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  • Oct, 2010

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    Attributes to describe the Opposition Leader – Gender differences

    Q.  Which of the following describe your opinion of the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott?

      Total Male Female
    Intelligent 71% 70% 71%
    Hard-working 78% 79% 77%
    A capable leader 52% 54% 50%
    Demanding 61% 66% 56%
    Arrogant 60% 63% 56%
    Out of touch with ordinary people 53% 57% 49%
    Understands the problems facing Australia 53% 52% 54%
    Visionary 31% 32% 30%
    Good in a crisis 42% 44% 40%
    Narrow-minded 53% 56% 51%
    Down to earth 47% 47% 47%
    Too inflexible 43% 47% 40%
    Complacent 32% 34% 29%
    More honest than most politicians 32% 32% 31%
    Trustworthy 35% 36% 34%

    Comments »

  • Oct, 2010

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    View of both leaders

     

     Q.  Some people say that with such a closely divided Parliament, both leaders – Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott – should be willing to modify some of their previously-held positions and made more compromises with the opposing side. Others say, that is wrong, that they should stick to the positions they were each elected on. Which is closer to your view?

    Both leaders should be willing to modify some of their previously-held positions and made more compromises with the opposing side 52%
    Both leaders should they should stick to the positions they were each elected on 48%

     Labor (64%) and Green voters (65%) voters were more likely to state that both leaders should be willing to modify some of their previously-held positions. Lib/Nat voters were more likely to state that both leaders should they should stick to the positions (64%).

     Those aged 25-34 were more likely (65%) to state that both leaders should be willing to modify some of their previously-held positions. Comments »

  • Sep, 2010

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    Assessment of Leaders

     Q. Which leader – Julia Gillard or Tony Abbott – would you say has shown more leadership abilities during the period since the election?

      Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Julia Gillard 47% 92% 10% 73%
    Tony Abbott 35% 2% 75% 4%
    Don’t know 18% 6% 15% 23%

     47% think Julia Gillard has shown more leadership abilities during the period since the election and 35% favour Tony Abbott.

    By gender – men favour Julia Gillard 47%/38%, women 48%/31%. Comments »

  • Jul, 2010

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    Approval of Julia Gillard

    Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Julia Gillard is doing as Prime Minister?

    Kevin Rudd Julia Gillard
    30 Mar 09 29 Jun 09 28 Sept 09 14 Dec 09 29 Mar 10 31 May 10 5 Jul 10 19 Jul 10
    Total approve 71% 62% 66% 57% 53% 41% 48% 52%
    Total disapprove 21% 29% 23% 32% 36% 47% 27% 30%
    Strongly approve 21% 14% 15% 10% 12% 7% 14% 11%
    Approve 50% 48% 51% 47% 41% 34% 34% 41%
    Disapprove 14% 18% 17% 20% 22% 25% 13% 17%
    Strongly disapprove 7% 9% 6% 12% 14% 22% 14% 13%
    Don’t know 9% 11% 11% 10% 12% 12% 26% 18%

    52% approve Julia Gillard’s performance as Prime Minister and 30% disapprove. Since this question was asked 2 weeks ago, approval has increased by 4% and disapproval by 3% – “don’t know” has dropped from 26% to 18%. 89% of Labor voters approve and only 2% disapprove. Among Liberal/National voters, 25% approve and 64% disapprove.

    There were substantial differences by gender – men 50% approve/36% disapprove and women  54% approve/25% disapprove.

    Comments »

  • Jul, 2010

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    Important Issues

    Q. Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election?

      First Second Third Total Total

    10 May 10

    Difference
    Management of the economy 38% 18% 7% 63% 62% +1%
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system  16% 20% 19% 55% 50% +5%
    Australian jobs and protection of local industries 7% 8% 9% 24% 29% -5%
    Ensuring a quality education for all children 4% 11% 9% 24% 19% +5%
    Ensuring a fair taxation system 4% 6% 8% 18% 22% -4%
    Protecting the environment 5% 5% 5% 15% 13% +2%
    Political leadership 6% 3% 4% 13% 12% +1%
    Housing affordability 4% 4% 5% 13% 17% -4%
    Addressing climate change 4% 4% 4% 12% 12%
    Controlling interest rates 3% 5% 4% 12% 16% -4%
    Managing population growth 1% 4% 7% 12% 14% -2%
    Treatment of asylum seekers 4% 3% 4% 11% *  
    A fair industrial relations system 2% 4% 5% 11% 9% +2%
    Security and the war on terrorism 1% 2% 5% 8% 7% +1%
    Ensuring a quality water supply 1% 1% 4% 6% 7% -1%

    *Not asked in May 2010 poll

    The most important election issues were management of the economy, the quality of the health system, jobs and local industry and a quality education for all children.

    Since this issue was last polled in May, health and education have increased in importance (both +5%) and Australian jobs and protection of local industry declined 5%. Comments »

  • Jul, 2010

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    Party best at Handling Issues

    Q. And which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?

      Labor Liberal Greens Don’t know
    A fair industrial relations system 45% 24% 5% 26%
    Ensuring a quality education for all children 41% 25% 4% 29%
    Australian jobs and protection of local industries 42% 28% 3% 27%
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system  38% 27% 4% 31%
    Ensuring a fair taxation system 36% 28% 4% 32%
    Housing affordability 30% 24% 4% 41%
    Political leadership 33% 30% 5% 33%
    Ensuring a quality water supply 23% 23% 22% 32%
    Managing population growth 24% 27% 9% 40%
    Security and the war on terrorism 25% 30% 3% 42%
    Management of the economy 32% 38% 3% 27%
    Treatment of asylum seekers 23% 29% 11% 37%
    Controlling interest rates 28% 35% 2% 35%
    Addressing climate change 18% 16% 36% 29%
    Protecting the environment 17% 13% 47% 23%

     Labor have a substantial lead over the Liberal Party as the best party to handle a fair industrial relations system (+21%), quality education for all (+16%), Australian jobs and protection of industries (+14%) and ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system (+11%).

     The Liberal Party’s main strengths were controlling interest rates (+7%), treatment of asylum seekers (+6%) and management of the economy  (+6%).

    The Greens were thought to be the best party for protecting the environment (47%) and addressing climate change (36%). Comments »

  • Jul, 2010

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    Approval of Tony Abbott

    Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Tony Abbott is doing as Opposition Leader?

    Malcolm Turnbull Tony Abbott
    30 Nov 09 14 Dec 09 18 Jan 10 22 Feb 10 29 Mar 10 3 May 10 31 May 10 28 Jun 10 5 Jul 10
    Total approve 25% 34% 37% 45% 33% 39% 35% 40% 37%
    Total disapprove 55% 36% 37% 36% 50% 43% 50% 39% 47%
    Strongly approve 2% 7% 5% 12% 8% 5% 5% 9% 8%
    Approve 23% 27% 32% 33% 25% 34% 30% 31% 29%
    Disapprove 33% 18% 20% 20% 28% 24% 28% 20% 23%
    Strongly disapprove 22% 18% 17% 16% 22% 19% 22% 19% 24%
    Don’t know 19% 31% 26% 18% 16% 18% 16% 20% 16%

    Tony Abbott’s net rating as Opposition Leader have dropped back into negative territory over the last week. 37% approve (down 3%) and 47% disapprove (up 8%).

    81% of Liberal/National voters approve and 12% disapprove. Labor voters split 15% approve/75% disapprove.

    Men split 41% approve/45% disapprove and women 34% approve/48% disapprove. Comments »

  • Jul, 2010

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    Comparison of Leader Attributes

    Julia Gillard Tony Abbott Difference
    Intelligent 87% 70% +17
    Hard-working 89% 76% +13
    A capable leader 72% 47% +25
    Demanding 58% 53% +5
    Arrogant 37% 59% -22
    Out of touch with ordinary people 35% 57% -22
    Understands the problems facing Australia 68% 50% +18
    Visionary 48% 32% +16
    Superficial 35% 45% -10
    Good in a crisis 61% 40% +21
    Narrow-minded 28% 56% -28
    Down to earth 68% 47% +21
    Too inflexible 26% 45% -19
    Complacent 27% 34% +13
    More honest than most politicians 45% 33% +12
    Trustworthy 49% 33% +16

    Julia Gillard is rated substantially higher than Tony Abbott on all positive attributes and lower on negative attributes.

    The largest differences are in terms of narrow-minded (-28%), a capable leader (+25%) and arrogant (-22%).

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