Wipeout poll. Labor down 6 percent. Polls swinging wildly

In the last week, Australia was flooded or burned, Gillard called an election 9 months ahead, two of her highest ranking party members said they would quit, Gillard cut down a long serving senator to pop in her “captains pick” candidate, and one of her former party members was arrested with 150 charges to be laid. Labor is back to the polling territory it spent most of last year at — a 32% primary vote and the Greens at 9%.  But these polls are swinging wildly.

I can’t think why Gillard likes this uncertainty, and doesn’t call an election immediately…

The Australian:

The poll puts Labor’s primary support at 32 per cent – a wipeout of the six-point gain recorded between December and January – as the Coalition’s support rose four percentage points to 48 per cent in the past three weeks.

With the Greens steady on 9 per cent and “others” going from 9 per cent to 11 per cent since the poll in January, the two-party-preferred figure has the Coalition back with a huge election-winning lead of 56 per cent to 44 per cent.

Ms Gillard’s support as preferred prime minister fell four percentage points from 45 per cent to 41 per cent, while Mr Abbott’s support rose six points from 33 per cent to 39 per cent.

Two quitting Labor Stars

Senator Evans was the Minister responsible for the ARC (Australian Research Council) — which dished out of millions of dollars to scientists who think “ten” is a big number, and that people who don’t love monstrous nanny-state governments are mad. Ms Roxon, meanwhile, thought insults should be illegal and that the threat of tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees wouldn’t stop Australians from speaking freely. To paraphrase: “It’s not designed to silence people”. Of course.

As a reward for their diligent, astute judgement, and vigilant service to Australia it’s noteworthy that according to The Australian, “Senator Evans will retire on a pension of $259,000 a year, with Ms Roxon on $235,000.”

UPDATE: Not-another-downfall-video. Oh yes. (Ouch!).

9.6 out of 10 based on 79 ratings

149 comments to Wipeout poll. Labor down 6 percent. Polls swinging wildly

  • #
    Jaymez

    Love the turn of phrase, just wish they had the courage to put their names to the comments they made in relation to Gillard’s following explanation about the timing of two senior resignations:

    ‘’We agreed at the right time they would relinquish their ministerial roles and I would make new appointments,’’ Ms Gillard said. ‘’This is precisely the right time as Parliament resumes next week.’’

    But exasperated colleagues did not share her view. ‘’If this is the best time, then I know nothing about politics,’’ said one.

    ‘’This is not a cunning plan … it’s ridiculous, it’s got me f—ed,’’ said another.

    http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/labor-in-crisis-gillard-on-back-foot-after-ministers-quit-20130202-2dra2.html#ixzz2Jm2PAU7n

    160

    • #
      connolly

      Just a guess. But try Kim Carr for the ” I’m f…d” comment. Don’t rule out that the Ruddites will mount another challenge. The backbenchers facing the terrifying prospect of having to go out and find real work are now a sizeable bloc. Will they go to the wall for Julia? Well will they?

      110

  • #
    Albert

    The preferred prime minister in a recent Mamamia poll of about 10,000 people showed Abbott 62%, Gillard 29%, others 9%

    280

    • #

      I wondered about that. Being in the Construction Industry, I rub shoulders with a lot of folks out there who you’d think would support Dullard through thick and thin. They don’t. Labor supporters are not too thick on the ground, and my suspicion is that the numbers will skew much further towards the Coalition on election day. I do so hope I’m right! 🙂

      130

      • #
        JMD

        I was told almost 12 months ago, by someone in a senior position in the public service in Canberra, that Labor is done for. She & husband were even selling their house in Canberra, as they were sure the cuts to the public service upon change in government were going to be extreme enough to affect the real estate market.

        I was skeptical, but she could be right. Nevertheless, I still say all you Reaganouts suffer from delusion if you think there will be any real difference under Abbott & his cronies.

        Canberra will still suck the life out of the rest of the nation. No Federal government will cut its own throat for your benefit.

        41

  • #
    pattoh

    Just a wicked thought……..
    As the saga of the AWU & The HSU (& even the activities in other unions -http://kangaroocourtofaustralia.com/2012/10/28/money-laundering-the-labor-party-and-union-way/)is unfolding where large amounts of money seem to have been diverted from its primary & stated purpose i.e. advancing the rights & benefits of the represented workers, many former union affiliates as candidates who become elected on the back of questionable funds are surely have benefitted from the proceeds of crime.

    Accordingly these big fat superannuations at the taxpayer’s expense are also downstream benefits of crime.

    221

  • #
    Gbees

    Don’t you love that plans are afoot to go after super assets for further taxation? People work hard, invest wisely, so they can fund their own retirement and not be a burden on future taxpayers and this rotten government wants to increase taxes. Meanwhile these people who have set a out destroying our economy and way of life walk away with a taxpayer funded pension for life, well before retirement age. Noses in the trough.

    390

    • #

      I agree. And just look at the size of those pensions! $259,000 and $235,000 per YEAR! What is it the regular pensioner has to cope with, again?

      230

      • #
        Albert

        The pensions are Superannuation with Public contribution so I don’t believe it’s taxed, it’s cash and indexed for life + other benefits like first class travel.
        The PM gets more than both President Obama and Angela Merkel for one tenth of the workload.

        80

      • #

        What I find really cool in all of this is that this actually shows Inflation for what it really is, and here, I’ll just take the lesser serving of these two Parliamentarians, Nicola Roxon.

        She served her Country for 15 years.

        I served my Country for 25 years in the Royal Australian Air Force.

        Her taxpayer funded Superannuation pays her just under 11 times more than mine does, and I had to wait 20 years before I was eligible for mine.

        I know, I know, her job was way more important than mine.

        Tony.

        50

        • #
          Crakar24

          DFRDB Tony, i was in MSBS myself now PSS but remember there can be no higher honour than serving your country its just that i think pollies serve themselves first, last and always.

          40

          • #

            Yeah!

            At least in another ten years I will still be able to say with pride that I served my Country in the Air Force.

            Imagine having to say I served my Country as a member of Julia Gillard’s Government.

            Win win for me.

            Tony.

            50

    • #
      Popeye

      Don’t forget these pensions are TAX FREE AND are the “cash” portion of their perks only.

      Don’t know what else they’ll be eligible for but it doesn’t stop at the cash.

      The GOOD thing (I believe – correct me if I’m wrong please) is that if Gilliard is found guilty of a criminal offence she loses all of this.

      I look forward with relish to that day and the election whichever happens first.

      Cheers,

      171

      • #
        gnome

        Wrong on both counts.

        The parliamentary pensions are taxed at the normal rate until the 10% rebate for allocated untaxed pensions kicks in at age 60. My guess is that by the time Roxon turns 60 that rebate will be gone.

        Pollies only lose their employer’s contribution to their superannuation if their offence is related to their employment. Assuming they are found guilty, Gillard’s and Thomson’s offences predated their parliamentary careers, so they get the employer’s contribution, Slipper’s offence was against the employer, so he loses it.

        Dunno what happened to Theophanus. Probably nothing.

        70

        • #
          Popeye

          Gnome,

          Many thanks for putting me right – appreciate the feedback.

          BTW – their pensions ARE indexed for life though.

          Cheers,

          20

    • #
      llew Jones

      Not sure how accurate but heard on RN today that Roxon gets a $240,000 pa indexed pension for the rest of her life. She’s about 45 now.

      40

  • #
    Peter Miller

    Being only half Australian, I often wonder if there is some genetic link those transported from the mother country a couple of hundred years ago and today’s Labor Party leadership.

    Australia is in danger of becoming like Argentina – a naturally wealthy nation, totally screwed up by dishonest populist politicians.

    551

    • #
      Mark

      Australia is in danger of becoming like Argentina – a naturally wealthy nation, totally screwed up by dishonest populist politicians.

      Plus all too many of the population addicted to the ‘entitlement’ philosophy, Peter.

      120

    • #
      inedible hyperbowl

      Australia is in danger of becoming like Argentina – a naturally wealthy nation, totally screwed up by dishonest populist politicians.

      In case you had not noticed. We are already there.

      91

      • #
        Mark

        Mmmm…. Not really, ih.

        The IMF hasn’t moved in like they did in Argentina. Took over the whole shop, they did. I remember reading about a man who banked all his money in $US. He knew what was coming and tried to protect his savings against the rampant inflation. When the collapse finally arrived, his bank arbitrarily converted all his savings back into Argentinian currency at a very unfavorable rate – to him, not the bank.

        And some people still wonder why the government wanted to disarm us all. I laugh at these types who airily state that all we have to do is vote out one bunch of kleptocrats and replace them with a different bunch of kleptocrats.

        20

      • #
        Greg Deane

        What a worldly old cynic you are, FPJ.

        00

    • #
      Rohan

      At least with all the cuts to defence we won’t have to worry about a “General Belgrano” type incident if we decide to invade the southern island of New Zealand.

      00

      • #
        Andrew McRae

        Australia has been “invading” the South Island of New Zealand every year for 40 years, it’s called “Skiing in Queenstown”.
        I’m under the impression at least one “General Tomfoolery” type incident happens on every invasion yet few worry about it.

        00

  • #
    MadJak

    The way these polls have been swinging wildly suggests to me that the natives are getting angry.

    Funny that – you run roughshod over the people you’re meant to represent and who wulda thunkit – they get angry!

    As for the Cabinet members wanting to retire – well that explains why their behaviour has been in complete disregard for the people – I mean why bother with the people if you’re jumping ship at the next election?

    And as for these MPs saying it’s “Quitting on top” – they should be honest and say “Better to quit before the peasants sack me”.

    200

  • #
    JK

    Not quite on topic but involving other slithering, slimy creatures: Ingrid Lubbers, graduate of the University of Wageningen, Netherlands, claims that the humble earthworm is responsible for most of the climate change. It apparently does this by increasing the amount of CO2 leakage from the soil by 33% and the amount of N2O by 42% into the atmosphere. Contributing majorly to the greenhouse effect of such gasses. Nitrous oxide (or dinitrogen oxide) is aptly named “laughing gas”. But the non-laughing matter of these ridiculous claims will be that from now on earth worms will be hunted down into extinction if it were up to these nutters.
    see: http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/21264007/__Wormen_schuldig_aan_klimaatprobleem__.html
    (In Dutch, I’m afraid).

    80

  • #
    Rereke Whakaaro

    Time to bring back the G.R.O.G Party, I reckon.

    120

  • #
    Kevin Moore

    Our elected masters/representatives know the truth and own the truth. Big nanny has big fines for those who won’t kow-tow!

    The new attorney general says Roxons law is a good law. I expect him to make it even better.

    110

  • #
    George McFly

    Excellent summary Jo. Roxon’s proposed legislation was going to be a politically correct nightmare…..ridiculous. I could get arrested for being a Collingwood supporter!

    I think it is disgusting that these people are immunised from the harsh realities of the real world (where someone actually notices if you don’t turn up for work) with their obscene pension plans. They should be pared back

    140

    • #

      YES! They’re happily tightening the belt for everyone else. What are these guys actually sacrificing? Apart from sacrificing the rest of us Australians, that is.

      150

    • #

      Wait! We will at last be able to arrest Collingwood supporters?
      Hmmm…This would mean, in my case, voting for Oakeshott…

      Tempting, Nicola, but I just can’t do it.

      100

      • #
        ExWarmist

        You could be arrested for claiming that the opponents full forward can’t kick straight, or the coach is useless… so much offense…

        60

  • #
    janama

    It’s just Newspoll that varies. Forget them, they are not a reliable indicator.

    50

  • #
  • #
    Redress

    Just a couple of very important facts.

    JEG has not called an election, all that has happened is she has nominated her preferred date, September 14.

    The date becomes official when:

    a] parliament is dissolved….JEG has not been to see the Governor General to dissolve Parliament. Until this happens September 14 is simply JEG’s preferred date and has no validity.

    b] the Governor General issues the writ for an election of the House of representatives, and the State Governors General issue the writs for the Senate.
    The issue of a writ triggers the election process……The Writs are issued within 10 days of the dissolution of Parliament (Constitution s.12, 32, CEA s.151)……..to date no writs have been issued.

    http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Gov-General-not-told-of-election-announcement-repo-pd20130131-4FTHC?opendocument&src=rss

    All the talk of a September 14 election is just that……..talk

    101

    • #

      Gillard said she was going to the GG that afternoon to set the date (Tuesday? last week).

      Didn’t she go?

      —-
      The Business Spec article says the GG was not informed it was going to happen before the announcement, that is not the same as saying it did’nt happen after the announcement.

      71

      • #
        MaxL

        Gillard said something and you believed her?
        Jo, you’ve been working too hard, take some time to recover. 🙂

        From the 2GB website:
        “Ms Gillard says she’ll advise the Governor-General to dissolve the House of Representatives and issue the writs on Monday, August 12 for an election for the house and half the Senate to be held on Saturday, the 14th of September.”

        60

        • #
          Truthseeker

          Lots can happen between now and August …

          40

          • #
            MaxL

            Absolutely Truthseeker.
            I’m thinking of writing a short story (fiction of course) with the current working title of “From Kirribilli to Tarrengower”.
            It’s a story of a young(ish) woman (Judia Gullaide?) who was a lawyer and one day gets taken for a leisurely drive from her stately home in the Sydney suburb of Kirribilli , down the scenic Princes Highway, past some of the most exquisite temperate tall tree forests near the aptly named town of Eden in NSW. After an overnight stay, she continues to Maldon, a town just north-west of Melbourne and then to the well kept establishment resort “Tarrengower”. This place has beautifully landscaped gardens with more than sufficient security to keep out any local rampaging killer koalas.
            One of the problems Judia encounters is the persistent throbbing sounds from the more than 100 nearby windfarm towers and on some days, the overpowering stench of the hundreds of rotting, dead birds that Matt, a local councillor, requires the inmates residents of Tarrengower dispose of on a weekly basis.
            Well, it probably wouldn’t be Tarrengower, and they don’t have windmills yet, but I can still dream can’t I ?

            20

  • #
    Kevin Moore

    Ms Roxon, meanwhile, thought insults should be illegal and that the threat of tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees wouldn’t stop Australians from speaking freely.

    AUSTRALIA’S discrimination watchdog wants the federal government to water down its new hate laws to avoid litigation over workers’ water-cooler chats.

    Discrimination has been redefined as “conduct that offends or insults” in the government’s draft Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill.

    But Australian Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs thinks the broad definition will spark too many lawsuits.

    She said the words offend and insult “have to go”.

    “There is no need to set the threshold so low,” she said.

    “I would suggest the government consider taking the words ‘offensive’ and ‘insulting’ out (of the legislation).

    “It does raise a risk of increased litigation”.

    …………Professor Triggs said discrimination cases should be based on the higher test of “intimidation, vilification or humiliation”.

    Professor Triggs said the words offend and insult had been “buried” in Section 198 of the Racial Discrimination Act, which will be replaced by the new legislation.

    “Now it (the new legislation) extends that attribute to all areas (of discrimination),” she said.

    http://www.news.com.au/business/worklife/watchdog-call-for-softening-of-draft-human-rights-and-anti-discrimination-bill/story-e6frfm9r-1226557753012#ixzz2JsFBLjnW

    90

  • #
    The Black Adder

    I love the smell of a good news poll in the morning!!

    Poor old JB, mattB, Catamongstmen and Maxine will be choking on their organic eggs today…

    Those silly glasses certainly haven’t worked have they??

    What a great start to the week…

    My baseball / cricket bats are oiled and ready…

    PM Juliar is a dead woman walking…heheheee 🙂

    161

    • #
      DavidH

      I heard a great comment from a caller to Steve Price / Andrew Bolt on 2GB last week: “Message to Labor strategists – we can still tell it’s Julia behind those glasses.”

      200

  • #
    Bernard.U.K.

    Sorry for being ‘Off Topic’on this but I was trying to track
    What Lord Monckton has been up to so far in Australia.
    Nothing shows in Google news,Is there a ‘News Blackout’down there in Australia?

    60

  • #

    “Senator Evans will retire on a pension of $259,000 a year, with Ms Roxon on $235,000.”

    The ordinary person is being ruthlessly exploited and stripped of money, which is going straight to the already rich. The snouts of every greedy pig of whatever political hue, are jammed into the subsidy trough and it’s a feeding frenzy.

    http://thepointman.wordpress.com/2013/02/01/is-being-green-left-wing-or-right-wing/

    Pointman

    150

    • #
      RoHa

      “Senator Evans will retire on a pension of $259,000 a year, with Ms Roxon on $235,000.”

      Then I think Centrelink has made a mistake in calculating my pension. I’ll have a word with them.

      71

  • #

    I just love the explanation for leaving.

    So I can spend more time with my family.

    It’s funny that this family excuse only applies when a wipeout is on the horizon. They’ve had their families all along, so why now.

    How many are shoring up possible jobs that will still take them away from their families.

    Watch also for the ones who retire in that first week immediately following the election, thus necessitating by-elections. Those retirements,(and they should be for all of them who do this, no matter what party) should not be allowed. The people who voted for them ….. voted for them to serve out that term. They either serve the term, or if they do go, then the seat remains empty until the next election is called, and no pairs allowed.

    Tony.

    162

    • #

      Hi Tony. What I always find telling is when a date for a national election is announced, how many incumbents decide not to seek re-election, for whatever reasons. If anyone fancies keeping track of that number for ALP and Green representatives, I think thit it might be an interesting number.

      Pointman

      110

    • #
      ianl8888

      @TonyOz

      They either serve the term, or if they do go, then the seat remains empty until the next election is called, and no pairs allowed.

      No,that’s irresponsibly unfair to the electorate in question. It could remain unrepresented for up to 4 years

      Simply, if an elected MP quits before their full term for reasons other than incapacitating illness, major family crisis or the existing criminal conviction/bankrupt statutes, said MP (Federal or State) forgoes their superannuation

      120

  • #
    Rod

    Dreyfuss is going to be a doozey as AG. He says that to utter the word “Downfall” is to deeply offend holocaust survivors.

    160

    • #
      AndyG55

      Will Doofuss survive the coming ALP holocaust…………….. I hope not !!

      140

    • #
      The Black Adder

      He said what?? That’s was a funny piece of Aussie humour!

      I don’t trust him any more than bowl-cut Roxon!!

      The ALP are just your normal commie socialists…

      Spending all our money until it runs out!

      110

    • #
      David

      Well Mr Doofus QC I am also a Jew and there was nothing wrong with Christopher Pyne’s analogy. No reference was made to the Holocaust nor was there even a hint of it. If I was going to take offence at anything it would be your reference to Tony Abbott being like Joseph Goebels as that is a comparison which should earn you a trip to court on your facile system. Free speach involves the possibility of being insulted or vilified in which case you argue the contrary point also without fear of being prosecuted for “insulting” someone. Bloody well grow up Mr Doodfus QC. Kol tuv

      130

  • #
    Streetcred

    “All propaganda has to be popular and has to adapt its spiritual level to the perception of the least intelligent of those towards whom it intends to direct itself.”

    -Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf (“My Struggle”), Vol. I

    Feels like this has a lot in common with the Liebor Party strategies.

    81

  • #
    Kevin Moore

    Streetcred

    Just to expand on that, he also said –

    Excerpts “Mein Kampf” pages 138 and 139

    “……….If we consider the attitude of various Governments towards a whole series of really pernicious phenomena in public life, we shall at once recognise the fearful significance of this policy of half-measures and the lack of courage to take responsibilities. I shall single out only a few from the large numbers of instances known to me.

    In journalistic circles it is a pleasing custom to speak of the Press as a ‘Great Power’ within the State. As a matter of fact its importance is immense. One cannot easily overestimate it, for the Press continues the work of education even in adult life. Generally, readers of the press can be classified into three groups:

    First, those who believe everything they read;

    Second, those who no longer believe anything;

    Third, those who critically examine what they read and form from their judgements accordingly.

    Numerically, the first group is by far the strongest, being composed of the broad masses of the people………………….

    ………………………………………………The third group is easily the smallest, being composed of real intellectuals whom natural aptitude and education have taught to think for themselves and who in all things try to form their own judgements, while at the same time carefully sifting what they read. They will not read any newspaper without using their own intelligence to collaborate with that of the writer and naturally this does not set the writer an easy task. journalists appreciate this type of reader only with a certain amount of reservation.

    Hence the trash that newspapers are capable of serving up is of little danger —— much less of importance——-to the third group of readers. In the majority of cases these readers have learnt to regard every journalist as fundamentally a rogue who sometimes speaks the truth. Most unfortunately the value of these readers lies in their intelligence and not in their numerical strength, an unhappy state of affairs in a period where wisdom counts for nothing and majorities for everything. Nowadays when the voting papers of the masses are the deciding factor; the decision lies in the hands of the numerically strongest group; that is to say the first group, the crowd of simpletons and the credulous…………………………

    ………………………………Particular attention should be paid to the Press; for its influence on these people is by far the strongest and most penetrating of all; since its affect is not transitory but continual. Its immense significance lies in the uniform and persistent repetition of its teaching. Here if anywhere, the State should never forget that all means should converge to the same end. It must not be led astray by the will-o’-the-wisp of so called ‘freedom of the Press’, or is talked into neglecting its duty, and withholding from the nation that which is good and does good. With ruthless determination the State must keep control of this instrument of popular education and place it at the service of the State and the nation………………………….

    201

    • #
      wayne, s. Job

      The words of Adolf fit in perfectly to the labour manifesto as do the communist manifesto.
      What is the difference and actions of our government to these ideas, absolutely none, that would make our government composite. Perhaps FACOMMUNISTS whatever they are the job they are doing is less than adequate.

      00

  • #
    Neville

    It seems even the Garnaut idiot now understands that the collapse of the co2 markets just about makes them useless.

    http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/garnaut_admits_carbon_trading_prices_too_low_to_work/

    But what happens to the OZ economy if we are silly enough to return this barking mad, clueless Gillard govt?

    90

  • #
    Quack

    so one “Big Government” is better than the other “Big Government”?

    60

  • #

    I think the polls indicate that the majority of us Aussies will vote Australia’s worst prime minister out of office at the first available opportunity. The reason why the polls are swinging so much is there is a small percentage of people who are too easy to forgive and forget about the many back flips, lies, scandals, budget blow outs etc etc etc. One week they support Gillard, but when a new stuff up occurs they are again reminded of how pathetic Gillard is and they join us clever “Anti Gillard” folks.

    90

    • #
      Streetcred

      … or are they the ones gleefully sucking up the current and future rounds of cash handouts ? Easily bought off.

      60

  • #
    Sean

    “The poll puts Labor’s primary support at 32 per cent”

    So then, 32 percent of Australians are either:

    1. stupid, lacking in any critical thinking skills,
    2. ignorant and low information voters,
    3. support corrupt and criminal behavior by their elected officials
    4. or all of above

    250

    • #
      Skitz

      I would say that a fair portion of that 32% are the younger generation…of whom a great many are clueless exports of modern brainwashing academia.

      201

      • #
        Sean

        Wisdom generally comes with age, but in the case of today’s youth, they just have too much propaganda to unlearn and have formed a belief system that blocks them from being open to learning.

        Its sad.

        20

    • #
      Quack

      10% of people are smarter than the other 90%

      40

  • #
    Geoff Sherrington

    The colours are all wrong with the new makeup and specs. The glass lenses should be black, the white makeup applied to a cane and the hair colour to be concealed below a balaclava. Can’t think of a remedy for the accent, but perhaps keep it for insurance against identity theft.

    121

  • #
    Greg Cavanagh

    quote “Senator Evans will retire on a pension of $259,000 a year”

    As long as they remain “retired”, do no further work, do not voice their opinion on any subject at any time; I could live with that.

    60

  • #
    old bloke

    Just a thought…

    If the Liberals gain sufficient seats to govern in their own right, which certainly seems to be on the cards, I would like to see the Nats outpoll the ALP and take over the Opposition benches (or the Nats and the Kat in a Hat Party in coalition).

    Nothing would make me happier than to see the ALP reduced to minor party status sitting on the cross-benches.

    It would make an interesting Parliament, with debates focussing on free-trade vs. protectionist policies. I would even take an interest in these debates which probably occur behind closed doors at the moment between the Libs and the Nats.

    The Nats could move into the Labor electorates and pick up seats with their protectionist policies, no one trusts the ALP any more, so the Nats would benefit from the disgruntled former ALP voters who won’t vote Liberal.

    Then neither the Government nor the Opposition would support the AGW debate, and the country would benefit from having two socially conservative parties sitting on opposites of the house.

    140

  • #
    The Black Adder

    Interesting thoughts old bloke!!

    I truly believe Barnaby Joyce would make our greatest PM ever!!

    He would get Canberra sorted out quick smart…

    80

    • #
      Kevin Moore

      The Black Adder

      This countries owners would not allow it.He would soon be out on his ear, Jack Lang style. The borrower is servant to the lender.

      30

      • #
        The Black Adder

        Don’t worry Kevin,
        From what I’m hearing about out immigration levels…
        The owners will be irrelevant under Sharia law…
        Hmmmmm….

        40

  • #
    inedible hyperbowl

    When our Dear Leader brokered a deal with some independents, I said (on this blog) that “the ALP could go to the polls immediately and lose, or serve the term and be decimated”. Every extra day of JG costs the ALP seats that they may never regain.

    80

  • #
    Dave

    .
    Julia loses the PLOT in caucus this afternoon

    JULIA Gillard has accused her own MPs of trying to destroy her Government from within as she addressed a shattered caucus ahead of the resumption of Parliament tomorrow

    Won’t be long to go now before the red top blows completely.

    100

  • #
    crosspatch

    How long will it take them to root out the leftist propagandists at the ABC?

    70

  • #
    The Black Adder

    I cannot believe that the opposition would grant that ultimate ALP Sleazebag…

    Craig Thomson MP , a pair for Nxt weeks court appearance!!

    If he is an Independent… Then why wouldn’t the ALP have to give him that pair??

    The Opposition should have given him sweet F$&k All!!

    What are they doing???

    I despair… Barnaby wouldn’t have done that!!

    60

    • #
      AndyG55

      But if Slipper goes…

      Seeing as he is an ex-Lib independent, this might force Labor to give a pair for Slipper.

      Then it becomes really popcorn time. 🙂

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  • #
    RoHa

    “But these polls are swinging wildly.”

    Probably because people want to vote Labour out, but don’t want to vote the Coalition in.

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    • #
      llew Jones

      Think you may find the poll that has always had the Coalition well in front over the last year or so is Essential Media and it has ties to the ALP.

      Read somewhere that it was the most accurate in the last Federal election. Newspoll seems to be playing silly buggers with its sampling. Anyway it’s all over the place like a mad dog’s shit. Perhaps it does it on orders to give The Australian a headline.

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      • #
        Greg Cavanagh

        It could be said; who conducts the poll controls the findings. Very Frank Herbert.

        Polls are often way off the mark. I’m not sure why this would be so, but after everthing I’ve seen from Climate Science it wouldn’t surprise me if observer bias was showing in were these polls were taken, and probably the questions asked.

        Media influence can be a powerful force for those who are detached and uninterested.

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  • #
    Angry

    My tip is that the “red dog” communist gillard “government” will be gone LONG BEFORE SEPTEMBER becaue they will run out of rats……..

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  • #
    Mattb

    Hopefully such a commanding lead will encourage Abbott to drop some loopier and expensive thought bubbles cum policies – eg the massive maternity leave payments. The current ones are bad enough and there are babies popping out left right and centre at the moment.

    I see my name mentioned up above, but I’m no ALP FanBoi. Fur sure they’ll get my preferences unless the Libs change their tune a bit… At this stage, however, I doubt that AGW will be a determining factor in my vote.

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    • #
      AndyG55

      He doesn’t need to do anything about releasing policy details until an election is actually called.

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      • #
        Mattb

        That doesn’t really have anything to do with my post? I’m happy to wait and will judge come election.

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    • #
      llew Jones

      The most appealing thing about Abbott is he is not a visionary leader. They are the sort of clowns that give you a carbon tax that will save the world, the already technologically superseded NBN and restrictions on free speech that are supposed to make us nice citizens but in effect play into the hands of extremists who need to be called out.

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      • #
        Catamon

        llew, do you know how stupid you sound when you use the statement:

        already technologically superseded NBN

        Its really a bit pathetic.

        01

        • #
          Dave

          .
          Yup Catamongst,

          Lets dig trenchs all over Australia and fill them with the latest technology called FAILBER optics the VERY latest technology to every house, business, government department, and even O/S. Sounds like another PINK BATT scheme.

          Connection by underground, connection at light speed through tunnels in the earth, even over to all the QLD Island resorts though sea cables across the Great Barrier Reef.

          Lets all buy backhoes and dig in now for the big new NBN.

          CO2 release from the disturbed soil and the manufacture of the Optical Fiber cables is worse than disclosed. Where is Mr. Red Underpants on your head details of Life Cycle Analysis? Where his Mr. Red Underpants on your head costings in the budget.

          All this dude (Mr. red Underpants) does is lie, lie and lie. What is the CO2 difference on emmissions report from the NBN Co. method compared to wireless? Cost benefit?

          Fail, Fail, Fail,

          They would have been better off doing capital city to capital city and distributed from there. Ask Turnbull.

          10

        • #
          llew Jones

          It might sound that way to you but you may well be an ignoramus who doesn’t know that Telstra’s old copper cable broadband, mine anyway, gives speeds of 100Mbps.

          Ever used 4G wireless? That’s the start of a superseding technology with 5G coming in this decade.

          Businesses, at least in the Capital cities, have been using fibre optic technology for quite some time.

          This government may have discovered a visionary way to did the trenches to lay the optic fibre but if so it is keeping it a secret.

          Here’s a bit of opinion on our “visionary” NBN:

          “With the prospects of a rapid evolution in wireless connectivity as well in consideration of the widespread dispersal of Internet users in Australia, it does not appear to make sense to commit immediately to expensive fiber optic circuits to support to deliver Internet services to the Australians.”

          by: Paul Strassmann is the Distinguished Professor of Information Sciences, George Mason School of Information Technology and Engineering and researcher at the Centre for Secure Information Systems. He is also former CIO of NASA.

          http://www.openforum.com.au/content/optical-fiber-or-wireless

          10

          • #
            Catamon

            Telstra’s old copper cable broadband, mine anyway, gives speeds of 100Mbps.

            Good for you. Mine does 2Mbps.

            Ever used 4G wireless?

            Yes, Nowhere near as good as its cracked up to be when there is contention, and costs more.

            by: Paul Strassmann is the Distinguished Professor of Information Sciences

            Wot, argument from authority, on this blog?? 🙂

            Stop talking through you arse llew.

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          • #
            Catamon

            Lol! loved that article llew. 14.4 Mbps is good enough for the prof so it should be good enough for us.

            Maybe he mixes the Kool Aid at Fiberal HQ?? 🙂

            01

          • #
            Dave

            .
            Catamongst,

            Digging a deeper hole.

            CO2 emmissions report from NBN vs wireless please?

            00

          • #
            Dave

            .
            Oh Sorry – you don’t have to do that.

            It’s Red Underpants on your head day 🙂

            00

  • #
    MadJak

    Mattb:

    drop some loopier and expensive thought bubbles cum policies – eg the massive maternity leave payments

    I would support this idea – provided it’s restricted to preventing Greens and ALP party members from receiving it. Everyone else getting it would be fine by me.

    After all, they’re the ones getting themselves neck deep in mysanthropic ideas.

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  • #
    Sonny

    The latest “person” to join the ranks of the “conspiracist nut job truther movement” is….

    Drum roll please….

    The Age News Online

    http://www.theage.com.au/tv/documentary/911-explosive-evidence-4313104.html

    It’s taken only 11 and a half years for this to be reported.

    God I hate all those deluded conspiracy fruit loop whacko nutjob denialist engineers and scientists!

    Give me the government approved version always please!

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    • #
      • #
        Sonny

        “Sunder said his team investigated the possibility that an explosion inside the building brought it down, but found there was no large boom or other noise that would have occurred with such a detonation. Investigators also created a giant computer model of the collapse, based partly on news footage from CBS News, that they say shows internal column failure brought down the building.”

        FAKE SCIENCE ALERT.

        1. You investigate the presence of explosive or incendiary material by studying the debris. Not by the alleged secondary effect “large boom”. Why was this proper investigation not done?

        2. Giant computer model.
        Just like the field of climate science, giant computer models have exceptional accuracy in confirming the assumptions and bias of the modeller.

        I challenge anybody to first read the article linked to above and then watch the documentary.

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        • #
          Sonny

          Imagine an Arson squad failing to investigate the debris through a proper chemical analysis for clues to an intentionally lit fire because they didn’t hear or see anyone enter or leave the premise…

          Suspicious?

          Yet this is the standard of “evidence” used in potentially the most serious crime in my lifetime…

          Or using a giant computer model to prove the fire started by itself.

          Wake up !!!!

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          • #
            Sonny

            Not to mention making computer models to replicate an event which has already happened!

            Why didn’t they study the DEBRIS to work out what happened instead of shipping it out to China, immediately and under armed guard (google it).

            Kind of like what we do with all that evil coal huh? Just ship it out to China where the emissions don’t matter!

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        • #
          Gee Aye

          the debris was examined

          12

          • #
            Sonny

            Oh phew! Glad to hear it. I won’t bother now to look any further.

            Sorry guys! My mistake. Turns out they DID study the debris.

            20

      • #
        JayTYee

        There it is, on film. AND it’s on the Age website. That’s all Maatb has ever needed. I wonder how he explains the Moon Landing, given that was clearly a conspiracy as well. Isn’t that right, Matt?

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    • #
      AndyG55

      gees , where’s Lewindowsky, the REAL conspiracy nutter, when you need him !!

      10

  • #
    Sonny

    http://911research.wtc7.net/wtc/official/nist/index.html

    Some more information above. The NIST report was worse science than some of the utter garbage that comes out of the CSIRO and BOM.

    All Government Agencies…

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  • #
    The Black Adder

    We finally have a troll respond…

    And the deluded man says he is no ALP fanboy…

    But he believes in their Carbon Tax and green ideology….

    MattB also believes in using valuable CO2 emissions to get his message across!!

    50

  • #
    inedible hyperbowl

    How does P.M. Swan sound to you folks? It will be interesting to see what they pick when JG is absent from the parliament.

    40

    • #
      JayTYee

      How does P.M. Swan sound to you folks?

      Lol. Swannie is a rabbit in the headlights NOW. I do hope it happens, as the peanut would implode; Swannie, of course, would see the (slight) improvement in the polls a a vindication, because what he lacks in intellect, he makes up for in stupidity.

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  • #
    JayTYee

    It’s been asked elsewhere, but… If Juliar has ‘known’ the resignations were coming, and this is a ‘planned’ reshuffle, why on earth could not the vacant Senate seat be given to Nova Perris, or some other ‘token Aboriginie’? (Sorry, but that is what the appointment of Ms Perris amounts to) Ms Crossin seems to be a popular Senator, so why the ‘Captains’s Pick’?

    60

    • #
      Speedy

      Hi JayTee

      The other issue, smelling slightly of rat, is that JG claims she “knew” about the resignations for about 12 months. Trouble is that Roxon was only made Attorney General in December 2011…

      Porky Pies, anyone???

      Cheers,

      Speedy

      50

      • #
        mc

        Speedy

        Porky Pies, anyone???

        There’s a limit to how many pies even the best circus clown can juggle at any one time before it ends up in a pie meets face situation.

        20

      • #

        Porky Pies, anyone???

        Sorry; all my little piggies off and flew away.

        Can I interest you in a few shavings of Unicorn ham? Freshly ripened in ALP caucus!

        30

      • #
        Backslider

        I think that its pretty obvious that Roxon was pushed…. she hasn’t been making a good name for herself lately.

        Labor simply does not have the talent for the office of Attorney General… its a big step above setting up union slush funds.

        20

  • #
    Sonny

    GLOBAL WARMING… more like GLOBAL BULLSHITTING!!

    41

  • #
    Roy Hogue

    Forgive my ignorance of Australian politics — what I’m not getting is a strong sense of whether all this looks like long term good or not so good for Australia. It looks like a mess that could go either way.

    Any clarification of the situation will be appreciated.

    Thanks

    10

    • #
      Crakar24

      Roy,

      Firstly let me say that most Australians are ignorant of Australian politics so no need to ask for forgiveness, to answer your question it is good for Australia. If for arguements sake Labor had won the previous election by enough seats to govern in its own right the political climate here would be completely different however this is not the case the current Labor government has had to rely of the support of the Greens. This reliance has destroyed Labor and this country, it is teh Greens that have caused this mess with the help of Labor so they must both be banished from the political spectrum.

      30

    • #
      Andrew McRae

      Yep, conservation is greed, public transport is privatised, privacy is public, the Right is Left, and the most brazen leftist crooks in history are “on the right side of history”.

      Roy, as soon we can find some clarification for ourselves, we’ll pass it on!

      10

    • #
      Roy Hogue

      Thanks guys. The ins and outs of parliamentary type government are something I don’t get a firsthand look at. But in American politics what you describe, Crakar, is called log-rolling. Or it used to be when I was in school. You help me roll my log and I’ll help you roll yours. It leads to some very unholy alliances but it can also lead to compromises that end up being a good thing.

      Politics is always a bitch it seems (no reference to a certain prime minister intended).

      00

  • #
    Quack

    al gore thinks carbon thing is all crap too!!! none of the governments will get it right!!!

    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-05/coalition27s-climate-policy-has-never-worked3a-gore/4500680

    01

    • #
      Backslider

      The fires just not too many weeks before are of the kind that have led Australian firefighters to say, as they’ve said to me, that they have never experienced the kinds of fires that they have been called upon to fight in recent years.

      Yes. This is entirely due to Green policies which prevent burnoffs.

      20

  • #
    Crakar24

    UPDATE: Not-another-downfall-video. Oh yes. (Ouch!).

    Jo,

    Have you seen the one where Hitler is informed abot Mann using only 12 trees to produce the hockey stick? Oh how i laughed i have never seen anything more funnier.

    I found it by searching for “Hitler AGW” on my T-Box if you have not seen it i suggest you take a look it is fantastic. I also recomend “Hitler plays CoH” Company of Heroes.

    Cheers

    30

  • #
    Backslider

    It only gets better: http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Federal-ministers-admit-receiving-Obeid-perks-pd20130205-4ML25?OpenDocument

    Mr Burke and Mr Conroy were forced to amend their entries in the federal parliamentary pecuniary interests register Tuesday night after the the inquiry heard of their relationship with Mr Obeid.

    So, these to guys were hiding pecuniary interests until they got caught. What a riot!!!!

    10