Essential Research is still the only opinion poll operating to its regular schedule, Morgan having sat out last week and Newspoll presumably holding off at least until Labor sorts out its leadership. The latest weekly result has the Coalition’s two-party lead steady at an unspectacular 52-48, from primary votes of 43% for the Coalition (steady on last week), 35% for Labor (down one) and the Greens on 9% (steady). Other questions relate to internet privacy, including a finding that US surveillance programs such as Edward Snowden revealed are opposed by 45% and supported by 24%, and the importance of our various foreign relationships, showing “very important” ratings of 56% for New Zealand, 51% for the United States, 46% for China, 42% for the United Kingdom and 35% for Indonesia.
UPDATE: And now Morgan comes through with its normal multi-mode poll which was skipped last week, carrying the striking headline that Labor leads 50.5-49.5 on respondent-allocated preferences. However, Morgan produces a strikingly different result from preference flows as per the recent election, with the Coalition lead at 53-47. But I find this hard to reconcile with the primary votes: the Coalition is at 42%, 3.5% lower than at the election, Labor at 37%, which is 3.6% higher, and the minor parties only slightly changed at 9% for the Greens, 4.5% for the Palmer United Party and 7.5% for others. Somehow though, two-party preferred comes out as very similar to the election result, which as best as anyone can tell is about 53.5-46.5.
Boo Turnbull!
Go Morrison!
Any campaigning that Tony did as LOTO is obviously “official Business” because LNP is the natural party of government. Anyone who can’t see that is obviously a pinko supporter of illegitimate governments.
[I’m thinking that whoever came up with the idea that Tones going to Port Macquarie on the public purse was OK because it was a ‘marginal’ seat is most likely regretting the idea.]
Tamworth, like Port Macquarie, was in a ‘marginal’ seat (held by Tony Windsor) so they probably used the same excuse for this trip.
It seems that Sydney has maxed out at 37.3 degrees (99.1 F), so no record today, although it is Sydney’s third hottest October day on record. However, the first 10 days of October in Sydney are tracking just short of the all time October record average maximum and looking at the forecast, we will be tracking above the record by the 17th of the month. This follows the warmest July on record, the warmest August and the warmest September.
[AFR: Penalty rates stay for restaurants, cafes
The Fair Work Commission has rejected a push by restaurants and cafe owners to cut penalty rates paid to staff for working Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.]
http://t.co/zpt4INnFMF
Will the FWC be the next thing Tony dissolves?
At least MT would be PMinisterial
DisplayName
Posted Thursday, October 10, 2013 at 4:38 pm | Permalink
Boo Turnbull!
Go Morrison
————————————————–
has Scoot “settled” his alleged traffic infrigements yet ?????
If charging the taxpayer 10,000 to spend one day in Tamworth, is not a rort, what bloody is?!!
I dunno… there was the Fire Brigade saying they’d never seen anything like the heat – 40C according to some – that was in store for us in Sydney today.
An all time record in the offing!
Public service announcements were made about locking up your house to keep the cool air in.
Leave plenty of water for the dogs (even the stray dogs).
Get your Bushfire Plan into Defcon #2. Pack bags, gather up photos, laptops and put the harnesses onto the pets ready for immediate evacuation.
And what happened?
A measly 36 degrees. THAT’S what happened!
For Christ’s sake, if they can’t tell me whether it’s going to rain or be bloody hot tomorrow how can they predict what the weather will be like in 10 years?
Global Warming is BUNK.
The planet is cooling. The Earth is flat. Who needs bloody polar bears anyway? And I never go to the Barrier Reef (too many stone fish). Good riddance to all of ’em.
So most of the money was actually spent in Sydney 😉
davidwh
In future, one of the requirements of party leaders may be to have recreational pursuits that don’t require them to be flown all over the country.
badcat
No idea, but I’ve decided being a Morrisonite is where it’s at. Turnbulloonies, boo hiss!
[If charging the taxpayer 10,000 to spend one day in Tamworth, is not a rort, what bloody is?!!]
Was it really necessary to charter a jet?
The local Progress Association (or wtte) said it was good for Tamworth.
So why didn’t THEY bloody pay for Abbott to attend? I betcha they wouldn’t have copped forking out for a Learjet.
Is Abbott some kind of walking, talking, national advertising billboard?
Roger
[Any campaigning that Tony did as LOTO is obviously “official Business” because LNP is the natural party of government. Anyone who can’t see that is obviously a pinko supporter of illegitimate governments.]
😆
victoria
Posted Thursday, October 10, 2013 at 4:42 pm | Permalink
If charging the taxpayer 10,000 to spend one day in Tamworth, is not a rort, what bloody is?!!
———————————————-
Yeh …… let them eat cake …..
Sean Tisme and new levels of silliness
___________
Endlesly calling the Greens “Extreme Greens” is just more nonsense here on PB
We could invent new names for all political parties…how about “Ultra-Reactionary Liberals” in the coming posts..or Country-Bumpkin-Nats
The URLs sound like a good name for them Sean
It’s a silly as using nicknames for politicians
Try and be adult Sean or better ..just go off and do some homework ..surely you have some homework to do
“@abcnews: Watch Live: Interim Opposition Leader Chris Bowen speaks to the media on #ALP leadership votes http://t.co/9mLGkVjLDn”
Twitter getting excited that Ludlam has “won the recount” whereas he has only “won the recount”.
cog
Yes. Ludlan has won the right to a recount. Still way within 140 characters.
Only Above the Line votes as well which make up about 96% of the vote so I hear. It will take up to 3 weeks.
Phil Diak talking recount on 24 now
Given the number of trips Abbott did between 2010 and 2013 if the media reports one trip per day it will be well into Abbott’s second term as PM before they start looking at his current expenditures.
I really want Abbott to explain how spending 10,000 of taxoayer monies for one day in Tamworth is money spent responsibly
For anyone who cares about the “Melbourne sprawl” and the takeover by highrise.
http://www.theage.com.au/comment/this-is-not-a-plan-it-is-a-hoax-driven-by-money-20131009-2v8hi.html
I want Abbott to explain must surely be either wishful thinking or a joke?
davidwh
I would say that is the least he could do. He is the PM of this country. He should be able to make a good case surely?
Victoria my guess is that the explanation Abbott gave a few days back was meant to cover all his travel claims. I doubt people are likely to get him to explain each one individually.
[Speaking at the APEC Summit in Bali on Tuesday, Mr Abbott said that he believed all his claims had been within entitlement.
”Let’s not forget that Port Macquarie was a marginal seat effectively and I want to assure you that I don’t go to marginal seats simply for sporting events, although the sporting event in question was a community event,” he said.
”I think you’ll find there were quite a few other community events involved in those visits.”]
and
[”It is a perfectly legitimate thing for a member of Parliament to do. Yes, to the extent it involves being away from home, I will claim travel allowance,” he said.
”Ask yourself the question – is this a frolic or is this a very serious act of community engagement?”]
I think that is all you are likely to get victoria.
Credlin must be going ballistic. Statesman Tony meeting the APEC leaders and blitzing the International Diplomacy circuit has turned into running from the media over rorts.
Is it true Obama missed APEC ‘cos he heard Abbott was going? 😆
davidwh
The explanation given is a joke. He had better come up with a better reason
[”Ask yourself the question – is this a frolic or is this a very serious act of community engagement?”]
I wonder why Abbott’s office will not release details of any community meetings Abbott attended?
“@Simon_Cullen: Palmer United Party says it won’t release the agreement with Motoring Enthusiast Party. Reason: “It’s an agreement between two Parties””
Well we can demand all the explanations we like but that doesn’t mean he has to give them. Basically unless they are outside existing guidelines then all we can do is not vote for him the next time we get the chance.
Rua and now much of that information is outside FOI thanks to the deal done between the major parties.
@Thefinnigans: How will Media, Finance & AFP handle the evidence that the PM is a cheat? –
http://t.co/8YbxTacLA6 from the gutsy one @margokingston1
Let’s hope Abbott kept a detailed diary as he travelled on taxpayer’s money. Lots of scope for questions in QT, can be drawn out for weeks. After all, that’s what his lot did to Julia.
Oh, forgot. When’s Parliament back, again?
lizzie
Do not know yet. Mid November is looking likely
“@KatyGMLA: Fed AG requested us not commence laws once passed until High Court had determined case. We declined the request #MarriageEquality”
Once again for the AFP to investigate they have to have
1. A complaint.
2. Some law that may have been broken.
3. Some evidence indicating that the said law may have been broken.
A complaint by itself is not sufficient for the AFP to commence an investigation.
I would assume they would need something from the Dept of Finance indication what law may be involved and that thereb is sufficient evidence to support an investigation.
My understanding of how the system works is that if the Dept of Finance has reason to believe an error has been made then they first point this out to the party concerned and request a refund. I doubt the AFP can act unless that process has been followed first unless there is some clear evidence the person had deliberately falsified the claim.
The problem is the system as much as those taking advantage of it. Sort of similar to what people here argued about Thomson being innocent because the system was slack enough to allow him to do what he was alleged to have done.
DWH
We know the AFP have number one. There was even an omline petition to that effect.
Back in November 2011 the Port Macquarie News interviewed Abbott after that triathlon.
Here’s the quote – I have the article in front of me. It’s no longer available online, I can’t reveal how it came into my possession.
[Mr Abbott said he believed keeping fit helped him be a better politician.
“It’s mental therapy for me so I think it’s very important to get as much exercise as I can to ensure I have a stable mind for my political career” he said.]
This article was cited by Jonathan Swan in the SMH today
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/free-nrl-finals-tickets-embarrass-contender-anthony-albanese-20131009-2v8pz.html
Nothing at all about being in Port Macquarie because it was a marginal seat or because he had official business on his program. Just keeping fit and taking part in a sporting event.
Abbott has been busy making up stuff in an attempt to justify spending taxpayers money on his obsession with fitness. He never thought anyone would ask questions or come up with any proof he was lying. He thought we were all mugs who would believe any old garbage. We aren’t, we didn’t.
DWH
AFP investigates to find out if a law has been broken. All are saying grey area so there is therefore good reason to believe AFP should investigate.
Ignorance is no excuse.
guytaur as I said the complaint is not sufficient by itself. Any JP will tell you that one of the first things they have to do if asked by a police office to witness a warrant is to determine what section of law the warrant covers (does the law exist?) and then whether the information contained in the warrant is sufficient to allow the JP to issue the warrant. The same conditions apply to the AFP on receiving a complaint.
[1589
guytaur
Posted Thursday, October 10, 2013 at 5:54 pm | PERMALINK
“@KatyGMLA: Fed AG requested us not commence laws once passed until High Court had determined case. We declined the request #MarriageEquality”]
Thereby exposing people who do get married at risk of having their marriages found to be void
dwh
You are forgetting Peter Slipper. One complaint AFP started investigation.
The law treats all the same
shellbell
Therefore putting them in the same boat as the people who got married in California before the Supreme Court decision came down
The AFP will seek advice from the solicitor general before it travels too far in answer to any complaint.
guytaur the Slipper complaint was different because there was evidence that the information in the expense claim had been altered to disguise the true nature of the claim. Now if someone can show something similar with any of Abbott’s claims then sure there may be grounds for an investigation. I haven’t seen anything yet to suggest that is the case.
Rudd the Dudd and Dillard both used $1 Million more in rorts than Abbott.