Essential Research: 50-50

Still no sign of Newspoll, but the ever-reliable Essential Research still has a two-party deadlock, and offers responses on Peter Cosgrove, unions, parental leave and intolerance.

Essential Research has two-party preferred at 50-50, with both major parties up on the primary vote: the Coalition by a point to 43%, Labor by two to 38%. The Greens are down a point to 8%, the Palmer United Party down one to 3% and others down to two to 7%. Also covered:

• Only 4% rate Peter Cosgrove “not a good choice” for Governor-General, with 30%, 34% and 11% respectively rating the choice excellent, good and acceptable.

• Forty-three per cent are happy for the Governor-General to be appointed by the government, with 40% favouring direct election.

• Sixty-one per cent think unions “important for Australian working people today”, compared with only 30% who think them not important, with 45% thinking workers would be better off if unions were stronger compared with 27% for worse off.

• In response to a question which first explains the specifics of the government’s policy, including the $150,000 ceiling and 1.5% levy, only 23% favoured the government scheme over 36% for the current policy and 32% for neither.

• There are also questions on the prevalence on various forms of intolerance, which you can read about in the report.

Author: William Bowe

William Bowe is a Perth-based election analyst and occasional teacher of political science. His blog, The Poll Bludger, has existed in one form or another since 2004, and is one of the most heavily trafficked websites on Australian politics.

875 comments on “Essential Research: 50-50”

Comments Page 11 of 18
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  2. Bill
    Also like your description of the “liars face”

    There was talk a month or so ago about how Abbott had had some voice coaching. It’s a wonder they haven’t tried to teach him how to pose. That leer he produces for photographers, particularly when meeting a foreign leader …

  3. “@Simon_Cullen: Tony Abbott says he’s standing by his comment on SPC’s workplace agreement, despite accusations from @SharmanStone that he lied.”

  4. Excuse me, venting….

    [CATHY McGowan (MHR, Indi) has warned against branding rural voters as safe “conservatives”, while speaking to the Rural Press Club for the first time since her election]

    [..“The community of Wangaratta had been flexing its muscles over the past two years,” ]

    Cough. Bit more to the seat than just Wangaratta.

    [Ms McGowan defined herself as the most centre of the independents currently in parliament, with Bob Katter and Clive Palmer more right-wing, and Adam Bandt and Andrew Wilkie more left-wing than her.]

    So what was all that ‘left wing and right wing are so last century’ guff you ran during the election campaign, Cathy?

    [“With a bit of luck and good weather the Australian Rail Track Corporation will have fixed up the mud holes, soon..]

    No, they won’t have. Their estimated date of completion when the project began a couple of years ago was the end of 2016. It’s still the end of 2016.

    Luck and good weather won’t change that — it might stop it blowing out further.

    http://wangarattachronicle.com.au/2014/02/05/mcgowan-makes-her-mark/

  5. [“@Simon_Cullen: Tony Abbott says he’s standing by his comment on SPC’s workplace agreement, despite accusations from @SharmanStone that he lied.”]

    Lies is truth in an Abbott world.

  6. As i watched paul Howes on ABC 24, they crossed over to Abbott doing a presser in SA. I had to switch to ABC1 to watch the rest of Howes NPC address. I also noticed that sky news left the NPC address to go to Abbott.

  9. Buy yourself a seat ?

    [The biggest donor: Liberal MP Angus Taylor gives a chunk of change to his party

    New Liberal MP Angus Taylor has been described as an asset to his party. News reports after his pre-selection for a country NSW seat in 2012 described the then candidate as ”smart” and ”charming”.

    …..gave the Liberals $155,000 in five separate tranches in 2012-13.]

    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/the-biggest-donor-liberal-mp-angus-taylor-gives-a-chunk-of-change-to-his-party-20140205-320qo.html#ixzz2sPYxLfjA

  14. poroti

    Julian McGauran (former Nat Senator for Vic) quite blatantly put in a pitch for his Senate seat along the lines of how much money he’d be donating to the party.

  16. There goes another one.
    Virgin Atlantic exits Australia

    Soon there wil be no one left to fly our fruit and vegetables, fresh, canned, frozen or otherwise now, and we won’t have any of our own. I guess there is always chocolate and the slow ships from China.

  19. Zoidloid/Poroti

    Angus should be able to get that and a bit more back over the next couple of terms on expenses. As they say, it is a big electorate and he likes to visit every nook and cranny.

  21. Did not see Howes but Sky are very much Howes waving peace (surrender?) flag. Conceding dome truth in the “overgenerous ” claims FFS !! Clip of Tony Abbott looking and sounding very pleased with what Howes said.

  27. Great put down on Howie and Costello’s “golden era”

    Kouk: “Anyone can get a surplus when you..”
    1) Stop spending on infrastructure.
    2) Collect record GDP levels of tax
    3) Sell things off.

  28. Howard might have got away with this sort of tough talk, Abbott is unlikely to do so:

    [Prime Minister Tony Abbott will not reconsider a taxpayer handout to troubled fruit processor SPC Ardmona despite criticism from Liberal and National MPs on the decision…

    Speaking to reporters in Adelaide, Mr Abbott said the government will not revisit its decision.

    He stood by his comments blaming SPC’s generous employee entitlements as a factor in the government’s decision, even though the company has strongly rejected his claims about conditions.

    “I stand by what was said by me and what was said by ministers.”]

    http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/spc-decision-will-not-be-revisited-pm-20140205-32129.html

  32. mikehilliard

    Perhaps he is one of our PB Menzies House drones ? They just lurved endlessly asking “How many surpluses has there been under Liberal and Labor governments? “

  36. The day that Paul Howes is elected to parliament by Labor is the day I resign my membership and vote informal.

    A party that includes Paul Howes is not a party I wish to support or be associated with. I would vote Katter, PUP, FF and probably LNP ahead of a party with that sleezebag.

  40. poroti 535
    Shame MrrrAbbitt didnt come here last week when it was 45 degrees.

    Anyone see Jon Stewarts 6 Jan sendup of FOX News claiming there is no Global Warming due to the cold snap in the US? Hilarious.

    And one more thing – I cant believe it but I agree with Piers Morgan…
    “Kevin Pietersen is 33 years old. He’s the highest run-scorer in all competitions in English cricket history. He also just returned from an Ashes debacle where he was the highest run-scorer for England, and yet he appears to be the sacrificial lamb.”
    I must be wrong!
    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-05/kevin-pietersen27s-england-career-over/5238880?section=sport

  46. mari

    Kouk no longer on. I hope somebody can give a link to video of it as it is with a look at his take down of the “budget crisis” and Howard’s economic management.

  50. Thank you very much Paul Howes. What a marvelous headline in the SMH you made.

    [Wages too high, says union boss

    He represents tens of thousands of workers, but admits wage growth is unsustainable]

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