Ya gawn col,Labor on rebound in west as new leader stops the...

Ya gawn col,

Labor on rebound in west as new leader stops the rot.

WEST Australian Labor's dumping of Eric Ripper has had an immediate and positive effect on its standing, with the latest Newspoll showing a big bounce for the party and its new leader, Mark McGowan.

In the first state Newspoll since Mr McGowan took the leadership from the former treasurer and deputy premier in January, Labor has recorded a significant spike in its support, the first seriously encouraging result for the party since Colin Barnett took office with the support of the WA Nationals in 2008.

The poll, taken exclusively for The Australian, is sure to energise Labor in Western Australia, where a succession of poor Newspolls sparked Mr Ripper's demise.

It also shows a worrying trend for Mr Barnett, who for the second successive survey is facing a growing level of public dissatisfaction with the way he goes about his job. The Coalition has a two-seat buffer over Labor and an election is due mid-next year.
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In what must be the only positive news for the Labor brand in a continental sea of despair, Mr McGowan has managed to stop the rot, lifting the party's primary vote and slashing the lead Mr Barnett enjoyed as preferred premier.

While the Coalition would still win an election if it were held now, the Newspoll shows Labor's primary vote jumping six points to 35 per cent, the same level it was when Alan Carpenter narrowly lost his ill-conceived, snap election in September 2008 and higher than Labor's standing in any other mainland state or federally.

At the same time, the Coalition's primary support has dropped by five percentage points to 45 per cent, its lowest point since the middle of 2010. The Greens remain steady on 11 per cent and other independents are on 9 per cent.

Translated to a two-party-preferred basis, the Coalition's lead over Labor has narrowed, 53 to 47, compared with the 59-41 figure taken during October-December last year.

Mr Barnett remains a popular leader, but the latest poll reveals voter concern with his confident style of leadership

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/labor-on-rebound-in-west-as-new-leader-stops-the-rot/story-e6frgczx-1226323263650

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