The latest fortnightly Newspoll results, related through Twitter by Stephen Murray, have the Labor two-party lead down from 54-46 to 53-47, from primary votes of 37% for the Coalition (up one), 36% for Labor (down one), 10% for the Greens (down two) and 17% for others (up two). Bill Shorten maintains a lead as preferred prime minister but it has narrowed considerably after a post-budget blowout, down from 45-35 last time to 40-37. Personal ratings for both leaders are down, with Abbott off three points on approval to 30% and up two on disapproval to 61%, while Shorten is down four to 34% and up two to 45%. UPDATE: Full tables from The Australian.
Today also brought a new set of results from Morgan’s multi-mode series, with separate numbers provided for each of the last two weekends’ polling rather than the combined fortnightly result that has been the recent norm. This decision was evidently made to emphasise a disparity between the two, with the earlier result being considerably the worse for the Coalition. For the weekend of June 7/8, Labor’s primary vote lead blew out to 42% (up four on the previous fortnightly poll to 33% (down two points), with the Greens up one to 12% and Palmer United down three to 4.5%. This panned out to huge Labor leads of 60.5-39.5 on respondent-allocated preferences and 59-41 on 2013 election preference flows. For the weekend just past, Labor’s primary vote lead was down to 38% to 36.5%, with the Greens steady on 12% and Palmer United up a point to 5.5%. On two-party preferred, Labor’s leads were 55.5-44.5 on respondent-allocated preferences and 54.5-45.5 on previous election.
Morgan also conducted a phone poll of 637 respondents from Tuesday to Thursday last week which showed an effective disappearance for the net majority in support of repeal of the carbon tax, for which support was down two points since the previous such poll in February to 47%, and opposition up five to 46%. The poll also found 88% believing Australia should reduce carbon dioxide emissions versus only 10% opposed, while a question on global warming had 29% nominating that concerns were exaggerated, 49% selecting “if we don’t act now it will be too late”, and 16% opting for “it is already too late”.
UPDATE (Essential Research): The latest fortnightly rolling average from Essential Research has Labor’s two-party lead steady at 54-46, from primary votes of 41% for Labor (up one), 39% for the Coalition (up two), 9% for the Greens (steady) and 5% for Palmer United (down one). Also featured are semi-regular questions on international relations, climate change and same-sex marriage. The “very important” rating for a close relationship with New Zealand is for some reason up seven points since November to 61%, and that for China is for some reason down eight points to 46%; trust in the Abbott government to handle international relations is down six points to 35%, and distrust is up six to 59%; and 45% are confident that Tony Abbott will do a good job representing Australia overseas versus 50% not confident, which contrasts with the 74% and 18% recorded for Kevin Rudd in October 2009. Belief that climate change is related to human activity is at 53%, down three on the April result, while non-belief is at 35%, up one; and in a result closely reflecting Morgan’s, 38% agree with Tony Abbott’s assertion that Australia and Canada should “take the lead” in opposing carbon taxes and emissions trading schemes versus 39% who disagree. Support for same-sex marriage maintains an upward trajectory evident since the series began in late 2010, with 60% in favour (up three on October last year) and 28% opposed (down three).
Paul Gallen was NSW’s best player on the night.
Rugby League has a problem.
Tackling that lets players lift legs with tackled player risking a life in a wheelchair.
That has to change as with any workplace that is an unacceptable safety risk.
The game was so tough with emphasis on very strong defence from both sides.
I think NSW really missed the three quarter skills of the Morris brothers more than QLD missed Cronk.
Josh Reynolds did not play at all well, NSW were lucky to get away with it but if you backed them…you don’t give the money back :twisted.
guytaur@1152
I agree, but I also don’t want them to become a bunch of sooks like AFL players.
What were the odds of a Blues win before game 1, Centre?
“Sorry, a large brain is very useful in soccer.
Only last Sunday, one of the local senior coaches (in conversation with my husband) attributed the star qualities of one player to his ‘brains and feet’ – and they both agreed that foot skills without brains aren’t terribly useful.”
wow
bemused
You want to see sooks see the diving in the soccer
Shorten definitely punching above his weight.
Around $3.50 Mod Lib
Yeee HAAA!
“@justinbarbour: It was under @theqldpremier’s watch that we lost the Origin. When will he resign?”
Now I wonder where Coalition Party got that GP Tax idea from, the UK!
UK citizens will be charged 10 pounds to visit GP NHS:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jun/18/10-charge-to-visit-gp-nhs
DL 1134
Buy yourself a T-Shirt:
http://www.shotdeadinthehead.com/pretend-t-shirt.html
If I was an AFL supporter, I wouldn’t be so upset that their code resembles ballerina in comparison but that they were the first to introduce the State of origin concept yet failed to capitalise on it.
[If I was an AFL supporter, I wouldn’t be so upset that their code resembles ballerina in comparison but that they were the first to introduce the State of origin concept yet failed to capitalise on it.]
Yes, but one of the other states’ parochialism holds a candle to that of Queensland.
@whitehouseostp: The makers have arrived! Giving a final shine to a biodiesel car on the @WhiteHouse driveway. #NationOfMakers http://t.co/VNnjh889zG
Will NSW winning the origin series affect Campbell newman’s popularity?
Retweeted by Rob Oakeshott
Catherine Zengerer @Catherine_Zen 55m
Economic think tank @ceda_news says our economy at risk if we fail to act on #climatechange #auspol @RobOakeshott1 http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=11658 …
Briefly
Had a neighbour who seemed to think he was a direct descendent (possibly the main inheritor) of Timur. His name perhaps not surprisingly was Tim.
@MWhitbourn: NSW Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Bathurst relaxed about filming and tweeting in court http://t.co/dBK1xr9rnR #auslaw via @smh
zoidlord @ 1162
[UK citizens will be charged 10 pounds to visit GP NHS:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jun/18/10-charge-to-visit-gp-nhs%5D
I liked this as a good summary of the positions LNP v ALP/Green (I hope)
[We either let our NHS be trashed by the privatisers and cutters, or we defend a properly funded, publicly run, universal system that is free at the point of use]
However, the English NHS does not apply to Scotland which has always (since 1948) had its own NHS. I doubt there would be any chance of a co-payment in Scotland.
[“@justinbarbour: It was under @theqldpremier’s watch that we lost the Origin. When will he resign?”]
This never happened when Anna Bligh was Premier!
On the other side, Iemma, Rees, Kenneally, and O’Farrell never saw Origin wins. So congrats to Mike Baird.
[Yes, but one of the other states’ parochialism holds a candle to that of Queensland.]
As a Qld / WA person i think both my states are furiously parochial. I think QLD RL was treated very very badly by the NSW mob and State of Origin was their chance to get revenge and they have taken it quite often. The WA and Victoria rivalry got watered down a lot with the VFL pretending to be an AFL and the Eagles first side effectively being a WA side (maybe one day the AFL will be a national game and not just a poorly expanded VFL but it seems unlikely).
watched the NRL Sate of Origin tonight. Sadly, it is a shadow of what it used to be. The athleticism and skill of the players is lacking woefully, and the game is quite frankly boring.
[1169
daretotread
Briefly
Had a neighbour who seemed to think he was a direct descendent (possibly the main inheritor) of Timur. His name perhaps not surprisingly was Tim.]
Was he Uzbek?
Wow the Julian Assange story about to heat up again.
Media conference about new evidence soon Tony Jones informs
WWP
Last Saturday, Sydney Swans played Port Adelaide at the SCG. It was a cracker of a game.
It sure looks like a national game to me
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/596358/Timur/7272/Assessment
[Timur’s most lasting memorials are the Timurid architectural monuments of Samarkand, covered in azure, turquoise, gold, and alabaster mosaics; these are dominated by the great cathedral mosque, ruined by an earthquake but still soaring to an immense fragment of dome. His mausoleum, the Gūr-e Amīr, is one of the gems of Islamic art. Within the sepulchre he lies under a huge, broken slab of jade. The tomb was opened in 1941, having remained intact for half a millennium. The Soviet Archaeological Commission found the skeleton of a man who, though lame in both right limbs, must have been of powerful physique and above-average height.
Timur’s sons and grandsons fought over the succession when the Chinese expedition disbanded, but his dynasty (see Timurid dynasty) survived in Central Asia for a century in spite of fratricidal strife. Samarkand became a centre of scholarship and science. It was here that Ulūgh Beg, his grandson, set up an observatory and drew up the astronomical tables that were later used by the English royal astronomer in the 17th century. During the Timurid renaissance of the 15th century, Herāt, southeast of Samarkand, became the home of the brilliant school of Persian miniaturists. At the beginning of the 16th century, when the dynasty ended in Central Asia, his descendant Bābur established himself in Kabul and then conquered Delhi, to found the Muslim line of Indian emperors known as the Great Mughals.]
victoria
Yep AFL in more places nationally than rugby. Alice Springs last place to have Premiership Points decided.
Sweeping changes to Social Security was introduced today too:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/18/sweeping-social-security-changes-introduced-to-parliament?CMP=soc_567
This is Austerity cuts right here people.
Make your voice heard with the senate.
One thing really stands out from the histories of conquest in Asia: nothing lasts. Even the greatest soon give way.
Centre@1164
When was that?
They used to have this interstate contest where the “Victorian” team, comprised of the best players from all states took on the remnants of the other states. What a joke that was.
[As a Qld / WA person…]
Oh yes, in my maroon haze I forgot all about WA. But as a point in case, trust me, we do it better!
[It sure looks like a national game to me]
I wasn’t arguing that it wasn’t played nationally, just that it isn’t a national game. It is ruled in Victoria by Victorians who still get snooty when the rules they make for themselves don’t work quite like they wanted. When the final is played somewhere other than in Victoria perhaps then it will be a national game.
As per The Princess Bride: never start a land war in Asia.
Good night bludgeroonies.
Comisseroonies, Queenslanderoonies….just remember, its only a game.
[Oh yes, in my maroon haze I forgot all about WA. But as a point in case, trust me, we do it better!]
I’m only a Qld’er three nights a year (SoO nights) so tonight I might have to agree with you, but most of the year I’d say here on West Coast we do it better.
zoidlord
[Sweeping changes to Social Security was introduced today too:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/18/sweeping-social-security-changes-introduced-to-parliament?CMP=soc_567%5D
I hope the ALP will take a more aggressive defence of the poor and vulnerable than the UK Labour Party (ANA the Red Tories).
WWP
Finals are played elsewhere. It is only the Grand final that is required to take place af the MCG.
[1180
zoidlord
Sweeping changes to Social Security was introduced today too:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/18/sweeping-social-security-changes-introduced-to-parliament?CMP=soc_567
This is Austerity cuts right here people.]
Kevin Andrews will be remembered as the Minister who tried twice to attack the incomes of ordinary Australians – first with Work Choices and now by gutting welfare. Let’s hope he fails twice too.
victoria@1177
The AFL has worked hard to infect NSW and Qld. But not really getting a lot of traction considering the effort they have put in.
Tough selling an inferior product.
WWP
[I’m only a Qld’er three nights a year]
There could be treatments available. It’s obviously not chronic, yet!!
@Briefly/1189
I like one comment in the Guardian, DoleChoices.
bemused
You do realise that there was over 40,000 spectators at the Sydney swans game on Saturday? Do you know what the average Rugby league game gets?
Anyway what does it matter. You dont like the game. Why bother having anything to say about it. Leave it to those who appreciate it.
Night all
[WWP
I’m only a Qld’er three nights a year
There could be treatments available. It’s obviously not chronic, yet!!]
I can still remember the school bus on SoO day when King Wally ruled, we had 1 girl, fiona, from Canberra who was loyal enough to support NSW – oh what fun.
[Tough selling an inferior product.]
The product is clearly superior, League only has the three So O games the tests and even the GF are pretty much nonevents.
WWP
I can well imagine the boorish behaviour!!
SoO is the World Cup of RL!!!! Two provincial teams who have to play each other three times to get a “series”!!! hahaha
[SoO is the World Cup of RL!!!! Two provincial teams who have to play each other three times to get a “series”!!! hahaha]
It is the very best League has to offer.
WWP
[It is the very best League has to offer.]
well, yes, it is.
The AFL is the VFL propped up by other state’s money. When the grand final is played in another state, it will maybe AFL can be classed as a national competition.
Of course the FAA provides the only real national football competition in Australia. This is appropriate as it is real football. :devil:
Retweeted by Lady Van Badham
Torin Peel @torin 5m
92% of respondents in today’s Fairfax poll believe Tony Abbott should call a double dissolution election. Bring it on. #auspol
Wow that’s a big support for Double Dissolution, even if you include any Margin of Error.