Party Trust to Handle Issues
Q. Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
Liberal |
Labor |
Greens |
Don’t know |
|
Difference |
|
Difference June 2014 |
|
Management of the economy |
42% |
25% |
5% |
28% |
+17 |
+13 |
||
Ensuring a quality education for all children |
28% |
38% |
8% |
26% |
-10 |
-15 |
||
Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system |
28% |
38% |
7% |
27% |
-10 |
-13 |
||
Protecting the environment |
17% |
16% |
42% |
25% |
-25 |
-22 |
||
A fair industrial relations system |
28% |
38% |
6% |
28% |
-10 |
-11 |
||
Political leadership |
32% |
25% |
5% |
37% |
+7 |
+6 |
||
Addressing climate change |
18% |
19% |
36% |
28% |
-17 |
-12 |
||
Controlling interest rates |
36% |
23% |
5% |
37% |
+13 |
+12 |
||
Australian jobs and protection of local industries |
28% |
37% |
6% |
29% |
-9 |
-12 |
||
Ensuring a quality water supply |
25% |
19% |
26% |
31% |
+6 |
+5 |
||
Housing affordability |
25% |
31% |
7% |
37% |
-6 |
-4 |
||
Ensuring a fair taxation system |
31% |
33% |
6% |
31% |
-2 |
+1 |
||
Security and the war on terrorism |
41% |
22% |
4% |
33% |
+19 |
+16 |
||
Treatment of asylum seekers |
33% |
20% |
18% |
29% |
+13 |
+17 |
||
Managing population growth |
32% |
20% |
9% |
39% |
+12 |
+10 |
Note – Differences are calculated by subtracting Labor % from Liberal % – except for the two issues on which the Greens lead in which case it is Liberal minus Greens.
The Liberal Party is trusted more to handle security and the war on terrorism (+19), management of the economy (+17), controlling interest rates (+13) and treatment of asylum seekers (+13). The Labor Party is trusted more to handle a quality education for all children (-10), ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system (-10), a fair industrial relations system (-10) and Australian jobs and protection of local industries (-9).
There have been no substantial movements since this question was asked in June. Main changes have been an improvement for the Liberal Party on education (up net 5 points), the economy (up 4) and treatment of asylum seekers (down 4).
Party Best At…
Q. Which party – Labor or Liberal – do you think is best when it comes to:
Labor |
Liberal |
No difference |
Don’t know |
Difference |
|
Representing the interests of Australian working families |
37% |
25% |
29% |
9% |
+12 |
Representing the interests of you and people like you |
29% |
35% |
26% |
10% |
-6 |
Standing up for the middle class in Australia |
26% |
33% |
30% |
11% |
-7 |
Representing the interests of the large corporate and financial interests |
10% |
54% |
25% |
11% |
-44 |
Being more concerned about the interests of working families in Australia than the rich and large business and financial interests |
37% |
22% |
30% |
11% |
+15 |
Handling the economy overall |
22% |
41% |
26% |
10% |
-19 |
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 |
29% |
34% |
25% |
12% |
-5 |
Handling the economy in a way that best helps small business |
22% |
40% |
25% |
13% |
-18 |
Handling the economy in a way that best helps the middle class |
23% |
38% |
27% |
12% |
-15 |
Handling the economy in a way that helps you and people like you the most. |
26% |
36% |
27% |
11% |
-10 |
Labor was considered best at representing the interests of Australian working families (37%) and being more concerned about the interests of working families in Australia than the rich and large business and financial interests (37%). The Liberals were considered best on all the other measures.
In particular, the Liberal Party was considered much better on representing the interests of the large corporate and financial interests (54%), handling the economy overall (41%) and handling the economy in a way that best helps small business (40%).

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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