(Cross posted from What the people want) When I went to find the most effective TV ads from Labor and the LNP to road-test on our surveys they were nowhere to be seen. It’s common political wisdom, and I think true, that positive ads don’t change governments, negative ads do. Positive ads are good at […]

(Cross post from What the people want). Tomorrow’s Galaxy poll (with the teaser released today on the CM website) confirms our polling. It shows a six percent swing against the government. My polling suggests 7% or thereabouts. Pretty damn close, particularly as we don’t really set-out to measure quants. So, emboldened by this result I’m […]

(Cross posted from What the people want.) In the first week of the election there has been a strong swing in sentiment against the government, somewhere in the vicinity of 7.5%. If this were reflected in the election result Queensland would most likely have a new government and a hung parliament. Voters see this election […]

Last week I said the gov is planning to cut back on public disclosure requirements for industrial carbon emissions. Today they replied to my email query, and even sent the discussion paper. Yes, the period for comment was brief, but closer to 3 weeks than a few days. And yes, it will cut back on […]

There’s nothing wrong with a good aporphism/cliche, and ‘he who pays the piper calls the tune’ is as reliable as they come. The previous government gave about $18 million (that’s taxpayers’ money) to Pacific Brands, and the current government is now disappointed that the execs have used some of that to triple their salaries while […]

It is really too early to be predicting election results, but with the Queensland election scheduled for the 21st March, there’s not much time left. So here is my “prediction”. The Liberal National Party should win 12 to 15 seats, all other things being equal. Labor has effectively been in power since 1989, with a […]

(Cross posted from What the people want). My local state member Gary Fenlon (ALP) has a message for me – “Keep Greenslopes in safe hands”. The message presumably hopes to leverage the uncertainty that tough times bring, is consistent with the fact that Labor is regarded by voters as the best party to handle most […]

As Victoria is incinerated, as hundreds lie in hospital with horrible burns, as wildlife is decimated and the entire country mourns these losses….at this point perhaps the sceptics are saying, in the face of Australia’s worst ever natural disaster (so far) that thank heavens there isn’t any climate change, or things might be worse. If […]

It’s about time, but one of the major Australian political parties looks like it might trial primaries to select their candidates, like the parties do in the US. According to The Australian the NSW National Party may tentatively introduce the system: The idea was agreed to at a secret meeting on Thursday between state parliamentary […]

Being at the coast, watching the kookaburras and swimming in the cool ocean every day has brought on feelings of contentment. However, it might also be the relative absence of daily inputs of bad news, due to the lack of internet access in our tizzed up shed. Space, light, privacy and being surrounded by more […]