(10/12/07) -

Australia’s ALP Remains Ahead of Coalition

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Australia’s largest opposition party is maintaining its advantage over the governing Coalition of Liberals and Nationals, according to a poll by AC Nielsen published in the Sydney Morning Herald. 47 per cent of respondents would back the Australian Labor Party (ALP) in the next election to the House of Representatives, down two points since July.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Australia’s largest opposition party is maintaining its advantage over the governing Coalition of Liberals and Nationals, according to a poll by AC Nielsen published in the Sydney Morning Herald. 47 per cent of respondents would back the Australian Labor Party (ALP) in the next election to the House of Representatives, down two points since July.

The Coalition is second with 40 per cent, followed by the Australian Greens with eight per cent. Australia’s preferential voting system—where electors indicate an order of predilection for each contender, and the ballots from smaller parties are re-distributed—gives the ALP a 12-point lead over the Coalition.

In the October 2004 election, Australian prime minister John Howard was rewarded with a fourth term in office, as the Coalition secured 87 seats in the House of Representatives. The ALP—led by Mark Latham—elected 60 lawmakers. In December 2006, foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd became the new leader of the ALP, defeating Kim Beazley in an internal caucus ballot.

On Oct. 10, leaders of Australia’s Sudanese community called on immigration minister Kevin Andrews to apologize for comments expressed last week. Andrews said African refugees in Australia, especially those coming from Sudan, are "problematic", less educated than other expatriates and more violent. Andrews announced that the government has reduced the African proportion of refugee intake from 70 per cent to 30 per cent, claiming the 2007 quota has been filled and no new applicants will be allowed in before next July.

Samuel Kuot, the president of Dandenong’s Sudanese Community Association of Australia, said the immigration minister should make amends after Liep Gony—an 18-year-old Sudanese refugee—was beaten to death two weeks ago, and said his words have raised fears of more race-driven attacks against African expatriates. Kuot declared: "The Sudanese community as well as the African community expect an apology from the minister. (…) The community is angry. (…) We came to this country and expected it to be safe, and if you bring someone you need to protect them, you can’t turn against them."

While Australia was expected to hold the legislative election in October or November 2007, it is likely that the ballot will take place in early December.

Polling Data

What party would you vote for in the next parliamentary election?