Essential Report
Party trust to handle issues
Q. Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
Liberal | Labor | Unsure | Difference | Difference Sep’21 | ||
National Security | 38% | 32% | 29% | +6 | +13 | |
Management of the economy | 41% | 33% | 26% | +8 | +10 | |
Maintaining international relations | 33% | 36% | 30% | -3 | +5 | |
Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 33% | 40% | 27% | -7 | -3 | |
Ensuring a quality education for all children | 32% | 40% | 27% | -8 | -4 | |
Housing affordability | 27% | 39% | 34% | -12 | -9 | |
Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 32% | 41% | 26% | -9 | -9 | |
Addressing climate change | 26% | 39% | 35% | -13 | -13 | |
Fair wages and workplace conditions | 29% | 45% | 26% | -16 | -18 | |
Base (n) | 1,089 | 1,089 | 1,089 | 1,094 |
- In the time since the fall-out from the government’s AUKUS submarine announcement and Scott Morrison’s COP26 performance, fewer people trust the Liberal party to maintain international relations and handle national security.
- In September, more people trusted the Liberal government to maintain international relations than the Labor party (37% trusted the Liberals, 32% Labor). Now 36% trust Labor and 33% trust the Liberals.
- 38% of people now trust the Liberals to handle national security (41% in September) while trust in the Labor party has increased from 28% to 32%.

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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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