Economy
Julia … just like John (Howard). Abbott on the nose
Gillard’s 4 out of 4 for Howard
Prime Minister Gillard has backed former Prime Minister Howard’s policy on four vital issues which will figure prominently in the 2013 federal election, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.
“Julia Gillard opposes marriage equality, onshore processing of asylum seekers, and denying India uranium unless it signs the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. As well, she joins John Howard on reversing a written commitment to protect Tasmania’s high conservation value forests – though he only failed on the part of that deal relating to the Upper Florentine forests,” Senator Brown said in Hobart.
“The Greens will have legislation for both houses the day parliament resumes next year to end marriage law discrimination. Both Labor and the Liberals voted down a Greens’ bill to usher in marriage equality in 2010.
“We will strongly oppose uranium sales to India and offshore processing of the asylum seekers who come to Australia by boat.
“We will continue to campaign against Australia’s uranium being used to help the nuclear militarization of India, China or any other country,” Senator Brown said.
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First published: 2011-12-04 02:03 PM
• The Australian Newspoll shows Tony Abbott’s support at lowest level as leader
TONY Abbott’s personal voter support has dropped to its lowest level since he became Opposition Leader two years ago and Julia Gillard and her government are at their highest standing in six months.
As the parliamentary and political year draws to a close with the end of the ALP national conference, voter satisfaction with the Leader of the Opposition has fallen to its lowest level since he took over from Malcolm Turnbull as Liberal leader in December 2009 and Ms Gillard has extended her lead over him as preferred prime minister.
The Coalition’s primary vote has slumped by four percentage points in the final week of parliament for the year, to 44 per cent, and Labor’s primary vote went from 30 per cent to 31 per cent, according to the latest Newspoll survey, conducted on the weekend exclusively for The Australian.
The Greens’ primary vote, which had been falling for eight weeks, rose markedly in the past two weeks from 10 per cent to 13 per cent.
Based on preference flows at last year’s election, the Coalition still holds a lead of 54 per cent to 46 per cent, but this is Labor’s best result since October.
After a concerted effort from Gillard government ministers and union leaders about being negative and “just saying no”, Mr Abbott’s satisfaction rating dipped from 34 per cent to 33 per cent while dissatisfaction increased from 55 per cent to 57 per cent.
Although the movements are within the margin of error of three points, this is a record low satisfaction rating for Mr Abbott and a return to the 57 per cent dissatisfaction level he had last month.
The Prime Minister’s personal satisfaction rating rose from 34 per cent to 36 per cent, with dissatisfaction from 55 per cent to 56 per cent.
Mr Abbott now has a negative satisfaction rating — the difference between satisfaction and dissatisfaction — of -24, while Ms Gillard’s net satisfaction rating is -20, her best result since May.
On who would make the better prime minister, Ms Gillard extended her lead over Mr Abbott for the second consecutive Newspoll survey, with a rise from 40 per cent to 43 per cent. Mr Abbott went from 35 per cent to 36 per cent.
Ms Gillard’s seven-point lead over Mr Abbott is the best figure she has had since May.
• ABC Online: Labor Left vows to fight uranium exports
Labor’s Left faction has vowed not to give up its fight against uranium exports to India after the ALP national conference endorsed the Prime Minister’s plan to lift the ban.
The Federal Government is now preparing negotiate an agreement with India to export Australian uranium to the country, a move which Julia Gillard says will boost trade and enhance Australia’s relationship with India.
“We are at the right time in the history of the world to seize a new era of opportunity in this, the Asian century,” she said.
“We need to make sure that across our regions we have the strongest possible relationships we can, including with the world’s largest democracy, India.”
But the move was fiercely opposed by several ministers and delegates who believe it is dangerous because India has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Labor Senator Doug Cameron says there is no way Australia can get India to agree to proper safeguards.
“There is absolutely no way we can get these commitments that the Prime Minister is talking about,” he said.
“If Bush couldn’t do it, if the Canadians couldn’t do it I don’t think we can.”
Senator Cameron says he will not give up the fight.
“I think this is one of the worst decisions the Labor party has ever made in my time in the Labor party,” he said.