Essential Report
The Past Year – Politicians
Q. Has it been a good or bad year for each of the following politicians?
Total good | Total bad | Very good | Good | Neither good nor bad | Bad | Very bad | Don’t know | |
Julia Gillard | 49% | 25% | 14% | 35% | 22% | 17% | 8% | 4% |
Bob Brown | 38% | 21% | 9% | 29% | 28% | 11% | 10% | 13% |
Tony Abbott | 30% | 33% | 4% | 26% | 32% | 25% | 8% | 6% |
Malcolm Turnbull | 10% | 43% | 1% | 9% | 35% | 30% | 13% | 11% |
Kevin Rudd | 10% | 70% | 2% | 8% | 15% | 36% | 34% | 5% |
Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |||||
Total good | Total bad | Total good | Total bad | Total good | Total bad | Total good | Total bad | |
Julia Gillard | 49% | 25% | 69% | 8% | 36% | 43% | 57% | 17% |
Bob Brown | 38% | 21% | 40% | 17% | 35% | 31% | 68% | 6% |
Tony Abbott | 30% | 33% | 19% | 45% | 44% | 21% | 17% | 54% |
Malcolm Turnbull | 10% | 43% | 6% | 50% | 15% | 42% | 6% | 50% |
Kevin Rudd | 10% | 70% | 14% | 64% | 8% | 81% | 11% | 73% |
Overall, Julia Gillard (49% good/25% bad) and Bob Brown (38%/21%) are thought to have had a good year. Respondents were divided on whether Tony Abbott has had a good year (30%/33%).
A majority of their own voters thought Julia Gillard (69%) and Bob Brown (68%) have had a good year but only 44% of Liberal/National voters think Tony Abbott has had a good year. There is a substantial gender difference on the assessment of Tony Abbott – men split 37% good/30% bad and women 23% good/36% bad. Comments »

COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
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
Sign up for updates
Receive the Essential Report in your inbox.Essential Tags
2PP
Abbott
ALP
Anthony Albanese
Approval of opposition leader
Approval of Tony Abbott
asylum seekers
Australian economy
Bill Shorten
Carbon Tax
climate change
coronavirus
covid-19
economy
Education
Election
EMC
environment
ER
Essential Media
Essential Report
Federal Budget
Federal Government
federal politics
Gillard
Greens
Julia Gillard
kevin rudd
Labor
Labor Party
Liberal
Liberal Party
Liberals
mining
Nationals
Opposition leader
peter lewis
Polling
polls
Prime Minister
Scott Morrison
tony abbott
two party preferred
voting
Voting intention
Recent Comments
