Breaking: fresh state Essential polls October-December 2017.

Victoria ALP 51, Libs/Nats 49
South Australia ALP 51, Libs/Nats 49
West Australia ALP 57, Libs/Nats 43
Queensland ALP 52, Libs/Nats 48
NSW ALP 51, Libs/Nats 49

Coalition’s lies expose economic ineptitude.

Economic management is not the Turnbull Government’s strong suit, or indeed that of the Abbott train wreck which preceded it writes the Courier Mail. It is reported that in the four and a bit years since the Coalition has been in power the deficit has ballooned from $18.8 billion in Labor’s last year to $33 billion in 2016-17, while total borrowings have risen past $600 billion. The Courier Mail reports that wages growth is at its lowest level since the Australian Bureau of Statistics began gathering the data, inflation is weak and the Reserve Bank has been forced to lower interest rates four times since 2013 — to a record low of just 1.5 per cent — in an effort to stimulate activity.
Household debt is at worrying levels and consumer spending is subdued they report. On the “reform” front writes the Courier Mail there is also precious little to crow about: in the Abbott era the Government repealed the carbon pricing scheme, replacing a market mechanism with a taxpayer-funded mess, and junked the mining tax for good measure while goading Australian car makers into closing their factories. It is reported that tax cuts have been handed out to business, while the Government pursues the more vulnerable such as pensioners, students and the unemployed with a single-minded vengeance.

Acoss urges crossbenchers to reject 'unnecessarily cruel' welfare overhaul.

The Guradian reports that the Australian Council of Social Service is mounting a last-ditch lobbying campaign to convince Senate crossbenchers to oppose the Coalition’s welfare overhaul, warning the changes will reduce payments for up to 80,000 people. Last week they write, the Australian reported the Nick Xenophon Team senators were close to offering a lifeline to the Coalition on its welfare bill. It is reported that the legislation introduces tougher penalties for jobseekers who fail to comply with their obligations, and removes protections for those who find themselves unable to apply for social security on time. It is reported that the future of the legislation looked uncertain late last year, due to widespread opposition to the controversial plan to drug-test welfare recipients.

Sydney train meltdown an 'act of God', no refunds for commuters, NSW Transport Minister says.

The ABC reports that yesterday's Sydney train meltdown has been described as "an act of God" by New South Wales Transport Minister Andrew Constance, who says that furious commuters will not get a refund. It is reported that Mr Constance has issued a please explain to Sydney Trains bureaucrats about why the system has been "a mess" for the past 48 hours. The ABC writes that sweaty commuters in the Harbour City have vented their frustration about the issue on social media, complaining of widespread delays and overcrowded carriages. It is reported that travellers were also turned away from certain platforms at Central and Wynyard due to significant overcrowding. he Opposition Leader has described Sydney's train system as "third world"