Today’s West Australian carries a Westpoll survey of federal voting intention, with the usual small sample (404 respondents) and large margin of error (approaching 5 per cent). The poll has the Coalition with a two-party lead of 52-48, which if accurate would amount to a 4.5 per cent swing to Labor – a swing which would snare Labor the front-line seats of Hasluck, Canning and Swan if uniform. The poll shows Labor’s primary vote at an unlikely sounding 39 per cent compared with just 31.3 per cent at the election, with the Coalition on 47 per cent (50.6 per cent at the election) and the Greens on 10 per cent (13.3 per cent). Julia Gillard’s lead as preferred prime minister has nonetheless narrowed slightly since the pre-election Westpoll, from 47-36 to 47-38. A well-framed set of options on “satisfaction with election outcome” shows 20 per cent professing themselves “quite happy with the compromises needed to form government”, 42 per cent opted for “not really happy but better than another election” while 35 per cent are “unhappy, want another poll”. Breakdowns by voting intention tell a predictable story.
UPDATE: Essential Research has Labor’s lead at 51-49 for the third week running, with Labor’s primary vote down a point to 41 per cent, the Coalition steady on 44 per cent and the Greens steady on 8 per cent. A question on most important issues in choosing how to vote turns up the economy, education and health as the front-runners, with asylum seekers, national security and population growth joining water security at the rear of the pack. The Liberals have substantial leads as the best party to handle various economic questions, with Labor leading most of the rest. On the question of Afghanistan, 49 per cent want the troops brought home, 13 per cent want the number increased and 24 per cent believe the current number is right.
The Great Unhingeing picks up pace.
Rocked by his first savaging by the media the unhinged one lifts his fist from the ground and shakes it in the air in impotent rage.
While Julia smiles quietly at his discomfort and gets on with running the country.
Morning all.
I have listened to two news cycles on ABC 774. No mention of false audit claims by Hockey or Abbott accusing Gillard of “low bastardry”.
MDB news mentioned in context that Barnyard says 10,000 jobs will be lost. Not the 800 as mentioned by MDB Authority
By the way Marieke Hardy on 774 this morning, said that the Australian newspaper is becoming increasingly “Shrill”!
[Fairfax newspapers quote letters between the Liberal Party and the accountants saying the work would not constitute an audit in accordance with Australian standards.
A spokesman for shadow treasurer Joe Hockey is quoted as saying the word “audit” was used in a way that would be understood in laymen’s terms.]
The audit you do when you aren’t doing an audit? Give me a break!
What’s the bet all this bluster and fury from Tone is just another deflection tactic so the MSM aren’t focusing on the bigger story of Hockey and Robb and the coalition costings.
Cuppa@51
Gillard is playing with abbott’s mind and has upset him to the point where he
has virtually lost it.
His outburst is confirmation that he is outclassed and flaccid when it really matters –
that is what REALLY hurts him.
Onya bike abbott…
Good morning, Bludgers
Wet & windy again. Apparently Thursday will be fine; but there’s no end-of-the wet in sight – and The Wet (Monsoon season) hasn’t started yet. Very quiet, though, with road closures.
*Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practise to deceive! (WalterScott: Marmion*
No Newspoll, eh? Guss it wasn’t a real smart move after Their Tone’s “jetlaggate” efforts; so NewsLtd’s helping him shift blame to the Temptress who lured the Indies into Labor’s camp; hence today’s on-line papers’ Let the battle rage scribblings.
Abbott monsters PM Delilah Gillard. He’s angry he’d been caught in the “Jetlag” slip; cos “It’s all Julia’s fault.” “No it’s not!” writes Phil Coorey, who broke the story. “I heard it from a reporter, not the government.” Geez, who to believe, eh?
As if to demonstrate the truth of “Trust a reporter; trust anyone but Abbott’s Mob & meeja Camp Followers!” we discover that Abbott’s Mob knew Horwath’s in/famous “costings” of the Coalition’s pre-election policies – signed by Horwath’s; countersigned by the Liberals Mr Loughnane – was not an audited statement as Hockey & Robb claimed, but
[little more than a spreadsheet to ”review the arithmetic accuracy of the Liberal Party of Australia’s costing estimates”.]
Just in case we might be thinking “perhaps Abbott’s Mob & Camp Followers’ have learnt a lesson and given up deception as a political imperative,” we have their ABC promoting Mr Robb (Shadow Finance Minister) into Hockey’s job – a position in which he seems to to have been “acting” since the election – with no reported attempt by said Mr Robb to set the record straight.
Now Glen Milne (whose bias hasn’t been under question since – well, 24 Nov 07 at the latest) rehashes a crucial point in Oakshott’s interview for the 4Corner’s crew: Abbott didn’t want to be a minority government PM; he wanted what TheOz (& probably its owner – given the serious sh*t Rupe’s NewsInternational is in, as Cameron’s minority gov doesn’t control the Commons) was pushing for all it’s worth – a new election to be called; one both he and NewsLtd thought he could win …
Until Newspoll 27-29 Oct: Majority of voters want the independents to back Labor
PS Emergency drs visit with OH. See you later.
Again quite the opposite is the case – most people would expect that where the word *audit* is used, that an audit in fact had been conducted.
Hockey caught lying yet again. Situation normal.
This from the mob that got caught out after trying so hard to hid their GBBH of $12 Billion.
Enjoy the next 3 years out of power and totally discredited libs 🙂
There is a simple reason why Abbott is grumpy.
[The symptoms of jet lag can be quite varied, depending on the amount of time zone alteration. They may include the following:[2]
Headaches
Fatigue, irregular sleep patterns, insomnia
Disorientation, grogginess, irritability
Mild depression
constipation or diarrhea
Other symptoms which some may attribute to jet lag, such as nausea, ear aches and swollen feet, may be caused by the mode of travel rather than the time zone change.]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_lag
Is the Herald (particularly with the Bruce Guthrie extracts) getting tougher on the Murdoch press? I sense they are, and I’ve been wondering for a while whether the dwindling newspaper market will result in a pretty savage fight to the death. Maybe we’re really starting to see that (which is a good thing). There ain’t going to be any honour among thieves any more when the spoils are so small.
Yes – he lost and is still losing 🙂
Abbott on arrival at Kingsford Smith, refused to answer any questions, looked haggard said he would respond later today. If this is what biking and surfing and keeping fit does, ending up looking like the unhinged monk, no thanks. its not as if he travels in cattle class on flights. Indeed the unhinging continues at pace.
Incidentally Sky is avoiding the latest on the Opposition costing lies. Not a word in two bulletins but of course leading with Abbotts low bastardry comment.
Agree with Dave, JG is really getting into Abbotts mind and he cannot cope. The look on his face this morning at the airport was not nice, the weird walk is becoming more pronounced. He is definitely cracking.
[But he was forced to listen closely to the Australian command in Afghanistan, who advised him that they had all the manpower and equipment they needed.
Mr Abbott’s own shadow defence spokesman, David Johnson, had earlier argued that the Australians needed extra support in Afghanistan, including introducing tanks to the conflict.
But Australia’s head of Middle Eastern operations, Major-General John Cantwell, made it clear the Australian mission was under control.
Maj-Gen Cantwell, who himself has a tank background, said: “Does anyone really think I would for one minute place the lives of our soldiers at greater risk than it needs to be over a matter of policy? “Give me a break. These are soldiers. I’ve shed tears for these guys.
“I’ve stood beside the broken and ruined bodies of far too many soldiers this year.
“If I thought I needed to do more to keep those guys alive and send them home to their families, I’d damn well do it, and I wouldn’t stop shouting until I got a good answer. But I don’t feel the need to do that.
“We don’t need more tanks. We don’t need any tanks. It’s the wrong place. I’m a tank guy and I’m telling you, we don’t need tanks.”]
So where was Johnson so he could hear this?
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/tony-abbott-fires-odd-angry-shot-in-afghanistan/story-e6frf7l6-1225936869132
Its pretty poor journalism and hints at the low class of our newspapers in general when the big headlines for the day are about what name politicians are calling themsleves. Is this what these journos’ studied for? Its not even news. It reminds me of what Thoreau said.
“We are in great haste to construct a magnetic telegraph from Maine to Texas; but Maine and Texas, it may be, have nothing important to communicate”
Can anyone explain the logic of Robb’s currency claims to me? I’m a bit of an economic dunce and just don’t get it.
[Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has criticised Prime Minister Julia Gillard over what he says was “an act of low bastardry” in not revealing his plan to visit Afghanistan.]
What? Weren’t the Opposition claiming last week that Gillard was putting Abbott’s security at risk by revealing he was to visit Afghanistan?
With respect to Abbott’s claims of “bastardry”, should Gillard respond, or is the best tactic is to stay silent and allow the coalition to keep talking?
If this was anyone else the *weird walk* by the weird one would have become a
meme by now.
Unhinging sounds like a perfect description of what happened to Labor.
First the wobbly Rudd cupboard door fell completely off it’s hinges, smashing on the ground in a tragic display of workmanship incompetence. You Labor supporters remember that don’t you?
Then we got Gillies… one hinge has popped out completely, and the seconds falling out as well with a single screw holding the entire cupboard door up. The doors not working very effectively anymore and has problems closing
GeeWizz
if you need cupboards fixing, call a carpenter. They may be able to help.
ltep@63
My Say, as usual, the opposite of what robb is saying is the truth – it really is that simple.
He is lying through his teeth and making a laughing stock of himself.
Cuppa, that is precisely the WRONG approach to take with Abbott. Labor has to rid itself of this stupid notion that getting on quietly running the country is the key to success. Exhibit 1: first term of government.
Gillard needs to actually confront the Abbott and MSM lies and misrepresentation. Where’s the fight? Where’s the passion?
is penny wong going to be the attack dog JG needs?
[A spokesman for shadow treasurer Joe Hockey is quoted as saying the word “audit” was used in a way that would be understood in laymen’s terms.
Finance Minister Penny Wong says that is not good enough.
“What these revelations show is that Mr Hockey and Mr Abbott and Mr Robb were simply not telling the truth to the Australian people before the least election,” she said.
“They weren’t telling the truth in terms of their costings and we know that that led to a $10.6 billion costings con job.
“And they weren’t telling the truth about the checks that they’d done that they trumpeted about these costings.”
]
apparently Tony Burke is being interviewed on 5aa together with Nick Xenophon. Anyone from SA been listening to this?
BK – just opened your link from last night and laughed. As usual, Tone is misrepresenting the truth!!
[What’s the bet all this bluster and fury from Tone is just another deflection tactic so the MSM aren’t focusing on the bigger story of Hockey and Robb and the coalition costings.]
confessions – yes, it’s exactly that and the OO is helping him all the way. Can’t have the costings debacle front and centre, can we.
Hey CheeseWheeze,
how does it feel to come so close to winning and then losing in such a spectacular manner? What about the fact that your weader couldn’t negotiate his way out of a plastic bag and bring together the Indies to form government? How about I-am-a-robot-tony f-ing about with cycling, discus throwing, anything-other-than-policy events, frothing at the mouth, sweating in the brain, crackling voice, jumping around like a geriatric orangutang, managing opposition like a private school prefect?
You must be in conservative heaven right now!
[Actually Joe, can you tell me a layman’s understanding of “misleading and deceptive conduct”?]
Laocoon – is there a chance that a Senate Committee or HoR Committee could look at this? It is definitely misleading and deceptive conduct and a business would be prosecuted for it.
george
“geriatric orangutang”! Pure gold!!
[The letter from Horwath principals Geoff Kidd and Cyrus Patell dated July 13 and countersigned by Mr Loughnane makes clear that the work was little more than a spreadsheet to ”review the arithmetic accuracy of the Liberal Party of Australia’s costing estimates”.]
😆
Thanks Victoria – just having my coffee, so in good spirits 😉
[how does it feel to come so close to winning and then losing in such a spectacular manner?]
1. Abbott took out a first term Prime Minister before the election, a historical first
2. Abbott nearly took out Gillies and fell 1 seat short in their first term, a historical first
Yep not too disappointed at all. Labor supporters keep telling us what a great job Labor did in their first term but thats exactly where the problem is. If you can’t admit your mistakes then you are destined to fail.
Foregoing costingsgate, Joe Hockey could really put Abbott in a bind.
The party small-business base wants unfair dismissal laws changed. Yet Abbott said his dead, buried, cremated line.
Joe could do the same to Abbott, that Arbib and JG did to Rudd. If Abbott lays down tougher IR policies, then he will have (in perception at least) have broken a very public promise and his approvals will fall.
Yet, if Abbott does not look to change the IR provisions he will alienate much of the parliamentary base and leave him self open to the “what do you stand for” line of attack.
[They have not taken it very well at all. Just listened to sky of Tony talking to some UK sky journo while he was over there. He wants to be PM he said that to the UK guy and called their current government strong in a hung parliament situation and ours weak in a hung parliament situation.]
Kezza – I watched that and I thought the Sky interviewer was on to Abbott. He got Abbott to say that his religion doesn’t interfere with his politics! RE486, stem cell, anyone. I also thought that Abbott was spinning like a top on the CC issue too.
It showed just how ridiculous Abbott was when the cameras came back to the studio and Gilland and Kate Lundy had big smiles on their faces. Mitch Fifield looked as tho he’d been hit by a bus.
[The letter from Horwath principals Geoff Kidd and Cyrus Patell dated July 13 and countersigned by Mr Loughnane makes clear that the work was little more than a spreadsheet to ”review the arithmetic accuracy of the Liberal Party of Australia’s costing estimates”.]
and yet the Fibs claimed it had been subjected to over two months of intense scrutiny
thejuly13 letter puts those claims to bed as well
🙂
[1. Abbott took out a first term Prime Minister before the election, a historical first
2. Abbott nearly took out Gillies and fell 1 seat short in their first term, a historical first]
And Germany lost the war, didga hear? Why stop at recent history? Go back to the Rattus and remind us all about the wonderful conservative utopia we all enjoyed for every minute of those miserable 12 years.
No accounting firm will go near the costings next time around.
GeeWizz
so Abbott is taking credit for deposing Rudd. Abbott and his cronies have been carrying on how Gillard knifed Rudd in the back. So which one is it?
[And Germany lost the war, didga hear? Why stop at recent history? Go back to the Rattus and remind us all about the wonderful conservative utopia we all enjoyed for every minute of those miserable 12 years.]
At least we didn’t have hordes of boatpeople then. You guys are useless at running anything, I wouldn’t put you in charge of the chook raffle.
Andrew, I agree that Labor must confront Coalition lies head on. Too often in the past they’ve let them go unchallenged and become accepted as conventional ‘wisddom’, for example the insulation “fiasco”. With the benefit of hindsight it’s clear they should have nipped that (and other such spin) in the bud right away. I guess at the time they were trying to avoid playing ‘politics’, assuming the public would be mature enough to come to a rational conclusion about the government’s method and style. Didn’t work, of course – there’s no place for subtlety when dealing with an unengaged and not-too-bright electorate and a wilfully dishonest Opposition.
However you have to pick your battles. This might be one time when it’s best to keep quiet for a bit. Let Abbott dig a deeper hole for himself with unstatesmanlike language and angry antics. Then when he’s deep in the hole pile the soil in and bury him..
[1. Abbott took out a first term Prime Minister before the election, a historical first]
No he didn’t. He was busy defending Rudd once Labor decided Rudd should go.
[2. Abbott nearly took out Gillies and fell 1 seat short in their first term, a historical first]
But he didn’t, so all irrelevant.
[Yep not too disappointed at all.]
Great. So you’re happy being in opposition. Hopefully you’ll be just as happy being in opposition after the next election as well. Labor aims to please.
GeeWizz
You can listen to your esteemed Opposition Leader speaking to Sky News UK
http://video.theaustralian.com.au/1612179401/Abbott-communes-with-British-Conservatives?area=videoindex2
[Abbott nearly…]
CheezeWheeze, I also enjoy these words/phrases:
– almost
– coulda
– shoulda
– missed it by that match
– by a whisker
– close shave
Heres Tony in Afghanistan.
No Camo… No bullet proof vest. No Helmet. Not ducking for the nearest shelter like Gillard Did:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/gallery-e6frg6n6-1225936872042?page=1
GeeWizz
Abbott [nearly] got wiped out on a highway doing a political stunt.
[No he didn’t. He was busy defending Rudd once Labor decided Rudd should go.]
Yep becauseit made great attack material on the Labor Party itself.
Labor supporters still haven’t come to terms with the fact Abbott did Rudd nice and slowly.
[No Camo… No bullet proof vest. No Helmet. Not ducking for the nearest shelter like Gillard Did:]
How old are you?
Abbotts “political act of bastardry” comment was way over the top and will come back to haunt him. He now seems to think that Gillard should have confirmed his travel plans and its a low act she did not?? WTF??
Seems to me that every time a politician goes to Afghanistan they do it without announcing in advance for basic security reasons. Tone’s expects Gillard to have compromised his security to try and protect his reputation?
He wanted to “embed”??? This was pure, Action Man goes over the top, stunt. If he was going out with a patrol, in the warzone, his presence as a high profile passenger would put all the troops he’s with at greater risk. I dont think that it is fair to do that just to make political points. If he had a military background maybe, but itf he did, he would probably never have asked. The issues around this were all canvased when Prince Harry went into the field and he is actually a trained soldier.
And now costings rears its head again? I hope the Fibs have a really bad week. 🙂
Tone’s a tool, and I think that Gillard will be able to turn this attack around quite easily should she see advantage in that. Or she can just let the funtiture chewing go on as the unhinging gathers pace.
I was interested to read Milne’s article on The Drum this morning. Great revelations? No. I had picked it all up before. But he’s trying… 🙂
GeeWizz
One thing Abbott needs is a spade to shovel away all the shit building up around him!
[Labor supporters still haven’t come to terms with the fact Abbott did Rudd nice and slowly.]
He had nothing to do with it. Keep dreaming old son.
[Heres Tony in Afghanistan.
No Camo… No bullet proof vest. No Helmet. Not ducking for the nearest shelter like Gillard Did:]
God he’s awesome! If I was a man, I’d really go for him!