This week’s Essential Research result ticks back a point to the Coalition on two-party preferred, who now trail by 52-48, from primary votes of 39% for both the Coalition and Labor (respectively up one and down one), with the Greens and Palmer United steady on 9% and 6%. Other findings:
• Perceptions of the Senate balance of power have not changed since last year, with 32% thinking it best when the government has a majority (up one), 25% favouring independents and minor parties holding the balance of power (up one), 8% preferring the opposition holding the balance of power (down two), 7% saying it doesn’t matter, and 28% saying they don’t know.
• Perceptions of the present situation are likewise unchanged on immediately after the election, with 36% thinking the micro-parties good for democracy (steady), 28% bad (up two) and 15% opting for makes no difference (down two).
• Twenty-seven per cent would sooner the Greens hold the balance of power versus 22% for Palmer United, with 34% saying no difference.
Other inquiries relate to respondents’ retirement and superannuation arrangements. Another polling nugget to emerge yesterday was a ReachTEL result commissioned by the Electrical Trades Union showing Queensland Treasurer Tim Nicholls facing a 13% swing in his affluent Brisbane seat of Clayfield, but nonetheless leading 57-43 on two-party preferred.
UPDATE (ReachTEL): The Seven Network this evening brings us a ReachTEL automated phone poll of national voting intention, as it does one a month or so, conducted to gauge reaction to Tony Abbott’s handling of the MH17 disaster. The poll shows a slight tick to the Coalition, which now trails 52-48 from primary votes of 36% for the Liberals, apparently not including the Coalition (up one); 37% for Labor (down one); 10% for the Greens (steady); and 8% for Palmer United (up one). Abbott scores strong ratings for his handling of MH17, being rated very good or good by 51%, satisfactory by 26% and poor or very poor by 23%.
[Greg Hunt forgot all his science lessons so that he could become “Environment” Minister.]
One gets the feeling that the hardheads have a lot of laughs at Greg’s expense.
Shellbell
Regarding the current HC matter.
His honour said yesterday: “What affects my thinking more than anything else is how long have these people been on board that ship.”
He didn’t get a straight answer and persisted for another 3 or 4 questions until Donaghue (for Morriscum) replied “23 or 24 days”
This and other similar comments from the bench strongly suggests that His Honour totally disagrees with this imprisonment on a boat.
I doubt that such an explicit view was expressed in Patricks’ Case, and anyway the comparison is a bit false …… Habeas Corpus circumstances were not an aspect of Patricks’ ie no-one was being deprived of liberty.
We’ve had a couple of cold nights in Brisbane and Canberra and a cool, bleak weekend in Sydney. No doubt that means global warming is crap? Not quite. The world experienced its warmest June on record, following the warmest May: http://www.weatherzone.com.au/news/record-hot-june-for-the-world/105254
lizzie
Great summation @ 597.
Apologies if this has already been posted: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/07/gunshots-fired-at-al-jazeera-bureau-gaza-2014722829152765.html
CNN UK usually has Ben Wiederman reporting from Gaza, but last night no one reported from Gaza. I wonder if CNN decided that if Al Jazeera was too pro-Palestinian that CNN are just as bad.
[Bernardi would, no doubt, follow the Bible on the sin of Onan.]
And want to bring down on them fire, brimstone and lots of smiting.
Boerwar
I see the Dutch PM Mr Rutte’s parents were traders from out the Dutch East Indies way.
On the European coverage of MH17, a few days ago there was the odd snippet from Tony Abbott, and the UN security council resolution coverage showed both J Bishop and the Netherlands representative. Now, Australia is not longer being mentioned, except in respect to some coverage of the victims. I presume that Abbott is no longer saying anything worthwhile. On the other hand the Dutch spokespeople are being interviewed quite a lot.
p
the NEI accounted for around 20-30% of the total Netherlands economy pre WW2.
It was a tricky business getting smashed by WW2 AND losing the NEI. They have some gas, some sand dunes and a hole below sea level.
What was left was brains and hard work.
Just heard Abbott on radio doing his Senior Statesman Very Very Serious milking of the tragedy. Two thoughts on hearing it: 1. He really sounds as though he needs more fibre and prunes in his diet – sounds very constipated when he does his serious somber act; 2. I think this is going to work for him. He will lead the next poll. This is before he does all the funerals as he no doubt will. Let’s hope he gets bold and heads for a DD but everyone remembers what a tool he is during the campaign. Labor needs to use the term “lying far right fanatics” about this mob more to really entrench peoples’ feelings about them before an election.
D&M
It is a bit like watching the Olympics o/s: Australia disappears.
Bet you’re all very excited by this:
http://greens.org.au/magazine/vic/greens-target-liberal-seat-victoria
Boerwar
[What was left was brains and hard work.]
The university where Rutte got his masters degree looks a bit of an “overachiever”.
[… consistently rank Leiden University as the best university in Continental Europe for Arts and Humanities. The University is associated with ten leaders and Prime Ministers of the Netherlands , nine foreign leaders, among them the 6th President of the United States John Quincy Adams, two Secretary Generals of NATO, a President of the International Court of Justice and sixteen recipients of the Nobel Prize (including renowned physicists Albert Einstein and Enrico Fermi). ……. During this time Leiden was home to such figures as René Descartes, Rembrandt, Hugo Grotius, Baruch Spinoza and Baron d’Holbach.]
They are talking about strapping some phosphorous flare ejectors to passenger jets…
I do hope they do wildfire risk assessments… and train the installers to load the flares pointing out rather than in.
Nielsen VIC a rogue? +5 to LNP?
[Coal dust has spread throughout the Great Barrier Reef and exceeds toxic levels near the shore, a Senate inquiry has heard.
Senators are touring Queensland this week to examine how the Australian and Queensland governments manage the reef, as UNESCO threatens to list it as a World Heritage site in danger.
James Cook University (JCU) Professor Terry Hughes says a “damning” new report from the university shows coastal sediments offshore of the Hay Point coal port are contaminated with coal residues that exceed Australian guidelines.
Prof Hughes, who is also the director of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, said the report also found coal dust had spread hundreds of kilometres from ports.
“It has now accumulated everywhere on the Great Barrier Reef, not just near dredging sites or near the ports themselves and it is exceeding toxic levels in near-shore locations,” he told the inquiry, which sat in Townsville on Wednesday.
“I think this new evidence is sufficient that recently issued permits to undertake dredging should be revoked.”]
Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/coal-dust-spread-across-barrier-reef-professor-20140723-zw3o6.html#ixzz38HPmGHdo
sustainable future
Did Abbott have the two-hand gestures working overtime?
[Nine News Brisbane @9NewsBrisbane · 40m
Primary support for the @theqldpremier’s government has plummeted to 37.4 percent in a state wide poll #9News ]
p
So that one uni has had more Nobel Prize winners than the whole of Oz…
blackburnpseph @ 592
[More Cory Bernardi’s? Just what the country needs]
Bernardi might yet be Abbott’s understudy, not Joe, who I’m pretty sure is still considered suspect by many in the party room.
[BK
Posted Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at 6:53 pm | Permalink
sustainable future
Did Abbott have the two-hand gestures working overtime?]
Priesthood Hand Gestures 101 (failed).
[ GhostWhoVotes @GhostWhoVotes · 13m
#Nielsen Poll VIC State 2 Party Preferred: L/NP 49 (+5) ALP 51 (-5) #springst #auspol
GhostWhoVotes @GhostWhoVotes · 4m
#Nielsen Poll VIC State Primary Votes: L/NP 41 (+4) ALP 35 (-7) GRN 16 (+2) #springst #auspol]
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/napthine-in-danger-of-singleterm-government-poll-20140723-zw5td.html
[Napthine in danger of single-term government: poll
July 23, 2014 – 6:48PM
Josh Gordon
State political editor for The Age
The Napthine Government has clawed back lost political ground after an aggressive campaign attacking Opposition Leader Daniel Andrew’s building union links.
But four months from the November election, the Coalition continues to languish in a losing position, with the latest Age/Nielsen poll, to be published later tonight, showing the Napthine Government remains in danger of becoming the first single-term government in Victoria since 1955.
Nielsen polster John Stirton suggested the Coalition’s political fortunes had improved as the parliamentary chaos surrounding rogue MP Geoff Shaw dissipated, with a “relatively close” contest likely at the state election.]
Boerwar @ 614
[They are talking about strapping some phosphorous flare ejectors to passenger jets…]
They wouldn’t have save MH17 against radar guided missiles.
Have any of the MSM sleuths worked out why Hockey suddenly disappeared from the national scene during a crucial period for selling his handiwork?
LL
I am not surprised regarding the improvement in the polls for Napthine. The Union assault was full on during the past few weeks.
I reckon that Abbott should stop pissfarting around and declare war against Russia.
[slothy
Posted Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at 7:02 pm | Permalink
Boerwar @ 614
They are talking about strapping some phosphorous flare ejectors to passenger jets…
They wouldn’t have save MH17 against radar guided missiles.]
Around 99% of what they talk around is bullshit so a bit more would not make much difference.
Boerwar
Joe disappeared in Budget selling time, now he knicks off to NZ and lets Madonna spread the muck.
My guess is he is attending job interviews.
[I am not surprised regarding the improvement in the polls for Napthine. The Union assault was full on during the past few weeks.]
This astounds me – I’ve seen nothing about it except here. Like zilch.
Did most of the activity under inquiry take place in Victoria or something?
[I reckon that Abbott should stop pissfarting around and declare war against Russia.]
Boerwaw
Munchausen syndrome by proxy perhaps?
victoria:
My comment above assumes you’re talking about the unions RC.
Victorian ALP -7 ?!?
Not sure what that’s about.
confessions
Reason why i have mentioned it here is because I am of the view that it does impact negatively on team Labor.
There was an anti-CFMEU campaign but it wasn’t worth -7
[BK
Posted Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at 7:15 pm | Permalink
I reckon that Abbott should stop pissfarting around and declare war against Russia.
Boerwaw
Munchausen syndrome by proxy perhaps?]
I reckon Abbott should really stop pissfarting around and invade Russia AND China.
confessions
Every little stupid allegation reported at the RC into the CFMEU was breathlessly reported on the front pages of the News Ltd papers. The RC into unions only purpose is to garner negative headlines for the media.
Boerwar
NOW you’re talking!
RD
Linking thr CFMEU to Daniel Andrews and Vic Labor does have a very negative impact on team Labor
Victorian Nielsen thread:
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/2014/07/23/nielsen-51-49-to-labor-in-victoria/
Mind you there are further hearings into the CFMEU, and from I have been advised,some of fhe allegations will do the trick and give the papers the headlines they love so much. 🙁
vic
Not worth -7
No way.
I’m calling rogue.
victoria:
No doubt the RC was designed to create havoc for Labor. But I’m surprised that its reportage seems to have been confined to Victoria. Is that because most of the allegations being looked into happened in that state?
RD
-7 does appear large, but the CFMEU is viewed as a militant union here in Vic, and any negative press hurts Labor. Remember Vic Labor have garnered large donations from the CFMEU
To be honest, neither the ALP nor Coalition deserve Govt in Victoria.
Both have been terrible over the last half dozen years.
Bracks Govt was the last decent Govt.
v
It is a timely reminder that Labor has yet to reform its governance.
confessions
Unions have weakened significantly over the past 20 years. The Victorian Branch of the CFMEU is one of the last stronger unions standing. It has been the focus of this govt, especially with the assistance of Grocon Ltd to destroy this union. They have been successful in taking the union to court and having huge fines imposed on it.
I should add that the corruptive practices of the building industry are present in every state.
The BLF/CFMEU has forever had a well known reputation for being rough.
It’s not like Victorians have all of a sudden had an epiphany.
Boerwar
Vic Labor could have done themselves a favour and detached itself from the unions by now.
I posted this earlier – no other reference – any ideas which pollster Channel 9 might be using?
[Nine News Brisbane @9NewsBrisbane · 40m
Primary support for the @theqldpremier’s government has plummeted to 37.4 percent in a state wide poll #9News]
The obvious solution to Gaza’s multifarious modes of total unsustainability is to have a annual population increase of around 3.5%.