Australia General Discussion

[Barnes]

An announcement that NSW Labor leader, John Robertson, is stepping down appears imminent.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-23/john-robertson-facing-internal-pressure-to-resign-monis-letter/5985316

[Hifly]

Labor's path in the Victorian Legislative Council just got rockier; they've been defeated on the very first vote, to elect the Speaker. By a vote of 21-17, Liberal MLC Bruce Atkinson has been re-elected as the chamber's President.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

An announcement that NSW Labor leader, John Robertson, is stepping down appears imminent.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-23/john-robertson-facing-internal-pressure-to-resign-monis-letter/5985316

And nobody is sad to see him go.

[Talleyrand]

Labor's path in the Victorian Legislative Council just got rockier; they've been defeated on the very first vote, to elect the Speaker. By a vote of 21-17, Liberal MLC Bruce Atkinson has been re-elected as the chamber's President.

The crossbench vote on that one is odd...

The 5 Green MPs and Sex Party MP voted for the Coalition candidate, but Labor got votes from the 2 Shooters and Fishers MP, Vote 1 Jobs MP, and Family First MP.

[Platypus]

Put it this way... Labor was required to put up a candidate, and there's definitely power in the position, but they won't be disappointed by the result, as it makes it a bit easier for the lefty block to get things done.

[Hifly]

Put it this way... Labor was required to put up a candidate, and there's definitely power in the position, but they won't be disappointed by the result, as it makes it a bit easier for the lefty block to get things done.

They were not required to put up a candidate and their response to the Greens' defection was not one of lack of disappointment...
The President casts a full vote just as any other member does, so it's not as if they're losing a vote by submitting a Speaker.

[Talleyrand]

Newspoll Quarterly is out.

NSW- Labor 54% (+2)
Victoria- Labor 60% (+2)
Queensland- Labor 52% (+1)
South Australia- Labor 54% (+3)
Western Australia- Labor 47% (+1)

http://resources.news.com.au/files/2014/12/26/1227167/481924-aus-file-federal-newspoll.pdf

I assume Tasmania would also record a sizable swing to Labor in a poll (maybe around 55% TPP)?

[Platypus]

Labor up 60-40 in Victoria makes me happy. Only actually means 1-3 seats, but still.

[morgieb]

Labor up 60-40 in Victoria makes me happy. Only actually means 1-3 seats, but still.

If you're genuinely up 60-40 there'll be boilovers beyond La Trobe, Deaking and Corangamite. Think the Dunkley, Aston, Casey, McMillan, etc. types.

[Platypus]

Dunkley is one of the three for me, before LaTrobe, but it certainly does make a few more within reach if there's an effort put into them.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

LOL Palmer

[Barnes]

LOL Palmer

Lol, it's all kind of a farce anyway.

[Talleyrand]

Western Australia Newspoll is out.

TPP
Labor- 50% (no change)
Coalition- 50% (no change)

Primary
Coalition- 42% (+1)
Labor- 33% (+2)
Greens- 15% (no change)
Otherd- 10% (-3)

Colin Barnett Favorability
Approval- 37% (+5)
Disapproval- 49% (-7)

Mark McGowan Favorability
Approval- 48% (+1)
Disapproval- 27% (-2)

Preferred Premier
McGowan- 40% (-1)
Barnett- 39% (+1)

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/2015/01/02/newspoll-50-50-in-western-australia-3/

[Talleyrand]

As is South Australia.

TPP
Labor- 53% (+2)
Coalition- 47% (-2)

Primary
Labor- 35% (+1)
Coalition- 33% (-3)
Greens- 10% (+1)
Others- 22% (+1)

Jay Weatherill Favorability
Approval- 46% (+1)
Disapproval- 42% (+5)

Steven Marshall Favorability
Approval- 35% (-5)
Disapproval- 42% (+8)

Preferred Premier
McGowan- 47% (+2)
Marshall- 29% (-1)

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/2014/12/31/newspoll-53-47-to-labor-in-south-australia/

[morgieb]

Surprising that WA's vote is holding up well for the Liberals, particularly given the approval/PP ratings.

[Talleyrand]

Surprising that WA's vote is holding up well for the Liberals, particularly given the approval/PP ratings.

Maybe they're more reluctant to vote Labor than the other states? The election is still over two years away, so maybe the voting intentions will catch up some to the approval by then (although it might be conceivable that Barnett will retire and be replaced with a more popular leader by then).

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Surprising that WA's vote is holding up well for the Liberals, particularly given the approval/PP ratings.

Maybe they're more reluctant to vote Labor than the other states? The election is still over two years away, so maybe the voting intentions will catch up some to the approval by then (although it might be conceivable that Barnett will retire and be replaced with a more popular leader by then).

It's still WA...

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Expectation is that Campbell Newman will call an election tomorrow to be held as early as 31 Jan or 7 Feb. I think someone has begged him to have some distance from NSW, lol

[Barnes]

The date has bet set as 31 January: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/queensland-election-to-be-held-on-january-31-20150105-12iduw.html

Nice to have another election to follow so soon!

[BaconBacon96]

I think he wants to throw Labor off guard with this early date.

[Barnes]

I think he wants to throw Labor off guard with this early date.

That's certainly the intention, and the slippage in the polls seems to have stabilized for the LNP; not that being tied with Labor is the preferable situation, but I guess they think it's now or never.

Labor, of course, is claiming that they're ready to go, and one would hope - it's pretty naive to plan only for a March election in a state without fixed terms.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I know that the ALP was ready for it to be called straight after the G20 for an election on 20 December. But I do know they thought the likely date was going to be 21 February... so it doesn't really change too much for them. It'll just be a case of dragging the party staff off leave.

[Barnes]

I know that the ALP was ready for it to be called straight after the G20 for an election on 21 December. But I do know they thought the likely date was going to be 22 February... so it doesn't really change too much for them. It'll just be a case of dragging the party staff off leave.

Interesting, I didn't see that before.  Now that I think about it, it makes sense why they would think that.  And I do like quick election periods - gives everything a fast pace, so to speak.

[checkers]

Has anyone seen this website (the Atlas of NSW)? I just stumbled upon it today and it has NSW election maps dating back to 1858.

[Knives]

Like this makes me happy but I cannot fathom how 500 days in the Libs have managed to achieve almost nothing!?