Wednesday 2 May 2012

Julia Gillard on the ropes...this time its all of her making.

Disillusion with PM saps national confidence

This is much worse than just the wash-up of a few scandalous allegations against a Labor MP and the Speaker of the House - this is fundamental disenchantment with the Gillard government that began with the announcement of the carbon tax and the loss of respect for the Prime Minister in February last year.


No sudden, surprise and ill-explained standing down of the elected Labor MP, Craig Thomson, over allegations of misuse of union funds or the Labor-selected Speaker, Peter Slipper, over allegations of fraud and sexual harassment, is going to stem this long-term rot and the erosion of confidence it breeds.


This is evidence of a long-term trend and voter concern over much deeper issues such as the carbon tax, the cost of living, illegal boat arrivals, economic growth and business confidence. The prospect of the carbon tax and global uncertainty is destroying consumer confidence and business is applying a "Canberra discount" to share prices and investment decisions.


The Labor Party's primary vote has returned to its lowest levels on record. The only prime minister held in less personal regard than Julia Gillard was Paul Keating, and Tony Abbott has a clear lead as preferred prime minister.


MPs are confused and despairing as the pre-Christmas rise out of Labor's longest and worst period of support evaporates.


The optimistic "plan" to get Labor's primary vote back to the mid-30s and hence within striking distance of a less than disastrous outlook has proven forlorn. Labor's primary vote in Newspoll has been in decline since February and is now within one point of its record low of 26 per cent in September last year.


The numbers for Labor are actually worse than they were in September because voter support has shifted directly to the Coalition and the Opposition Leader. The Coalition's support is now similar to what it was at the peak of the Howard government after the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, and just before the 2001 election victory.


In September last year when Labor's support was at 26 per cent, the Coalition's support was lower than it is now and the Greens and "others" had higher support than they do now. At 51 per cent, the Coalition's primary vote translates into a two-party-preferred support of a whopping 59 per cent because Labor's lost vote is no longer parked among the Greens and others but going to the Liberals.


While Wayne Swan prepares for a budget which he insists must be back into surplus - even if only nominally - with spending cuts and imposts, the danger for Labor is that all the political and economic gain from a solid budget will not only be lost but also have the reverse of the desired effect. Gillard's lack of authority and the disproportionate concern about the state of the Australian economy relative to the rest of the world give an otherwise weak Liberal economic team the opportunity to play up negatives and score cheap shots in the realm of economic management and the cost of living. None of this helps the Treasurer's struggle to instil confidence.


The tough budget could provide the final straw in public and business confidence and exaggerate the caution and fear that are limiting the economy right now. Concern about the carbon tax is not abating, the prospect of a turnaround when compensation is paid is likely to prove delusional without real changes - particularly the implementation date and floor price of $23 a tonne for carbon - and the Gillard government and the economy will face even greater setbacks.
                                          _________________   |   ________________

4 comments:

  1. Whale oil beef hooked!2 May 2012 at 19:01

    And what do YOU think about the Federal labor Party Ross?
    What's your opinion?
    Will you vote for the Liberal Party for the first time in your life next election?
    I notice Jamie's name was on your election "how to vote" cards.
    Now she's a real Fabian/Socialist/Troglodyte/Labor person.
    Does she share and agree with you publishing Dennis Shanahan's opinions?
    Maybe you have seen the light!

    cheers ol' bean
    Whale oil

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for you contribution. I welcome a diversity of comment, though for creditability purposes I encourage accuracy and transparency. There is nothing wrong in using your real name. Hiding behind a false identity takes away from your veracity.

    Having said that let me for the record state the following:-

    1. The Federal Labor Government (like the Bligh Government was from 6 months after its election in 2008) is governing illegitimately. Effectively if an election was held today I believe the only seat it would hold in Queensland would be Rudd and even with that seat I have my doubts;

    2.For your information I was a National Party member from 1973 till 1977 and was on the selection committee that endorsed Martin Tenni in 1974 and David Thompson in 1975.

    3. After my election to the Mulgrave Shire Council with 75% of the vote I headed the inherent message and let my membership lapse;

    4. I have never been a member of the ALP or for that matter any other political party but I have donated to the Greens for the purpose of balance when Howard had control of both houses of parliament;

    5. Janine is a personal friend of mine and if anything I am in good company with Unity and Richie Bates, ( if its good enough for Manning, then its good enough for Parisi)

    Continue to contribute while acknowledging the above facts. Have a enlightening day and don't forget to take time to smell the roses 'Whale oil beef hooked'...gee that's a mouth full.

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a data of un-ambiguity and preserveness of precious know-how on
    the topic of unexpected emotions.

    Here is my blog post :: Perfect waist to hip Ratio

    ReplyDelete
  4. I visited many websites but the audio feature for audio songs present at this web site is genuinely marvelous.


    Also visit my site: Learn More

    ReplyDelete

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.