Day 18 report
Yesterday was the 18th full day in the election campaign. Twenty-two days remain until the election tally on the evening of 24 November. (In case you have been wondering, Sunday will be the half way point).
The Coalition made a policy statement on family emergency medical centres.
Labor made policy statements on older Australians, people with disabilities and carers, national travel concessions for older Australians, water and sanitation for developing countries and roads in southern Tasmania.
Interest rates: According to Peter Martin, “A cut in US interest rates, a surge in the world oil price and a continuing boom in Australian consumer spending have combined to push the Australian dollar through 93 US cents and push the Australian share market to a new record high, making next week’s hike in local interest rates a certainty.”
Westpac is predicting back-to-back interest rate rises in November and December, and another early in the new year.
Election costs: The Treasury and the Department of Finance and Administration have been releasing formal election costings on the election commitments from both Labor and the Coalition.
Peter Martin estimated the 2007 election campaign has become the most expensive in Australia’s history.
Independent tallies put the Coalition and Labor neck and neck, each promising around $44 billion since the campaign began, with perhaps another $10 billion each before that.
Those totals would bring the total offered per voter up to $3,000, making this by far the most expensive election campaign in Australian history.
The last campaign, in 2004 produced promises worth only $1,000 per voter.
ACNielsen released the findings from a poll of 1476 people between Monday and Wednesday this week. The more-of-the-same poll, predicted that Labor would get 55 per cent of the two party preferred vote, and the Coalition would get 45 per cent. Dropping those numbers into Antony’s Calculator, yielded a prediction of 92 seats for Labor, 56 seats for the Coalition, and two independents.
The usual opinion poll graphs are here. You may need to hit the refresh or reload button on your browser to see the latest graphs.
Betting markets: Sportingbet Australia advised yesterday that “the Government odds of winning have gone backwards since the leaders’ debate, although there has been a slight improvement in their chances over the past few days. Labor’s odds are now $1.38 with the Coalition wobbling out to $3.05.”
