Party trust to handle 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	27%	45%	2%	25%
Ensuring a quality education for all children	34%	36%	5%	25%
Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system	31%	34%	6%	29%
Protecting the environment	16%	23%	37%	24%
A fair industrial relations system	38%	34%	5%	23%
Political leadership	23%	40%	5%	33%
Addressing climate change	19%	25%	31%	25%
Controlling interest rates	24%	42%	2%	32%
Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries	32%	35%	4%	29%
Ensuring a quality water supply	18%	30%	24%	29%
Housing affordability	23%	33%	5%	38%
Ensuring a fair taxation system	28%	37%	4%	31%
Security and the war on terrorism	21%	40%	3%	35%
Treatment of asylum seekers	17%	36%	12%	35%
Managing population growth	18%	35%	9%	39%

Labor does not have a substantial lead over the Liberal Party on any item measured.  The 9% lead it had in June on “a fair industrial relations system” has been reduced to 4%. There is also little difference between Labor and the Liberals for ensuring a quality education for all children, ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system and protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries.

The Liberal Party has maintained strong leads on management of the economy, controlling interest rates, political leadership and security and the war on terrorism.

Overall, there has been a slight weakening of Labor’s position since June.