Dude, where’s my PM?

Latest polls seem to indicate that Tony Abbott clearly won the Budget battle, but most commentators put it down to a total switch off by the electorate to anything this Government has to say, good, bad or indifferent.

Many were predicting it would be almost impossible for Julia Gillard to turn this around even with more than two years to go (which is an uncharacteristically courageous prediction from senior Gallery types), and Federal politics remains a fascinating test of nerve for a Labor Party that hasn’t shown a huge amount of patience or political wisdom in its recent history.

Bob Brown came out blowing hard, seeming to again be leading the fight against Tony Abbott on when an election should be called, the carbon tax and taking the fight to both parties on asylum seekers. The media totally focused on how bad this looked for the Government, forgetting that Brown has his own constituency that he needs to keep happy, and he’s got a (minimum) six year window of Senate control in which to try and consolidate, unlike the Government.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh also moved up three spots. Bligh outlined the state’s bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games but Newspoll figures released on Monday show Campbell Newman’s Opposition with a handy lead.

Meanwhile, Lara Giddings got mainly bad news coverage this week with forestry jobs in question and the sudden decision of former premier David Bartlett to quit politics making her shaky minority government even shakier.

While Tony Abbott’s Budget Reply generated some talkback, most of the heat remained directly on the Government and Julia Gillard, particularly around set top boxes, election mandates and carbon prices.

The Twitter king to become the new prince of mediocre man comedy. Winning? I doubt it, but I’m a lousy judge of mainstream taste, whereas the Chuckster has more than a few wins under his belt.