Essential Research displays its trademark stability this week by failing to record the big shift evident from the other pollsters, with two-party preferred steady at 52-48 and Labor up only one point on the primary vote to 40%, with the Coalition steady on 40%, the Greens down one to 8% and Palmer United steady on 5%. The results on the budget are also somewhat less spectacular than those seen elsewhere, with 30% approval and 52% disapproval, and 40% deeming it good for the economy overall against 32% for bad – quite a bit different from the 39% and 48% registered by Newspoll. The budget was deemed bad for working people by 59% and good by 14%; bad for those on low incomes by 66% and good by 11%; bad for families by 62% and good by 11%; bad for older Australians by 66% and good by 10%; bad for younger Australians by 55% and good by 16%; but good for people who well off by 45% and bad by 16%.
Response was also sought in relation to particular budget measures, of which the least popular was the raise in the pension age (61% opposition, 17% support), followed by deregulation of university fees (58% opposition, 17% support). Opinion was evenly balanced on making Newstart recipients wait six months (41% opposition, 39% support), while there was a net positive response to making graduates pay HELP loans more quickly (53% support, 23% opposition). Cuts to foreign aid had 64% supportive and 13% opposed, while those to the ABC had 27% supportive and 41% opposed. Fifty-six per cent believed there was a “budget emergency” against 32% who did not, but only 24% believed the budget addressed it, against 56% who did not.
The other relative latecomer to the budget poll party was yesterday’s fortnightly Morgan face-to-face plus SMS result, which was more in line with other polls in having Labor up 1.5% to 38.5%, the Coalition down 2.5% to 35%, the Greens steady on 12%, and Palmer up a point to 6.5%. Whereas Morgan polls usually combine two weekends of polling, this one was entirely from Saturday and Saturday, so all the responses are post-budget and the sample is somewhat smaller than usual. On two-party preferred, Labor’s lead was up from 53.5-46.5 to 56.5-43.5 on 2013 election preferences, and 55-45 to 57.5-42.5 on respondent-allocated preferences.
What is this dog awful weak excuse for some sort of current affairs chit chat frothy program that is on ABC 24 [in SA} right now where a bunch of no-nothings pontificate, punctuated by giggles, on matters beyond their ken?
It’s not The Drum is it?
Poroti,
You’re spot on.
Dutton doesn’t seem to know how many times people visit GPs. How can any of his tripe be judged?
guytaur
This would have helped . From their site
[Prime Minister Tony Abbott Praises Interior Design at Whitehouse
Prime Minister praises Interior Design at Whitehouse Institute of Design, Australia
Interior Design at Whitehouse Institute is seeing one of its strongest years of student work with Prime Minister Tony Abbott personally commending one of the Institute’s graduating Interior Design students, Elizabeth Upfold. Prime Minister Tony Abbott attended this years Graduate Exhibition and Parade in support of his daughter Frances Abbott…. ]
[Tax breaks on capital gains and superannuation could cost almost $300 billion over the next three years, budget figures show, renewing calls for the Abbott government to scale back concessions.]
Budget Crisis? What crisis.
@theage: David Gonski slams Abbott reversal on school funding http://t.co/Y1n4VA1sYS
While the wink grabs the headlines, I’d rather that the media was playing Abbott’s fireman analogy in which he basically dismissed as collateral damage a small business woman’s complaint that he was ruining her business by talking down the economy with his explanation that to put out fires sometimes you have to drive over fences. Guess the pensioners and students are ‘fences’ too in Abbott World.
The Guardian has updated its story on the $60,000 scholarship.
I wonder how long the Guardian has had the story as it seems more than a coincidence that it appeared at the same time as student demonstrations against changes to fees.
[Les Taylor, the chairman of the Whitehouse Institute of Design board of governors, personally recommended the prime minister’s daughter for a $60,000 design degree scholarship, and has also made donations of more than $20,000 to the state and federal Liberal party.
Guardian Australia revealed that Frances Abbott received the scholarship from the private higher education institute in 2011. Taylor told Guardian Australia he had “put her name forward” for the award but declined to say how much the scholarship was worth.
Taylor told Guardian Australia that, as chairman of the board of governors, “I’m entitled to make a recommendation … I’ve got the right to say {if} they’d do very well at Whitehouse.
“I knew she’d do well,” Taylor said, “And she’s flourished {at the institute}. I put her name forward as I thought she’d be suitable … she’s gone from strength to strength.”
Taylor said he could not recall if he had recommended anyone else for the scholarship that year, but confirmed it was not offered to students every year. Taylor said he did not “get involved” with the appraisal process for the scholarship, which was completed by academic staff. It is unclear whether any other students were considered for the scholarship in 2011.
The institute states on its website that it “does not currently offer scholarships to gain a place into the Bachelor of Design” – a cache search on the website indicates this has been the same since 2011.
Ian Tudor, CEO of the White House Institute told Guardian Australia that the “Chairman’s scholarship” was issued “occasionally” and that Frances Abbott was only its second recipient. ]
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/21/liberal-donor-frances-abbott-degree-scholarship-tony-abbott-daughter
@guytaur/1056
There is that CPI index again.
They do seriously know what they are doing.
@KnottMatthew: David Gonski breaks his his silence on school funding, saying “the concept of aspiration ends in 2017” http://t.co/1j1SIDqw5W
Atticus – I’m not a lawyer etc etc and can’t say with absolute certainty but I was fairly sure the “2 out of 3” rule and the “75% reach” rule are in legislation that would need to be amended.
zoid
Yes. More facts to haunt Team Abbott
citizen
It is a little more than a coincidence
No criticism of Ms Abbott or any other students but I don’t think Whitehouse has a very high standing for design excellence in Sydney. Perhaps somewhere you go if you missed out on a place in a better institution. Billy Blue is regarded as the better private college, and then on up to Tafe & the universities.
It is interesting that some here are forensically taking Abbott’s comments apart about tax increases – asking whether what he said was a lie or otherwise.
I seem to remember acres of stuff about PMJG’s comments about the Carbon Tax. Many, many people here atomised her CT comment as not a lie and meaning something else.
At the end of the day, it did not matter. With the help of a compliant media, the CT comment was seen as a lie.
The same applies to Abbott’s efforts. Whether in his heart-of-hearts at the time of saying “not new taxes” did not mean kind of “no new taxes” the public clearly sees it otherwise.
The public know when it is being snowed.
As an extension of this, I saw somewhere that Abbott is now denying he ever said he would create “2 million new jobs”.
Now, I actually heard, with my own ears that he said this, and whether any denial of this assertion constitutes a lie – in the narrow definition of the word – I would be interested to know.
Oh dear.
We must not talk about the Abbott girl/s as this is unfair and private is private.
Who would even question the integrity of the outfit who gave the scholarship?
The fact that the outfit gave $20 grand to help dad get elected has nothing all to do with politics and the awarding of this $60 grand.
Fie on all those who think the worst!!
Bowen today talked of fairness, opportunity & optimism. In stark contrast to Hockey’s pain & punishment.
[Australia doesn’t have to choose between growth and fairness.
We believe it is within our national wit to pursue growth and opportunity.
To be a nation embracing modernity, comfortable with its place in the world, multicultural and outward looking, embracing the jobs of the future.
And with the Australian model of fairness underpinning it all.]
Jackol,
Good of you to respond to my question, and hopefully you’re correct about legislation needing to get past PUP et al.
I think I heard Hockey say they would produce a budget surplus in their first year of government.
On twitter
AEC anyone? RT @ThePhilby: Liberal Party donor gave Tone’s daughter a $60k uni scholarship? You…you just can’t make this shit up. #auspol
@Tricot/1065
2 million jobs was actually a TV ad, still on Liberal Party youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1cNlgaLWeU
He also said “better services”.
A 5 pillar economy which includes and I quote “World Class”:
1. Manufacturing.
2. Agriculture.
3. Services.
4. Education.
5. Mining.
Well, he stuffed the top 4.
He then said “Our plan” is to deliver:
1. Lower Taxes.
2. Lower Debt.
3. Stronger Boarder.
Well, all three are also stuffed, you cannot have a Lower taxes, if you put in newer taxes.
You cannot have lower debt if you have higher unemployment & higher debt.
And finally, his Boarder protection is meh, his relations with other countries is stuffed.
Excellent speech by Gonski.
I think Pyne is going to have to resign now as the debate restarts
Tricot
Tones’ 2 mill jobs claim. Interesting to note that in the video attached to this article Boxhead was totally rejecting Labor’s claim that the Coalition were going to slash $70 billion in spending. He was right . They have slashed $80 billion from health and education alone.
[Take me on trust: Tony Abbott
”If our vision is realised, within 10 years Australia will have lower, simpler, fairer taxes,” he said, making a promise that would be measurable only three or four elections from now. ”There will be 2 million more jobs, in manufacturing as well as in agriculture, services, education and a still-buoyant resources sector.]
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/take-me-on-trust-tony-abbott-20130825-2sjzy.html
Its so obvious that businesses like Whitehouse just want to destroy their main competition, TAFE.
From the SMH….
The extreme divisiveness of Australian politics over the past four years is starting to extract an economic toll.
Consumer sentiment among Labor voters has crashed – and the polls are saying that Labor voters are now in the majority.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/business/comment-and-analysis/why-the-budget-pain-game-is-dangerous-20140521-38o4a.html#ixzz32L1VXktn
Wouldn’t be surprised if the increase in Labor votes has come from Murdoch Terror readership…. Won’t be long & Murdoch will have to change his tune or he’ll piss off his readership.
That’s when Tony gets the push.
[Its so obvious that businesses like Whitehouse just want to destroy their main competition, TAFE.]
Exactly, thats why Sussan Lay and two of her staff spent several hours being told what to do at the fashion school.
@sceptic/1075
I expected better from SMH from that article.
Amateur Hour?
mikehilliard
Your memory and hearing are OK. Waaaay back as long ago as oh ah January 28, 2013 here’s HoJo ,in mordor meeja and all.
[Joe Hockey pledges coalition will deliver first-year budget surplus
This story was published: 1 year ago January 28, 2013 8:24AM
SHADOW treasurer Joe Hockey insists a coalition government will deliver a surplus in its first year, even though the pledge is not mentioned in a new policy document. ………Mr Hockey says he hasn’t abandoned a pledge made last year to deliver a surplus in the coalition government’s first year]
http://www.news.com.au/national/joe-hockey-pledges-coalition-will-deliver-first-year-budget-surplus/story-fncynjr2-1226563213170
Well that is interesting about the 2 million jobs.
My initial reaction was to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Every government claims – whether due to their input or other factors – that “jobs have increased”. The promise is sufficiently unspecific to allow any politician to get away with it.
However, the election guff clearly shows this was a promised made by Abbott that his party/he would create said 2 million jobs.
I gather, though can’t find direction reference, that he either claims he never said it (quite clearly wrong) or it was not a “promise” is the strict sense of the word.
Which ever way you look at it – bulltish.
Tricot
The biggest bullshit part of the jobs claim is that through natural population growth , as long as a meteor doesn’t strike, business as usual will produce that may jobs. Even with a GFC Labor was pretty close to have been able to match it.
The 2 million jobs was over 10 years – why would Abbott bother to back away from that commitment (or the refined 1 million over 5 years)?
At this rate if Abbott is still PM in 5 years he would count himself lucky I would think let alone worrying about whether any journalist would actually hold him to such a bullshit ‘commitment’.
poroti@1078
[Your memory and hearing are OK.]
Thanks for the health check. 😀
[ Ian Tudor, CEO of the White House Institute told Guardian Australia that the “Chairman’s scholarship” was issued “occasionally” and that Frances Abbott was only its second recipient. ]
Ummm. Let’s not forget that Abbott has two daughters.
There were rumblings of a possible cabinet reshuffle doing the traps before the budget.
I can’t help but think Pyne needs to be shuffled out of education – if only to focus on being the “conduit” to Palmer.
SHY RE the Abbott wink – “What a creep”
Whatever you think of her at leats she calls a spade a spade.
@Tricot/1079
Indeed, but he did say it was “Our Plan”, so in essence, it is a contract/promise with the tax payers/voters.
And if the voters think they getting something else then what they bought, then they should be allowed to chuck this mob out.
From memory, I did see the ad on TV, and he did say it was a Pledge, it might have been a different one.
But, good thing about the internet, an transcript on liberal’s website:
http://www.liberal.org.au/latest-news/2012/11/28/tony-abbott-press-release-coalitions-jobs-pledge
“My confidence in this pledge is based on my confidence in our policies and in the competence and experience of my team. Sixteen members of the Shadow Cabinet were ministers in the Howard Government which delivered a golden age of prosperity.”
So yes, a Pledge, is a promise.
1071
zoidlord
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1cNlgaLWeU
“Lower Taxes”]
Ta.
Enough legalistic hair-splitting.
By any real world definition Abbott clearly promised “lower taxes”, and a whole lot of other things which he had no intention of delivering.
Oz woz conned.
Citizen
If not you, I apologise!
The other night Rabbott said the economy was stuffed, we heard ‘economy’, if you, you typed ‘budget’.
Either way, doesn’t matter but we’ve heard no more about it.
Re Adrian @1028: What the hell is News veryLtd going to do?
Well, Sydney’s Daily Telecrap is still running interference for the Budget, it’s front page featuring a confused looking Bill Shorten and propagating the meme without question that he is ‘blocking’ forty thousand trillion billion dollars (or whatever number Abbot made up) of ‘necessary’ budget savings.
I must repeat Robert Caro’s great line: Power doesn’t corrupt; it reveals. Electorate, meet Tony Abbott, who hates you all
Even more pledging:
http://australianpolitics.com/2013/09/02/tony-abbott-npc-address.html
“My pledge is to give a great country and a great people the better government you deserve.”
@HuffPostUK: Tony Abbott, ‘Creepy’ Australian PM, Caught On Camera Winking As Sex-Line Grandma Talks http://t.co/MbX53GYT7t
Liberal philosophy on show.
[In Brisbane, Greens senator Larissa Waters addressed the crowd despite an attempt by what appeared to be a group of young Liberal supporters to disrupt the event.
“We had some pretty passionate people there today,” she said.
“As I was speaking we had some people – I think they were Young Libs – came up and expressed the view that only the rich should be able to go to university, but it was pretty clear that the rally didn’t agree with them.]
mikehilliard
You snuck in just in time to beat the $7 doctor tax 🙂
@FarrellPF: A spokesperson for the PM said they have sought further advice from the Clerk of the House on the scholarship http://t.co/IdvAuCDxLo
As I mentioned a few days ago, the LNP is doing it tough at the moment.
Now, if this were Labor, from out of left field would some kind of scandal/in-house fight/dummy spit.
While not wanting to concoct some more bad news for the government, a nice juicy sex scandal involving a Cabinet Minister might be the go just to make it a totally miserable time for them.
Mind you, such a scandal would be a diversion which might help the PM at the moment.
Is it the film or has Rabbott got a quiver?
mikehilliard
Radiohead wrote a song about our PM.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp95olCn3lY
Gonksi pledging:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Umei1U3GZ_E&t=3m56s
http://theaimn.com/2013/11/11/abbots-nice-new-parliament/
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/politics-news/tony-abbott-tells-wa-liberals-parliament-will-be-respectful/story-fn59nqld-1226756402981
Pledged for “Nice Parliament”:
“Mr Abbott pledged a parliament that “discusses the issues, rather than abuses individuals”.
“The prime minister said the parliament wouldn’t impugn the motives of opponents or trash their reputations.”
“If anyone tried to go over the top, new Speaker Bronwyn Bishop would sort them out.”