Fed: Coalition disarray inhibits govt ability to meet challenges

AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-2009
Fed: Coalition disarray inhibits govt ability to meet challenges

CANBERRA, Aug 10 AAP - Coalition disunity is inhibiting the federal government's capacity
to meet public policy challenges, a Labor frontbencher says.

"That is why it is important that the coalition get their act together and play a constructive
role," Defence Personnel Minister Greg Combet told reporters in Canberra when asked about
the latest Newspoll results.

Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull's satisfaction rating with voters has tumbled to
just 26 per cent, but support for the coalition has remained stable at 43 per cent of
the two-party preferred vote.

The results, published in The Australian on Monday, did not surprise coalition MPs
with one frontbencher describing them as "positive".

Mr Combet had a different interpretation, saying coalition disunity and leadership
instability was affecting the government.

"It is an inhibitor on the government's capacity to get on with meeting these major
public policy challenges," he told reporters, referring to the economic slowdown, climate
change measures and repair of the education and health systems.

Opposition frontbencher George Brandis said Mr Turnbull had experienced a "terrible"

six or seven weeks.

"There's no secret about that," he told ABC Radio.

"I think the Australian public don't finally make up their mind about a leader until
they've seen ... what it's like when the blowtorch is upon him."

Frontbench colleague Greg Hunt, described the two-party preferred result as "positive".

"I actually think under the circumstances it is a very strong result," he told ABC Television.

The Newspoll wasn't all good news for Labor. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's satisfaction
rating fell slightly during the past fortnight, from 63 to 60 per cent.

His dissatisfaction rating increased from 26 to 28 per cent.

Mr Rudd maintains a huge lead - 65 to 17 - over Mr Turnbull as preferred prime minister.

On primary votes, Labor support fell one per cent to 45 while support for the opposition
was down one per cent to 33.

AAP mb/rl/it

KEYWORD: NEWSPOLL UPDATE

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