Big day in federal Australian politics today that was.
Woke up this morning for breakfast, and splashed across all the major newspapers was: "Rudd gains ground on Howard" (The Australian). An exclusive Newspoll taken for The Australian has shown that if an election was held today, the Labor Party (ALP) would have won decisively.
Key highlights in the Newspoll:
- Two-party preferred vote: 55% ALP, 45% Liberal Coalition.
- Primary vote: 44% ALP, 39% Liberal Coalition.
- 70% of voters surveyed indicated that they are unhappy with the way the Howard government is handling the war on Iraq, and that "it would influence their vote".
- Preferred Prime Minister - Howard is still ahead on 41%, but Rudd is now at a razor-close 39%.
- Rudd's approval rating is 56% now, up from 41% when he became Opposition Leader last month. 56% happens to be twice the amount of approval that Kim Beazley had just before he was dumped as Opposition Leader.
3 hours later in Canberra, John Howard announced a minor reshuffle of his cabinet. Amanda Vanstone is the biggest casualty, having being dropped as Immigration Minister. Kevin Andrews takes over Immigration from his outgoing portfolio as Workplace and Industrial Relations Minister, set to be a key election issue this year (industrial relations). Malcolm Turnbull has been elevated to the Environment and Water Resources portfolio - also another key issue for this year's elections, expected to be held in October or November.
Interestingly, the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs is going to be renamed Department of Immigration and Citizenship. Note the word "multiculturalism" has been dropped, and this reflects a distaste of the Howard government for that word. That's because they think that "multiculturalism" has become a lexicon where "everything is cool, and everything will pass as 'Australian'". Wonder will there be any significant changes in immigration policy in the coming months?
One thing's for sure though. The election race has begun! :)