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.
Mike Rann:
We were putting more money in but the Howard Government were taking more out.
Rann putting the boot into Howard/Abbott hospital funding cuts.
Barnie behaved as predicted. 🙂
victoria, as you are the Lone Respondent, what is everyone watching?
I do not have access to ABC 24 at this time, if that is it.
[I bet Colin Barnett has come out of this Agreement far worse off than under Rudd’s!
Serves the partisan, policy saboteur right. I bet Jules said to him every time he tried to screw her, that the amount for WA will keep reducing!]
That sounds like pure fantasy, Scorp. Barnett has stayed out of an agreement before so he could have again.
Please, please, give us some crumbs! premiers: “Get stuffed.”
Ted says “pleeeased” like a hyena
And there is an agreement to have some form of COAG activity on mental health.
Not surprised Abbott doesn’t like this agreement. He only like deals that take money OUT of public health. Didn’t he rip 100 billion out of health as minister 😉
Ted and Colin have just pricked Abbott’s balloon.
Julia takes out a hankie. Wipes floor with Noddy.
[And there is an agreement to have some form of COAG activity on mental health.]
Are they all chipping in for Dick Togs to see a shrink?
And now they head off for a bonding session.
OK, Melissa Clarke, over to you. Headache, dearie? So sorry to hear that!
crikey – just seen the future- JG is PM for a long time to come!
geezlouise
and
Abbott’s electorate is still ripping it out, big time.
[ Didn’t he rip 100 billion out of health as minister ]
actually it was a bout a billion
tho barnyard trumpetted that tabbott had saved a billion gazillion
Is Melissa sucking a lemon?
MC: “Biig backflip!” vp: “Get stuffed!”
crikey whitey
The press conference has just finished. Julia and the Premiers together with Chief Ministers were taking questions from the reporters.
Ted and Colin can now go home and take credit for all sorts of REAL health reform. They are not stupid.
William, can you help me out?
Barnett and the Hyena just stuffed up Abbott’s punchline. Aren’t they supposed to say “this is a bad Government”? Rather that “we are stoked with this agreement”?
What will Abbott be able to say now?
Remind me who is the Opposition spokeperson on Health?
Ted Ballieu looked mighty pleased.
Came home from dinner to PB news that Julia had sealed her Health Reforms at COAG.
ONYA, Julia!
Geez, Tony. Did you a black cat cross your path when walking under a ladder, then you imagined a chinaman was Riley & king-hit him fatally? 😀
Abbott: “It is a wooden agreement!”
Who is the opposition spokesperson on health?
Was Roxon in attendance?
What a punchable face…
MC is steals my oxygen.
G
Dutton
Thanks again, victoria.
I can get Sky, I imagine it is on there. Forever, as they and ABC 24 do.
[Remind me who is the Opposition spokeperson on Health?]
Babyface Dutton.
Tell me what the aged vote feels about health?
crikey whitey
I believe it was on Sky as well. It may be repeated on their active channels.
Gweneth,
Many people wonder but it is one Peter Dutton.
Dutton – he may need some health care.
Peter Dutton does opposition health.
David Speers on Sky is gushing in his praise of Julian, bloody amazing and bloody wonderful
G
This aged voter feels health is very important. Enjoy it while it lasts.
I missed the part when Barnett was speaking. Did he say anything substantive?
Will leave the computer and suss out what I can.
Peter Dutton opposes health.
Julian = Julia
Am waiting for the abc1 late news
betcha there is no mention
David
who is Julian? 😉
Barnett said it was all tickety-boo on the health agreement, but Julia needn’t expect the same cooperation on mining.
Some nasty snaky journos, but Julia brushed them away.
[Some nasty snaky journos, but Julia brushed them away]
As opposed to walking away!
victoria he was very sensible and fully behind the deal. I think he gets on with Julia and he is (within WA ranges of normal) moderate. I said before that if it was good deal he would back and he has.