Some advice for a PM denied a Newspoll bounce

The Newspoll bounce for the government that all were expecting failed to materialise, now the PM must dig deeper.

Despite recent accolades for skilful salesmanship from media and other public voices, it seems that Scott Morrison now has reason to doubt his capacity to get any product on the market before it is instantly rejected or ignored by the punters. (“Boats fail to lift Coalition”, 25/2).

Even one of his renowned products failed to gain any traction when “border protection” was looked at, admired and favourably commented upon, but returned to the shelves.

Regrettably, the masses will be fed garbage previously angrily rejected by them, from the same mob they kicked out unceremoniously six years ago, and at an exorbitant price.

With repercussions the likes of which have not been seen at least since the depression days, Morrison’s firm will itself be blown into the dustbin of history.

George Carabelas, Mt Barker, SA

This week’s Newspoll result will be a disappointment for Scott Morrison who, quite frankly, deserved a jump given his personal performance alone over the last fortnight.

But Morrison was right when he told his team it needs more than just the old border protection chestnut to get the party into an election-winning position (“Bracing for bad news, Labor leader dodges a bullet”, 25/2).

Morrison is on the right track and I’m sure people are starting to question whether Labor is worth the risk; but Bill Shorten has played this game for a long time both in the union movement and in politics.

Morrison has to get into voters’ lounge rooms and show them in simple but definitive terms what Shorten stands for and where he will take this nation if he becomes prime minister. He must ram this home.

John George, Terrigal, NSW

Newspoll, with its huge gap between the major parties, is a revelation of politics in Australia and media headlines. For the big parties, it’s a warning about what happens when they change policy and personnel in an attempt to gain votes.

What surprises is the apparent longevity of the voters’ reactions and that they are so bitter that it blocks them assessing proposed Labor policies that if executed will devastate their standard of living.

Terence Shanahan, Nedlands, WA

After a good week in federal parliament belting the opposition on border protection, Scott Morrison then turns green by pledging $2 billion dollars for climate change “solutions” which will not make one iota of difference to world temperatures.

If the government really believes that burning coal is bad for the planet then it must cease exporting it immediately and the opposition should support the move.

We sit in sweltering houses in summer while freezing in winter because of unaffordable electricity so the government can feel righteous.

Brian Whybrow, Wanniassa, ACT

Like his predecessor Malcolm Turnbull, Scott Morrison remains (disappointingly) supportive of Snowy 2.0, the Paris accord and the $50 bn-plus decision to redesign French nuclear submarines to run on diesel.

Like Tony Abbott, Morrison remains (sensibly) supportive of strong borders and a strong economy in order to provide strong services and infrastructure spending.

To really differentiate from a Turnbull-Abbott hybrid, Morrison needs to come up with the “vision thing”. Going nuclear would help.

Mandy Macmillan, Singleton, NSW

No need for crystal balls or tea leaves, the latest Newspoll numbers confirm that Australian voters have already decided what will happen in May.

John Dorman, Toowoomba, Qld

When will Scott Morrison and the coalition finally work out that although Labor is distrusted and its leader widely disliked, when you try to be all things to all men you finish up being nothing to anyone?

David Coyle, Morpeth, NSW

A majority of poll respondents want both a Labor government and a Morrison prime ministership. So what percentage believes the two outcomes aren’t mutually exclusive?

Terry Birchley, Bundaberg, Qld

While it’s a good sign to see that Scott Morrison is taking note of the population’s major concern regarding climate, I wonder if he’ll put Barnaby Joyce in charge – and spend the $2bn in the same way that we “fixed” the Murray-Darling.

Marianne Cannon, Ashgrove, Qld