Better at managing the economy
Q Which party do you think is better at managing:
| Coalition | Labor | Neither | Difference (Coalition minus Labor) | |
| The economy to benefit big business | 53% | 22% | 26% | +31 |
| The economy generally | 40% | 31% | 29% | +9 |
| The economy to benefit small business | 36% | 35% | 29% | +1 |
| The economy to benefit older Australians | 32% | 35% | 33% | -3 |
| The economy to benefit people living in regional communities | 29% | 35% | 37% | -6 |
| The economy to benefit workers | 26% | 46% | 28% | -20 |
- The Coalition is perceived to be better at managing the economy to benefit big business (53%) and managing the economy generally (40%) than Labor (22% and 31% respectively).
- Labor is seen as better at managing the economy for workers (46%) than the Coalition (26%).
- Between a quarter (26%) and a third (37%) of participants believe that neither Coalition nor Labor is better at managing any economic elements.
State of the economy
Q. Overall, how would you describe the current state of the Australian economy?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Vote other | Dec 2016 | May 2017 | Nov 2017 | |||
| Total Good | 39% | 36% | 58% | 29% | 22% | 23% | 30% | 33% | ||
| Total Poor | 24% | 28% | 13% | 25% | 44% | 36% | 29% | 24% | ||
| Very good | 8% | 6% | 14% | 3% | 4% | 2% | 3% | 3% | ||
| Good | 31% | 30% | 44% | 26% | 18% | 21% | 27% | 30% | ||
| Neither good nor poor | 32% | 35% | 27% | 37% | 34% | 37% | 36% | 38% | ||
| Poor | 18% | 21% | 11% | 21% | 28% | 28% | 23% | 17% | ||
| Very poor | 6% | 7% | 2% | 4% | 16% | 8% | 6% | 7% | ||
| Don’t know | 5% | 2% | 25 | 8% | – | 4% | 5% | 5% |
Overall, 39% thought that the state of the economy was good (up 6% from November). 24% thought it was bad (no change).
58% of Liberal/National voters thought the state of the economy was good, compared to 36% of Labor voters, 29% of Greens voters and 22% of other/independent voters.
Trust most to handle the economy
Q. Who would you trust most to handle Australia’s economy – The Treasurer Joe Hockey or the Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen?
|
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other/ Indep-endent |
|
Aug 2014 |
|
| Joe Hockey |
26% |
|
5% |
62% |
6% |
14% |
34% |
|
| Chris Bowen |
25% |
|
49% |
6% |
42% |
10% |
23% |
|
| Don’t know |
49% |
|
46% |
31% |
52% |
76% |
43% |
26% have more trust in Joe Hockey to handle Australia’s economy and 25% have more trust in Chris Bowen. 49% don’t know who they would trust more.
This represents a 10-point shift in favour of Chris Bowen since this question was asked in August.
Managing the economy
Q. Which party – Labor or Liberal – do you think is best when it comes to:
|
Labor |
Liberal |
No Difference |
Don’t Know |
Difference (Labor v. Liberal) |
|
Difference May 2014 |
|
| Representing the interests of Australian working families |
48% |
17% |
25% |
11% |
+31% |
+27% |
|
| Representing the interests of you and people like you |
35% |
27% |
27% |
11% |
+8% |
+10% |
|
| Standing up for the middle class in Australia |
30% |
28% |
27% |
15% |
+2% |
+14% |
|
| Representing the interests of the large corporate and financial interests |
9% |
59% |
19% |
13% |
-50% |
-41% |
|
| Being more concerned about the interests of working families in Australia than the rich and large business and financial interests |
47% |
15% |
24% |
14% |
+32% |
+29% |
|
| Handling the economy overall |
23% |
37% |
27% |
14% |
-14% |
-14% |
|
| Handling the economy in a way that tries to take the interests of working families into consideration as much as it takes the interests of the large corporate and financial groups |
34% |
23% |
27% |
15% |
+11% |
+10% |
|
| Handling the economy in a way that best helps small business |
24% |
32% |
27% |
17% |
-8% |
-5% |
|
| Handling the economy in a way that best helps the middle class |
25% |
32% |
28% |
14% |
-7% |
+1% |
|
| Handling the economy in a way that helps you and people like you the most. |
32% |
27% |
27% |
14% |
+5% |
+8% |
Labor was more likely to be selected as the party best at all of the items, except for ‘Representing the interests of the large corporate and financial interests’ (59% Liberal, 9% Labor), ‘Handling the economy overall’ (37% Liberal, 23% Labor), ‘Handling the economy in a way that best helps small business’ (32% Liberal, 24% Labor) and ‘Handling the economy in a way that best helps the middle class’ (32% Liberal, 25% Labor).
Since this question was asked in May, the main shifts have been for “Standing up for the middle class in Australia “ (Labor down 12%), “Handling the economy in a way that best helps the middle class” (Labor down 8%) and “Representing the interests of the large corporate and financial interests” (Liberals up 9%).
Trust most to handle the economy
Q. Who would you trust most to handle Australia’s economy – The Treasurer Joe Hockey or the Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen?
|
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other/ Indep-endent |
|
| Joe Hockey |
34% |
7% |
73% |
10% |
19% |
|
| Chris Bowen |
23% |
44% |
4% |
43% |
22% |
|
| Don’t know |
43% |
49% |
23% |
47% |
59% |
34% have more trust in Joe Hockey to handle Australia’s economy and 23% have more trust in Chris Bowen. 43% don’t know who they would trust more.
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
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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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