Tick

• Pursuant to the Agreement, Tembo will develop and supply electric utility vehicle (“EUV”) electrification kits for a new generation of electric jeepneys (“e-jeepneys”).
• Francisco Motors and Tembo have already secured their first orders and have commenced work to deliver on these jeepneys.
• One of the Philippines’ cultural icons, jeepneys are the most common utility vehicle in the Philippines and the main mode of public transportation in the country, accounting for just over 40% of public transportation.
• Elmer Francisco, Chairman of Elmer Francisco Motor Corporation, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have signed this landmark deal with Tembo.

• A national Newspoll, conducted September 18–22 from a sample of 1,239, gave Labor a 54–46 lead, a one-point gain for Labor since the previous Newspoll, three weeks ago.
• While Labor’s primary vote improved at the Coalition’s expense, the drop for the Greens should have cost Labor preferences.
• He returns to net positive approval after falling into net negative for the first time this term in the previous Newspoll.
• While Labor and Albanese improved and Dutton fell, the Voice’s slump continued, with “no” now ahead by 56–36, out from a 53–38 “no” lead in early September.

• Zevo’s On-Body Mosquito and Tick Repellent has added another distinguished award beside its name, the Good Housekeeping Seal.
• View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230914583681/en/
  Zevo On-Body Mosquito + Tick Repellents Earn Coveted Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.
• (Photo: Business Wire)
  The Good Housekeeping Seal signals the validity and safety of product claims, helping shoppers uphold high standards for the products they purchase and use every day.
• All three forms of the newly awarded Zevo On-Body products have passed an extensive assessment by Good Housekeeping’s team of chemists and engineers in the Good Housekeeping Institute labs to ensure the efficacy of the products.

• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese today announced that the referendum on an Indigenous Voice to parliament will be held on October 14.
• To succeed, a constitutional referendum requires a majority in at least four of the six states as well as a national majority.
• A Voice poll hasn’t been conducted since the mid-August Resolve poll that gave “no” a 54–46 lead.

Ticks and crosses referendum issue

• But in a media release last Friday, the AEC said that, owing to longstanding legal advice, ticks would be counted as “yes” votes, but crosses would be informal.
• The “no” side is now well ahead in polling for this referendum, and that lead is increasing.
• It’s very unlikely the ticks and crosses issue will affect the result.

Essential poll: 51–43 to Labor including undecided

• In last week’s federal Essential poll, conducted August 16–20 from a sample of 1,151, Labor led by 51–43 including undecided (52–42 the previous fortnight).
• Primary votes were 33% Labor (steady), 33% Coalition (up three), 14% Greens (up two), 5% One Nation (down three), 3% UAP (up one), 7% for all Others (down one) and 6% undecided (steady).
• Respondents were asked to rate Albanese, Peter Dutton and Greens leader Adam Bandt from 0 to 10.

Morgan poll: 53.5–46.5 to Labor

In this week’s federal weekly Morgan poll, conducted August 21–27 from a sample of 1,396, Labor led by 53.5–46.5, a 0.5-point gain for Labor since the previous week. Primary votes were 35% Labor (up 1.5), 35% Coalition (down 1.5), 13.5% Greens (up one), 5% One Nation (down one), 6.5% independents (down two) and 5% others (up two). Labor dropped 1.5 points last week.

NSW: Mark Latham resigns from One Nation

• On August 22, New South Wales upper house MPs Mark Latham and Rod Roberts resigned from One Nation, after accusing the party of “defrauding NSW electoral funds”.
• They will continue to sit as independents in the NSW upper house.

Victorian Warrandyte byelection: Liberals crush Greens

• At the 2022 Victorian state election, the Liberals beat Labor in Warrandyte by a 54.2–45.8 margin.
• The Liberals defeated the Greens by 71.1–28.9, from primary votes of 57.4% Liberals (up 8.9%), 18.6% Greens (up 7.4%), 5.7% Labour DLP (new), 4.1% independent Maya Tesa (new) and 3.9% Victorian Socialists (new).
• It’s difficult to interpret byelections that are forfeited by one major party, but the Liberals will be happy with the surge in their primary vote.
• Many Labor voters clearly voted Liberal instead of Greens.

Right likely to win October 14 New Zealand election

I wrote for The Poll Bludger on August 23 that the two main right-wing New Zealand parties are likely to form government after the October 14 New Zealand election, replacing the current Labour government. The right is also likely to win the October 22 Argentine election, while there’s a UK byelection in an SNP-held seat to come.