The nut-jobs that have occupied the Coalition are under attack, from BS:
A factional brawl within the Liberal Party risks engulfing Malcolm Turnbull in the lead-up to this year’s election, as his emboldened moderate faction prepares to challenge key supporters of Tony Abbott for preselection.
Right-aligned senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells and Craig Kelly, MP for the Sydney seat of Hughes, are almost certain to face challenges from the moderate faction of the party, while fellow Abbott supporter and conservative rising star Angus Taylor is also at “serious risk” of losing his seat if moderate convert Russell Matheson launches a challenge.
The factional posturing is also expected to see challenges against Bronwyn Bishop in Mackellar, Philip Ruddock in Berowra and Ann Sudmalis in Gilmore, while veteran senator Bill Heffernan is under pressure to retire and make way for the party’s country vice-president, Hollie Hughes.
With at least half a dozen sitting members facing preselection challenges when nominations open next week, Liberal sources have told The Australian the Prime Minister may need to intervene to prevent a factional blow-up in his home state of NSW.
…Party sources also expect Mr Abbott to recontest his seat of Warringah, and he is unlikely to face a preselection challenge.
Malcolm Turnbull need not fear this at all. The latest polling still has the Coalition dominant and, perhaps even more importantly, at multi-year highs for government credibility under the moderates:
In early January L-NP support fell slightly to 56% (down 1.5%) cf. ALP 44% (up 1.5%) on a two-party preferred basis. However, if a Federal Election were held now the L-NP would win easily.
Primary support for the L-NP was 47% (down 1%) and up 2% for the ALP to 29%. Support for the Greens was down 1.5% to 13%, Katter’s Australian Party is 1.5% (unchanged), Palmer United Party is 1% (unchanged) and Independents/ Others are at 8.5% (up 0.5%).
Roy Morgan Government Confidence Rating
Despite less support for the Government the Roy Morgan Government Confidence Rating was up slightly (1.5pts) this week to 116.5 with 48.5% (unchanged) of Australians saying Australia is ‘heading in the right direction’ and 32% (down 1.5%) saying Australia is ‘heading in the wrong direction’.
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The loon pond occupying one third of the LNP needs a good flush and the sooner it is done the more popular the Coalition will become.
