Federal Government led by Labor or Coalition better at…
Q. Do you think a Federal Government led by Labor or the Coalition would be better at…?
Coalition | Labor | Neither | |
Reducing national debt | 42% | 28% | 30% |
Managing the economy | 44% | 31% | 25% |
Creating jobs | 39% | 38% | 23% |
Helping those who’ve lost work because of Covid-19 get back into the workforce | 38% | 40% | 22% |
Supporting those in financial need | 35% | 42% | 23% |
Improving the financial situation of women | 31% | 38% | 31% |
- A Coalition government is thought to be better than Labor at governance issues such as reducing national debt (42% to 28%) and managing the economy (44% to 31%).
- Elements where Labor is seen to do a better job than the Coalition is in supporting those in financial need (42% to 35%) and improving the financial situation for women (38% to 31%).
- Both parties are seen to be equally competent to create jobs (39% Coalition, 38% Labor) and helping those who have lost work due to Covid-19 (38% Coalition, 40% Labor).
Federal government better at
Q. Do you think a Federal Government led by Labor or the Coalition would be better at…?
Coalition | Labor | Neither | |
Reducing national debt | 45% | 27% | 28% |
Managing the economy | 45% | 32% | 24% |
Stopping community transmission of Covid-19 as soon as possible | 39% | 31% | 30% |
Working with other countries’ leaders appropriately | 38% | 34% | 28% |
Creating jobs | 37% | 40% | 23% |
Supporting those in financial need | 35% | 43% | 22% |
Improving the education system | 32% | 41% | 27% |
- A Coalition government is thought to be better than Labor at governance issues such as recovering the economy from Covid-19 (46% Coalition), reducing national debt (45%) and managing the economy (44%).
- Elements where Labor is seen to do a better job than the Coalition is in improving the education system (41%), supporting those in financial need (43%) an creating jobs (40%).
- Across all issues between one-fifth (22%) and almost a third (30%) of participants believe that neither party would be better at any of the listed elements.
Attitude to Bridget McKenzie’s resignation and grant allocation
Q. The Deputy Leader of the Nationals has resigned for having a conflict of interest in awarding a grant to a shooting club of which she was a member. Which of the following statements do you agree with?
NET: Agree | NET: Disagree | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | Unsure | |
The investigation needs to continue to investigate any MP involved in the allocation of sports grants | 70% | 17% | 70% | 17% | 11% | 6% | 13% |
Giving grants to sports organisations in marginal seats was only done to influence the election result in the Governments favour | 66% | 16% | 36% | 30% | 12% | 5% | 18% |
The minister’s resignation should be the end of the matter | 49% | 38% | 24% | 26% | 20% | 18% | 13% |
NET: Agree | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | |
The investigation needs to continue to investigate any MP involved in the allocation of sports grants | 70% | 77% | 65% | 81% | 71% |
Giving grants to sports organisations in marginal seats was only done to influence the election result in the Governments favour | 66% | 76% | 56% | 70% | 73% |
The minister’s resignation should be the end of the matter | 49% | 44% | 61% | 44% | 44% |
Base (n) | 1,056 | 354 | 320 | 113 | 155 |
- 70% of participants agree that the investigation into the Deputy Nationals Leader needs to continue to investigate any MP involved in the allocation of sports grants. Half (49%) of participants agree that the minister’s resignation should be the end of the matter.
- Coalition voters are more likely to agree that the minister’s resignation should be the end of the matter (61%) than all other voters (44%).
- Additionally, Coalition voters are least likely to agree that the investigation needs to continue (65%) and giving grants to sports organisations in marginal seats was only done to influence the election result in the Governments favour (56%), than all other voters (76% and 74%).
International relations under a Coalition Government
Q. Do you think under the Coalition Government, relations with the following countries will improve or get worse?
Improve |
Get worse |
Stay much the same |
Don’t know |
|
United States |
24% |
12% |
48% |
16% |
United Kingdom |
20% |
11% |
52% |
17% |
New Zealand |
19% |
12% |
53% |
16% |
Germany |
11% |
11% |
57% |
21% |
Japan |
15% |
16% |
50% |
19% |
China |
19% |
22% |
40% |
19% |
South Africa |
9% |
12% |
56% |
23% |
India |
13% |
19% |
47% |
21% |
Indonesia |
11% |
49% |
22% |
18% |
For most countries, about half think that relations will stay much the same. The exceptions were China (19% improve, 22% get worse) and Indonesia (11% improve, 49% get worse).
Respondents were more likely to think that relations with the United States, New Zealand and United Kingdom would improve.
The main differences by party preference were for China (Labor 7% improve/38% get worse compared to Lib/Nat 33% improve/6% get worse) and Indonesia (Labor 4% improve/68% get worse compared to Lib/Nat 21% improve/31% get worse).
Party trust to handle issues
Q. Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
Labor |
Liberal |
Greens |
Don’t know |
|
Difference 2 Sep 13 |
Difference 23 Jul 13 |
|
Management of the economy |
32% |
47% |
4% |
18% |
-15 |
-15 |
|
Ensuring a quality education for all children |
42% |
32% |
8% |
19% |
+10 |
+9 |
|
Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system |
37% |
34% |
8% |
21% |
+3 |
+1 |
|
Protecting the environment |
19% |
21% |
43% |
17% |
+22 |
+18 |
|
A fair industrial relations system |
41% |
31% |
7% |
21% |
+10 |
+11 |
|
Political leadership |
31% |
40% |
6% |
23% |
-9 |
-7 |
|
Addressing climate change |
24% |
23% |
32% |
21% |
+9 |
+7 |
|
Controlling interest rates |
29% |
41% |
4% |
26% |
-12 |
-14 |
|
Australian jobs and protection of local industries |
38% |
36% |
5% |
21% |
-2 |
-1 |
|
Ensuring a quality water supply |
22% |
30% |
22% |
26% |
-8 |
-7 |
|
Housing affordability |
30% |
32% |
7% |
31% |
-2 |
-2 |
|
Ensuring a fair taxation system |
32% |
37% |
6% |
26% |
-5 |
-2 |
|
Security and the war on terrorism |
27% |
38% |
5% |
30% |
-11 |
-15 |
|
Treatment of asylum seekers |
23% |
36% |
16% |
26% |
-13 |
-11 |
|
Managing population growth |
24% |
33% |
9% |
34% |
-9 |
-13 |
Note – Differences are calculated by subtracting Liberal % from Labor % – except for the two issues on which the Greens lead in which case it is Greens minus Liberal.
The Labor Party is trusted more to handle a quality education for all children (+10) and a fair industrial relations system (+10).
The Liberal Party is trusted more to handle management of the economy (-15), treatment of asylum seekers (-13), controlling interest rates (-12) and security and the war on terrorism (-11).
There have been no major changes since this question was last asked in July.
Party attributes comparison – Labor vs Liberal
Labor |
Liberal |
|
Difference |
|
Divided |
66% |
31% |
+35 |
|
Looks after the interests of working people |
53% |
36% |
+17 |
|
Have good policies |
46% |
38% |
+8 |
|
Understands the problems facing Australia |
50% |
48% |
+2 |
|
Will promise to do anything to win votes |
65% |
65% |
– |
|
Moderate |
48% |
48% |
– |
|
Has a good team of leaders |
36% |
36% |
– |
|
Trustworthy |
30% |
30% |
– |
|
Have a vision for the future |
49% |
51% |
-2 |
|
Extreme |
34% |
39% |
-5 |
|
Keeps its promises |
27% |
32% |
-5 |
|
Out of touch with ordinary people |
51% |
58% |
-7 |
|
Clear about what they stand for |
38% |
45% |
-7 |
|
Too close to the big corporate and financial interests |
31% |
60% |
-29 |
The Labor Party is viewed more favourably than the Liberal Party in terms of looking after the interest of working people, being too close to the big corporate and financial interests, having good policies and less out of touch with ordinary people.
The Liberal Party is seen more favourably in terms of being divided and clear about what they stand for.
NBN
Q. The Government’s NBN (National Broadband Network) is a fast, high capacity fibre network to the home reaching 93% of Australian homes and businesses.
The Coalition has proposed a broadband plan in which the NBN would be replaced with broadband fibre to local “nodes” (or exchanges) and the existing telephone copper network would connect the rest of the way to homes. This would mean slower broadband speeds than the NBN but cost less to build. Do you support the Government’s or the Coalition’s broadband policy?
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
Support Government’s policy |
54% |
83% |
31% |
74% |
Support the Coalition’s policy |
23% |
4% |
46% |
7% |
Don’t know |
23% |
12% |
23% |
19% |
54% support the Government’s broadband policy and 23% support the Coalition’s policy.
For those aged 18-34, 61% support the Government’s policy and 15% support the Coalition’s. 51% of those aged 35-54 and 49% of those aged 55+ support the Government’s policy.
Will the Coalition deliver a surplus
Q. Do you think that if Tony Abbott and Coalition win the next election, they will deliver a budget surplus in their first year of Government?
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
Probably will deliver a surplus |
19% |
10% |
31% |
14% |
Probably won’t deliver a surplus |
60% |
74% |
52% |
66% |
Don’t know |
20% |
16% |
18% |
20% |
60% think that if Tony Abbott and Coalition win the next election, they probably won’t deliver a budget surplus in their first year of Government and 19% think they probably will.
A majority of all demographic and voter groups (including Liberal/National voters) think the Coalition will probably not deliver a surplus in their first year if elected.

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
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