Monthly Archives: September 2014

A NSW Ambulance spokeswoman said the man, aged 50, died on Clarkes Beach just after 11am.

Witnesses called triple-0 at 10.42am on Tuesday saying a man had been bitten by a shark at the southern end of the beach, off Lawson Street.

The NSW Ambulance spokeswoman said a doctor performed CPR on the man, who had a “very serious bite” on his leg, but he could not be saved.

He was pronounced dead on the beach.

Police said the man was in the water when “he was bitten on the right leg by what is believed to be a shark”.

Bystanders spotted the man in the water, and dragged him to the beach. It is understood that part of the man’s leg was missing, and was found floating in the surf.

One witness said he saw the victim, whom he described as a surfer, get pulled out of the water.

The witness, who did not want to be identified, said there was no shark alarm following the attack. He said there were “still heaps of surfers in the water down near The Wreck [a surf spot at Byron Bay] and there wasn’t any shark alarms or anything”.

A shark, estimated to be two metres long, was spotted near the site where the man died not long after the attack.

Police said the man, from Byron Bay, had been formally identified by a family member.

It is understood the man may have been attempting to swim from The Pass to Byron Bay’s Main Beach when he was attacked.

Syl Reid, from the Winter Whales swimming club in Byron Bay, said many people did that swim each day.

“There are probably 20 to 30 people out there most days, and on weekends a bit more. It’s popular. Lots of people swim out and go snorkelling on the little reefs, too,” he said.

Mr Reid, who has been swimming in Byron Bay for more than 60 years, estimated the swim from The Pass to Main Beach was about 900 metres.

Surf Life Saving NSW spokeswoman Donna Wishart said Byron Bay beaches were closed from Belongil to Tallows Beach, south of Cape Byron.

“We’ve got our life guard service on its way and our lifeguard supervisor is on his way and they’ll be instituting a full beach closure, that whole headland area,” she said.

source:smh.com.au

H Leandra Becerra Lumbreras γιόρτασε τα 127ά γενέθλιά της μόλις την 1 Σεπτεμβρίου 2014 και μπορεί να υπερηφανεύεται ότι είναι η γηραιότερη εν ζωή γυναίκα στον κόσμο αν και δεν πιστοποιείται αυτό επίσημα αφού έχει απωλέσει τα χαρτιά της εδώ και 40 χρόνια.

Γεννήθηκε στις 31 Αυγούστου του 1887 στην πόλη Tamaulipas του Μεξικό και απέκτησε στη ζωή της 5 παιδιά τα οποία πέθαναν όλα, το τελευταίο στην ηλικία των 90 ετών το 2013. Ήταν μόλις 27 ετών όταν ξέσπασε ο Α΄ Παγκόσμιος Πόλεμος  και σχεδόν 100 όταν κατέρρευσε το Τείχος του Βερολίνου.

Έχει ακόμα 73 δισέγγονα και 55 τρισέγγονα. Δεν πάσχει από κάποια σοβαρή ασθένεια, πέρα από το γεγονός ότι είναι εντελώς κουφή και έχει καταρράκτη. Τρέφεται με φασόλια και τορτίγιας και λατρεύει τη σοκολάτα, την οποία καταναλώνει με πάθος. Μέχρι πριν από 2 χρόνια ήταν πλήρως ενεργή στην καθημερινότητά της, κάνοντας όλες τις δουλειές του σπιτιού, πηγαίνοντας ακόμα και στα χωράφια αλλά και στα ζώα, ενώ έπλεκε και έραβε. «Θυμάται συχνά τη συμμετοχή της στη Μεξικανική Επανάσταση από το 1910 ως το 1917 που ήταν επικεφαλής των Adelitas, μιας ομάδας γυναικών που πήγαιναν στο πεδίο της μάχης μαζί με τους συζύγους τους», λέει η εγγονή της.

Πηγή:perierga.gr

Το μυστήριο της Ανμίπολης έχει παγκόσμιο ενδιαφέρον. Όσο προχωρούν οι ανασκαφές κάτι καινούργιο και μεγαλειώδες αποκαλύπτεται.

Οι απόψεις είναι πολές για τον πιον μπορεί να φιλοξενεί ο τάφος. Οι καρυάτιδες ενισχύουν την άποψη ότι ο τάφος ανοίκη σε βασιλική οικογένεια.

«Η βασίλισσα Ολυμπιάδα μητέρα του Μεγάλου Αλεξάνδρου είναι η βασική υποψήφια, αλλά δεν αποκλείεται η Ρωξάνη ή και ο συνδυασμός και των δύο ταυτοχρόνως», εξηγεί ο εγνωσμένης φήμης αιγυπτιολόγος.

Μιλώντας στο περιοδικό Discovery ο Τσαγκ, δείχνει να περίμενε μια ανακάλυψη όπως αυτή των δυο καρυάτιδων καθώς: «Είναι ένα ακόμα δείγμα πως ο τάφος ανήκει σε ένα σημαντικότατο πρόσωπο της βασιλικής οικογένειας».

«Οι Καρυάτιδες είναι πραγματικά εντυπωσιακό εύρημα. Το γεγονός πως τώρα έχουμε ένα δεύτερο ζευγάρι θηλυκών φυλάκων του τάφου, δίνει ώθηση στην εικασία ότι πρόκειται για τον τάφο μιας σημαντικής βασίλισσας», εξηγεί.

Οι σφίγγες που φρουρούν την είσοδο του τάφου υπήρξαν σύμβολο συνδεδεμένο με τις βασίλισσες της Μακεδονίας από τα τέλη του 4 αιώνα π.Χ, αν και δεν ήταν πολύ συνηθισμένες σε μακεδονικούς τάφους της εποχής. «Υπήρξαν όμως εξέχοντα τμήματα της διακόσμησης σε δύο θρόνους που βρέθηκαν από τα τέλη του 4 αιώνα π.Χ. στην περιοχή του βασιλικού νεκροταφείου στις Αιγές, στη σημερινή Βεργίνα» δηλώνει ο Τσανγκ. Ο ένας από τους δύο θρόνους αυτούς πάντως, αποδίδεται στην Ευρυδίκη, τη γιαγιά του Μεγάλου Αλεξάνδρου.

Οι  επιστήμονες βρίσκονται μπροστά από τους προθαλάμους και πολύ σύντομα θα μπουν στο κυρίως μνημείο. Είναι θέμα χρόνου να ξεπεραστούν τα εμπόδια και να καταφέρουν να βρεθούν στη νέα είσοδο και στον τρίτο κατά σειρά θάλαμο.

Ίσως σύμφωνα με τους ειδικούς η κάτοψη του τάφου να είναι κάπως έτσι: Στον προθάλαμο και συγκεκριμένα στην είσοδό του να υπάρχουν οι Σφίγγες.

Προχωρώντας πιο μέσα συναντάται ο πρώτος διαφραγματικός τοίχος στον οποίο υπάρχει άνοιγμα περίπου 40-50 εκατοστά.

Ακολουθεί διάδρομος και μετά ο δεύτερος διαφραγματικός τοίχος στην είσοδο του οποίου αποκαλύφθηκαν οι Καρυάτιδες.

Μ. Τιβέριος: Μοναδικό μνημείο σε διαστάσεις και σε μορφή

Οι Καρυάτιδες που ήρθαν στο φως… έδωσαν νέα ώθηση στα σενάρια για το μυστήριο της Αμφίπολης. Μιλώντας στην τηλεόραση του Star ο καθηγητής κλασικής Αρχαιολογίας του ΑΠΘ, Μιχαήλ Τιβέριος, είπε ότι πρόκειται για ένα μοναδικό μνημείο σε διαστάσεις και σε μορφή και επισήμανε πως: «Θα μπορούσε να είναι ο τάφος ενός ξεχωριστού στρατηγού όπως ο Νέαρχος. Καμία σχέση με Μέγα Αλέξανδρο. Οι Καρυάτιδες είναι γνωστό αρχιτεκτονικό στοιχείο».

Φουντώνουν τα σενάρια ότι ο τάφος έχει συληθεί

Μετά την αποκάλυψη των δύο Καρυάτιδων πληθαίνουν και τα ερωτήματα εάν το μνημείο έχει συληθεί από τυμβωρύχους και πότε.

Αρχικά, το γεγονός ότι από τις Σφίγγες λείπουν τα κεφάλια και τα φτερά αλλά και η απουσία προσώπου της ανατολικής Καρυάτιδας και οι φθορές της δυτικής, ενισχύουν τις απόψεις περί παρουσίας τυμβωρύχων στο μνημείο.

«Από την πρώτη εικόνα που είδα σχημάτισα την εντύπωση ότι ο τάφος έχει συληθεί κι αυτό που με έκανε να το πιστεύω είναι πρώτον, οι ακρωτηριασμένες Σφίγγες, αλλά περισσότερο το κακό χτίσιμο του τοίχου που είναι κάτω από τις Σφίγγες» σημείωσε ο Σαράντος Καργάκος, ιστορικός-συγγραφέας και εξήγησε μιλώντας στο Star channel
ότι:

«Επειδή μπορεί να είναι δύο επιπέδων και δίνω έμφαση σ’ αυτό – δύο επιπέδων – μπορεί να είχαν συλήσει το 1ο επίπεδο, αλλά το δεύτερο επίπεδο να είναι ασύλητο. Ας ελπίσουμε πως οι αρχαιολόγοι θα βρεθούν σ’ αυτό το δεύτερο επίπεδο που δεν έχει συληθεί και που θα μας προσφέρει εκπληκτικά ευρήματα.»

Ο συγγραφέας και δημοσιογράφος Γιώργος Λεκάκης, αποκαλύπτει επίσης το εύρος της αρχαιοκαπηλίας που έχει υποστεί η Αμφίπολη, σε βάθος χρόνων:

«Φανταστείτε ότι στη γύρω περιοχή υπάρχουν περισσότεροι από 1000 τάφοι. Μάλιστα πάρα πολλά μουσεία στο εξωτερικό είναι περήφανα που έχουν αρχαίους θησαυρούς από την Αμφίπολη, η οποία έκοψε τα πιο όμορφα νομίσματα στην αρχαιότητα.»

Πηγή: madata.gr

Οι Ολλανδοί εμπειρογνώμονες πρόκειται να δώσουν στη δημοσιότητα σήμερα, την πρώτη έκθεση σχετικά με το τι προκάλεσε την συντριβή του Boeing των Μαλαισιανών αερογραμμών στην ανατολική Ουκρανία, τον περασμένο Ιούλιο.

Από τότε μέχρι και σήμερα το Συμβούλιο Ασφάλειας στην Ολλανδία που ηγήθηκε μιας διεθνούς ομάδας εμπειρογνωμόνων, συνέλεξε όλα τα στοιχεία που είχε στη διάθεσή του για να φτάσει στα πρώτα συμπεράσματα στο τι πραγματικά συνέβη με την πτήση ΜΗ17 των Μαλαισιανών αερογραμμών.

Σύμφωνα με τα όσα μεταδίδει το BBC το πρώτο πόρισμα που προκειται να γίνει γνωστό σήμερα, βασίζεται σε πληροφορίες από τους καταγραφείς δεδομένων πτήσης, τα γνωστά μαύρα κουτιά, τον έλεγχο της εναέριας κυκλοφορίας, δορυφορικές φωτογραφίες και φωτογραφίες από τον τόπο της συντριβής.

Η αεροπορική τραγωδία στην ανατολική Ουκρανία είχε στοιχίσει τη ζωή σε 298 ανθρώπους, που επέβαιναν στο αεροπλάνο, στην πλειοψηφία τους Ολλανδοί.

Η Δύση αλλά και η Ουκρανική κυβέρνηση υποστήριξαν τότε ότι το αεροσκάφος καταρρίφθηκε από πύραυλο ρωσικής προέλευσης, που εκτόξευσαν οι φιλορώσοι αυτονομιστές, κάτι που αρνήθηκε κατηγορηματικά όμως η Μόσχα.

ΠΗΓΗ: BBC

Alex Georgiou (R) at Melbourne’s Mad Monday celebrations. Source: ABC News/Twitter.

The Melbourne Demons, having not qualified for September action in 2014, embarked on their ‘Mad Monday’ celebrations this week, and it was not without controversy.

Greek Cypriot defender Alex Georgiou, dressed as a young girl, donning a dress and a wig with pigtails, and teammate Dean Terlich dressed as disgraced Australian entertainer Rolf Harris, have landed themselves in a bit of trouble for their contentious attire.

A photo of the pair was posted on Twitter and forced Demons’ coach Paul Roos to apologise for the controversial dress-up.

Rolf Harris was found guilty of indecent assault against four girls by an English court in June, and sentenced to five years and nine months in prison.

Roos said the pair’s behaviour was intolerable and expressed his disappointment earlier this week.

“I guess I find it hard to believe a couple of players could turn up like that,” he said.

“There’s no malice and there’s no intent in it but there’s just no thought process goes into it.”

“I’m sure there are people out there that take the view that boys will be boys. I don’t take that view. I just think that’s unacceptable.”

The coach will meet the players to discuss the matter further, which is likely to include some form of punishment.

Source: ABC

The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece.

Cremation in Greece has been allowed since 2006, but the country has no crematoria.

The Church of Greece’s Holy Synod on Wednesday objected to the creation of crematoria at parish cemeteries in a potential setback to efforts by local authorities in Athens and Thessaloniki to facilitate the practice in Greece.

The Synod said it would brief the government on its objections. New town-planning regulations drafted by the Environment Ministry earlier this year allow crematoria to be built next to churches.

The 12-member council also deemed that the decision for cremation should not be taken by relatives but by the individual themselves.

The move by the Church of Greece came less than three months after the mayors of Athens and Thessaloniki, Giorgos Kaminis and Yiannis Boutaris, asked the government to introduce legislation removing obstacles for the creation of crematoria, an option that has been enacted by law but never fulfilled amid opposition from the Church, among others.

Greece’s parliament only passed legislation allowing for the cremation of the dead in Greece in 2006, even though the practice has been permitted since 1884 in Britain, where cremations represent an estimated 50 per cent of all funerals, and since 1887 in France. Greek law permits the cremation of people who express their preference for this method instead of burial as long as their religion also allows it but forbids cremation for Orthodox Christians as the Church of Greece objects to the practice for believers.

Source: ekathimerini

Australian based Greek lawyer John Tripidakis.

New real estate tax ENFIA applies to all property owners in Greece, regardless of where they reside.

Greek Australians have to face new headaches after the introduction of the new real estate property tax ENFIA. The new tax has replaced a previous tax widely known as ‘haratsi’, which was collected through the electricity bills. Every person who owns real estate property in Greece, regardless of where they reside, is subject to this new law.

“Property includes the full ownership, the life estate (epikarpia), the remainder (psili kyriotita), the inheritance rights etc, in full title or in undivided interest (joint ownership), on houses, units, lots, rural properties, parking rights and others, owned on the 1st of January of each year, irrespective of whether any income in generated/collected or not,” Greek lawyer John Tripidakis told Neos Kosmos.

“This new taxation is over and above the already applying and collected yearly council rates.

ENFIA’s calculation is a very complex procedure based on various factors, including the property’s location, dimensions, age, face on the street(s) and other considerations.

Properties of substantial value (more than 300.000 euros) incur an additional tax,” states Mr Tripidakis.

The data base used by the Greek Taxation Office for the calculation of this new tax is the www.gsis.gr (known in the past as taxisnet), created through the Ε9 tax returns, where tax payers in Greece state all the properties that they own.

“If the E9 statement has missing information, then this is to the detriment of the tax payer, since the Tax Authority will employ the most severe factors.

For example, if the E9 statement, does not mention the floor on which a unit is located, then the highest factor of the 6th floor will be used (which is the maximum ratio),” goes on to clarify Mr Tripidakis.

It is worth highlighting that in Greece all property heirs are taxed, irrespective of whether or not they have probated the Will/Estate.

“Even if an heir is not interested in inheriting the Greek property, he will still be taxed if he does not denounce the Estate promptly. This is of great interest to Greek Australians that have not proceeded with the required legal actions for their inherited property in Greece. Non-action, might create a tax obligation,” stresses Mr Tripidakis.

A tax reduction for En.F.I.A. is provided to low income earners (less than 9.500 euros per annum), to those in a poor financial situation, or to those owning property of less than 150 square meters, who, at the same time, do not have any debts to the Taxation Office.

John Tripidakis also draws attention to the fact that there is a need for the prompt payment of the installments. “A two months delay may create an additional raise of 12.73 per cent. Property owners may modify/correct their ownership status without any penalties by the end of November 2014,” he concludes.

The Greek government announced last week that taxpayers will be able to pay off the newly introduced property tax in six installments.

Properties on the Ionian island of Kefalonia, which was struck by a major earthquake in February this year, have been exempted from the new property tax for a year. The same will also apply to properties in other parts of the country if affected by other earthquakes and consequently are put out of use.

It is expected that Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras will announce tonight in Thessaloniki at the opening of the 78th Thessaloniki International Fair changes to the new property tax En.F.I.A.

The revised provisions for the new tax are expected to be submitted in the Greek Parliament next week.

source: Neos Kosmos

Community organisations, the Greek Orthodox Church, unions and multicultural bodies oppose the planned Australian visit of two GD MEPs.

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia through its Archdiocesan Council, the Australian Hellenic Council, the two largest Community organisations in Australia – the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria and the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW, the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), the Australian Education Union, the Federation of the Ethnic Communies’ Councils of Australia (FECCA), the Arab Council of Australia, the United Muslim Women Association Inc and Muslims Australia (AFIC), have all come together this week in order to sign a public statement denouncing Greek extremist party Golden Dawn.

The statement is as follows:

“The planned visit to Australia in October by two members of the extremist Greek political party, Golden Dawn, is a matter that should concern all Australians. Golden Dawn is committed to promoting division between ethnic and religious communities. It also promotes hateful attitudes towards women and espouses the marginilisation and suppression of people who it deems to have an ‘unnatural’ sexuality. These prejudices are entirely incompatible with the vision of a peaceful, tolerant, multicultural Australia that promotes harmony and cooperation across all parts of society.

Beyond its racist, bigoted ideology, Golden Dawn draws inspiration from the violent methods of the Nazi German regime of the last century. Its members and supporters routinely whip themselves into a frenzy of hate with torchlight rallies, demagogic rhetoric and stiff arm salutes.

Some members (including senior leaders) have been charged by police with bashing defenceless individuals who they deem to be enemies.
During 2013, the leader of Golden Dawn and dozens of its followers were arrested in Greece and charged with offences ranging from murder and causing explosions, to blackmail.

Australians have a proud record of bravery and sacrifice in fighting and defeating fascism in the twentieth century. We call on all Australians to unite once more to demonstrate their detestation of the message of hatred and the violent politics being propagated by groups like Golden Dawn.”

The mobilisation and the public statement comes after Golden Dawn activists in Australia announced the imminent arrival next month of two Golden Dawn Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), namely Eleftherios Synadinos and Georgios Epitideios.

However, up until now, the Australian Department of Immigration has not received any requests for such a visit.

source: Neos Kosmos

BILL Shorten believes Australia’s national security could be put at risk if the Abbott government decides to have the country’s new submarine fleet built in Japan.

Palmer United Party Senator Jacqui Lambie has also warned the Coalition against shipping the contract offshore and breaking its election commitment.

This comes two days after News Corp Australia broke the news that the next generation of Australian subs was all but certain to be built in Japan.

The Japanese built Soryu Class submarine comes closer to Australia’s needs than any other conventional boat in the world today.

Defence Minister David Johnston is the only foreign government official to tour one of the boats and he came away from his visit earlier this year “mighty impressed” with what he had seen, particularly its air independent propulsion system.

That allows the boat to remain submerged for much longer periods than other diesel-electric vessels such as the Collins Class.

The major shortcoming of the boat is its lack of range.

Ms Lambie said while there might be savings in cost there would be a loss in job opportunities and skills.

“I don’t think that’s the right avenue and they can say it may save a few billion dollars but what it does is it takes away our trade skills for the future,” the former soldier told Sky News this morning.

“What I don’t want to see is anymore lies coming out of the Liberal party.”

Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane this morning insisted no decision has yet been made about the next generation of submarines.

“We want to ensure that defence has the best submarine available at the best possible price and that that decision will be based on the advice of defence,” he told ABC Radio.

“So at the moment no decision has been made and we are looking at all the options.”

Unseaworthy … the Australian Collins Class submarines are not able to be sent to sea. Picture: News Corp Australia. Source: News Limited

The Opposition Leader, who will today visit the Adelaide headquarters of naval shipbuilding company ASC, accused the government of lying.

“Tony Abbott and David Johnston have looked South Australians in the eye and lied to their faces.

“This will be yet another broken promise from a Government that is addicted to lying — and South Australians will pay the price.”

Mr Shorten also warned there could be other consequences if the 12 new submarines are bought from Japan.

“Buying submarines from overseas will devastate South Australia and could irresponsibly put our national security at risk as a maritime nation,” he said in a statement.

New option … a Soryu class submarines docked in a Japanese port. Picture: Kikuchi Masayuki Source: Supplied

“In uncertain times, the last thing the Abbott Government should be doing is destroying our home grown submarine and shipbuilding industries.

“No one can predict every threat or future conflict. But we do know that Australia will remain an island nation and submarine and ship building is a strategic asset that we can’t let wither and die.”

Tony Abbott yesterday argued that the “Australian work on the new submarines will be centred on the South Australian shipyards in Adelaide”.

But the Prime Minister said the “precise nature” of how Australia will “do our next generation of submarines is still subject to a whole range of further decisions”.

Hi-tech … Soryu class submarine at sea off the Japanese coast. Picture: Kikuchi Masayuki Source: Supplied

“The most important thing is to get the best and most capable submarines at a reasonable price to the Australian taxpayer.

“As I’ve stressed all along, we should make decisions here based on defence requirements, not on the basis of industry policy on the basis of regional policy.”

The biggest attraction for the government is the $20 billion price-tag for 10 boats and avoiding the need to extend the life of the Collins at a cost estimated at greater than $2 billion.

NSW RSL President Don Rowe said that apart from a few diehards he didn’t expect any backlash against the decision from his members.

“We don’t want to see another submarine debacle so it is important that it is the best boat available,’’ he said.

“We bought German (Leopard) tanks because they were the best.”

source:news.com.au

The federal government has suffered a sustained and significant loss in its primary and two-party preferred polling after one year in power, with the signals on any possible recovery mixed.

Voters are also unimpressed with the leaders of both main parties, with the dissatisfaction ratings of Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten rising since last year.

A Newspoll, published on Tuesday in The Australian, shows the Coalition losing ground, with its two-party preferred polling down one point since the last such poll two weeks ago to 48 per cent and Labor up one point to 52 per cent.

A rival Roy Morgan poll shows the government making up some ground in the past fortnight, with its two-party preferred polling up one point to 47 per cent, while Labor is down one point to 53 per cent.

The polls, both based on preference flows at the election, mean a swing against the government since the 2013 election of at least 5.5 points.

This is enough of a swing to, theoretically, put Labor back into power if an election were held now.

The primary polling looks even worse for the government.

The Coalition won the 2013 election with 45.6 per cent of the primary vote.

Primary polling now puts that vote at between 38 per cent (Roy Morgan) and 39 per cent (Newspoll), a swing against the government of between 6.6 and 7.6 points.

Labor’s primary vote at the election was a dire 33.4 per cent. This has recovered slightly to between 35 per cent (Newspoll) and 37 per cent (Roy Morgan), a swing towards the federal opposition of between 1.6 and 3.6 points.

Labor is helped by the jump in the primary polling for the Greens.

The Greens received 8.6 per cent of the vote at the 2013 election, but the party’s primary polling has now increased to between 10.5 per cent (Roy Morgan) and 14 per cent (Newspoll).

The Palmer United Party had a primary vote of 5.5 per cent in the election and is now at 4.5 per cent, according to Roy Morgan. Newspoll does not split out the PUP vote.

The party polling shows that even though the government has achieved its headline promises to abolish the carbon and mining taxes and “stop the boats”, voters are still unhappy.

This is despite strong support for the government’s military action in Iraq, with 62 per cent of voters supporting the action taken so far by Prime Minister Tony Abbott, according to Newspoll.

Mr Abbott’s personal standing has recovered slightly in the past fortnight but remains well below the electorate’s initial assessment of him last year.

The first post-election Newspoll, published last October, found almost half of voters (47 per cent) were satisfied with the then new PM’s performance. This compared to 34 per cent who were not satisfied and the one in five, or 19 per cent, who were uncommitted.

Newspoll now has only 35 per cent of voters satisfied with Mr Abbott’s performance. More than half (54 per cent) are dissatisfied with his performance and fewer voters – 11 per cent – are uncommitted.

Mr Shorten’s standing has also deteriorated in the past year, with a hardening of the views of many uncommitted voters.

Mr Shorten’s satisfaction has increased from 32 per cent last October to its current 36 per cent.

But his dissatisfaction rating has jumped 19 points from 24 per cent in to 43 per cent, with the percentage of uncommitted voters dropping from 44 per cent to 21 per cent since last October.

Mr Abbott is now on equal footing with Mr Shorten as preferred prime minister, with both men preferred by 37 per cent of voters.

Tellingly, more than one-quarter of voters remain uncommitted as to which man would be the better prime minister.

source: afr.com