UPDATE (Essential and Morgan): The fortnightly Morgan multi-mode poll, conducted over the past two weekends from a sample of 3019 by face-to-face and SMS, shows little change on the primary vote, with the Coalition up half a point to 39.5%, Labor down one to 37%, the Greens up one to 11.5% and the Palmer United Party down half a point to 3%. Labor’s lead is up half a point on the headline respondent-allocated two-party preferred measure, from 52.5-47.5 to 53-47, but the precise opposite happens on the previous election preferences measure. Today’s Essential Research moves a point in Labor’s favour on two-party preferred, which is now at 50-50. Both major parties are down a point on the primary vote, the Coalition to 42% and Labor to 36%, with the Greens and the Palmer United Party steady on 9% and 4%. See bottom of post for further details.
GhostWhoVotes relates that the latest monthly ReachTEL automated phone poll conducted for the Seven Network gives Labor its biggest post-election lead to date, up to 53-47 from 52-48 in the December 15 poll. Primary votes are Coalition 39.8%, down from 41.4%; Labor 40.6%, up from 40.4%; and Greens 9.1%, up from 8.7%. The poll also has 20.3% reporting being better off since a year ago compared with 39.3% for worse off and 40.4% for neither. Prospectively, 23.5% expect to be better off in a year, 39.4% worse off and 37.1% neither. On the economy as a whole, 34.9% think it headed in the right direction and 39.3% in the wrong direction, with 25.8% undecided. A very similar question from Essential Research last week had 38% rating the economy as heading in the right direction versus 33% for the wrong direction, which while better than the ReachTEL results was a substantial deterioration on post-election findings which had it at 44% and 27%. These figures here courtesy of Ryan Moore on Twitter.
The poll was conducted on Thursday from a sample of 3547. Full results will be available on the ReachTEL site tomorrow, which will apparently include personal ratings that have Tony Abbott up and Bill Shorten down. Stay tuned tomorrow for the weekly Essential Research and fortnightly Morgan.
UPDATE (Essential Research): Crikey reports Essential Research has moved a point in Labor’s favour on two-party preferred, which is now at 50-50. Both major parties are down a point on the primary vote, the Coalition to 42% and Labor to 36%, with the Greens and the Palmer United Party steady on 9% and 4%. Also featured: privatisation deemed a bad idea by 59%, including 69% for Australia Post and 64% for the ABC and SBS; 24% think we spend too much on welfare, 41% too little and 27% about right; 64% believe the age pension too low, but only 27% think the same about unemployment benefits; 78% believe alcohol-related violence is getting worse, and perhaps also everything they see in the news media; “87% support harsher mandatory sentences for alcohol-related assaults; over 60% support earlier closing times for bottle shops, pubs and clubs; 76% support lockouts and 59% support lifting the age at which you can buy alcohol”. UPDATE: Full report here.
kezza2
If you are about.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!
Xo
Bemused, Thomson’s costs would be around $150k.
Still cheaper than getting a divorce 😈
Centre no problem there the alp paid those remember
markjs@1876
Well I don’t propose running a civil case.
But if there was ever any case at all, it was probably a civil case to recover unauthorised spending.
But, as you say, that is probably closed off courtesy of Kathy Jackson.
I guess that is what happens when certain interests try to politicise a fairly simple matter.
Edwina, the cops will be paying if he wins.
Bemused
Assuming the position in Victoria is the same as in NSW, a successful defendant does not get his or her costs from the prosecutor even when acquitted.
If there is some deficiency in the investigation or prosecution, costs can be awarded.
I wonder if Anne summers will do a special interview with the gillardine about what she knew and when she knew it concerning the defalcification of Thommo!
I’d paid money to see that interview !
Just Me@1881
Whitlam also used it on Billy Snedden quite effectively.
The one that nearly caused my sides to split laughing was when the Libs made a stuff up with some publication and Snedden’s age had not increased despite several years passing. Whitlam jumped on it and labelled Snedden “the Peter Pan of Politics”. 😆
Juest been listening to 2GB in the car.
Bolt is on and says that he admits now he doubted Abbott’s resolve, but says he’s got his mojo back by bashing the ABC.
Calling for a sell-off of all ABC functions, stacking of the Board, changes to legislation etc.
Says if all the conservatives pull together “against the common enemy” (i.e. the ABC) the ABC will be history by the time of the next election. A distant memory. Gone, privatized, dead, buried and cremated.
BW
[Fran
I give you 10/10 for being comprehensive, polite, well-argued, consistent and, on the basis of false premises, wrong.]
Thanks for the bouquet. Now, what was that false premise?
Thomson and HSU have already been to court twice in civil cases about his credit card expenditure,
I would say “done and dusted”
If Thomson does win, this will expose Abbott as one who was prepared to frame and sacrifice almost anyone for his own grubby interests.
BB shit, well that sounds like the game plan
If Abbott lays a hand on the ABC he may as well resign.
The Liberal Party will not hold a single regional seat where the ABC TV and Radio is the main or only media available.
shellbell@1906
Your first paragraph is how I understand things to be in Victoria too.
I have a personal interest in this on behalf on behalf of a relative who was wrongly prosecuted.
By my count Abbott has gaoled Pauline Hanson and David ettridge and had a go at Peter Slipper and craig thomson
Aint democracy grand
BB @ 1909
With friends like Bolt …
ESJ,
Sometimes, yes. I do largely use internet news, the Guardian, ABC online, etc. You can sift through those to get good international news, for example. PB is often a good place to find links into things you may not have otherwise found on your own.
BB,
[Juest been listening to 2GB in the car.
Bolt is on and says that he admits now he doubted Abbott’s resolve, but says he’s got his mojo back by bashing the ABC.]
*side-stepping the big “why” you voluntarily do that* Bolt certainly has a short attention span. I almost feel that Abbott says these things because he isn’t aware everyone can hear them. He thinks only his target audience, the 1 or 2 Bolts in every 10,000 people, are the only one’s listening.
poroti
Posted Wednesday, January 29, 2014 at 9:07 pm | Permalink
OMFG !!!!!! After Richo giving Bowen a foot massage the most obnoxious peep in Oz meeja, Paul Murray, is slagging off Abbott’s ABC slag off. Phew , all is right with the world he now slags of unions.
=====================================
That would be the same Paul Murray who is championing the Royal Commission into Unions after condemning an enquiry into the media as and attack on freedom of speech.
An enquiry that was proposed after his master Murdoch’s papers in the UK were found to be showing little care for the law and/or privacy by hacking phones and computers.
An enquiry that was going to be set up to investigate if the same was happening in Australia.
Murray is an Abbott lap dog who really has no care for anyone’s fair treatment or for seeking out any wrong-doings in his own industry, particularly if it means his lord and master Murdoch would be found wanting
In WA you get generous costs awarded against the Prosecution if you win in the Magistrates court.
Win at much higher stakes in the District and Supreme Courts and you get nothing but the client’s thank you (sometimes.
fran
We don’t share the same view about the nature of humans.
Can any of the lawyers here explain why Thomson was changed with defrauding the holders of his credit card (CBA and Diners Card) rather than defrauding the HSU given the CBA and Diners weren’t out of pocket?
If Thommo gets off imagine how cranky Williamson will be with his lawyers for pleading guilty !
IMHO, if you think of the Abbott Government as equal parts Neocon, Tea Party, climate nutter, and Ayn Rand you would have a useful starting point for understanding what they mean when they say stuff.
[Bolt is on and says that he admits now he doubted Abbott’s resolve, but says he’s got his mojo back by bashing the ABC.]
In other words Abbott was simply preaching to the converted.
My first thought when I heard about his remarks about the ABC was that he was attempting to deflect, and that he looked pretty desperate.
[Says if all the conservatives pull together “against the common enemy” (i.e. the ABC) the ABC will be history by the time of the next election. A distant memory. Gone, privatized, dead, buried and cremated]
Looks like it’s time for Friends of the ABC to roar into life again. Last push was early 2000s when Howard ranted about bias courtesy of his henchman Abetz
Dio
Plods will be plods.
[Can any of the lawyers here explain why Thomson was changed with defrauding the holders of his credit card (CBA and Diners Card) rather than defrauding the HSU given the CBA and Diners weren’t out of pocket?]
Political show trial? Why did the defence submit a statement from a porn film producer? News headlines is the only answer.
The Essential Poll found 64% opposed to privatising the ABC which means that the Abbott Government will be pursuing the death by a thousand cuts strategy.
A second question
Hypothetically let’s assume these allegations of CFMEU corruption are legit. Clearly they would be illegal. How would reconvening the ABCC make it easier to get to the truth/justice rather than the usual police powers?
Boerwar
Would the “god squad” be included?
We’ll said ruawake k.c
[How would reconvening the ABCC make it easier to get to the truth/justice rather than the usual police powers?]
It would actually make a prosecution more difficult. Look at the RCs over the last 20 years, who was charged with anything and eventually found to be guilty. You will not need to take your socks off to count.
Edwina StJohn @ 1700
[I’d say Thommo is going to meet bubba in the big house and he doesn’t charge for his brand of ” services”.]
Are you condoning rape? Or just joking about it?
[If Thommo gets off imagine how cranky Williamson will be with his lawyers for pleading guilty !]
Are you saying Williamson was wrongfully convicted or that the law will wrongfully fail to convict Thomson? What Thomson did was unethical aided by a rather laissez-faire approach by the senior management, but (it would seem) not criminal. What Williamson did was criminal.
Cole RC into building industry – Cost $60 million, results zero.
Wait, Williamson hasn’t been convicted… sozzles
[Wait, Williamson hasn’t been convicted… ]
He hasn’t been sentenced you mean?
Bushfire Bill@1909
I wonder what drugs Bolt is on ?
ESJ, at what point are you going to answer the question, precisely what crime has Tomson committed ?
Ruawake,
Yes, but I’m not certain whether one is “convicted” if they plead guilty. I guess my point remains but it’s probably best to withdraw from the conversation anyway.
Bugler@1935
Different cases, different offences etc.
The ABC obviously stole Bolt’s lunch money in primary school.
Maybe he’s still sore about no longer being a guest on Insiders once he started his own TV show – and the ABC had the nerve to have Insiders outrate his show! Clearly Bolt is the star, so there has to be something nefarious going on.
ru
That doesn’t explain why charge him with defrauding the card holders rather than the HSU.
The RC idea is ridiculous. It would be a fishing expedition. I’m asking about the ABCC.
Diogenes
[The role of the Office of the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner (ABCC) was to monitor and promote appropriate standards of conduct throughout the building and construction industry. This was in accordance with the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act 2005 (BCII Act), the Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act) and the National Code of Practice for the Construction Industry (National Code).]
http://www.fwbc.gov.au/role-abcc
The financial institution behind the credit card is legally obliged to reimburse the holder (owner) of the card for any illegal use of it by a third party.
If Thompson used the card illegally the financial institution can recover it’s loss from him and he could also be charged with fraud on the card owner.
He cannot be guilty of any offence unless the fraudulent element be proven, and if the financial institution suffered no loss they have nothing to sue for.
Sounds like the pigeon has come home to roost for those who prosecuted not with judgment but with zeal.
Bemused,
Of course. It’s that kind of thing that I generally refrain from commenting on specific cases, as I don’t have the time to assess all the relevant information even if it were available to so much as pretend I know what the “right” outcome is. What little I have attempted to comment on has not reflected well on myself, it seems.
Dio
Maybe someone just screwed up the charges. The whole thing has been a tragic farce, so it would be par for the course.
Vic
But did the ABCC have any extra powers? I suppose having a specialised unit might be an advantage over the usual policing but I can’t see much else unless they have extra powers.
Fulvio Sammut@1946
The fraudulent transactions have to be reported within a certain period (90 days I think) by the card ‘owner’, in this case the HSU. Thomson was National Secretary so I don’t think he complained. 😉