Australian politics following the path of social mood

On August 21, 2010 I wrote the following in Australia's Snap Election:

After Kevin Rudd went down in flames over the mining tax, Julia Gillard stepped in and quickly made plans for a new election. She was smart to move swiftly because had she waited another month, her party would likely be in the minority. Instead, Australia may have a hung parliament.

In early September, the Labor party did indeed form a new government, see Australian Labor Party to Form New Government.

And now, less than two months later, what is the result?

Opp'n leaps on new poll finding

"This is a bad government that's getting worse," Mr Abbott told reporters on Tuesday.

The opposition leader was responding to a Newspoll, published in The Australian, showing the coalition leading Labor 52-48 per cent on the back of a big drop in support for the government outside the capital cities.

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Liberal frontbencher Scott Morrison said the government was "unravelling" across a number of issues.

Liberal colleague Sharman Stone said Prime Minister Julia Gillard was relying increasingly on "spin" to survive as the polls closed in on her.

"Spin won't get them out of the problem," she told reporters.

The Australian stock market has been performing well in nominal terms, but against gold, the run has been very muted.