The latest Morgan face-to-face poll, combining surveys conducted over the previous two weekends, shows Labor with a two-party preferred lead of 51.5-48.5 when using the more reliable method of distributing minor party preferences according to the results of the previous election. However, on the respondent-allocated preferences measure used by Morgan as their headline, the result is 50-50. Certainly Labor’s position is found to have deteriorated since the previous poll a fortnight ago, their primary vote down 1.5 per cent to 39 per cent and the Coalition’s up by the same amount to 43 per cent, with the Greens up half a point to 12.5 per cent. This tends to support Newspoll’s finding that Labor’s position had weakened further in the weeks before praliament resumed.
Other news:
• Dennis Atkins of the Courier-Mail reports the internal inquiry into Labor’s 2010 election fiasco being conducted by Bob Carr, Steve Bracks and John Faulkner “could open up selection of election candidates to the public”, American primaries style. This has always struck me as being the last bad solution for much of what ails the party, in view of the terminal membership decline of major political parties generally.
• The AEC published annual political donation disclosures for 2009-10 last week. The damage has been extensively surveyed by Crikey’s Bernard Keane (here, here and here), Andrew Crook (here and here) and Stephen Mayne (here).
• The Western Australian government has announced it will introduce legislation for fixed terms next terms. The date will likely be set for March, with the next election due in 2013, although past talk from the government has suggested allowing some flexibility to ensure state elections do not clash with other elections or similarly disruptive events.
• Election dates are not fixed in New Zealand, but Prime Minister John Key has nonetheless done his nation the service of alerting it long ahead of time that the election due for this year will be held on November 26.
• Carolyn Tucker of the Caloundra Journal reports former Wallabies head coach John Connolly has confirmed he will seek Liberal National Party state preselection for the Sunshine Coast hinterland seat of Nicklin, which independent Peter Wellington has held securely since 1998. Their candidate from the last two elections, Steve Morrison, has also nominated.
Lots of people on Tahrir Suare.
I saw somewhere, and I don’t know whether it is true, that the Egyptian Army is the biggest property owner in Egypt.
I imagine that the ownership would not be by the conscript grunts.
[LATIKAMBOURKE | 8 minutes ago
Govt Whip Joel Fitzgibbon ‘Today Fairfax Newspapers published stories reflecting on my character which are mis… (cont) http://deck.ly/~4dnhq
[LATIKAMBOURKE | 7 minutes ago
Fitz cont. ‘I have sued Fairfax for libel, and…am confident a judge will rule that the claims are false and..no evidence to support them]
[148
scorpio
Posted Friday, February 11, 2011 at 4:56 pm | Permalink
Frank,
Barnett has all but signed on the dotted line.
And yes, you ARE wRONg.
Maybe, probably, but you know your man better than I do.
Don’t trust Vic and looks like Bligh is playing silly beggers now too.
I got a bad feeling in my water about it, as they say!
]
Ted will sign up – doesn’t want Colin to upstage him – Qld will follow suit.
As for your waters – see a Urologist 🙂
[LATIKAMBOURKE | 7 minutes ago
Fitz ‘Fairfax, to serve its own interests, has reported a false affidavit from one of its own journalists. This is hearsay on hearsay.]
[LATIKAMBOURKE | 8 minutes ago
Fitzgibbon ends – ‘I will be seeking substantial aggravated damages from Fairfax for the damage they have done to me and my family.]
Boerwar
thanks for your reportage of Contrarians. Sounds like it was a mixed bag so to speak.
‘Chaos’ predicted as Centrelink sleeps in an extra half hour”:
[About 400 Centrelink customer service centres around the country are bracing for chaos on Monday morning after the national welfare agency unilaterally changed its opening time from 8am to 8.30am without informing clients.
The move, which the Community and Public Sector Union calls a deliberate tactic to stall current enterprise bargaining negotiations, was announced to some staff via email yesterday. But there was no consultation with welfare recipients, with customer service advisers frantically phoning clients this morning to alter appointment times.
Current arrangements mandate that Centrelink customer service centres are open from 8am to 5pm. Many welfare recipients line up outside before then in order to have their claims processed quickly.
The 5pm closing time under the new regime would remain the same.
The decision could place Centrelink staff at an automatic disadvantage in the forthcoming wage negotiations, as the government body moves to cut costs and drive job-seekers to the internet to avoid costly face-to-face consultations.
Crikey contacted Centrelink’s media office as our deadline approached and we will attach their statement to this story when we receive it.]
http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/02/11/chaos-predicted-as-centrelink-sleeps-in-an-extra-half-hour/
Turning up half an hour late for an appointment, isn’t that a breach?
[has reported a false affidavit]
If proved, big trouble.
Looks like all the Liberals have agreed that no-one is sniping, no-one is leaking, no-one is stabbing anyone in the back, and that everyone is solidly behind Tony, Julie and Joe.
Peace, bro.
[As for your waters – see a Urologist 🙂 ]
I wonder if Dio can help! 😉
Boerwar
code for “we are a rabble”!! 🙂
victoria
No, no. They are one big happy family.
[Dennis Atkins of the Courier-Mail reports the internal inquiry into Labor’s 2010 election fiasco being conducted by Bob Carr, Steve Bracks and John Faulkner “could open up selection of election candidates to the public”, American primaries style. This has always struck me as being the last bad solution for much of what ails the party, in view of the terminal membership decline of major political parties generally.]
What a load of tosh – Getting an Electorate to vote twice – and a recipe which the libs can use to sabotage an ALP Candidate by voting for a candidate which would advantage any future Liberal candidate – ie picking your own opponent.
Dumb, Dumb, Dumb.
Boerwar
I am happy if this big happy family continue to behave like they did this week.
I think Abbott’s new name should be “The Gaffe machine”.
[Adam
Posted Friday, February 11, 2011 at 5:03 pm | Permalink
‘Chaos’ predicted as Centrelink sleeps in an extra half hour”:
]
Get with the program – Centrelink have dumped the idea.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/national/8820313/centrelink-backs-down-on-later-start-times/
Most vultures, jackals and hyenas start the squabbling after they gather at a corpse, not while their prey is still healthy.
The Liberals have been putting the cart before the corpse.
[don’t have a problem with the Singapore reference except that it is silly hyperbole. Singapore remains the greatest ever British military defeat. (PVO took a minor swipe at it, BTW). ]
Boerwar – I have a serious problem with that reference. My father’s beloved brother suffered because of it. 6’4 14 stone bronzed Ozzie on departure and came back from that area a crippled 5stone wreck.
I have a big problem with Abbott – he has no regard for our history. He will use anything to denigrate Gillard and Labor regardless of its effect on some of us.
He is a grub. And what’s with the waving the hands up and down all the time – not one journo or opinionista has mentioned it but we have them all over the TV and radio complaining about JG’s use of her hands. Grrrr!!
Isn’t Happy Families a card game with lots of pairs?
BH
You should send your thoughts to Sky and/or the ABC. Your personal feelings relating to his references should be known. Heck, people are commenting on whether Julia’s emotions are for real.
[Let’s face it, whatever Abbott’s problems, they pale into insignificance compared to Gillard’s.
Is there anything that the Rudd or Gillard governments started and completed without mismanagement and waste of taxpayers money?
Is there anything Rudd started that Gillard has not junked or wrecked?
Is there anything she has put in place that is working as promised?
Labor is lurching from one crisis to the next. Its like watching Laurel and Hardy.
No wonder Shorten and others are sharpening their knives.]
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/11/3136317.htm
Just watch this get cranked up by the Murdoch media & the talk-back mob. By the end of next week, nobody will even remember that “anything” adverse happened to Tone & Co this week!
Boerwar
but who is the corpse? or is there more than one?
[Fitz cont. ‘I have sued Fairfax for libel, and…am confident a judge will rule that the claims are false and..no evidence to support them]
Good on yer, Joel. There should be more of it. Or alternatively, those journos who write the stories should have their own lives opened up for scrutiny as well.
Uh oh.
What a miserable poll – looks like the media beat-up on Abbot was just that. A media beat up.
Needless to say, I’m shocked that our PM’s effort to increase public support by draping herself in the flag and shedding crocodile tears in Parliament didn’t do the trick. Absolutely shocked.
[The Liberals have been putting the cart before the corpse.]
Boerwar, everybody!
Try the prawn cocktail, it’s fabulous.
Patrick, Patrick! 😥
[Patrick Fogarty
Posted Friday, February 11, 2011 at 5:12 pm | Permalink
Uh oh.
What a miserable poll – looks like the media beat-up on Abbot was just that. A media beat up.
Needless to say, I’m shocked that our PM’s effort to increase public support by draping herself in the flag and shedding crocodile tears in Parliament didn’t do the trick. Absolutely shocked
]
On a smoko from Rigging Polls at Menzies House.
Guss when the poll was taken.
Well before anything you wrote.
Now get back to work before you are given a taste of Workchoices 🙂
Patrick
Poll was for previous two weekends. Before Tony’s meltdown
victoria
They are acting as if they have already won and are squabbling over the spoils.
vp
Ignore!
How horrid to see a poll with Labor ahead!
Boerwar
as Hewson said this morning, more ambition than ability on the opposition benches. I heartily agree. All show and no go.
TT
Patrick has dyslexia
[victoria
Posted Friday, February 11, 2011 at 5:14 pm | Permalink
Patrick
Poll was for previous two weekends. Before Tony’s meltdown
]
Though i wonder if the Fires in Both the Swan Valley and Roleystone – pplayed a factor – considering there were road closures which prevented pollsters from entering ?
Frank,
It is quite surprising that the spambots even bother with PB. Surely they have to know we are all tragics here and unlikely to fall for their BS.
Boerwar,
[Most vultures, jackals and hyenas start the squabbling after they gather at a corpse, not while their prey is still healthy.
The Liberals have been putting the cart before the corpse. ]
Yeah, but the Dear Leader “has” done a hammie though. 😉
They are probably hoping it will slow him enough so that they can bring him down!
Nobody will know what to do with it though! 😉
[Space Kidette
Posted Friday, February 11, 2011 at 5:17 pm | Permalink
Frank,
It is quite surprising that the spambots even bother with PB. Surely they have to know we are all tragics here and unlikely to fall for their BS.
]
They are under orders.
Pity we are impervious 🙂
Oh look, an ABC employee has turned up.
btw I don’t know what the alternative health policy is by the coalition.
Let me guess, cut funding to hospitals.
I love that Centrelink headline, they really need better PR staff.
The 1/2 hour delay was to allow processing of the backlog of flood claims that Centrelink is struggling to get through, plus their normal workload.
There was no ‘sleeping in’ going on among the staff.
Nothing to do with EBA’s or anything like that, at all.
Dee,
Just practicing my teary emo.
victoria,
Like the mad hatter – only the best but but but butt-er.
Frank,
Well I suppose if they are dumb enough to spend time here, then they aren’t off stirring up crap for the mug punters who haven’t got a clue. 😉
[BigBob
Posted Friday, February 11, 2011 at 5:19 pm | Permalink
I love that Centrelink headline, they really need better PR staff.
The 1/2 hour delay was to allow processing of the backlog of flood claims that Centrelink is struggling to get through, plus their normal workload.
There was no ‘sleeping in’ going on among the staff.
Nothing to do with EBA’s or anything like that, at all.
]
But guess who fell for it – our favourite Anti ALP Storyteller 🙂
Kristina K is gutsy!
vp
why so?
Because Tone only does buts. And, no, it was not an attempted proctology joke.
scorps – thanks for that link to the Uhlmann’s piece. It was very good but you have made it sound as tho that comment posted by some aggrieved Liberal is the main story.
Thanks Chris Uhlmann for a very fair article. I haven’t said that very often before now.
victoria – I am going to complain to the RSL. In fact I will find the time to write a letter and send it to several sub branches. The remaining brother and sister will be deeply distressed that Abbott thinks something is worse for Australians than the fall of Singapore.
Anyway I watched JG’s press conference and everything she said made a heap of sense except that in the future I really want a Federal takeover completely with the local hospitals running co-operative boards within a small area. I don’t like the large Area Health setup in NSW at the moment. Having friends who are working within them I know that there is far too much political oneupmanship going on inside Area Health. Get rid of them.
MadDog – I’d love to campaign for the right to have Fred Hallows type clinics set up within Oz with trainees doing the work. If Fred could train Asian and African people, with nonmedical backgrounds, to carry out the work successfully then why can’t we do the same. Have opticians or someone similar do it.