Party best handling important election issues
Q. And which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
| Labor | Liberal | Greens | Don’t know | |
| Management of the economy | 37% | 42% | 2% | 19% |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children | 42% | 31% | 4% | 23% |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 36% | 35% | 5% | 25% |
| Protecting the environment | 19% | 20% | 40% | 21% |
| A fair industrial relations system | 44% | 30% | 4% | 22% |
| Political leadership | 34% | 36% | 5% | 25% |
| Addressing climate change | 21% | 22% | 31% | 26% |
| Controlling interest rates | 28% | 42% | 2% | 29% |
| Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 41% | 33% | 3% | 23% |
| Ensuring a quality water supply | 24% | 27% | 21% | 29% |
| Housing affordability | 31% | 31% | 4% | 34% |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system | 35% | 35% | 3% | 28% |
| Security and the war on terrorism | 27% | 35% | 4% | 34% |
| Treatment of asylum seekers | 26% | 33% | 9% | 33% |
| Standing up for regular Australian working families | 44% | 28% | 4% | 23% |
| Managing population growth | 28% | 33% | 7% | 33% |
| Making sure Australian working people got fair treatment at their workplace | 45% | 29% | 3% | 23% |
Labor is trusted most to handle a fair industrial relations system (44%), ensuring a quality education for all children (42%) and protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries (41%).
The Liberals are trusted most to handle management of the economy (42%), controlling interest rates (42%) and security and the war on terrorism (35%).
The Bride (and Bridesmaid) stripped bare
First Published on The Drum 05/10/2010
New paradigms notwithstanding, the first week of the 43rd Parliament of Australia has confirmed a continuation of the gladiatorial contests that have characterised Australia’s model of presidential politics.
And that means a confronting truth for both Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott: the public’s perceptions of their personal strengths and weakness are central to the success of their respective political projects.
There was a time when character research was a dark art, the province of party focus groups, only dusted of at election time when attacks would be constructed around a candidate’s lack of ticker (read weight) or stubbornness (read age). The modern opinion polling means today it’s all out in the open.
Attributes to describe the Prime Minister
Q. Which of the following describe your opinion of the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard?
| 5 Jul 10 | 4 Oct 10 | Difference | |
| Intelligent | 87% | 81% | -6% |
| Hard-working | 89% | 82% | -7% |
| A capable leader | 72% | 59% | -13% |
| Demanding | 58% | 58% | 0% |
| Arrogant | 37% | 39% | 2% |
| Out of touch with ordinary people | 35% | 44% | 9% |
| Understands the problems facing Australia | 68% | 55% | -13% |
| Visionary | 48% | 38% | -10% |
| Good in a crisis | 61% | 46% | -15% |
| Narrow-minded | 28% | 35% | 7% |
| Down to earth | 68% | 62% | -6% |
| Too inflexible | 26% | 36% | 10% |
| Complacent | 27% | 31% | 4% |
| More honest than most politicians | 45% | 37% | -8% |
| Trustworthy | 49% | 42% | -7% |
Attributes to describe the Prime Minister – Gender difference
Q. Which of the following describe your opinion of the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard?
| Total | Male | Female | |
| Intelligent | 81% | 79% | 84% |
| Hard-working | 82% | 80% | 83% |
| A capable leader | 59% | 57% | 61% |
| Demanding | 58% | 62% | 54% |
| Arrogant | 39% | 38% | 39% |
| Out of touch with ordinary people | 44% | 47% | 41% |
| Understands the problems facing Australia | 55% | 53% | 56% |
| Visionary | 38% | 38% | 38% |
| Good in a crisis | 46% | 46% | 46% |
| Narrow-minded | 35% | 38% | 31% |
| Down to earth | 62% | 60% | 65% |
| Too inflexible | 36% | 40% | 33% |
| Complacent | 31% | 34% | 28% |
| More honest than most politicians | 37% | 39% | 35% |
| Trustworthy | 42% | 45% | 39% |
Attributes to describe the Opposition Leader
Q. Which of the following describe your opinion of the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott?
| 5 Jul 10 | 4 Oct 10 | Change | |
| Intelligent | 70% | 71% | 1% |
| Hard-working | 76% | 78% | 2% |
| A capable leader | 47% | 52% | 5% |
| Demanding | 53% | 61% | 8% |
| Arrogant | 59% | 60% | 1% |
| Out of touch with ordinary people | 57% | 53% | -4% |
| Understands the problems facing Australia | 50% | 53% | 3% |
| Visionary | 32% | 31% | -1% |
| Good in a crisis | 40% | 42% | 2% |
| Narrow-minded | 56% | 53% | -3% |
| Down to earth | 47% | 47% | 0% |
| Too inflexible | 45% | 43% | -2% |
| Complacent | 34% | 32% | -2% |
| More honest than most politicians | 33% | 32% | -1% |
| Trustworthy | 33% | 35% | 2% |
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% |
Comparison of Leader Attributes
| Julia Gillard | Tony Abbott | Difference | |
| Intelligent | 81% | 71% | 10% |
| Hard-working | 82% | 78% | 4% |
| A capable leader | 59% | 52% | 7% |
| Demanding | 58% | 61% | -3% |
| Arrogant | 39% | 60% | -21% |
| Out of touch with ordinary people | 44% | 53% | -9% |
| Understands the problems facing Australia | 55% | 53% | 2% |
| Visionary | 38% | 31% | 7% |
| Good in a crisis | 46% | 42% | 4% |
| Narrow-minded | 35% | 53% | -18% |
| Down to earth | 62% | 47% | 15% |
| Too inflexible | 36% | 43% | -7% |
| Complacent | 31% | 32% | -1% |
| More honest than most politicians | 37% | 32% | 5% |
| Trustworthy | 42% | 35% | 7% |
Welcome to the #politicotragicmedia wankersphere. How can we help?
US Ambassador Jeffrey Bleich was first up, and with him his security detail – two clean-cut, serious, suited dudes scanning the room during Bleich’s presentation on the Obama presidential campaign’s pioneering use of social media.
The dudes didn’t have much to worry about with this crowd, the only real and present dangers being excessively snarky tweets or a tussle over an ipad charger.
The Media 140 ‘Oz Politics’ conference at Old Parliament House last week brought together Twitter commentators, activists, journalists, academics and politicians, collectively known as the #politicotragicmediawankersphere.
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