Q. Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
| Liberal | Labor | Don’t know | NET | NET
Aug 2016 |
||
| Security and the war on terrorism | 39% | 22% | 39% | +17 | +18 | |
| Management of the economy | 41% | 27% | 32% | +14 | +15 | |
| Controlling interest rates | 33% | 26% | 41% | +7 | +12 | |
| Managing population growth | 32% | 25% | 42% | +7 | +10 | |
| Treatment of asylum seekers | 34% | 28% | 39% | +6 | +6 | |
| Political leadership | 33% | 27% | 40% | +6 | +9 | |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system | 32% | 33% | 35% | -1 | -4 | |
| Ensuring a quality water supply | 27% | 30% | 43% | -3 | – | |
| A fair industrial relations system | 30% | 37% | 33% | -7 | -8 | |
| Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 28% | 37% | 35% | -9 | -8 | |
| Housing affordability | 25% | 34% | 40% | -9 | -10 | |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children | 28% | 39% | 33% | -11 | -8 | |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 28% | 40% | 32% | -12 | -8 | |
| Addressing climate change | 23% | 37% | 40% | -14 | -10 | |
| Protecting the environment | 23% | 37% | 40% | -14 | -11 |
The Liberal Party is trusted more to handle security and the war on terrorism (+17) and management of the economy (+14).
The Labor Party is trusted more to handle protecting the environment (-14), addressing climate change (-14), the health system (-12) and education (-11).
Since this question was asked in August, the Labor Party has improved its position against the Liberal Party on controlling interest rates (up 5), climate change (up 4) and the health system (up 4).