BRISBANE, AUG 16 -
Australia's Labor government narrowly leads the conservative opposition
with five days of campaigning left in one of the tightest elections in
two decades, an opinion poll showed on Monday.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard will focus on economic management when she
officially launches her campaign in Brisbane in the crucial
battle-ground state of Queensland.
Polls in marginal seats in the northern state suggest the conservatives could squeeze out a possible victory on August 21.
"I think it will be a very personal speech from the prime minister that
zeros in on her priorities, the government's priorities," Labor
campaign spokesman Chris Bowen told radio of Gillard's speech on the
economy.
"It will be a speech which outlines her economic plan."
The election will decide the fate of the government's planned 30
percent mining tax on big iron ore and coal miners, such as BHP
Billiton, Rio Tinto and Xstrata, and its plans for a $33 billion
national broadband network, involving Australian telco Telstra.
The conservative opposition led by Tony Abbott has promised to abandon
both policies, as well the government's plans for a future carbon
trading scheme to fight climate change.
Australia's power sector, which includes AGL Energy, says the absence
of a clear climate policy and carbon price is now hindering investment
in the sector.
"A LONG NIGHT"
The latest Reuters Poll Trend also shows Labor marginally ahead, as the
tightest race since 1990 points to the possibility no single party will
form a government after Saturday's election.
"No party is in a position to say that they're going to win," said
Bowen. "This will be tight, it will go down to the wire, it will be a
long night."
A Newspoll poll published on Monday was the second in a few days which
showed Labor with a lead over the opposition, although surveys have
shown the lead changing hands frequently.
Support for Labor was at 52 percent while the conservative coalition
was also on 48 percent on a two-party preferred basis, the Newspoll
survey in the Australian newspaper showed.
Labor leader Gillard retained a 15 percent lead in the preferred prime
minister ratings, with 50 percent support, compared to the coalition
leader Abbott on 35 percent.
Gillard remains the favorite, according to polls and bookmakers, but
the combative Abbott has performed better in early campaigning, leading
the conservatives to within striking distance.
Gillard has tried to focus on the economy. Labor has steered Australia
clear of recession gripping most other advanced economies due to
aggressive stimulus and Chinese demand for the country's resources.
On the issue of economic management, Labor has cut the opposition's
12-point lead three weeks ago to now be level. The economy has grown 4.3
percent since the start of 2008, amid the global credit crunch.
Abbott, in a pitch to voters concerned about immigration and border
security, said on Monday he would personally decide which asylum seeker
boats would be turned away if he won, revisiting an issue that has
helped swing past elections.
Even if she wins Gillard will be dealing with a difficult parliament with a much reduced Labor majority in the lower house.
She will also face a Senate upper house as obstructive as the last,
with the balance of power resting with the strengthened Greens with an
environmental focus far tougher than Labor's. That will make Gillard's
emissions trade scheme almost impossible to pass in a form enjoying wide
business and investor support.
Labor has launched a negative campaign against Abbott's economic
credentials, with billboards and TV ads saying: "Abbott. He's just too
big a risk."
Labor is struggling to hang on to marginal seats in several areas,
particularly Queensland, a key resource state where plans to increase
taxes on mining and Kevin Rudd's removal as party leader and prime
minister have damaged the ruling party. |
