Quote:Why do I always forget when the next election is?.

Oh yes now I remember its 2013. Goodness me that's a long time away. Be interesting to see those opinion polls change by then.
It MAY be in 2013, it may be not.
You may have noticed but this Government is teetering with very thin levels of support from third parties.
It also is ONE by-election away from collapsing.
If there is just the one by-election, then this Government, which every polls shows is as popular with the Australian people as a case of herpes (introducing taxes which raise cost of living tend to do that) - is in all sorts of trouble.
Abbott would win 95% of any electorate right now, he'd win the by-election, dissolve parliament by calling a no-confidence in the Government, which the Government doesn't have the numbers to fend off and then an election ensues.
Going into an election with rock bottom support? Never a good thing.
By the way even if it were 2013, poll numbers like these are VERY HARD to re-capture. People are angry and pissed off their lack of leadership, that doesn't change overnight.