Attributes of the Liberal Party
Q. And which statements do you feel fit the Liberal Party?
|
6 July 09 |
14 Mar 10
|
27 April 11 |
28 May 12 |
2 Apr 13 |
% change |
|
| Will promise to do anything to win votes |
67% |
72% |
65% |
63% |
67% |
+4% |
| Too close to the big corporate and financial interests |
|
|
60% |
58% |
59% |
+1% |
| Out of touch with ordinary people |
62% |
58% |
54% |
53% |
54% |
+1% |
| Moderate |
50% |
50% |
55% |
52% |
52% |
- |
| Have a vision for the future |
|
|
48% |
48% |
52% |
+4% |
| Understands the problems facing Australia |
44% |
43% |
51% |
52% |
50% |
-2% |
| Clear about what they stand for |
|
|
44% |
46% |
48% |
+2% |
| Has a good team of leaders |
29% |
31% |
40% |
39% |
41% |
+2% |
| Looks after the interests of working people |
|
|
38% |
40% |
40% |
- |
| Extreme |
36% |
38% |
36% |
34% |
35% |
+1% |
| Keeps its promises |
28% |
23% |
33% |
34% |
34% |
- |
| Divided |
74% |
66% |
49% |
37% |
32% |
-5% |
The Liberal Party’s main attributes were – will promise anything to win votes (67%), too close to the big corporate and financial interest (59%), out of touch with ordinary people (54%), moderate (52%) and have a vision for the future (52%).
The only substantial change since May last year was a drop in the figure for “divided” – down 5% to 32%.
Party attributes comparison – Labor vs Liberal
|
Labor |
Liberal
|
% difference |
|
| Divided |
82% |
32% |
+50% |
| Out of touch with ordinary people |
63% |
54% |
+9% |
| Will promise to do anything to win votes |
71% |
67% |
+4% |
| Extreme |
38% |
35% |
+3% |
| Looks after the interests of working people |
42% |
40% |
+2% |
| Moderate |
47% |
52% |
-5% |
| Have a vision for the future |
42% |
52% |
-10% |
| Understands the problems facing Australia |
39% |
50% |
-11% |
| Keeps its promises |
19% |
34% |
-15% |
| Has a good team of leaders |
24% |
41% |
-17% |
| Too close to the big corporate and financial interests |
39% |
59% |
-20% |
| Clear about what they stand for |
27% |
48% |
-21% |
The Labor Party is viewed more favourably than the Liberal Party in terms of being too close to the big corporate and financial interests.
The Liberal Party is seen more favourably in terms of – divided, clear about what they stand for, has a good team of leaders and keeps it promises.
Next election
Q. Do you think the Labor Government should run its full term up to the Federal election announced for September 14 or should a new election be held now?
|
5 |
5 |
30 |
5 |
30 |
29 |
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| Should run to September (later in 2013*) |
40% |
47% |
48% |
46% |
48% |
51% |
47% |
82% |
24% |
67% |
| Should hold election now |
48% |
41% |
41% |
44% |
42% |
35% |
43% |
11% |
69% |
19% |
| Don’t know |
12% |
12% |
10% |
10% |
10% |
14% |
11% |
7% |
6% |
15% |
47% think the Labor Government should run its full term until September and 43% think an election should be held now. 11% don’t know.
Opinions have shifted toward having an early election since this question was polled in January – up 6% to 43%.
* Note: previously asked question used slightly different wording – Do you think the Labor Government should run its full term until later in 2013 when the next Federal election is due or should a new election be held now?
Leader attributes – Julia Gillard
Q. Which of the following describe your opinion of the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard?
|
5 |
4 |
7 |
27 |
2 |
17 |
14 |
2 |
Change |
|
| Intelligent |
87% |
81% |
75% |
73% |
61% |
68% |
72% |
69% |
-3% |
| Hard-working |
89% |
82% |
76% |
75% |
65% |
69% |
72% |
66% |
-6% |
| Out of touch with ordinary people |
35% |
44% |
50% |
60% |
65% |
56% |
53% |
64% |
+11% |
| Arrogant |
37% |
39% |
44% |
48% |
53% |
46% |
47% |
55% |
+8% |
| Superficial |
51% |
52% |
54% |
46% |
46% |
55% |
+9% |
||
| Narrow-minded |
28% |
35% |
43% |
46% |
53% |
46% |
45% |
55% |
+10% |
| Aggressive |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
42% |
46% |
55% |
+9% |
| Erratic |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
43% |
40% |
55% |
+15% |
| Intolerant |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
37% |
37% |
49% |
+12% |
| Good in a crisis |
61% |
46% |
46% |
41% |
36% |
43% |
50% |
44% |
-6% |
| A capable leader |
72% |
59% |
52% |
42% |
38% |
43% |
50% |
37% |
-13% |
| Understands the problems facing Australia |
68% |
55% |
52% |
44% |
41% |
43% |
47% |
37% |
-10% |
| Visionary |
48% |
38% |
30% |
26% |
25% |
31% |
29% |
30% |
+1% |
| More honest than most politicians |
45% |
37% |
37% |
29% |
26% |
31% |
30% |
27% |
-3% |
| Trustworthy |
49% |
42% |
40% |
30% |
25% |
30% |
32% |
25% |
-7% |
Julia Gillard’s key attributes were intelligent (69%), hard-working (66%), out of touch with ordinary people (64%), arrogant (55%), superficial (55%), narrow-minded (55%), aggressive (55%) and erratic (55%). Almost all positive leader attributes for Gillard moved down and the negative attributes moved down from the last time the question was polled in January. The biggest shifts were for erratic (+15%), a capable leader (-13%), intolerant (+12), out of touch with ordinary people (+11%), narrow-minded (+10%) and understands the problems facing Australia (-10%).
Leader attributes – Tony Abbott
Q. Which of the following describe your opinion of the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott?
|
5 |
4 |
7 |
27 |
2 |
17 |
14 |
2 |
Change |
|
| Hard-working |
76% |
78% |
72% |
75% |
68% |
67% |
70% |
70% |
- |
| Intelligent |
70% |
71% |
64% |
61% |
56% |
62% |
64% |
63% |
-1% |
| Arrogant |
59% |
60% |
58% |
60% |
61% |
63% |
61% |
56% |
-5% |
| Narrow-minded |
56% |
53% |
51% |
54% |
54% |
59% |
56% |
53% |
-3% |
| Out of touch with ordinary people |
57% |
53% |
54% |
57% |
54% |
57% |
54% |
52% |
-2% |
| Understands the problems facing Australia |
50% |
53% |
50% |
48% |
49% |
43% |
47% |
49% |
+2% |
| Superficial |
45% |
49% |
49% |
51% |
48% |
49% |
+1% |
||
| Aggressive |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
59% |
55% |
49% |
-6% |
| Intolerant |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
53% |
49% |
48% |
-1% |
| A capable leader |
47% |
52% |
48% |
45% |
41% |
37% |
43% |
47% |
+4% |
| Erratic |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
51% |
51% |
45% |
-6% |
| Good in a crisis |
40% |
42% |
41% |
40% |
36% |
35% |
39% |
44% |
+5% |
| Visionary |
32% |
31% |
27% |
27% |
26% |
29% |
28% |
37% |
+9% |
| More honest than most politicians |
33% |
32% |
31% |
32% |
30% |
27% |
29% |
36% |
+7% |
| Trustworthy |
33% |
35% |
34% |
32% |
32% |
30% |
33% |
36% |
+3% |
Tony Abbott’s key attributes were hard-working (70%), intelligent (63%), arrogant (56%), narrow-minded (53%) and out of touch with ordinary people (52%).
Since January the major shifts have been for visionary (+9%), more honest than most politicians (+7%), erratic (-6%), aggressive (-6%), arrogant (-5%) and good in a crisis (+5%).
Leader attributes – comparisons
|
Gillard |
Abbott |
Difference |
|
| Out of touch with ordinary people |
64% |
52% |
+12% |
| Erratic |
55% |
45% |
+10% |
| Intelligent |
69% |
63% |
+6% |
| Superficial |
55% |
49% |
+6% |
| Aggressive |
55% |
49% |
+6% |
| Narrow-minded |
55% |
53% |
+2% |
| Intolerant |
49% |
48% |
+1% |
| Good in a crisis |
44% |
44% |
- |
| Arrogant |
55% |
56% |
-1% |
| Hard-working |
66% |
70% |
-4% |
| Visionary |
30% |
37% |
-7% |
| More honest than most politicians |
27% |
36% |
-9% |
| A capable leader |
37% |
47% |
-10% |
| Trustworthy |
25% |
36% |
-11% |
| Understands the problems facing Australia |
37% |
49% |
-12% |
Compared to Tony Abbott, Julia Gillard is seen as more likely to be considered out of touch with ordinary people (+12%) and erratic (+10%).
Tony Abbott is regarded by significantly more respondents to understand the problems facing Australians (+12) and to be trustworthy (+11%), a capable leader (+10%) and more honest than most politicians (+9%).
Social class
Q. Do you believe social classes still exist in Australia?
|
Total
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Income under $600pw |
Income $600 – $1,000pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600pw |
Income $1,600+ |
|
| Yes |
91%
|
90% |
93% |
96% |
84% |
90% |
92% |
93% |
| No |
9% |
10% |
7% |
4% |
16% |
10% |
8% |
7% |
91% agreed that social class still exists in Australia – only 9% disagreed. There was little difference across demographic groups – more than 80% of all major groups agreed.
Social class identification
Q. Do you consider yourself -
|
Total
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Income under $600pw |
Income $600 – $1,000pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600pw |
Income $1,600+ |
|
| Working class |
33% |
40% |
25% |
34% |
38% |
39% |
38% |
26% |
| Middle class |
53% |
46% |
63% |
47% |
33% |
42% |
52% |
66% |
| Upper class |
2% |
1% |
2% |
3% |
- |
1% |
2% |
3% |
| None of them |
10% |
10% |
7% |
14% |
21% |
15% |
6% |
4% |
| Don’t know |
3% |
3% |
2% |
3% |
8% |
3% |
2% |
1% |
53% of respondents described themselves as “middle class” and 33% as “working class” – only 2% claimed to be “upper class”.
Those on higher incomes were more likely to identify as “middle class” while those on lower incomes were less likely to identify with any of these descriptions.
Parties and social class
Q. Whose interests do you think the Labor Party mainly represent?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Working class |
Middle class |
|
| Working class |
30% |
43% |
28% |
25% |
27% |
34% |
| Middle class |
16% |
24% |
8% |
36% |
18% |
17% |
| Upper class |
13% |
4% |
17% |
10% |
17% |
10% |
| All of them |
8% |
19% |
3% |
12% |
5% |
10% |
| None of them |
22% |
3% |
35% |
7% |
19% |
22% |
| Don’t know |
11% |
7% |
10% |
9% |
13% |
7% |
30% believe that the Labor Party mainly represents working class people and 22% don’t think they represent any class. 43% of Labor voters think the Labor Party mainly represents the working class and 36% of Greens voters think they mainly represent the middle class. 35% of Liberal/National voters don’t think they represent any class.
27% of respondents who describe themselves as working class and 34% of those who say they are middle class think the Labor Party mainly represents the working class. 35% of those who say they are working class think the Labor Party mainly represents the middle or upper classes.
Parties and social class
Q. Whose interests do you think the Liberal Party mainly represent?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Working class |
Middle class |
|
| Working class |
5% |
6% |
7% |
2% |
10% |
4% |
| Middle class |
20% |
9% |
33% |
13% |
16% |
25% |
| Upper class |
40% |
68% |
17% |
64% |
42% |
39% |
| All of them |
17% |
4% |
33% |
4% |
11% |
21% |
| None of them |
8% |
7% |
4% |
7% |
9% |
6% |
| Don’t know |
9% |
6% |
7% |
10% |
12% |
5% |
40% believe that the Liberal Party mainly represents upper class people and 20% think they represent the middle class. 68% of Labor voters think the Labor Party mainly and 64% of Greens voters think they mainly represent the upper class. 33% of Liberal/National voters think they represent the middle class and 33% think they represent all classes.
42% of respondents who describe themselves as working class and 39% of those who say they are middle class think the Liberal Party mainly represents the upper class.
Federal politics – voting intention
Q. If a Federal Election was held today to which party will you probably give your first preference vote? If not sure, which party are you currently leaning toward?
Q. If don’t know -Well which party are you currently leaning to?
Sample size = 1,797 respondents
| First preference/leaning to |
Election 21 Aug 10 |
4 weeks ago 25/2/13 |
2 weeks ago 11/2/13 |
Last week 18/3/13 |
This week 25/3/13 |
| Liberal |
46% |
45% |
45% |
45% |
|
| National |
3% |
3% |
2% |
2% |
|
| Total Lib/Nat |
43.6% |
49% |
48% |
47% |
47% |
| Labor |
38.0% |
34% |
34% |
35% |
33% |
| Greens |
11.8% |
9% |
9% |
9% |
11% |
| Other/Independent |
6.6% |
8% |
9% |
8% |
9% |
| 2PP |
Election 21 Aug 10 |
4 weeks ago |
2 weeks ago |
Last week
|
This week |
| Total Lib/Nat |
49.9% |
56% |
55% |
54% |
54% |
| Labor |
50.1% |
44% |
45% |
46% |
46% |
NB. The data in the above tables comprise 2-week averages derived from the first preference/leaning to voting questions. Respondents who select ‘don’t know’ are not included in the results. The two-party preferred estimate is calculated by distributing the votes of the other parties according to their preferences at the 2010 election. These estimates have a confidence interval of approx. plus or minus 2-3%.
Essential Report
Two Party Preferred: 20 May 2013
In this week's report:
3Q: Latest episodes
-
Essential Report with EMC’s Peter Lewis and Jackie Woods
Comments19 Sep 2012Lewis and Woods talk through this week’s polling numbers: voting intention, leader attributes, drug laws in Australia, and more…
-
Are we ready for the grey revolution?
Comments12 Sep 2012Ken Morrison says our cities need to be transformed for our ageing population – and it’s not solely about nursing homes.
-
Ships, trains and submarines — can we build them here?
Comments11 Sep 2012Tim Ayres wishes Clive Palmer and other mining giants would give local manufacturers a go instead of heading overseas.
-
Do we undervalue our public sector innovations?
Comments11 Sep 2012Nadine Flood questions whether governments take our science and other publicly funded breakthroughs for granted.
Essential Tags
Recent Comments
- Workers Care About Kids At Risk on Would You Ask Your Grandmother To Live On $35 A Day?
- Morgan on Federal politics – voting intention
- Krusha on Time for Activities
- Jonathan Tasini on We Can’t Eat Austerity
- Clarkejeremy3 on We Can’t Eat Austerity
