Tomorrow’s Courier-Mail carries results of a Galaxy poll of federal voting intention in Queensland, going off the same sample as yesterday’s state poll, and it’s the first of four such polls since the election to show Labor in front. Labor’s 51-49 lead on two-party preferred represents an 8% swing from last year’s federal election, and a three-point shift to Labor from the previous result in February. It also sits well with the current reading from BludgerTrack, suggesting serious problems for the government in what may be the most important state in the country in terms of marginal seats. Primary votes and such to follow shortly. UPDATE: The primary votes are 38% for the Coalition, 36% for Labor, 8% for the Greens and 12% for Palmer United. The poll also finds 36% believe the Abbott government has lived up to expectations, down nine points since February, 56% believe it has performed below them, up nine points, and 4% believe it has been better, down two.
UPDATE (Essential Research): The regular weekly result from Essential Research has both major parties down a point on the primary vote, to 40% for the Coalition and 38% for Labor, and the two main minor parties up one, the Greens to 9% and Palmer United to 6%. Labor gains a point on two-party preferred to lead 52-48. Further questions find a remarkable 43% saying the government should respond to its budget difficulties by calling an election, the breakdowns for party support suggesting this mostly bespeaks a desire to get rid of the government rather than secure the passage of its budget. Thirty-eight per cent say they would rather a new budget be introduced, including a majority among Coalition supporters. I’m not sure if the availability of only two options together with “don’t know” succeeds in capturing the full range of opinion on the subject.
Other questions find opinion on the state of the economy little changed since April, with a good rating of 37% (down one) and a poor rating of 26% (up two), but more thinking it headed in the wrong direction, up seven to 41% with “right direction” down four to 35%. Concern about job losses is up a point to 58%, with the “not at all concerned” response up three to 32%. Twenty-one per cent say the impact of the budget on employment will be good versus 49% for bad. Sixty per cent disapprove of sending troops to Iraq versus 28% who approve, and 36% believe current spending on anti-terrorism measures is about right, compared with 28% who want more and 19% who want less.
I’m back dahlinks! I got engaged whilst I was away from you, next year I will be a respectable married woman!
Edwina StJohn@1001
But same sex marriage is not yet lawful. 😐
[ Try twenty somethings and younger. ]
How many “twenty somethings” do you really think are interested in your inane maundering?
[I’m back dahlinks! I got engaged whilst I was away from you, next year I will be a respectable married woman!]
I thought you had been sent to a twilight facility!
Player One@1003
More than would ever bother with your vapid ravings.
An email from Bill Shorten –
[Bemused,
Tomorrow marks 100 days since Tony Abbott and the Coalition revealed their true colours to the nation.
Many of us suspected it, and the Budget confirmed our worst fears: having lied to win power, the new Government’s real agenda was to create an unfair Australia for the privileged few.
That’s not the Australia I believe in. It’s not the Australia Labor believes in. And I know it’s not the Australia you believe in.
And over these past 100 days, you have proved how hard you’re willing to fight Abbott’s unfair Budget: over 113,000 of you have signed petitions, from the GP tax to education cuts to ABC funding, and thousands attended rallies against the Budget. Volunteers have made over 38,000 phone calls to voters informing them of the damage the Budget would wreak, and you have donated tens of thousands of dollars to air TV ads doing the same.
Thank you.
We still have much to do if we are to stand in the way of Tony Abbott’s backward vision for an Australia that destroys the fair go, but thanks largely to your efforts we are already well under way.
It has been a truly amazing community response. And a sorely needed one: if we do nothing when our schools and hospitals are slashed, and our pensioners, job seekers, students and parents are cast aside, then the whole nation suffers.
When we stand together, when we speak with one voice, we can defeat this Government’s extreme ideological agenda.
Our fight has only just begun. As long as Tony Abbott, Joe Hockey, Chris Pyne and their colleagues are in power, our fundamental Australian values are under threat.
We know that together, we can stare down this Budget. Thanks for helping prove that, and I look forward to fighting the good fight with you as we continue into the next 100 days.
Thanks for standing with me on this,
Bill]
Bit of a conversation stopped, Bemused.
I start up the odd fight, but you sir are a master at giving, and taking offence.
Just wondering why you bother coming here as you seem to like no-one, and no-one likes you?
[pBemused,
Tomorrow marks 100 days since Tony Abbott and the Coalition revealed their true colours to the nation.
Many of us suspected it, and the Budget confirmed our worst fears: having lied to win power, the new Government’s real agenda was to create an unfair Australia for the privileged few.]
Remember when Fact Check denounced Kevin Rudd (in his second iteration as PM) for rank exaggeration over Coalition cuts?
Kevin was dreaming… it was a lot WORSE than even he could imagine.
EStJ
[I’m back dahlinks! I got engaged whilst I was away from you, next year I will be a respectable married woman!]
I find that implausible. You’re never going to be respectable.
[
Matt Thompson @MattThompson 2m
Carlton says Jeff Garlett has this evening been charged with affray in relation to an incident in the early hours of Sunday August 3.]
A bit off topic, but someone in austhority at Carlton needs a boot up the backside
psyclaw
see my previous posts…
—-
Just back from a branch meeting, but it seems that bemused and others are perfectly happy to keep arguing with me even when I’m not there.
Ah well, it makes me feel that I serve a useful social purpose. They’d probably be kicking kittens or biting the heads off chickens otherwise.
(Thinks: dear me, I’m beginning to sound like ML……)
Tom, bemused
The only people who will benefit from the EW link and willing to pay the (road toll) price are those who need to get across from the Eastern onto the Tulla, Western and Geelong (or the reverse), i.e. trucking transportation companies such as Toll, etc.
[I find that implausible. You’re never going to be respectable.]
He’s the Mel & Kim of Poll Bludger.
Bushfire Bill@1007
Well that’s your opinion and it is inaccurate at that.
I actually like most who post on PB. Even you have your moments.
Naturally I will occasional have a different view on issues.
F.L.M
I will also add that no, I’m not singing off any hymn sheet. I certainly haven’t discussed this issue with anyone in the party. As always, my comments and opinions are my own, arrived at as a result of my own experiences and research.
Of course my opinions and Labor’s will often coincide. It would be strange if I belonged to a party where that didn’t happen.
Raaraa@1012
It might help to get to the airport a bit quicker but otherwise will not benefit most people.
zoomster@1011
OK, in future be sure to keep me informed of your movements so I will not refer to you or any issues you have been involved in during your absence. OK?
No, no, bemused, don’t mind me, just carry on. I’m sure it does you good.
An email from the Victorian ALP State Secretary –
[Bemused
In just 100 days Victorians will go to the polls to decide the next state government.
We have an historic challenge in front of us: to make the Napthine Liberals a one-term government.
Volunteers have already had over 200,000 personal conversations with voters in the past three months. It’s a simple equation – the more personal contact with voters, the more who will hear Labor’s positive vision for a government that puts people first.
But all this costs money. By donating just $10, you will help us reach 100 more Victorians who will be on their own under the Liberals.
Will you donate today? – https://www.viclabor.com.au/donate/
Together we can change the government.
Thanks,
Noah Carroll
State Secretary
Victorian Labor
PS. There are lots and lots of ways to contribute to the campaign. If you would rather volunteer – please sign up today at http://www.thisislabor.org ]
So any non-member supporters are welcome to respond to this email and help remove the Libs.
This does have the feeling of an old people’s home tonight.
Why does the ALP send you all emails ? To tell you what to think ?
Edwina StJohn@1022
Read them and be wiser … or at least a little less ill-informed and stupid.
Thanks bemused – clearly that is the purpose !
Edwina might to read this new magazine
zoomster@1019
Yes, you are starting to sound like Mad Lib. Off you go now and have a good cry.
[Read them and be wiser … or at least a little less ill-informed and stupid.]
I don’t think the e-mails are going to help you much on this point.
[ Read them and be wiser … or at least a little less ill-informed and stupid. ]
It doesn’t seem to be working for you.
[ Yes, you are starting to sound like Mad Lib. Off you go now and have a good cry. ]
Sad. Are you about to start carrying on about the misandry of PB again?
@edj/1022
Turnbull still spams me with email, so what you complaining about? (with eNews).
The last one he sent was 31/03/2014 Was complaining about the so called debt and deficit Labor left, then whinged about Labor’s NBN by having stacked reviews and stacked NBN Board.
Player One@1028
Yep, just what I would expect from you. Another smart arse comment from someone with nothing else to contribute.
http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/half-the-population-wont-pay-the-7-gp-fee-in-ama-deal/story-e6frg12c-1227031148513
Just adding to the list of Abbott Govt failures
bemused
I’m not sure what I have to cry about. I’m in rather a happy mood.
[George Megalogenis @GMegalogenis · 7h
Pandering to Palmer not only makes the PM look weak domestically, it creates impression in region that Clive’s race cards are govt. policy.]
Reckon Abbott might be between a rock and a hard place on PUP, as Howard was with One Nation.
But is the current coalition govt in a position to simply absorb much of the PUP policy position in the same way it did ON, thereby neutralising it? Not sure. And remember that Howard was a far more slick Liberal leader than Abbott has shown himself to be.
…..I must say, bemused, this is in part due to your posts tonight. They provided me with no end of amusement.
Player One@1029
I am happy to call it out whenever it appears, like it did last night.
[ The Piping Shrike @Piping_Shrike · 10m
Australian PM once again discovers best antidote to failure at home is try overseas. Less questions asked.]
fess
[But is the current coalition govt in a position to simply absorb much of the PUP policy position in the same way it did ON, thereby neutralising it? ]
I wonder how much of the PUP pronouncements are those the Lib/Nats make behind closed doors. After all, that’s where Palmer’s come from. I’d be fairly sure that (apart, perhaps, from the climate change stuff) Clive’s attitudes and opinions are still largely unchanged from his Lib/Nat days.
I hate to see this intra-labor fighting. 52-48 the lead should hold up for at least 6 months…..
zoomster@1033
Well that’s reassuring. Must have been a good branch meeting. 😀
[ I am happy to call it out whenever it appears, like it did last night. ]
In your dreams, bemused.
This medium tends not to do Tone very well.
Does any?
[Reckon Abbott might be between a rock and a hard place on PUP, as Howard was with One Nation.
But is the current coalition govt in a position to simply absorb much of the PUP policy position in the same way it did ON, thereby neutralising it? Not sure. And remember that Howard was a far more slick Liberal leader than Abbott has shown himself to be.]
Part of that strategy was not only to absorb ON policy, it also involved gaoling its leader — don’t forget who led that charge.
Palmer might want to ensure he has criminal lawyers on his books just in case!
zoomster:
Yes, I’ve suspected the same thing myself, esp about Palmer. But that said, the coalition has boxed itself into a corner on so many issues that it would make it hard for them to try to outmaneuver PUP.
Puff, the Magic Dragon.@1042
He seems to be sticking with his ‘Adolph’ comb across. 😀
DL:
Agreed. And Abbott’s own role in that deserves wider scrutiny.
Yes, bemused. I was called in to ‘save’ the branch (it’s not my own) several months ago. Things seem to be working out rather well.
Labor’s mistake in government was not gaoling Dr Brown or Milne. They would have been able to neutralise the Greens similar to how One Nation was dispensed with by the Coalition.
The Coalition will always be more ruthless than Labor.
http://www.perthnow.com.au/national/b-medicare-local-set-to-be-axed/story-fncynjr2-1226913612395
http://www.perthnow.com.au/lifestyle/health/medicare-locals-axed-for-a-smaller-number-under-a-new-name-in-budget-2014/story-fneuz9ev-1226913591454
Its going to insulting to read the right wing cheers squad polishing this broken promise. Abbott promised no cuts to health. Abbott lied and no amount of turd polish can change that fact
zoomster@1047
Always good fun helping a branch recover. And a challenge too.