Joe has been kind enough to add a poll of into this thread if anyone wants to cast a yes or no vote. Polling since the election has favoured Labor but also favoured Turnbull over Shorten as better prime minister by quite a substantial margin. The experts have had their say but what do ASF members think?
For the record I voted yes in this thread and no in the Shorten thread
Meanwhile: http://www.news.com.au/national/bre...t/news-story/18a39384d25c97055af0da453ea047f3
Turnbull, Shorten renew political fight
January 16, 20173:33pm
Paul Osborne, AAP Senior Political WriterAustralian Associated Press
Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten have sought to turn the political focus to jobs and industry, as questions continue over politicians' perks and Labor lengthens its poll lead.
The latest ReachTel poll gives Labor a 54-46 two-party preferred edge over the coalition after a rocky Christmas and New Year period for the government.
The prime minister visited a restaurant, real estate agent, museum and laundry service in the southern Queensland regional city of Toowoomba on Monday as he talked up the job benefits of trade deals and infrastructure spending.
Mr Turnbull says inland rail, a second Toowoomba range crossing and a new airport are examples of federal policy and spending boosting regional economic growth.
Returning from his Christmas break, Mr Shorten visited a manufacturing plant in Melbourne pledging to make 2017 a year of "Australian jobs".
Taking aim at the government over the expenses scandal he said: "We need to demonstrate to Australians that we're working for them, not just for ourselves."
Mr Shorten says the key issue for Australians is jobs, including boosting trade skills and apprenticeships for young people and getting unemployed people in their 50s and 60s into work, but what they've seen is a "summer of scandal and stuff-up".
"The real fight is for Australian jobs and that is why it is important that all of us in politics work together to buy Australian, build Australian and to employ Australian."
Mr Turnbull, who will be in Queensland for two days, says he is committed to ensuring politicians spend taxpayers' money prudently.
"Let's be very clear - the Australian people pay our bills and they have every right to be satisfied that when we spend money on travel expenses or accommodation we're doing so as a legitimate business expense," Mr Turnbull said.
The trip to Queensland will mean the prime minister won't announce his replacement for the outgoing Health Minister Sussan Ley until late Tuesday or Wednesday.
Ms Ley resigned on Friday after failing to properly explain her taxpayer expenses for trips to the Gold Coast.
She is widely expected to be replaced by NSW senator Arthur Sinodinos, who is cabinet secretary and acting in the health role.
This would avoid a broader cabinet reshuffle.
Labor has promised to bring in its own changes to MP expenses rules if the government doesn't act when parliament resumes on February 7.
Mr Turnbull also took aim at Mr Shorten over trade policy, saying the Labor leader was a "shallow populist" for opposing the Trans-Pacific Partnership - which faces the axe under the incoming US President Donald Trump.
Mr Shorten says the "door has closed" on the TPP and the government should be looking for other opportunities to boost trade.