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  • Oct, 2010

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    Aussie Larrikins Strike Gold In Petulant Behaviour

    Hassene Fkiri of Australia refuses to shake hands with Anil Kumar of India.

    Hassene Fkiri blows up and becomes an instant household name.

    The Australian media has been quick to condemn Commonwealth Games athletes Hassene Fkiri and Shane Perkins for their televised displays of sporting petulance.  They apparently let us all down, giving people the impression that Australians are actually bad losers.

    C’mon!  Why pick on these athletes, when they are simply upholding a great Aussie tradition?

    Indeed, the evidence shows that we’re actually a bunch of world-class, Gold Medal-winning tantrum throwers, who love nothing more than gobbing off and flipping the bird – to officials, fellow competitors and even our team-mates.

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  • Oct, 2010

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    The Bride (and Bridesmaid) stripped bare

    First Published on The Drum 05/10/2010

    New paradigms notwithstanding, the first week of the 43rd Parliament of Australia has confirmed a continuation of the gladiatorial contests that have characterised Australia’s model of presidential politics.

    And that means a confronting truth for both Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott: the public’s perceptions of their personal strengths and weakness are central to the success of their respective political projects.

    There was a time when character research was a dark art, the province of party focus groups, only dusted of at election time when attacks would be constructed around a candidate’s lack of ticker (read weight) or stubbornness (read age). The modern opinion polling means today it’s all out in the open.

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  • Oct, 2010

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    Federal politics – voting intention

    Q. If a Federal Election was held today to which party will you probably give your first preference vote? If not sure, which party are you currently leaning toward?

    Q. If don’t know -Well which party are you currently leaning to?

    1921 sample size

    First preference/leaning to  6 months ago 4 weeks ago 2 weeks ago Last week This week

     

    Liberal 36% 40% 42% 40% 42%
    National 3% 3% 3% 3% 2%
    Total Lib/Nat 39% 43% 45% 43% 44%
    Labor 43% 39% 40% 42% 42%
    Greens 10% 11% 9% 9% 8%
    Other/Independent 8% 7% 6% 6% 8%

     

    2PP 6 months ago 4 weeks ago 2 weeks ago Last week This week

     

    Total Lib/Nat 46% 49% 50% 49% 49%
    Labor 54% 51% 50% 51% 51%

     NB.  The data in the above tables comprise 2-week averages derived the first preference/leaning to voting questions.  Respondents who select ‘don’t know’ are not included in the results.  The two-party preferred estimate is calculated by distributing the votes of the other parties according to their preferences at the 2007 election. Comments »

  • Oct, 2010

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    Attributes to describe the Prime Minister

    Q.  Which of the following describe your opinion of the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard?

      5 Jul 10 4 Oct 10 Difference
    Intelligent 87% 81% -6%
    Hard-working 89% 82% -7%
    A capable leader 72% 59% -13%
    Demanding 58% 58% 0%
    Arrogant 37% 39% 2%
    Out of touch with ordinary people 35% 44% 9%
    Understands the problems facing Australia 68% 55% -13%
    Visionary 48% 38% -10%
    Good in a crisis 61% 46% -15%
    Narrow-minded 28% 35% 7%
    Down to earth 68% 62% -6%
    Too inflexible 26% 36% 10%
    Complacent 27% 31% 4%
    More honest than most politicians 45% 37% -8%
    Trustworthy 49% 42% -7%

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  • Oct, 2010

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    Attributes to describe the Prime Minister – Gender difference

    Q.  Which of the following describe your opinion of the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard?

      Total Male Female
    Intelligent 81% 79% 84%
    Hard-working 82% 80% 83%
    A capable leader 59% 57% 61%
    Demanding 58% 62% 54%
    Arrogant 39% 38% 39%
    Out of touch with ordinary people 44% 47% 41%
    Understands the problems facing Australia 55% 53% 56%
    Visionary 38% 38% 38%
    Good in a crisis 46% 46% 46%
    Narrow-minded 35% 38% 31%
    Down to earth 62% 60% 65%
    Too inflexible 36% 40% 33%
    Complacent 31% 34% 28%
    More honest than most politicians 37% 39% 35%
    Trustworthy 42% 45% 39%

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  • Oct, 2010

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    Attributes to describe the Opposition Leader

    Q.  Which of the following describe your opinion of the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott?

      5 Jul 10 4 Oct 10 Change
    Intelligent 70% 71% 1%
    Hard-working 76% 78% 2%
    A capable leader 47% 52% 5%
    Demanding 53% 61% 8%
    Arrogant 59% 60% 1%
    Out of touch with ordinary people 57% 53% -4%
    Understands the problems facing Australia 50% 53% 3%
    Visionary 32% 31% -1%
    Good in a crisis 40% 42% 2%
    Narrow-minded 56% 53% -3%
    Down to earth 47% 47% 0%
    Too inflexible 45% 43% -2%
    Complacent 34% 32% -2%
    More honest than most politicians 33% 32% -1%
    Trustworthy 33% 35% 2%

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  • Oct, 2010

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    Attributes to describe the Opposition Leader – Gender differences

    Q.  Which of the following describe your opinion of the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott?

      Total Male Female
    Intelligent 71% 70% 71%
    Hard-working 78% 79% 77%
    A capable leader 52% 54% 50%
    Demanding 61% 66% 56%
    Arrogant 60% 63% 56%
    Out of touch with ordinary people 53% 57% 49%
    Understands the problems facing Australia 53% 52% 54%
    Visionary 31% 32% 30%
    Good in a crisis 42% 44% 40%
    Narrow-minded 53% 56% 51%
    Down to earth 47% 47% 47%
    Too inflexible 43% 47% 40%
    Complacent 32% 34% 29%
    More honest than most politicians 32% 32% 31%
    Trustworthy 35% 36% 34%

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  • Oct, 2010

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    Comparison of Leader Attributes

     

      Julia Gillard Tony Abbott Difference
    Intelligent 81% 71% 10%
    Hard-working 82% 78% 4%
    A capable leader 59% 52% 7%
    Demanding 58% 61% -3%
    Arrogant 39% 60% -21%
    Out of touch with ordinary people 44% 53% -9%
    Understands the problems facing Australia 55% 53% 2%
    Visionary 38% 31% 7%
    Good in a crisis 46% 42% 4%
    Narrow-minded 35% 53% -18%
    Down to earth 62% 47% 15%
    Too inflexible 36% 43% -7%
    Complacent 31% 32% -1%
    More honest than most politicians 37% 32% 5%
    Trustworthy 42% 35% 7%

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