Bounce for Australian PM as voters tire of leadership roundabout

[webfact]

Bounce for Australian PM as voters tire of leadership roundabout

By Tom Westbrook

 

Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull attends the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Danang, Vietnam November 11, 2017. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo

 

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Embattled Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull received an unexpected boost from an opinion poll on Monday that showed voters want their leaders to govern for their full terms rather than the revolving door that has marked Australian politics.

 

Three sitting Australian prime ministers have been ousted by their own parties since 2010, dumped by their colleagues almost as soon as their popularity began to wane.

 

Turnbull has flirted with becoming the latest victim of this syndrome, his popularity flagging ever since he became leader in a party-room coup in September 2015.

 

However, Monday's Fairfax/Ipsos showed that voters had wearied of the national leadership switches, with 71 percent of 1,400 people surveyed saying they disapproved of changing leaders between elections.

 

It came as some relief for Turnbull, whose centre coalition government is clinging precariously to power since a citizenship crisis forced his deputy, along with eight other lawmakers, out of parliament because they were dual citizens.

 

The citizenship crisis left Turnbull presiding over a minority government.

 

"If there's anyone silly enough to think that they could overthrow Turnbull, I would think this gives them pause for thought," said Rod Tiffen, emeritus professor in government and international relations at Sydney University.

 

"But the state of the polls generally is not good news for him," he told Reuters.

 

The government clawed back one key seat on Saturday when Barnaby Joyce, Turnbull's deputy who was forced by the citizenship crisis to recontest his seat, resoundingly won a by-election to regain his place in parliament.

 

However, another crucial by-election looms on Dec. 19 and the crisis continues to distract from Turnbull's attempts at turning the domestic agenda to voter-friendly issues such as tax reform and housing affordability.

 

The Liberal-National coalition lost a 24th straight fortnightly Newspoll, also published on Monday, since Turnbull ousted his predecessor Tony Abbott. Turnbull seized the leadership after Abbott lost 30 consecutive Newspolls and now finds himself under enormous pressure.

 

A poor showing at a state election in Queensland last month, as well as his handling of a vote to legalise same-sex marriage, prompted disgruntled coalition lawmakers to demand that Turnbull quit last week.

 

He has so far stared down the threat and declared he will lead the coalition to the next election, which is due in 2019.

 

Turnbull has also ordered all politicians to disclose the birthplace of their parents and grandparents on Dec. 5 in a bid to end the citizenship crisis.

 

(Reporting by Tom Westbrook; Editing by Paul Tait)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-12-04

 

[tigermoth]

This citizen episode is utter bullshit. Unless the parliamentary member in question actually possesses dual citizenship it should not be a problem. For Joyce to obtain NZ citizenship he has to actually apply for it which requires a completion of a particular lot of disclosures, submission of a form to the NZ govt. and then the NZ govt. has to actually grant it. He is currently only an Australian citizen and that should be the end of it.

[Cats4ever]

49 minutes ago, tigermoth said:

This citizen episode is utter bullshit. Unless the parliamentary member in question actually possesses dual citizenship it should not be a problem. For Joyce to obtain NZ citizenship he has to actually apply for it which requires a completion of a particular lot of disclosures, submission of a form to the NZ govt. and then the NZ govt. has to actually grant it. He is currently only an Australian citizen and that should be the end of it.

Well Tiger, I understand where you are coming from, BUT. The constitution was written a long time ago and before dual citizenship was common, if at all possible. Every candidate signs off that they are not dual citizens, amongst other things. Barnaby was a bit casual when signing and did not check. For a book keeper (yes I know he likes to carry on as if he is Ben Bowyang) that is careless. It is careless for the others caught up in this also. Essentially he should refund the cost of the by election to general revenue.

[Media1]

If only Thai had a choice lol. This is minor detail over a coffee lol.