Move it or lose it

As privately conducted seat polling continues to fly thick and fast, a series of disputes have developed over whether election candidates really live where they claim.

Three items of seat polling intelligence emerged over the weekend, none of which I’d stake my house on:

Samantha Maiden of news.com.au reports a uComms poll of 831 respondents for GetUp! shows independent Zoe Daniel leading Liberal member Tim Wilson in Goldstein by 59-41 on two-candidate preferred and 35.3% to 34.0% on the primary vote, with Labor on 12.5%, the Greens on 8.9% and an undecided component accounting for 4.6%. It should be noted that the campaigns are clearly expecting a closer result, and that uComms is peculiarly persisting with a weighting frame based entirely on age and gender, which was common enough before 2019 but has generally been deemed insufficient since.

Andrew Clennell of Sky News yesterday related polling conducted for the Industry Association of 800 respondents per seat showed Liberals incumbents trailing 58-42 in Robertson and 53-47 in Reid, and Labor leading by 56-44 in Parramatta and 54-46 in Gilmore, both of which the Liberals hope to win, and 57-43 in Shortland, which has never looked in prospect. The polling provided better news for the Coalition in showing the Liberals with a 57-43 lead in Lindsay and the Nationals trailing by just 51-49 in Labor-held Hunter. Clennell further related that “similar polling conducted earlier in the campaign also shows the government behind in Bennelong and Banks”. A fair degree of caution is due here as well: no indication is provided as to who conducted the polling, and its overall tenor seems rather too rosy for Labor.

• By contrast, local newspaper the North Sydney Sun has detailed results for North Sydney from Compass Polling, an outfit hitherto noted for polling conducted for conservative concerns that has then been used to push various lines in The Australian, which suggests independent Kylea Tink is running fourth and the threat Liberal member Trent Zimmerman faces is in fact from Labor’s Catherine Renshaw. The poll has Zimmerman on 34.9%, Renshaw on 25.0% and Tink on 12.4%, with Greens candidate Heather Armstrong on 15.0%. The online poll was conducted on May 6 from a sample of 507.

Speaking of staking houses, a fair bit of the electorate-level noise of the late campaign has related to where candidates claim to live for purposes of their electoral enrolment. The ball got ralling when The Australian reported that Vivian Lobo, the Liberal National Party candidate for the marginal Labor-held seat of Lilley in Brisbane, appeared not to live within the electorate at Everton Park as claimed on his enrolment. Labor’s demand that Lobo be disendorsed – always a challenging prospect after the close of nominations – was complicated on Saturday when Labor’s star candidate for Parramatta, Andrew Charlton, blamed an “oversight” for his enrolment at a Woollahra rental property owned by his wife a month after they moved to the electorate he hopes to represent.

The Liberals have naturally sought to maximise Labor’s embarrassment, with the Daily Mail quoting one over-excited party spokesperson calling on Labor to refer Charlton to the Australian Federal Police, as Lobo had been by the Australian Electoral Commission. But as the AEC’s media statement on the issue noted, Lobo has actively identified the Everton Park property as his residential address on his enrolment and nomination forms, potentially putting him in the frame for providing false or misleading information to a Commonwealth officer, punishable by a maximum 12 months’ imprisonment and $12,600 fine.

By contrast, Charlton’s is a sin of omission: failing to update his enrolment within the prescribed one month time frame after changing address, punishable only by a fine of $222 and in practice hardly ever enforced. There remains the question of why he was enrolled in Woollahra rather than at the Bellevue Hill property where he and his wife were living before their recent move to North Parramatta, but it’s difficult to see what ulterior motive might have been in play.

Now a new front has opened in the seat of McEwen on Melbourne’s northern fringe, where the Liberals are hopeful of unseating Labor member Rob Mitchell. Sumeyya Ilanbey of The Age reports today that Labor has asked the AEC to investigate Liberal candidate Richard Welch, who lives 50 kilometres from the electorate in the Melbourne suburb of Viewbank but listed an address in Wallan on his nomination form. Welch claims he had been living separately from his family in Wallan at the time of his nomination, but moved to his own property in Viewbank just days later after his landlord sold the house and terminated the lease.

Author: William Bowe

William Bowe is a Perth-based election analyst and occasional teacher of political science. His blog, The Poll Bludger, has existed in one form or another since 2004, and is one of the most heavily trafficked websites on Australian politics.

1,514 comments on “Move it or lose it”

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  1. mj
    In all the seats you mention, apart from Wills, the Greens need to make up ground against Labor to get to second. I don’t think it will happen as Labor should be gaining votes in all of the seats. In Wills Labor should get far too many 1st preference votes to be in trouble.

  2. @Mavissays:
    Monday, May 16, 2022 at 9:37 pm
    T.D. Kerobatsos:

    Monday, May 16, 2022 at 9:31 pm

    So, you’re having a wager nevertheless?

    Nah mate, my last bet was with a trackside bookie at a country race meet about 10 years ago and that was more out of boredom than interest.

    I look at the gambling odds, simply to get an idea of the over riding sentiment for elections, but after 2019 I’m not convinced they accurately reflect whats happening across the country.

    I don’t have the gambling gene in me (thank god), which is a relief as I have plenty of other vices to deal with! Many, many moons ago, my Dad was a SP Bookmaker (and loved a punt) and he used to tell me ‘If you gamble consistently, even when you win, it’s just a loan, because odds on you will be handing it back.’ So I’ve avoided it, which I’m grateful for. Each to their own though.

  3. Political apostate, LOL

    So who’s the pope, and where does s/he shit?
    PV
    ALP 38
    LNP 31
    GRN 13
    PHON 4
    UAP 6
    Teal 4
    OTHER 4

    2PP ALP 55.4:44.6 LNP

    Party OTN/final
    ALP 84/91
    LNP 43/48
    KAP 1/1
    GRN 1/2
    CA 1/1
    Teal 3/5
    Other 2/2

    Edit: added party names for 2PP

  4. TD Kerobatsos

    Gambler dollars don’t simulate a representative population sample though, do they? The advertising for sports bookmakers is hyperblokey so I’m assuming their market is heavily skewed that way. If that’s the case, aren’t they likely to misread women’s voting intentions, which could lead to significant error this time especially?

    Polling has a lot of trouble getting the demographics right itself, and bookies don’t care about that at all, just framing a book to deliver a profit

  5. Late Riser

    I think I miscounted the seats in my comp entry, so if I can change my entry to correct that, add 1 to the Teals final count, leaving on the night unchanged

    ie
    Teals 3/6

  6. THE GUESSING GAME, May 17, 2pm
    FINAL SEAT COUNTS
    ALP | LNP | KAP | GRN | CA | Teal | other 63 Respondents
    82 | 60 | — | 1 | — | — | 8 AB (May-16 22:01)
    85 | — | — | — | — | — | — Adrian Beaumont (May-16 17:31)
    83 | 60 | — | — | — | — | 8 allin127 (May-16 00:27)
    81 | — | — | — | — | — | — Andrew_Earlwood (May-17 09:03)
    82 | 56 | — | — | — | — | 13 B.S. Fairman (May-17 12:24)
    80 | 63 | — | 1 | — | 2 | 5 BeaglieBoy (May-16 14:13)
    77 | — | — | — | — | — | — BK (May-16 17:36)
    73 | 72 | — | 1 | — | — | 5 bluepill (May-16 18:15)
    81 | 60 | — | 1 | — | — | 9 Boinzo (May-17 11:35)
    77 | 65 | — | — | — | — | 9 centaur21 (May-17 11:52)
    — | 51 | — | — | — | — | — Confessions (May-16 05:39)
    79 | 62 | — | — | — | — | 10 Cronus (May-16 18:54)
    79 | 62 | — | 1 | — | — | 9 Dandy Murray-Honeydew (May-17 09:54)
    78 | 62 | — | 2 | — | — | 9 Dandy Murray-Honeydew (May-17 09:54)
    84 | — | — | — | — | — | — d-money (May-15 18:57)
    87 | 55 | — | — | — | — | 9 Edward Boyce (May-15 15:01)
    78 | — | — | — | — | — | — Evan (May-16 17:34)
    81 | — | — | — | — | — | — Expat Follower (May-17 11:48)
    95 | 44 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 frednk (May-16 23:21)
    75 | 69 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 4 Freya Stark’s gut (May-15 18:39)
    84 | 57 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 7 Freya Stark’s head (May-15 18:39)
    73 | 69 | — | — | — | — | 9 Geetroit (May-16 17:45)
    92 | 44 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 1 GlenO (May-15 22:29)
    76 | 66 | — | — | — | — | 9 Goll (May-16 19:03)
    81 | 48 | 1 | 8 | — | 5 | 8 Grant_ExLibris (May-17 12:53)
    82 | 61 | — | — | — | — | 8 Hugoaugogo (May-16 15:19)
    78 | 69 | — | — | — | — | 9 imacca (May-17 11:39)
    76 | 70 | — | — | — | — | 5 It’s Time (May-17 10:20)
    72 | 72 | — | 2 | — | — | 5 Jan (May-17 10:25)
    74 | 69 | — | 2 | — | — | 6 JayC (May-16 20:29)
    80 | 62 | — | 2 | — | 2 | 5 JM from QLD (May-17 11:04)
    80 | — | — | — | — | — | — King OMalley (May-15 22:05)
    86 | — | — | — | — | — | — King OMalley (May-16 17:40)
    78 | — | — | — | — | — | — Lars Von Trier (May-15 18:46)
    — | 51 | — | — | — | — | — ltep (May-16 05:05)
    82 | 61 | 1 | 1 | | | 6 Luke (May-16 19:19)
    74 | 67 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 7 Magnetar (May-16 23:27)
    70 | 72 | 1 | 2 | — | 6 | — Matt (May-16 23:42)
    70 | 72 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 6 Matt (May-17 13:04)
    78 | 65 | — | — | — | — | 8 max (May-16 14:05)
    72 | 70 | — | 2 | — | 4 | 3 meher baba (May-17 11:53)
    82 | 58 | — | 2 | — | — | 9 mj (May-17 00:10)
    78 | — | — | — | — | — | — Mr. Curlew (May-15 22:10)
    75 | 75 | — | — | — | — | 1 mundo (May-17 12:09)
    79 | 62 | — | — | — | — | 10 Ophuph Hucksake (May-16 18:30)
    81 | — | — | — | — | — | — outside left (May-17 07:16)
    78 | — | — | — | — | — | — Outsider (May-16 17:26)
    79 | 63 | — | 2 | — | — | 7 PaulTu (May-16 15:24)
    82 | 60 | — | 1 | — | 2 | 6 Puffytmd (May-16 21:30)
    82 | 59 | — | 1 | — | — | 9 Rossmore (May-17 10:23)
    77 | 66 | — | — | — | — | 8 Sandman (May-16 20:15)
    89 | — | — | — | — | — | — Scott (May-16 00:00)
    80 | — | — | — | — | — | — sonar (May-15 18:31)
    77 | — | — | — | — | — | — steve davis (May-16 17:40)
    91 | 48 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 2 subgeometer (May-17 12:37)
    91 | 51 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 6 Tazza (May-16 22:37)
    80 | 60 | — | — | — | — | 11 The loose unit (May-16 09:38)
    82 | 60 | — | — | — | — | — The loose unit (May-16 17:12)
    85 | 54 | — | — | — | — | 12 Toby Esterhase (May-17 12:00)
    82 | — | — | — | — | — | — Upnorth (May-16 19:17)
    71 | 70 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 Victor (May-17 00:47)
    77 | 65 | — | — | — | — | 9 Work To Rule (May-17 08:21)
    81 | 59 | — | 2 | — | — | 9 yabba (May-17 12:08)

  7. THE GUESSING GAME, May-17 12:37
    SEATS (OTN)
    ALP | LNP | KAP | GRN | CA | Teal|other 8 Respondents
    80 | 50 | — | — | — | — | 7 Edward Boyce (May-15 15:01)
    71 | 64 | — | — | — | — | 6 Geetroit (May-16 17:45)
    75 | 60 | — | — | — | — | 6 Hugoaugogo (May-16 15:19)
    76 | 63 | — | — | — | — | 7 max (May-16 14:05)
    80 | 43 | — | — | — | — | — Puffytmd (May-16 21:30)
    84 | 43 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 subgeometer (May-17 12:37)
    87 | 50 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 4 Tazza (May-16 22:37)
    77 | 54 | — | 1 | — | — | 5 yabba (May-17 12:08)

  8. THE GUESSING GAME, May-17 12:37 — TPP (FINAL)
    ALP / LNP 48 Respondents
    53.5 / 46.5 Adrian Beaumont, May-16 17:31
    53.4 / 46.6 allin127, May-16 00:27
    53.0 / 47.0 Andrew_Earlwood, May-17 09:03
    53.1 / 46.9 BeaglieBoy, May-16 14:13
    52.5 / 47.5 BK, May-16 17:36
    53.2 / 46.8 Boinzo, May-17 11:35
    52.9 / 47.1 Cronus, May-16 18:54
    53.7 / 46.3 Dandy Murray-Honeydew, May-17 09:54
    54.4 / 45.6 d-money, May-15 18:57
    54.8 / 45.2 Edward Boyce, May-15 15:01
    53.5 / 46.5 Evan, May-16 17:34
    52.8 / 47.2 Expat Follower, May-16 17:03
    52.2 / 47.8 Geetroit, May-16 17:45
    55.4 / 44.6 GlenO, May-15 22:29
    52.5 / 47.5 Historyintime, May-15 22:29
    53.2 / 46.8 Hugoaugogo, May-16 15:19
    53.0 / 47.0 imacca, May-17 11:39
    52.0 / 48.0 It’s Time, May-17 10:20
    52.0 / 48.0 Jan, May-17 10:25
    51.0 / 49.0 JayC, May-16 20:29
    53.0 / 47.0 JM from QLD, May-17 11:04
    53.0 / 47.0 Kevin Bonham (per bc), May-17 01:41
    53.7 / 46.3 King OMalley, May-15 22:05
    53.7 / 46.3 King OMalley, May-16 17:40
    51.9 / 48.1 Lars Von Trier, May-15 18:46
    54.1 / 45.9 Luke, May-16 19:19
    52.4 / 47.6 max, May-16 14:05
    54.3 / 45.7 mj, May-17 00:10
    54.3 / 45.7 Mr. Curlew, May-15 22:10
    52.3 / 47.7 Ophuph Hucksake, May-16 18:30
    52.4 / 47.6 Outsider, May-16 17:26
    53.6 / 46.4 PaulTu, May-16 15:24
    53.0 / 47.0 Pica, May-16 14:47
    55.0 / 45.0 PuffyTMD, May-15 20:59
    55.0 / 45.0 Puffytmd, May-16 21:30
    53.5 / 46.5 Rossmore , May-17 10:23
    52.2 / 47.8 SA Bludger, May-16 17:59
    51.9 / 48.1 Sandman, May-16 20:15
    52.5 / 47.5 Sceptic (WB??), May-16 18:43
    53.2 / 46.8 sonar, May-15 18:31
    52.3 / 47.7 steve davis, May-16 17:15
    52.5 / 47.5 steve davis, May-16 17:40
    55.4 / 44.6 subgeometer, May-17 12:37
    54.5 / 45.5 Tazza, May-16 22:37
    53.0 / 47.0 The loose unit, May-16 17:12
    54.3 / 45.8 Tom, May-16 18:23
    52.4 / 47.6 Work To Rule, May-17 08:21
    53.4 / 46.6 yabba, May-17 12:08

  9. THE GUESSING GAME, May-17 12:37 — PV (FINAL)

    ALP| LNP| GRN| ONP| UAP| Teal 14 Respondents
    37.5| 37.0| — | — | — | — allin127 (May-16 00:27)
    37.1| 35.1| 10.0| — | — | — BeaglieBoy (May-16 14:13)
    37.4| 34.7| 11.3| — | — | — Edward Boyce (May-15 15:01)
    36.5| 35.0| 11.5| — | — | — Geetroit (May-16 17:45)
    38.3| 36.2| 10.5| — | — | — Hugoaugogo (May-16 15:19)
    37.0| 37.0| — | — | — | — JayC (May-16 20:29)
    34.0| 34.0| 13.0| — | — | — Kevin Bonham (per bc) (May-17 01:41)
    38.6| — | — | — | — | — King OMalley (May-16 17:40)
    38.4| — | — | — | — | — max (May-16 14:05)
    34.0| 37.0| 12.0| 5.0| 5.0| — mj (May-17 00:10)
    38.0| 36.0| — | — | — | — Sandman (May-16 20:15)
    38.0| 31.0| 13.0| 4.0| 6.0| 4.0 subgeometer (May-17 12:37)
    39.5| 35.0| 11.0| — | — | — Tazza (May-16 22:37)
    39.0| 36.0| — | — | — | — The loose unit (May-16 17:12)

  10. THE GUESSING GAME
    WINNERS AND LOSERS, May-17 15:46
    declared | concedes 34 Respondents
    22:15:00 | don’t care BeaglieBoy, May-16 14:13
    21:15:00 | —————— Boinzo, May-17 11:35
    21:46:00 | —————— Dandy Murray-Honeydew, May-17 09:54
    20:15:00 | NEVER d-money, May-15 18:57
    20:20:00 | 22:50:00 Douglas and Milko, May-17 15:46
    21:55:00 | 23:10:00 Edward Boyce, May-15 15:01
    21:15:00 | —————— frednk, May-16 18:18
    Nope | 1st of June Geetroit, May-16 17:45
    20:35:00 | 21:00:00 GlenO, May-15 22:29
    22:15:00 | Sunday afternoon Grant_ExLibris, May-17 12:53
    21:00:00 | —————— Historyintime, May-15 22:29
    23:00:00 | following Wednesday It’s Time, May-17 10:20
    none | —————— Jan, May-17 10:25
    Monday, 2PM | —————— JayC, May-16 20:29
    21:30:00 | —————— JM from QLD, May-17 11:04
    21:45:00 | 22:20:00 King OMalley, May-15 22:05
    21:30:00 | —————— Luke, May-16 19:19
    20:00:00 | 22:00:00 max, May-16 14:05
    21:00:00 | 22:00:00 mj, May-17 00:10
    20:45:00 | 23:00:00 Mr. Curlew, May-15 22:10
    22:45:00 | —————— Ophuph Hucksake, May-16 18:30
    22:25:00 | 10:00:00 Outsider, May-16 17:26
    20:30:00 | 22:00:00 Puffytmd, May-16 21:30
    20:25:00 | —————— Rossmore , May-17 10:23
    22:10:00 | —————— Sandman, May-16 20:15
    19:20:00 | —————— Scott, May-16 17:53
    —————— | NOT ON THE NIGHT Socrates, May-16 21:54
    21:30:00 | 22:30:00 sonar, May-15 18:31
    No predictions this time. | —————— Steve777 , May-16 21:08
    —————— | —————— subgeometer, May-17 12:37
    19:30:00 | 20:30:00 Tazza, May-16 22:37
    21:30:00 | —————— The loose unit, May-16 17:12
    20:20:00 | —————— Tom, May-16 18:23
    21:00:00 | 11:00:00 yabba, May-17 12:08

  11. Seats
    ALP/LNP/KAP/GRN/CA/Teal/other
    83/58/1/1/1/5/2

    TPP
    ALP / LNP
    52.2 / 47.8

    DECLARED, CONCEDES
    Saturday night 21:10; Saturday night 22:00

    I’m going to chicken on primaries. And all my estimates are changing every day :/

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