Voters’ remorse: Tony Abbott gets a shock as his leadership is found wanting

[Matilda]

In case its bumbling progress was not humiliation enough for this L-plate government, the Fairfax Media/Nielsen poll, the first since the September 7 election, shows that voters have bucked convention and had a change of heart about their choice of government.

Voters usually stick with their choice well into a new government’s first term. After Kevin Rudd beat John Howard in 2007, it took the Coalition two-and-a-half years to get in front. It’s a different story this time.

Federal Labor, under the leadership of Bill Shorten, leads the Coalition in the two-party preferred vote: 52 per cent to 48 per cent. It’s the first time Labor has been ahead of the Coalition since October 2010.

Abbott will no doubt follow the time-honoured ruse of not commenting on (unfavourable) opinion polls – do opinion polls constitute an “operational matter”? – but he doesn’t have to utter a word: the numbers say it all.

http://www.brw.com.au/p/leadership/voters_remorse_tony_abbott_gets_BtbHnhGo3eqlHEpWlBb9nM


Good to know that all but rusted-on Coalition voters find this ugy, divisive, lying, and clumsy government unpalatable. We knew they'd be bad, but I don't think any of us guessed just how dreadful the Abbott government would be. Even the Murdoch press can't keep the truth hidden forever – that Abbott is a bumbling fool; a confection of media spin. There is nothing under his botoxed surface but hot air.

Labor needs to keep up the pressure now - got to get on top with the preferred PM vote as well.

[Tanelorn]

1. Tony is only Prime Minister because

he lost the presidency (to a woman)of the University student rep council. He has spent his whole life trying to win it back.

Ok that aside It was the relentless three word slogan (3 of them) and of course the backing of every Murdoch paper that got him elected. The hung parliament did things for three years. It was messy, loud and robust but it stood for something. What does this parliament stand for. Their whole reason for existence is to undo anything the previous government achieved. Abbott's government is embarrassing Australia all over the world. I love to say they will be gone in three years time but I fear for the damage that will be done in the mean time.

[Matilda]

2. I feel the same.

My biggest worry is the irreparable environmental damage that will be done during his term.

What is most heartening is that these figures have been achieved even though the Murdoch media and the shock jocks are still singing his praises and not holding him to account. Not everybody out there is asleep, and hopefully more will wake up and help to turn it around.

But who would have thought we'd get so much help from these L-plate pollies themselves?