Strong Polls, new challenges

Good morning and welcome to the start of a new political year. And what a year it will be. The latest Newspoll figures are strong and we commence the parliamentary sittings with a solid base of support, positioned for a big tilt at government later in the year. We're even receiving some backhanded support from, of all people, Gerard Henderson.

Mind you, I do take to task his statement that: "The Coalition will contest the election with the significant advantage of incumbency. This is of particular value in a compulsory voting electoral system where outcomes are decided by voters in the marginal seats, in suburban and regional Australia, who are not particularly interested in politics." What a put down of those good people! I would assert that someone who is in a marginal seat will be taking a very active interest in the political process given their ability to affect the outcome.

Can I just say this: the polls are excellent at this point in the electoral cycle, but it is a long hard road from here to the Lodge. Some sections of the media continue to grump about fractious feelings in our team, and this is indicative of the style of negative press we will continue to receive by those not aligned to our progressive thinking about the future.

The antidotes to this type of press are simple: teamwork, focus, clear policy convictions and differentiation, and well-oiled message making.

The challenge for Labor is this: take it up to a tired Howard government in parliament today and throughout the year, and demonstrate to an increasingly willing electorate that the time is right for change.