Q. Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
| Liberal | Labor | Don’t know | Differe-nce | Difference
Dec 2016 |
||
| Security and the war on terrorism | 41% | 21% | 38% | +20 | +17 | |
| Management of the economy | 40% | 25% | 34% | +15 | +14 | |
| Controlling interest rates | 34% | 24% | 42% | +10 | +7 | |
| Political leadership | 35% | 27% | 38% | +8 | +6 | |
| Managing population growth | 30% | 24% | 46% | +6 | +7 | |
| Treatment of asylum seekers | 31% | 30% | 39% | +1 | +6 | |
| Ensuring a quality water supply | 27% | 32% | 41% | -5 | -3 | |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system | 27% | 37% | 36% | -10 | -1 | |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children | 29% | 40% | 31% | -11 | -11 | |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 28% | 39% | 33% | -11 | -12 | |
| Housing affordability | 24% | 36% | 40% | -12 | -9 | |
| Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 26% | 39% | 34% | -13 | -9 | |
| A fair industrial relations system | 27% | 41% | 32% | -14 | -7 | |
| Protecting the environment | 23% | 37% | 40% | -14 | -14 | |
| Addressing climate change | 23% | 39% | 39% | -16 | -14 |
The Liberal Party is trusted more to handle security and the war on terrorism (+20, up 3 from December) and management of the economy (+15, up 1).
The Labor Party is trusted more to handle addressing climate change (+16, up 2), protecting the environment (+14, no change), and a fair industrial relations system (+14, up 7).
Since this question was asked in December, the Liberal party has improved its position against the Labor party on security and the war on terrorism (up 3) and controlling interest rates (up 3). The Labor Party has improved its position against the Liberal Party on ensuring a fair taxation system (up 9), a fair industrial relations system (up 7), treatment of asylum seekers (up 5) and protecting Australian jobs and local industries (up 4).