The latest fortnightly result from Roy Morgan is extremely similar to the other five it has conducted since Malcolm Turnbull deposed Tony Abbott, with the Coalition leading Labor on the primary vote by 46.5% to 28.5% (both up half a point), and the Greens on 14% (down half a point on last time). There is no change on either measure of two-party preferred, with the Coalition ahead 56-44 on respondent-allocated preferences and 55-45 on previous election preferences. The poll was conducted by face-to-face and SMS over the past two weekends, from a sample of 3500.
UPDATE (Essential Research): The oft-contrary Essential Research fortnightly rolling average moves a point in the direction of Labor this week, paring its unusually modest lead for the Coalition back to 51-49. However, both major parties are steady on the primary vote, at 44% for the Coalition and 35% for Labor, with the Greens up a point to 11%. Nonetheless, an occasion question inquiring about the best party to handle various issues finds the Liberal Party generally viewed more favourable relative to Labor than in October, having improved further in areas of strength (economic management, political leadership, interest rates and treatment of asylum seekers), and pared back (industrial relations) or even eliminated (education and housing affordability) its deficits in areas of weakness. Only on environment and climate change is Labor well ahead of the Liberals, although they would lose points across the board from the inclusion of the Greens as a response option.
Further questions relates to the tax system, which is presently deemed fair by 40% and unfair by 52%, and in need of complete change by 41% and only minor change by 39%. Thirty-six per cent of respondents deemed they paid about the right amount of tax, compared with 40% for “more than fair share” and 11% for less. More detailed probing of attitudes turns up the familiar refrain that wealthy people and corporations don’t pay their fair share. Sixty-seven per cent support a proposed increase in tobacco tax, compared with 24% for opposed.
Mal Brough is planning to tough it out for one more day until Parliament breaks up for the Summer.
@MarkDiStef: Here’s the vine of Mal Brough directly contradicting himself on whether he procured Slipper’s diary #ashbygate https://t.co/G7zTFDQceY
TL
It’s less about what happens in question time – which we all know most people don’t give a stuff about – and more about what makes its way into the news.
@NajibRazak: Malaysia intends to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030. https://t.co/gw4c3E6Pc8 #COP21
[TL
It’s less about what happens in question time – which we all know most people don’t give a stuff about – and more about what makes its way into the news.]
Agree this issue with Brough has changed the way the media is looking at the Turnbull government and I think we can say that, as far as the media is concerned, the honeymoon is over. Things will get back to policy and performance … maybe.
Just had a thought, with the North Sydney by-election this week, if we see a drop in the LNP vote, we might see Brough put forward as the excuse.
kevjohno @1245 – the fact that you are unaware that this is quite a normal practice for high ranking Ministers in government does not make it wrong.
The ALP needs to be careful that they aren’t making a rod for their own back.
So, the two top stories on the ABC website are the purported Chinese cyber attack, and the the purported terrorist raid. And what do these stories have in common? Why, nothing – except that they’re both complete non-stories, and the timing of both of them occurring today is highly suspicious.
I heard a spokesman for the police raids at pains to point out that the raids had been in preparation for weeks, and that the fact that they found nothing at all should not be construed as meaning anything. Because terrorism.
With the cyber attack story, the event itself appears to have happened some undisclosed time in the past, but was corroborated by ‘many senior people’ who were all absolutely convinced the Chinese were responsible. When asked how they could be so sure, the moronic ABC reporter admitted he had forgotten to ask that question, but they just were. Because China.
So – two utter non-stories, released on the day the government is in a world of hurt over Brough, Pyne, Wyatt and Bishop.
It’s their ABC.
Beemer
The Greens will be campaigning hard in North Sydney. It will be interesting to see if their new methods translate to Federal level.
In any event it must be a lowering of polling numbers for the LNP as voters will have a real alternate to the LNP. How much is the question.
davidwh @1253 An F111 might have.
Bishop is a the Senior WA politician.
Telethon is the Premier Charity in WA.
The Ball is a significant major social event in the WA influential circles.
Her attendance there was necessary.
The typical East Coast attitude that WA should play poor second cousin to the East Coast is well demonstrated on the approach to this issue by the ALP/Left/anti-Bishops.
In addition to post 1305 some parts of the media, shock jocks and Ch9 in particular, have been negative over the change. It’s the other media outlets that will now start to focus on the warts in the Turnbull government and all government’s have them.
It may take away some of the replace Shorten rhetoric which has been the main focus of the media for a couple of months.
[davidwh @1253 An F111 might have.]
Yes but it would have cost $3 million not $30k.
Player One – The big issue is really that Malcolm went over to Paris and basically did Tony’s bidding. I think the green voter infatuation with Malcolm has just died a sudden death. Be interesting to see how that plays out in the polls.
[Compact Crank
Posted Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at 5:20 pm | Permalink
kevjohno @1245 – the fact that you are unaware that this is quite a normal practice for high ranking Ministers in government does not make it wrong.
The ALP needs to be careful that they aren’t making a rod for their own back.]
Do you have any data to show this is a normal practice CC?
[ Compact Crank
Posted Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at 5:22 pm | Permalink
davidwh @1253 An F111 might have.
]
Sadly we don’t have them anymore – The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has bid a final farewell to its last remaining F-111, which is being taken from Amberley base, west of Brisbane, to Hawaii…. just the questionable JSF …
Anyways ignoring all the magic carpet crap – Independent Senator Nick Xenophon saying Ms Bishop had other options, such as video conferencing.
“Alternatively, leave the dinner a bit early so you could make the flight on time,” he told Neil Mitchell.
Just Me at 1272
In good news, most of the commentry below the article suggests Nikolic is in a small minority (with intellects to match).
[Once charges are laid then you can claim an alleged crime]
Laying the charge is simply the phase of criminal procedure following police investigation. Allegation is something more generic. In these circumstances you could argue Mel himself alleged he committed a crime on national TV.
You might form a view and allege based on the evidence from 60 minutes that he has either lied to Parliament or signed a false declaration. David probably wouldn’t some on twitter are.
You might also wonder if he has given a statement to police and if he said nothing, exercising a right to silence, or if he made a statement and if so which of his other statements the statement to police contradicts.
As I’ve said, past PMs sent a pre recorded message to the telethon. Bishop did not have to be there at all.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/malcolm-turnbull-stands-by-mal-brough-as-cory-bernardi-says-pm-should-reconsider-his-captains-call-20151202-gldkot.html
Sorry if already posted but Dreyfus just doesn’t let up.
‘Bishopgate’ is probably nothing. There is a reasonable case that she was on Government business, representing the PM, as CC says in 1311 above. Maybe she could have drawn up her schedule more carefully, balancing the needs of being a WA rep with her job in Canberra. It might have meant politely declining one or other invitation.
She should be given the same consideration that she gave to Julia Gillard.
“Mr Slipper was the Speaker at the time and the Member for Fisher, a seat Mr Brough went on to win from Mr Slipper in the 2013 election.”
Brough had far more skin in the game than just making sure that a “criminal” met his comeuppance. To hear him, you’d think that by pursuing Slipper he was doing a public service, but it was all about a seat for him.
I don’t really think there is any issue with Bishop flying from Perth to Canberra, we expect our pollies to travel and it seems fair.
The bigger issue is BB use of a helicopter which was unnecessary as there was a car available and today’s issue with Brough
[Telethon is the Premier Charity in WA.
The Ball is a significant major social event in the WA influential circles.
Her attendance there was necessary.
The typical East Coast attitude that WA should play poor second cousin to the East Coast is well demonstrated on the approach to this issue by the ALP/Left/anti-Bishops.
]
What a load of rubbish
mexicanbeemer
[ The bigger issue is BB use of a helicopter which was unnecessary as there was a car available and today’s issue with Brough ]
Who knows? Maybe it will turn out that Bishop the Younger also sent her pumpkin coach to Perth, so should have something to drive her to the ball and back!
Apparently her pumpkin coach was lost during Halloween.
[So – two utter non-stories, released on the day the government is in a world of hurt over Brough, Pyne, Wyatt and Bishop.
It’s their ABC.]
But, but 7.3o has something up its sleeve. That’s not the ideal place for a damp squid.
[ davidwh
Posted Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at 4:55 pm | Permalink
I don’t see any problem with the $30k spend in the circumstances where the DPM is representing the PM at this type of event.
As for the RW media jocks, well they are hell bent on bringing Turnbull down and getting Abbott of someone of similar ilk back in control so I discount most, or all, of the rhetoric around the Turnbull government. ]
1 Taxpayers may well see a ‘problem with the $30k spend’.
2 mesma is *NOT* the DPM.
3 The information/leak on this may have come from within the tories. Plenty within their ranks looking for payback.
Actually I feel for all the WA pollies. There is NO direct flight to Canberra. Two flights late at night with meetings early is pretty full on.
Actually it might make sense to always have a plane sitting in Perth that leaves at say 11:30 and flies straight to Canberra.
mexicanbeemer@1286
And the security?
Forget it.
I defended Barnett, possibly WA’s worst ever premier for using a private jet.
I would defend our FM, even one as bad as our Julie, making very extensive use of government jets.
But to deliberately choose to cost tax payers $30k (less 4k for business class commercial) to hang out at a charity that is as much about promoting its TV chanel as it is about charity is pretty poor.
As an aside has the commonwealth not yet discovered video conference. She could easily have participated in both events in one city.
WWP
[As an aside has the commonwealth not yet discovered video conference. ]
Politicians are really good at telling the APS they should use video conferencing more and travel less.
No sign of politicians doing it however.
adrian
[ But, but 7.3o has something up its sleeve. ]
A decent journalist? Now that would be a surprise!
Was this one of the cabinet meetings with no agenda?
For all you Kitchen Cabinet fans, tonight’s program.
[KITCHEN CABINET
Cory Bernardi
8pm – 8.35pmABC
Annabel Crabb heads to the Adelaide home of conservative Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi. Over lunch they discuss why he’s one of the most controversial figures in parliament, same sex marriage, multiculturalism and more.]
CC,
I’m a card carrying member of the ALP and I reckon the points you make are entirely valid.
Bishop is a senior member of the Government and most people would admire her for making the effort to get back to Perth.
There is a huge difference between her actions and Bishop B and the famous helicopter.
The tyranny of distance is a real thing for the folk of WA and it does Bishop J credit that she’ll make the effort to be there for her community.
Is controversial ABC speak for moronic?
Anyway, no doubt dear sweet Annabel will humanise him for us.
bemused
I wonder if Bernardi’s favourite dish is offal poached in bile.
BK@1338
😆
I wonder how the reviews of his book are going? I haven’t looked for a while, but there were some classics there.
BK,
Your favourite dish might be a huge wad of over over cooked bigotry all contained within a crusty closed mind.
Yum! Yum!
Charlie Edwards@1317
Yeah, it is quite encouraging, even allowing for it being the Fairfax crowd. 🙂
Sorry dave no she isn’t DPM but my opinion remains unchanged.
[abc730
abc730 – Verified account @abc730
We’ll cover #ashbygate and everything from #QT on Mal Brough tonight on #abc730 https://twitter.com/SabraLane/status/671886737874878464 …]
victoria@1343
Sohar, Player One, Adrian and all the other ABC hating numpties will be most distressed. 😆
Grunt’s bullshit is in a class of its own.
[Australia approved coalmine because it isn’t a ‘neo-colonialist’ power, Greg Hunt claims
Environment minister defends approval of Indian company Adani’s $16bn Carmichael mine, saying ‘poorest should be able to make their own decisions’ ]
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/02/australia-approved-coalmine-because-it-isnt-a-neo-colonialist-power-greg-hunt-claims
davidwh@1342
Unchanged opinions are pretty normal here.
Its *interesting* the position the murdoch press have taken on this. mesma has gone pretty well from hero to zero with them, atm anyway.
Her knowledge that turnbull offered morrison treasury back in February and abbott saying she never informed him might be the reason?
[ Sohar, Player One, Adrian and all the other ABC hating numpties will be most distressed. ]
You watch it for us and report. BB does it for 2GB so the rest of us don’t have to suffer through it – you can do the same for KC.
My contempt for little Hunt grows inexorably with every word he utters. “There is no federal money” – what about the cost to the nation from the destruction of – oh, what’s the use. He’s a Liberal.
[“I hope you would agree the poorest countries should be able to decide their own energy future. I am not a neo-colonialist. I think the poorest should be able to make their own decisions,” he said.
And he said the federal environment law allowed him to judge projects according to strict criteria, but greenhouse emissions weren’t one of them.
“It is not our project, there is no federal money, the federal government of Australia acts as a judge not as an advocate and I think it is very important that individual countries set their targets and make their own decisions,” he said.
Conservation groups have asked the federal court to overturn the Hunt’s approval Carmichael because he did not take into account the impact on the Great Barrier Reef of the greenhouse gases emitted when the coal is burned.]
Thanks for the link, poroti.
[It may take away some of the replace Shorten rhetoric which has been the main focus of the media for a couple of months.]
It’s been the main focus of a few here too.
Good idea Player One, Bemused can suffer through Leigh Sales for 30 mins on our behalf. I’m sure he will give a ‘fair and balanced’ account, just like Leigh and Chris do (and Mark did).