Queensland Premier Bligh’s popularity continue to slide, says a new poll
With the Queensland state election still a long way in 2012, the latest poll results released over the weekend showed that the incumbent state government could be pushed out of power if elections were to be held today.
A Galaxy poll revealed that most Queenslanders would love to see a Liberal National Party leadership taking the helm of the state government as the Labor camp appears to be lagging behind by at least 20 points from the opposition.
Respondents of the poll gave indications that only about 28 percent would vote to retain the Labor government come 2012 while Queensland Premier Anna Bligh's approval ratings continue its slide, which now stood at a mere 25 percent.
Analysts said that much of the decline could be attributed to the state government's asset divestiture moves that Ms Bligh hopes could fetch some $15 billion for Queensland's coffers.
Almost all of the planned sales have been successfully accomplished yet an estimated 80 percent of those polled had expressed opposition to Ms Bligh's move.
In light of the poll results, Ms Bligh was asked if she still enjoys the backing of Australian Workers Union national president Bill Ludwig, who is also considered as Queensland's foremost Labor kingmaker.
The Premier, however, replied on Monday that she has yet to check if Mr Ludwig's is still supporting her government, reasoning instead that the question must be addressed to the Labor leader and stressing that she's too busy realising public projects in Queensland to worry about her standing before the influential powerbroker.
Mr Ludwig had earlier declared his support for Ms Bligh following another dismal poll results in September and a call from Electrical Trades Union state secretary Peter Simpson that the Premier needs to step down.
The Premier, according to Mr Simpson, had damaged the state government's standing before the Queensland electorate when she ignored the snowballing opposition on her initiatives to sell the state's public assets.
However, Labor state secretary Anthony Chisholm declared on Monday that the party is rallying behind Ms Bligh and is fully confident that the Premier would again deliver victory in the next election.
Still, Mr Chisholm strongly suggested that the Queensland government led by Ms Bligh needs to map out a fresher course for her leadership, which should be immediately implemented once the ongoing public asset sales have all been wrapped up.