Steve Murphy's Election Blogs
Confused? The 'result' explained
Campaign 2010 has turned out to be the most dramatic and historic in more than years with Australia set to have a minority Government led by Tony Abbott with the support of three independents, all of whom were once members of the National Party.
Who do you dislike least?
After five weeks, Campaign 2010 has come down to the question of risk, with both leaders urging voters not to risk electing their opponent. If only the choice was really that simple. Given the nature of this campaign, it will probably come down to who voters dislike the least.
Federal Election voting guide
At the request of parents of first-time voters (and young 3AW Radio staffers), political analyst Steve Murphy has written a comprehensive explanation of the ins and outs of voting on Federal Election day.
The key to Julia's big finish
AUGUST 20: The, “I will and he won’t” contrast, has been at the core of the PM’s pitch since her official campaign launch in Brisbane on Monday and she has honed it to perfection in subsequent days from the peoples’ forum in Brisbane last night to her final set piece of the Campaign at the National Press Club in Canberra today.
Debate debate mark II not helping
AUGUST 17: This is all political posturing by both sides with each seeking to exploit what they perceive as the others weakness and parade what each believes is their strengths, while simultaneously not really wanting to do both.
Yes We Will! Will We?
AUGUST 16: It was always going to be an awkward affair as far as the ‘Rudd issue’ was concerned and even though K-Rudd looked as though he would’ve preferred to be undergoing another gall bladder operation, Labor strategists will be breathing a sigh of relief.
Election result on a 'knife's edge'
AUGUST 13: As we approach the end of Campaign 2010, the election is evenly poised and could break either way based on the performances of the two leaders over coming week. It will be pressure like Gillard and Abbott have never before experienced.
Power to the people
STEVE MURPHY BLOG: "While swinging voters, according to an exit poll of participants, were more convinced by Tony Abbott than the Prime Minister at last night’s peoples’ forum in Western Sydney, the event highlights just how close this race actually is."
Nation builder or pork barreller?
AUGUST 11: Is the Prime Minister a nation builder or a good old fashioned pork barreller? That’s a question voters outside New South Wales might well be justified in asking after the PM announced today that she would commit a whopping $2.1 billion, her single largest promise of Campaign 2010, to build a rail link in between Parramatta and Epping in Western Sydney.
Is it slipping away from Abbott?
AUGUST 10: Steve Murphy says it's time for Tony Abbott to stop attacking the opposition and start informing Australia better as to what improvements he would make as leader of the country.
Unity versus incompetence?
AUGUST 9 "Tony Abbott’s official election campaign launch in Brisbane yesterday sent a clear and unambiguous message to Australians that their choice on August 21 is between unity and competence or disunity and incompetence. Simple as that." Read the full analysis here.
The joke that's not funny
AUGUST 9: "Then, just when the PM thought it was safe to get back to campaigning, there was Mark Latham who got in Gillard’s face and started pointing fingers at her. She handled it well, but who remembers what the message of the day was? No one. Thanks Mark."
Julia Gillard's 'Groundhog Day'
BLOG: "The Prime Minister must have a sour taste in her mouth this morning and it’s from having to eat the proverbial s--t sandwich as a result of her predecessor’s orchestrated re-entry into Campaign 2010." Watch, read and comment here.
K-Rudd the devil and saviour
AUGUST 5: "Just six weeks ago Kevin Rudd was viewed by Labor’s factional warlords as the political devil incarnate and thrust a stake through his heart … well his back. Now that same devil is taking on the role as Labor’s Saviour." Read more and have your say.
Half-time ... change ends
AUGUST 4: It all smacks of desperation as I’ve written on this page before, but given the state of the polls Gillard needs to pin Abbott and the economy is seen as her best chance, so don’t expect the brouhaha over a second debate to go away any time soon.
RBA gives Gillard a leg up
BLOG: The Reserve Bank of Australia in deciding to hold the cash rate at 4.5% has given the Prime Minister and her faltering campaign a significant shot in the arm this afternoon and a lever to refocus Campaign 2010 onto economic management.
A debate about a debate
BLOG: "Campaign 2010 is turning into a political circus, with a debate about whether or not to have a second debate highlighting the desperation of ALP strategists to get their wagon back on the bitumen and out of the bog."
PM: It's Time To Get Real
BLOG: "The Prime Minister has decided it’s time to 'get real' as she heads into week three of her five week battle for the keys to the Lodge."
The Ghosts of Leaders Past
STEVE MURPHY BLOG: "It has been a horrendous week for the Prime Minister on the campaign trail with the Ghosts of leaders past in the form of Mark Latham and Kevin Rudd undermining efforts to sell her message to the electorate."
The Weekly a PR Coup
ALP strategists must have smiles of content on their faces today having pulled off the media coup of Campaign 2010 by getting a 13 page spread in the latest edition of the Women’s’ Weekly in the middle of the race for the Lodge.
Beware the Enemy Within!
BLOG: 'The second week of Campaign 2010 has tuned into a nightmare for the Prime Minister because deep divisions within Government ranks have been laid bare in the public arena thanks to deliberate and selective leaks that go to the heart of the Prime Minister’s character.'
The Debate: It's a draw
BLOG: Calling the outcome of a debate is such a subjective thing, because each individual will use a different basis for making his or her ultimate judgement, but on balance I think the debate was a draw.
The Great Gender Gap
BLOG: The first and only debate of Campaign 2010 has revealed in stark reality an enormous gender gap, that if accurate, is likely to vault Julia Gillard into the Lodge.
'High wire' act is no policy
JULY 23: "A decision by Julia Gillard to establish a so called Citizens Assembly as the basis of her policy to deal with what Kevin Rudd said was “the greatest moral challenge of our generation” - the vexed issue of Climate Change - could be a significant turning point in Campaign 2010."
'Like a splinter under the skin'
JULY 22: It may not be an election-breaker, but Steve Murphy writes that Prime Minister Julia Gillard must flag her intentions for Kevin Rudd now - especially after the UN approach. Blog with Steve here.
Boat people ... Get Fair Dinkum!
JULY 22: "On the surface it sounds terrific. It’s designed to ease the concerns of voters in Western Sydney, South East Queensland and the far north of the Sunshine State where the debate over ‘boat people’ immigration generally and population is much more vociferous than it is in Victoria. The problem is it’s not policy."
Beware the Greens/ALP alliance
JULY 21: "Credibility and leadership. These are the things that are on the line for Bob Brown and to some degree the Prime Minister over the preference deal struck between the Greens and the ALP earlier this week." More here.
Over-reaction to Paris Hilton jibe?
JULY 20: "Outside of the campaign, some would’ve probably smiled ... as they did when Julia Gillard as Deputy Prime Minister referred to the married Christopher Pyne as the Member for Skirt."
Abbott and Libs create confusion
JULY 20: Dead, buried, cremated. Won’t change the legislation. Can’t get much more emphatic than that. If only the Opposition Leader had stuck to his guns and not been suckered into a faux debate about change by stealth, via regulation or ministerial direction.
Beware the Labor/Greens alliance!
JULY 19: So if you vote Labor or Green do you actually know what you are going to get. They say you get what you vote for. But, given the ALP/Greens alliance, will you really?
Election is truly 'all or nothing'
JULY 18: "Make no mistake this will be a bruising encounter. Put aside the monotonous platitudes about policies, values, beliefs and convictions, because Gillard and Abbott are political street fighters par excellence." Read more and ask Steve a question.
