Essential Report
Attributes of the Labor Party
Q. Here is a list of things both favourable and unfavourable that have been said about various political parties. Which statements do you feel fit the Labor Party?
Total | Change | Jul 2009 | April 2011 | Aug 2013 | Nov 2015 | Mar 2016 | Jun 2016 | ||
Will promise to do anything to win votes | 63% | -1 | 57% | 72% | 65% | 64% | 62% | 64% | |
Looks after the interests of working people | 61% | +5 | 39% | 53% | 55% | 50% | 56% | ||
Moderate | 58% | +4 | 65% | 51% | 48% | 56% | 47% | 54% | |
Understands the problems facing Australia | 52% | +3 | 62% | 40% | 50% | 48% | 43% | 49% | |
Have a vision for the future | 52% | +4 | 43% | 49% | 42% | 40% | 48% | ||
Out of touch with ordinary people | 50% | +4 | 44% | 61% | 51% | 52% | 53% | 46% | |
Have good policies | 50% | +4 | 46% | 42% | 38% | 46% | |||
Divided | 49% | – | 30% | 66% | 66% | 58% | 54% | 49% | |
Clear about what they stand for | 47% | +4 | 28% | 38% | 37% | 35% | 43% | ||
Has a good team of leaders | 41% | +2 | 60% | 34% | 36% | 33% | 30% | 39% | |
Too close to the big corporate and financial interests | 40% | +5 | 46% | 31% | 37% | 35% | 35% | ||
Trustworthy | 35% | +2 | 30% | 34% | 29% | 33% | |||
Keeps its promises | 34% | +3 | 44% | 20% | 27% | 29% | 28% | 31% | |
Extreme | 28% | -2 | 25% | 38% | 34% | 30% | 35% | 30% |
The Labor Party’s main attributes were – will promise anything to win votes (63%), looks after the interests of working people (61%) and moderate (58%).
Since this question was asked in June last year, overall there has been a small improvement in most positive attributes. The main changes have been for looks after the interest of working people (up 5%) and too close to the big corporate and financial interests (up 5+).

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Essential Report
In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Views towards re-electing the federal Coalition government
- Party trust to handle issues
- Importance of Australia’s international reputation
- Scott Morrison’s impact on Australia’s international reputation
- Views towards Australia’s international reputation
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