal namesake, the Ox is unswervingly patient, tireless in their work, and capable of enduring any amount of hardship without complaint.]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ox_(zodiac)
Aboriginal leader Mick Dodson has been named 2009 Australian of the Year. 🙂
[Aboriginal leader Mick Dodson has been named 2009 Australian of the Year.]
and won’t that upset our conservative friends and associated media commentators 🙂 Especially as he beat Glenn McGrath.
To be fair to McGrath his foundation is doing important work funding breast care nurses, but Dodson has has spent his entire life advocating equality.
Jonty Bush is young Australian of the year, she joined the Queensland victim support group after her sister was murdered, she becane CEO of the homicide support section of the group, how many people realise the first victim support group in the world started in dear old Adelaide in 1980, it was run all by volunteers for years out of a church hall and later on offices owned by the church, Chris Summner when he was AG took a paper written by a victim family to a U.N. victimology symposium and read it out, all the other delegates from other countries took the idea back with them and so the idea became world wide, a pebble is thrown into a pond and the ripples spread.
[To be fair to McGrath his foundation is doing important work funding breast care nurses, but Dodson has has spent his entire life advocating equality.]
Yes, I am aware of that – but watch the OO and others accuse Rudd of “Political Correctness” in light of the apology for the decision.
Lee Kernaghan is all I can say. 😉
[Lee Kernaghan is all I can say. ;)]
That looked like a legacy of Howard to appease the Nationals Vote over Telstra being sold off 🙂
ruawake
Mick Dodson is a worthy winner, much more so than a few previous winners esp one from a few years ago. I’ll say no more.
I’ll bet anything that Janet A or one of her ilk will point out that 8/50 winners have been indigenous.
I used to work with Heddy Zola, who helped develop the FMC7 test. It would have been part of the huge CRC on surface antigens. I agree that as it has proven prognostic significance, and was developed using CRC money that it should be available to all Australians as it was Federal money, not SA money that funded it. Heddy is a lovely man and I’m sure he would make it available if he could.
Given that the cahir of the committee that decides has been
Adam Gilchrist – current
Lisa Curry Kenny 2000 – 2008
Kevan Gosper 1996 – 2000
Phillip Adams 1992 – 1996
John Newcombe 1990 – 1992
Its amazing that any non sporty type got the gong. 😉
Diog
Its not FMC7, that is available worldwide thanks to Flinders, it is IgVH . If I lived in Adelaide and my heamatologist requested the test it would be done by FMC.
As I live in Qld I have to arrange for my blood to be shipped to the UK in 3 days (thanks DHL and QML).
But it will change. 😉
I don’t think you’ll have to go so far to the right as Andrew Bolt and Janet Albrechtsen in search of displeasure at Mick Dodson’s gong. There is an enormous amount of popular goodwill toward Glenn McGrath at this very moment, whereas only the committed left will be enthused about Dodson, who can be seen
” rel=”nofollow”>here wearing a Malcolm X T-shirt. They will regret not giving it to McGrath and holding Dodson over until next year.
“The Rudd government is buying off the left with symbolic gestures while it pursues conservative policies.” Discuss.
[I’ll bet anything that Janet A or one of her ilk will point out that 8/50 winners have been indigenous]
and according to the Perth Now article:
Prof Dodson, 58, is the eighth Aborigine to receive the honour. The last was Olympic gold medallist Cathy Freeman in 1998.]
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,24961036-948,00.html
hmm, so the last Indigineous Winner was 11 years ago, and prior to that 6 years previously was Manduway Yunipingu.
the 5 people are:
1971 Evonne Goolagong AO MBE born 1951 tennis player
1978 (joint recipients)
Alan Bond born 1938 businessman
Galarrwuy Yunupingu born 1948 AM native title activist
1979 (joint recipients)
Neville Bonner AO 1922-1999 first Aboriginal elected to the Parliament of Australia
Harry Butler CBE born 1930 naturalist
1984
Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE born 1932 Aboriginal health worker; inaugural chairperson of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (1990-1996)
1992
Mandawuy Yunupingu born 1956 singer, Yothu Yindi
1998
Cathy Freeman OAM born 1973 athlete; also Young Australian of the Year in 1990
2009
Mick Dodson AM born 1950 Indigenous Leader
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Australian_of_the_Year_Award_recipients
Alan Border
Mark Taylor
Steve Waugh
I guess its Pontings turn sooner or later. 🙁
Apology if this has already been raised but Tony Abbott has now made it his mission to annoy the normally right wing voting RSL types with his comments comparing Howard’s medal of freedom to Donaldson’s VC:
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/articles/2009/01/24/1232471652076.html
Is there any way Labor can pay Abbott some kind of ratainer or advance to keep writing such stuff?
Socrates
Yep it has been raised, Tony is playing to his power base.
William 618
Regarding Rudd’s symbolic gestures, sadly I must agree up to a point. Obama’s actions since inauguration have underlined that Rudd hasn’t done that much on tackling “difficult” (i.e. potentially unpopular) issues.
To be fair it could be argued that Rudd had less of a mandate than Obama, no senate majority and is now constrained by the GFC. But I don’t think that is sufficient excuse. Rudd seems to separate social (progressive) and economic issues quite sharply. He does not seem keen to move on issues that cross both. Hence only the easy (low impact/popular) social issues get addressed.
at the end of the day Rudd is a politician, not necessarily a change agent. He might yet make a good reformer, but we don’t know.
[“The Rudd government is buying off the left with symbolic gestures while it pursues conservative policies.” Discuss.]
Perhaps the faux-inner city “leftists”. But it’s working.
ruawake, if you feel this rule about your treatment needs changing then do it, drive your local pollies mad, there must be others with the same problem, track them down, band with them, stir up a fire about it, use the media, they’d use you soon enough, find someone who’se well known or in authority to help you, bang on doors, create a fuss, go to Canberra and lobby the pollies there, sound off till someone listens to you, nothing will change until you make it change, believe me it’ll take time but if you create enough fuss it’ll change to your benefit, at times you’ll wonder if it’s worthwhile but you’ll get your wind back and you’ll start again, if you’ve beaten the path it’ll be easier for those following you, believe me it’s worthwhile, there’ll come a day when you’ll look in wonder at what an ordinary person in need can bring about.
Socrates, Rudd has had his hands rather full trying to counteract the meltdown ever since he’s come into power, i think thats going to take most of this term, i expect the changes will begin to appear next term when the dust has settled.
Who needs a Republic when we need to focus on the economy and to survive a recession this year???
Becoming a Republic would also cost millions of dollars…what a waste of money!
God Save the Queen!
Let us remember that it was the British who colonised Australia and that saved us from speaking Dutch or French…
Glen,
Burp or fart! Not sure what I just did.
Judith my local pollie is Alex Somlyay – enough said – my greatest help is Queensland Medical Labs.
I have a “rare cancer” only 1-100,000 people will get it and of these most will be men over 70. So its the “good cancer” (thats why I admonished Diog for repeating the mantra).
I am the admin for the largest support group for CLL in the world, it is tough when a member dies every two weeks.
So to cut a long story short, what you say is entirely correct, but I am ill. I have an incurable disease, where no treatment has been shown to reduce mortality.
The only question is “how long do you think I will live” ?
The answer to this question is available in the UK and the USA – I will not rest until it is answered here as well. 🙂
[“The Rudd government is buying off the left with symbolic gestures while it pursues conservative policies.”]
Of course William is right as usual. The apology, Kyoto, Dodson and the “Iraq Withdrawal” were all sops to us on the left but they are largely meaningless in terms of actually delivering anything.
Rudd is almost as Conservative as Howard…and his Prime Ministership has been centre-right except for his symbolic gestures mainly because he ran for PM as a Centre-Right (except for IR) he ran as a conservative and won over the people because he wasnt a radical like Gillard…
Rudd is almost like our Tony Blair…
I wonder what the Howard govt would be doing now if they had been re-elected?
Probably nothing – Costello would be saying tax cuts, tax cuts and the Nats would be in a queue to get funding for pork oops infrastructure funding.
Howard would be saying that lower interest rates were all his doing and that petrol prices were pushed down by a secret cabinet plan.
The states (except WA) would be the nasties causing all our ills, and Obama would be the devil incarnate for funding “family planning”.
Glen Milne would be lauding the budget moving to deficit, and the Bolt will have moved on from climate change to immigration.
Why does Labor get elected to sort out the mess left by the Right?
ruawake, then lobby the medical labs to begin with hon, i know all too well how hard it is to drive yourself when all you want to do is curl up and block everything out, see if you can get the medical teams to back you, Dio isnt there something your friend can do? depression is your worse enemy, i know i reached suicidal level once, you lose someone every few weeks then concentrate on those still alive, look whats been done against immense odds for the asbestos group, search for someone who is healthy in authority or the family of someone who needs the same treatment to help, you dont have to do it alone, you cant do it alone but you can light the fire, ok i’ll shut up now, it’s easy for those not involved to give advice, the worse thing anyone can say to me is “i know how you feel” because they bloody dont— just as i’m dishing all of this out to you and i dont know how you feel, i’ll try sending you positive vibes though it’s all i can do, Judy.
Thanks Judy 🙂
sorry, i should have minded my own business, i meant well.
Glen accept it or not Australia will become a republic in the not so distant future, it’s inevitable.
VERA
Another first exclusive for PB :
ruawake
Posted Sunday, January 25, 2009 at 5:49 pm | Permalink
#608
“Aboriginal leader Mick Dodson has been named 2009 Australian of the Year”
Ron
Posted Saturday, January 24, 2009 at 10:21 pm | Permalink
#561
Vera “…Reckon Vera it would be reel appropriate after Appology last year to go with your great idea of an Aboriginal aussie of year…now learned briggade will corect if its they’ve had this honour before , but for me Pat Dodson , very wise man when hear , some don’t listen a 2nd time but should as 2nd time when you do he is even wiser and realistic as an “aboriginal australian”
So Vera , whilst th intellectual elitists don’t read culture posts , seems Ruddy does….th beard always throws me between Pat and Mick
Judy
No offence taken, we had hopes when Ed Bradley the host of the US 60 minutes died of CLL but alas no.
The percussionist from Frank Zappa’s mothers, alas no.
The Shah of Iran – well who cares.
I appreciate your comments, thank you, Love and Hugs 🙂
Ron
Posted SATURDAY, January 24, 2009 at 10:21 pm | Permalink
#561
Vera “…Reckon Vera it would be reel appropriate after Appology last year to go with your great idea of an Aboriginal aussie of year…now learned briggade will corect if its they’ve had this honour before , but for me Pat Dodson , very wise man when hear , some don’t listen a 2nd time but should as 2nd time when you do he is even wiser and realistic as an “aboriginal australian”
Vera , th beard always throws me between Pat and Mick , but ruddy must hav read our conversation and agreed dodson was to be aussie of year
ruawake
I’m more than happy to talk to Heddy if you want. I know plenty of oncologists and haematologists who I could lobby if you want. Just say the word.
Glen
Margaret Thatcher was asked what her greatest legacy was a few years ago. Her answer was “Tony Blair”.
John Howard may well answer that question “Kevin Rudd” after a few more electoral wins.
i’m mentally going through anyone i know but unfortunately my stirring wasnt in the medical profession, i just wish there was something i could do, since Clive Cameron died i dont know any pollies in the federal sphere, just South Australian state pollies.
Diog, Judy
email me at admin@cllforum.com I hope that Polly Bludgers will excuse my indulgance.
Looks like William is going to be right on the money. Why do I ever doubt him ❓
[Mick Dodson has said the date of Australia Day needs to be changed because January 26 “isolates” indigenous people.
“Many of our people call it invasion day.”]
OUCH!
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,24961856-5005962,00.html
William
#618 your opinion said there
you hav got my post in moderaton saying that last nite in #561 where I said to Vera I thought Pat Dodson wuld be th appropriate Australian of Year Mixed up Pat and Mick there with beards , as Mick who I meant , although Pat has also contributd
Don’t agree with your point on Glen McGraph , thats too early Mick Dodson was heavy involver in appoplogy leadership and WAS th Aboriginal spokesman at Nationol press Club that day after representing Aboriginal reponse to th rudd apology Its not symbolic but recogniton of what Ddson prevous done including th pre appology involvemen and post it
whereas Glen is 2nd best oz fast bowler ever , and that can be done next year if he produces (as he will) more kick to Jane McGragh’s previous cancer work it was Jane who set it up with michael Bevan’s wife helping and those 2 women produced most of worlk and results, not Glen So making Micjk Dodson next year wuld be out of kilter with Micks pre and post appology work (excl his prev work) ,
and making glen this year would also be out of kilter , with Glen now fulltime only about to work on Jane’s foundation filltime
done
Seems Pat Dodson gave th press address , so for me either Dodson were worthy and its damn very ‘ordinary’ to say its symbolic seeing what they’ve both contributed
theres nobody who can be chosen who’ll please everyone, theres a lot of worthy people in OZ and they cant all be chosen, everyone will have a different opinion, congratulations to this years recipients.
Anyone who knows Mick Dodson’s story will know he will make a very good representative for Australia. He’ll cop some criticism from his own community for looking like he’s supporting “New South Wales/colonialism” day. Interesting that Pat Dodson was also there as WA nominee for Elder Australian of Year. We have moved on from needing to be a Sir to be Australian of the Year in the sixties but we haven’t moved on from sporting people dominating the system. Its time we also moved on from Jan 26 – its not Australia Day. A pity that the Federation people chose New Years Day to start Australia as that muddles things up a bit.
Wakefield , I’m obvously happy with a dodson getting it seeing i suggestd it beforehand , however see nothing wrong with sporting people dominating it , thats our culture and overwhelming majority see it that wat like witness melbourne cup day all us involved , whereas for other countrys there emphasis is diferent Now for non sportings its a problam , but thats our Country including all PM’s except maybe PK
As for 26th Jan , well it will never change anyway , and why should it , thats when modern austrlia as we NOW it started , thats when th change started from so celebrating it is completely apropriate , and most aboriginol leaders like Dobson and Noel Pearson see themselves as aboriginal australians & 26th Jan not serous problam Wakefield guys like Michael Mansell represent foolish grandstanding & a hurdle to reconcilaton and understanding & he ilk is not part of solution vs a Mick Dodson an aboriginal austrlian as Australian of year ON 26th
Jan is part of recognising 26th Jan process of one australia inclusive of Aboriginol australians as futures , not Mancell who keeps lokking backwards at 26th jan with bad vibes Agree with your comment about no more “Sir” ‘s , …Gough
For those concerned with accuracy
Australia Day is a recognition of the proclaiming of the colony of NSW (they actually proclaimed on 25th)
No sane person would ,in the spirit of reconcilliation, wants to keep “invasion day”.
The best day would be in may/june