The latest Newspoll shows the Coalition and Labor very close on a two-party preferred basis. Commentators attribute this to some traction from Julia Gillard’s smear and innuendo of Tony Abbott.
But the results are heartening. First, it will reduce the complacency that was starting to hit the Coalition. Hopefully it will also encourage some substantial policy development.
Second, it helps keep Julia Gillard in place – I still think Kevin Rudd is the Coalition’s biggest threat.
As long as the poll is not reflecting a long term swing back to Labor, it is only good news for the Coalition.
As for Tony Abbott – I think he needs to be much more assertive in the face of the outrageous personal attacks upon him. He should be calling Julia Gillard and her supporters liars – after all they are deliberately attempting to deceive the population by falsely accusing Tony Abbott of misogyny and sexism. He should get on the front foot and declare that he will not accept the innuendo and smears emanating from Labor’s gutter. He should call for the Prime Minister to cease lying and to focus on criticising the Coalition’s policies. By not fully combating the smears, it gives the perception that they have some validity.
Labor is the party of the ad hominem attack.
‘Kevin Rudd is the Coalition’s biggest threat.’
Correctamundo.
Abbott reminds the punters of their employer, Lu Kewen fulfils their desire to be cuddled by their childhood primary teacher.
>Labor is the party of the ad hominem attack.
And so are all their supporters. That’s what you have to do when the rubbish you spout is completely false, and proven to be so.
I agree we want Gillard to remain in the job. But Abbott’s gaffe last week was a bad one. Coming after a few things like the carbon tax placards and the ‘dying of shame’ comment, it cemented the image he has in many people’s eyes as a boofhead. He needs to smarten up and do it quickly.
But on a number of occasions recently, Newspoll has reported a Labor 2PP considerably higher than that of any other poll. This most recent poll is yet another example. Either all the other polls are wrong; or Newspoll goes wonky on occasion.
Absolutely spot on Samuel J – Gillard is toxic and our best bet for a big Lib win. As Keith pointed out above, Newspoll consistently gets it wrong with a higher ALP vote than the others. All part of a Murdoch conspiracy to keep Gillard as ALP leader and guarantee a Lib win!
“Second, it helps keep Julia Gillard in place – I still think Kevin Rudd is the Coalition’s biggest threat.”
If I believed in conspiracy theories when it comes to politics (and I don’t), I’d be tempted to think that in the last couple of months Newspoll puts out big numbers for Julia anytime Rudd rumours start, which would maximise the chances of her being in charge, and the coalition winning, the next election…
Good points SJ! Abbott, as Australia’s first (real) Catholic/conservative PM in quite some time (not like PJK) can actually win against Gillard. But he’d have no chance against an Ruddvalanche.
Tony Abbott does his cause harm by not responding vehemently to the harridan’s outrageous, rude attacks. As someone once said ‘there is a time at which forbearance ceases to be a virtue’. That time has been well and truly reached. Defend yourself Tony in no uncertain terms.
Rudd is shite, and Tony would beat him hollow.
Could it be a conspiracy by Newspoll to give Gil-liar false hope so she brings on an early election?
“…Tony Abbott…..needs to be much more assertive in the face of the outrageous personal attacks upon him.”
This battle for hearts and minds is not playing out well for the Libs. I cannot bring to mind a SINGLE coalition front bench MP performing in front in front of a camera as well as ANY member of the ALP front bench. Well….maybe except Garrett. Labor has a narrative and the Libs do not.
Even that seems to me to be only part of a larger problem which is that the Libs run their media policy like we are still in the 1980s. Is anyone awake there at Lib GHQ ?
The Coalition has policies? Where?
Here and here.
You are very slow on the uptake. you’ve asked this question a number of times as a sort of snark or are you daft?. It has been answered each time and yet here you are back again with the same question.
I think Mr Abbott is losing the plot. He looks weak as.
We seem to be moving to a system of democracy where no policy is revealed until a month or so before an election, if we’re lucky, but more usually the new Government announces a crisis, a review and then implements unannounced policies that it could have revealed a year before the election.
And you’ll find Labor’s new border protection and immigration policies here.
M0nty is doing an effective job on how the Labor Party lying machine works. Every answer we give is ignore, spun or distorted as winning at any cost is all that matters.
I remember a wonderful day when I kept putting a statement to M0nty and watching as he mangled it through the lefty meat-grinder that is his mind.
Indeed, to underline the point I kept using this quote from Dennis Prager:
Point Tapdog.
There is much to be apprehensive about the cheek turning Abbott.
It is not an Australian characteristic and plays badly with my associate large group of Tradies who, as small businessmen, should be naturally conservative voters but who often get put off by effete Liberal quote “wankers” unquote.
Australia isn’t Sydney’s North Shore Tony.
Wrong. “New” policies are revealed a month or so before an election.
The Coalition’s existing polices are easily found.
What a laod of whiny wankers we have here. Real adults do not respond to abuse. What Mr Abbott does well is continue to articulately criticise the Government’s ineptitude.
As for the Government front bench spokemen being effective, are you kidding? Thy’re all lying tossbags with the brains of an ant. The Coalition front bench people are much better because they come across as adults not whiny children.
“Australia isn’t Sydney’s North Shore Tony.”
If you want to check the recent local government election results around Western Sydney, the Libs did OK, and the ALP took a bit of a whacking. There’s a lot of disgruntlment floating around and rusted on ALP electorates are reaching for the WD40.