The Australian reports the latest Newspoll has the Coalition leading 52-48, after a dead heat a fortnight ago. This comes off a three-point lift in the Coalition primary vote to 45%, with Labor down a point to 37% and the Greens up one to 10%. Kevin Rudd’s lead over Tony Abbott as preferred prime minister, which blew out from 49-35 in his first poll to 53-31 in his second, is roughly back where it started at 50-34. Rudd’s approval ratings have followed a similar course over the three polls, this one showing approval down a point to 42% and disapproval up five to 41%, while Tony Abbott is steady at 35% and 56%. However, the Prime Minister can take solace in a finding that 26% now consider Labor the past party to deal with asylum seekers, up six since the question was last asked, with the Coalition plummeting 14 points to 33%.
Earlier today we had the regular weekly Morgan poll, which was little changed on last time with Labor down half a point to 41.5%, the Coalition steady on 41%, and the Greens up two points to 9%. There was actually a slight move in Labor’s favour on two-party preferred as measured using preference flows from the previous election, presumably because of rounding, their lead up from 51.5-48.5 to 52-48. On respondent-allocated preferences, the lead is steady at 52.5-47.5. Regrettably, the poll does not come with state breakdowns, which keen observers among us had started to think would be a regular feature (as it surely should be with such a large sample size).
Essential Research is delayed this week and will be along tomorrow.
UPDATE: And here it is – Labor has pared back a point on two-party preferred to now trail 51-49, from primary votes of 39% for Labor (steady), 45% for the Coalition (down one) and 7% for the Greens (steady). Also featured are a semi-regular series on important election issues (“Australian jobs and protection of local industries” being up five points on a month ago), best party to handle them (across the board improvement for Labor in the wake of the leadership change), carbon pricing (45% support the move to an ETS with 29% opposed, while support for the “tax” scheme is down to 37% support with 48% opposed compared with 43% each in May – these being relatively supportive results on account of a question which explains it’s industries that pay the tax). Sixty-two per cent said they would support a referendum on recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the constitution with only 16% opposed.
[Show me the evidence about “Mohammed”.]
Took me exactly 2 seconds to find via google:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1324194/Mohammed-popular-baby-boys-ahead-Jack-Harry.html
[Mohammed has become the most popular name for newborn boys in Britain.
It shot up from third the previous year, overtaking Jack, which had topped the list for the past 14 years but was relegated to third spot.
Olivia topped the list for little girls for the second year in a row, behind Ruby and Chloe.
A total of 7,549 newborns were given 12 variations of the Islamic prophet Mohammed’s name last year, such as Muhammad and Mohammad.
The second most popular boy’s name, Oliver, was given to 7,364 babies.]
[A total of 7,549 newborns were given 12 variations of the Islamic prophet Mohammed’s name last year]
A whole 7,549 ? !! OMFG the caliphate is upon us .FFS
748
That is for England and Wales. The addition of the Scottish and Northern Irish figures might come out with a different result.
The Daily Mail used all variants of Mohammed but does not seem to have done the same for any other of the top results. I suspect included other variants of Jack may bump that up the list.
Acknowledged re Mohammed. I am astounded. Is the article kosher? Now, there is a play on words!
Popular or not I don’t think the new-king-to-be will be King Mohammed.
One sure way of Oz becoming a republic is would guess!
[The Daily Mail used all variants of Mohammed but does not seem to have done the same for any other of the top results. I suspect included other variants of Jack may bump that up the list.]
How many variants are there of “Oliver”.
Please stop being silly. The U.K has major problems with their “multiculturalism” experiment, please never let this happen to Australia where the dominant culture is the outside one.
[Its a pity that racist crap is seeping from some here…”the most popular name in the UK is Mohammed” when 91% of the British population is either described as “White British” or “White other”.
Show me the evidence about “Mohammed”.
However, I did see in the Economist some weeks ago that the racial composition of some parts of London was about 50:50 White and non-white. As if this at all important.]
Not sure why this would be racist to assert this, even if it was not true.
But in any event, certain Google searches suggest it is.
Mohammed and its variants is a very common name across the world. Will be interesting if it becomes a princely name or not.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-22887005
[At least one out of every six children in the UK lives in relative poverty]
[But the number living in absolute poverty is higher and on this measure, one in five children in the UK lives in poverty – a total of 2.6 million in 2011-12.]
[But children’s campaigners say the true picture is worse than the government figures suggest and that the children moving in to the poverty bracket are in families where people are working.]
S777
Sometimes something stares us in the face, it is blindingly obvious, yet we do not see it.
I would like to suggest ‘Kevin’. We have a modest precedent in Australia: humble, gentle, kind, brilliant, decisive, visionary, modest, and inclusive.
Just the sort of king Britain needs.
Indeed, Kevin of Cambridge would well be an improvement on the original, were that humanly possible, because he would not need even to pretend to get on with more than 75% of those f*ckwits in Caucus.
Tisme
What is the most common surname in Australia? (don’t have a conniption fit when you find out). 😛
Only 4.6% of Poms are Muslim. They just aren’t very imaginative with their names for boys.
From Peter Slipper on twitter
[We call upon @KRuddMP @DreyfusMark and the Govt 2 instigate Royal Commission/Judicial Enquiry into #ashbygate & LNP’s involvement. Team PS]
Regarding the boat persons policy with PNG, I received this email from Getup.
[By now, you probably know. On Friday, Prime Minister Rudd announced that all asylum seekers who arrive by boat will be sent to Papua New Guinea for processing and resettlement – regardless of whether they’re found to have a legitimate claim for asylum.
Whether you abhor or reluctantly support it, there’s no denying what this policy means: detaining asylum seekers in tents on a malarial island off the coast of an impoverished, violence-ridden state. We are sending refugees to a country Australia has actually sheltered refugees from. GetUp have spoken directly to children and families inside the Manus Island detention centre, which Mr Rudd plans to expand, who have told us about the conditions there.
Many of us are looking for information free from the political rhetoric of Mr Rudd and Mr Abbott – and looking for what we can do to make this situation less horrid. We’ll be in touch with more you can do in coming days and weeks. Here are two ways to make a difference now:
1 – Email or call your local MP and Senator today. What they hear from the community now is of huge influence, and there’s so much we need to fight for now. Here’s what’s at stake in coming weeks
Will the Government pay for this policy by reducing Australia’s foreign aid?
Will we address the inhumane conditions asylum seeker children and families are being held in?
Will the Government increase Australia’s humanitarian intake of approved refugees?
2 – Share and discuss these 5 key facts with friends and family. Friday’s announcement – and the last ten years – show that we can’t have a more compassionate and sensible policy on asylum seekers until we change the national conversation. We can’t rely on our political leaders to do that. It’s up to all of us to bring facts and fairness back to this debate. ]
I do not personally agree with GetUp on this one, but clearly Labor needs to have answers to the questions. Rudd has already answered the third one positively. Two to go.
BoerWar
You can get 201 pounds on “Kevin” with Ladbrokes. Seriously.
501 for Elvis.
nguyen?
I’m guessing “Ng” Ruawake.
What “major problems” does the UK have with “multiculturalism”?
Having been a regular visitor to the UK over the years, the only “problems” I noticed are the poor white trash (please excuse me) who are racist and in days gone by, would have been in uniform in the colonies/empire fighting for King and Country.
[Please stop being silly. The U.K has major problems with their “multiculturalism” experiment, please never let this happen to Australia where the dominant culture is the outside one.]
What on earth has that go to do with Mohammed becoming a popular name in the United Kingdom?
Whether multiculturalism is a “major problem” in the UK or not has nothing to do with the prevalence of a particular name.
This really is random nonsense that this Sean character spouts. Go back to 2GB please.
Sean’s ongoing presence here does not add to so-called “balance”, William. I think most thinking centre-right folk would be appalled that this character claims to be a supporter of their political family.
And “dickhead” is a very crude moniker for both Abbott and Rudd.
[I suggest that if he loses the elction and “retires”, he will start campaigning towards Presidency of Republic.
If Rudd lost the election narrowly, I don’t think he would retire – blame Julia for making the election unwinnable and say that he needs to stay on and finish the job.]
I think if you lose an election you should stay on for a year as LOTO and then a ballot held for the leader.
Usually the first LOTO gets burnt so no point in using up a potential leader first up.
And with Rudd I think he would be best putting the torch to Abbott as a LOTO. So it would be smart to use Rudd as LOTO with a ballot 12 months later and then he retire at the following election. Less he wants to do a Downer and be perpetual FA.
[nguyen?]
Not yet but Bernard Salt reckons it will be in s few years, the L-NP has 3 nguyen’s running at the election.
The anglo-WELSH names still lead but are slowing rapidly.
[poor white trash]
Not helpful in any debate on racism or multiculturalism.
Sean does bring out the worst in us here 🙁
[What is the most common surname in Australia? ]
After consulting with Monty Python I pick Bruce.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f_p0CgPeyA
I believe the baby is to be called Etihad as part of a sponsorship deal. In exchange the whole Royal Family will get free travel for life.
Steve
I think John is our because of the early death of Prince John with epilepsy and associated intellectual retardation.
There was a BBC series on him called the lost Prince. He was a younger brother of George VI (Albert) and Edward VIII (David), Henry and George (Duke of Kent).
[ suggest that if he loses the elction and “retires”, he will start campaigning towards Presidency of Republic.
If Rudd lost the election narrowly, I don’t think he would retire – blame Julia for making the election unwinnable and say that he needs to stay on and finish the job.]
Rudd would be an excellent President of the Commonwealth (if Australia ever becomes a republic, it shan’t be called as such!)
But I am not sure Rudd could assume such an apolitical office if he remains “eternal ALP leader” or “emeritus ALP leader” as is currently proposed…
756
With the current trend for name spelling variations, who knows how many variations there are of Oliver.
Jack, which I mentioned in the comment you quote, has several common variations. Jac and Jak for starters.
It is not reflective of Muslim domination of the UK but the domination of the name Mohammed, among UK Muslims, compared to names in other larger cultural groups.
White Norman influenced Anglo-Saxon culture is still dominant in England.
Found this recent article
NGUYEN is becoming the new Smith in the battle for Australian surname supremacy.
An investigation into the “lifeline” of surnames has revealed that within 10 years, the Vietnamese surname – linked to the last ruling dynasty in Vietnam – will be more common than Smith in Australian metropolitan areas.
Read more: http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/vietnamese-surname-nguyen-to-overtake-smith-as-most-common-metropolitan-surname/story-fnet0he2-1226655075023#ixzz2ZrDFtKnF
DL
It was not the content of the message, more the provider of same re “Mohammed” earlier on.
You will note same person commenting, unfavourably, about “problems of multiculturalism in the UK” or wtte.
As I said, seeping racism from my point of view.
One of the British papers held a contest for the name LEAST likely to be given to the Royal baby. The winners were Adolf, Rupert and Osama.
[I believe the baby is to be called Etihad as part of a sponsorship deal. In exchange the whole Royal Family will get free travel for life.]
Sorted.
Naming rights for the royal family would certainly reduce the burden on the long suffering British tax-payer and would be certainly consistent with the continuing Thatcherite tradition of privatising most anything in Britain!
DL
Okay, “Bogan” or “Chav” – who might just happen to be of Anglo-Saxon extraction.
That should tidy it up a bit.
779
That shown how unpopular Rupert is though to be in Royal circles.
Sean
I have quietly followed your rantings and ravings for some time, and there surely could not be a bigger dickhead than you.
So stick your head back up where the sun doesn’t shine and give us all a break.
[DL
Okay, “Bogan” or “Chav” – who might just happen to be of Anglo-Saxon extraction.
That should tidy it up a bit.]
Don’t start me or Psephos on “bogan v chav” — in my opinion, two very different terms used in two distinct culture.
I will not entertain false equivalence between them!
Sean – “The next King of Australia has been born, you should be excited” – so Charlie and Bill are going to fall off their perch before the Queen does?
It would be interesting to see if there is anybody in Britain aged under 70 called Adolf.
[Sean’s ongoing presence here does not add to so-called “balance”, William. I think most thinking centre-right folk would be appalled that this character claims to be a supporter of their political family.]
What are you talking about, I’m left of Rudd’s latest boatpeople policy!
[BoerWar
You can get 201 pounds on “Kevin” with Ladbrokes. Seriously.
501 for Elvis.]
Presumably one can write one’s own ticket on Cletus
Newman can’t fund literary awards but can fund medallions for all babies born in Qld today. 🙁
Victoria
[From Peter Slipper on twitter
We call upon @KRuddMP @DreyfusMark and the Govt 2 instigate Royal Commission/Judicial Enquiry into #ashbygate & LNP’s involvement. Team PS]
Needed but dangerous territory just before an election me thinks!
[Sean’s ongoing presence here does not add to so-called “balance”, William. I think most thinking centre-right folk would be appalled that this character claims to be a supporter of their political family.]
And I dare say that many of the centre left are duly unimpressed with a few of the Labor supporters here, yourself not excluded. And why is “balance” in inverted commas?
[What are you talking about, I’m left of Rudd’s latest boatpeople policy!]
The issue is not whether you’re left or right, it’s whether you’re a dickhead.
Someone suggested Rajiv – I think it means Royal so good choice.
I think they should call him Egbert or Aethelred.
Dee
Could well be dangerous territory. It would depend entirely on whether the govt or team Slipper have the smoking gun. It would then be a no brainer
Watching the Mad Monk on a-pac. Lurving how what used to be overly white around his eyes now looking dark. Now he is doing his creepy ear staring of bishop the younger.
By the way, I thought the FBT variations were going to bring the car leasing business and car manufacture to a screaming halt.
Thousands of unemployed thrown onto the street.
I gather BMW and Mercedes distributors might be having to do it a bit tougher.
Oh, the pain when a perk is curbed.
My heart bleeds.
http://www.cgpgrey.com/blog/the-true-cost-of-the-royal-family-explained.html
This doesn’t include all the tourist dollars/pounds earned.
[The cost to maintain the royal family today is 40 million pounds per year. But the revenue paid to the UK from the royal lands is 200 million.
200 million in revenue subtract 40 million in salary costs equals 160 million pounds in profit. That’s right: The United Kingdom earns 160 million pounds in profit, every year from the Royal Family.
So stop all your moaning about the Royal family and how much they cost and how worthless they are. The Royal Family is Great for Great Britain.]
Some old Celtic (welsh) name would be good
Llewellyn???. GoT had killed Reece or Rhys.
How about Hugh – Scottish and Welsh and English
William
Agree
Hands up for Egbert!!!