Essential Report
Party trust to handle issues
Q. Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
Liberal | Labor | Unsure | Difference | Difference Mar’19 | |
Border Protection | 52% | 31% | 17% | +21 | +19 |
Management of the economy | 49% | 34% | 17% | +15 | +15 |
Security and the war on terrorism | 48% | 31% | 21% | +17 | +16 |
Political leadership | 42% | 38% | 20% | +4 | +5 |
Controlling interest rates | 41% | 32% | 27% | +9 | +12 |
Managing population growth | 40% | 34% | 26% | +6 | +10 |
Ensuring a fair taxation system | 39% | 43% | 18% | -4 | -1 |
Treatment of asylum seekers | 39% | 38% | 23% | +1 | -1 |
Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 37% | 46% | 17% | -9 | -3 |
Ensuring a quality education for all children | 37% | 44% | 19% | -7 | -8 |
Standing up to big business | 36% | 43% | 21% | -7 | -5 |
Ensuring a quality water supply | 36% | 38% | 26% | -2 | -2 |
Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 36% | 45% | 19% | -9 | -6 |
Housing affordability | 35% | 42% | 23% | -7 | -7 |
Fair wages and workplace conditions | 33% | 52% | 15% | -19 | -18 |
Protecting the environment | 30% | 44% | 26% | -14 | -8 |
Addressing climate change | 29% | 44% | 27% | -15 | -10 |
Base (n) | 1,033 | 1,033 | 1,033 | – | 1,089 |
- The Liberal party is most trusted to handle border protection (52%, 21pt higher than Labor), manage the economy (49%, 15pt higher than Labor) and manage security and the war on terrorism (48%, 17pt ahead of Labor).
- Labor are most trusted to handle fair wages and workplace conditions (52%, 19pt ahead of Liberal), protect Australian jobs and protection of local industries (46%, 9pt over Liberal) and ensure the quality of Australia’s health system (45%, 9pt over Liberal).
- Labor have increased the trust gap between themselves and the Liberals in addressing climate change since March of this year – Labour now has a 15pt lead over Liberal on this issue up from 10pt earlier this year.
- Labour have also closed the gap in managing population growth, with a 6pt lag behind Liberals compared to 10pt in Mar’19.

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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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