A FEDERAL election could be called any day now as Julia Gillard's office has moved into campaign mode and ministers have begun clearing the decks - issuing an avalanche of announcements last week.
A spokesman for for the Prime Minister refused to rule out an election being called as early as today, even though it is unlikely.
It is understood that Government House in Canberra is preparing for the Prime Minister's visit some time next week and expectations are high that the real campaign will begin at the weekend.
Labor candidates in NSW held a training session this weekend which was brought forward as a result of the looming poll.
Meanwhile, a senior Labor figure whose support of Ms Gillard helped bring down Kevin Rudd has called for refugee advocates to work for the re-election of the Government instead of criticising the new asylum policy.
In his column in today's Sunday Telegraph, Australian Workers Union national secretary Paul Howes described the asylum debate as dispiriting, but said it was better to win the election than make a stand on the issue, despite his long-standing support for a more compassionate approach to asylum seekers.
Senior Labor strategists believe the asylum issue played out successfully for them last week, despite the messy way it was handled.
One Government figure said Ms Gillard's asylum policy had put a floor under the issue for Labor.
The party's lack of a credible asylum policy previously had been attributed to a precipitous fall in support in western Sydney seats.
Ms Gillard's support appears to be remaining strong. A Morgan poll released on Friday put support for Labor at 55 per cent on a two-party-preferred basis.
The new Prime Minister's personal support is still firming though.
Polling of 1500 people by Auspoll early last week showed she has a 45 per cent approval rating, an 18 per cent disapproval rating and a whopping 37 per cent have reserved their judgment.
The polling was taken before the asylum issue blew up in the Government's face.
Labor's election planning has been brought forward by the rise of Ms Gillard as leader.
A senior Labor source confirmed last week that former prime minister Kevin Rudd had been planning a late election, which was expected in about October.
Among a series of announcements last week that have been widely interpreted as a clearing of the decks was a decision to axe the Green Loans program and put the Government's controversial internet filter on hold for a year.
Even on social issues Ms Gillard appears to be travelling well. Her much publicised early admission that she does not believe in God is not troubling many voters.
The Auspoll survey found that having an atheist Prime Minister was of no consequence to 62 per cent of people, 20 per cent said they actively support a PM who does not believe in God while less than 18 per cent were opposed.
Australian Christian Lobby spokesman Lyle Shelton said Christians did not necessarily mind a faithless prime minister, as long as she governed according to Christian values.
"She supports marriage between a man and a woman, we take heart from that," Mr Shelton said. "She's shown herself to be a pragmatic person."
The Liberal Party believes that Ms Gillard is still vulnerable to attack on the mismanagement of the stimulus programs.
Focus group research for the Liberal Party shows that voters are upset that no one has been held accountable for the waste and mismanagement in the home insulation and school halls programs.
Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt said the Coalition would launch a royal commission into the insulation batts fiasco if elected.
He said a royal commission was appropriate given the degree of consequence of the program which affects a million homes and is implicated in four deaths.
Ms Gillard promised to call a poll in coming weeks when she was made Prime Minister on June 24.
She has now been Prime Minister for 2½ weeks.
Read more: http://www.news.com.au/features/federal-election/awu-chief-paul-howes-attacks-julia-gillards-asylum-seeker-politics/story-e6frfllr-1225890245030#ixzz0tLSBSeMJ
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