Party leader trust most on issues
Q. Which party leader – Kevin Rudd or Tony Abbott – would you trust most to handle the following issues?
|
Kevin Rudd |
Tony Abbott |
No difference |
Don’t know |
Net difference |
Difference for parties 23 Jul 13 |
|
| Management of the economy |
32% |
35% |
21% |
11% |
-3 |
-15 |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children |
41% |
25% |
24% |
10% |
+16 |
+9 |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system |
37% |
27% |
25% |
11% |
+10 |
+1 |
| Protecting the environment |
33% |
22% |
31% |
14% |
+11 |
na |
| A fair industrial relations system |
41% |
28% |
19% |
12% |
+13 |
+11 |
| Political leadership |
37% |
32% |
22% |
9% |
+5 |
-7 |
| Addressing climate change |
35% |
21% |
31% |
13% |
+14 |
na |
| Controlling interest rates |
24% |
32% |
32% |
12% |
-8 |
-14 |
| Australian jobs and protection of local industries |
32% |
30% |
25% |
13% |
+2 |
-1 |
| Ensuring a quality water supply |
26% |
23% |
36% |
15% |
+3 |
-7 |
| Housing affordability |
26% |
25% |
34% |
15% |
+1 |
-2 |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system |
31% |
32% |
26% |
11% |
-1 |
-2 |
| Security and the war on terrorism |
25% |
29% |
33% |
13% |
-4 |
-15 |
| Treatment of asylum seekers |
26% |
31% |
32% |
11% |
-5 |
-11 |
| Managing population growth |
21% |
28% |
37% |
15% |
-7 |
-13 |
Substantially more respondents said they would trust Kevin Rudd more than Tony Abbott to handle a quality education for all children, a fair industrial relations system, addressing climate change, protecting the environment and ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system. Tony Abbott is more trusted to control interest rates and manage population growth.
When compared with a similar question about trust in the parties asked last month, Kevin Rudd rates considerably better that the Labor Party on management of the economy, political leadership and security and the war on terrorism.
Most important election issues
Q. Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election?
|
Total 23 Jul 13 |
|
Total 17 Jun 13 |
11 Feb 13 |
19 Nov 12 |
30 Jul 12 |
5 Dec 11 |
6 June 11 |
25 Jan 10 |
|
| Management of the economy |
45% |
47% |
62% |
66% |
64% |
62% |
61% |
63% |
|
| Ensuring a quality education for all children |
25% |
25% |
29% |
35% |
26% |
22% |
26% |
23% |
|
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system |
42% |
45% |
52% |
57% |
47% |
47% |
49% |
48% |
|
| Protecting the environment |
12% |
13% |
14% |
14% |
11% |
13% |
15% |
16% |
|
| A fair industrial relations system |
10% |
10% |
12% |
8% |
12% |
11% |
8% |
na |
|
| Political leadership |
21% |
22% |
14% |
15% |
25% |
18% |
17% |
23% |
|
| Addressing climate change |
11% |
11% |
9% |
9% |
9% |
10% |
15% |
16% |
|
| Controlling interest rates |
13% |
11% |
9% |
11% |
9% |
11% |
13% |
15% |
|
| Australian jobs and protection of local industries |
39% |
34% |
40% |
32% |
41% |
36% |
32% |
33% |
|
| Ensuring a quality water supply |
3% |
5% |
4% |
5% |
3% |
4% |
5% |
12% |
|
| Housing affordability |
17% |
14% |
11% |
14% |
13% |
13% |
16% |
14% |
|
| Ensuring a fair taxation system |
20% |
19% |
21% |
17% |
18% |
16% |
17% |
14% |
|
| Security and the war on terrorism |
8% |
8% |
6% |
5% |
5% |
4% |
8% |
9% |
|
| Treatment of asylum seekers |
14% |
11% |
6% |
6% |
10% |
8% |
5% |
na |
|
| Managing population growth |
9% |
11% |
9% |
7% |
8% |
8% |
12% |
na |
45% of people surveyed rated management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 42% ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system, 39% Australian jobs and protection of local industries and 25% ensuring a quality education for all children.
There has been little change since this question was asked last month – Australian jobs and protection of local industries is up 5 points to 39% and treatment of asylum seekers is up 3 points (and up 8 points since February) to 14%.
Party trust to handle issues
Q. Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
|
Labor |
Liberal |
Greens |
Don’t know |
|
Difference 23 Jul 13 |
Difference 17 Jun 13 |
|
| Management of the economy |
29% |
44% |
3% |
25% |
-15 |
-18 |
|
| Ensuring a quality education for all children |
40% |
31% |
4% |
25% |
+9 |
+1 |
|
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system |
34% |
33% |
7% |
27% |
+1 |
-5 |
|
| Protecting the environment |
19% |
21% |
39% |
21% |
+18 |
+10 |
|
| A fair industrial relations system |
41% |
30% |
4% |
24% |
+11 |
+3 |
|
| Political leadership |
28% |
35% |
5% |
31% |
-7 |
-19 |
|
| Addressing climate change |
20% |
23% |
30% |
27% |
+7 |
– |
|
| Controlling interest rates |
26% |
40% |
2% |
32% |
-14 |
-17 |
|
| Australian jobs and protection of local industries |
34% |
35% |
4% |
26% |
-1 |
-7 |
|
| Ensuring a quality water supply |
19% |
26% |
22% |
32% |
-7 |
-14 |
|
| Housing affordability |
26% |
28% |
6% |
39% |
-2 |
-12 |
|
| Ensuring a fair taxation system |
31% |
33% |
5% |
31% |
-2 |
-11 |
|
| Security and the war on terrorism |
23% |
38% |
4% |
36% |
-15 |
-18 |
|
| Treatment of asylum seekers |
22% |
33% |
13% |
31% |
-11 |
-22 |
|
| Managing population growth |
20% |
33% |
8% |
39% |
-13 |
-19 |
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.
On most issues, the Labor Party has gained ground on the Liberals since last month just before Kevin Rudd took over the leadership. However, the Liberal Party has maintained strong leads on management of the economy, controlling interest rates, security and the war on terrorism, treatment of asylum seekers and managing population growth.
Labor has now established a significant lead on a fair industrial relations system and ensuring quality education. The largest shifts to Labor were for quality education (+8), industrial relations (+8), political leadership (+12), housing affordability (+10) and treatment of asylum seekers (+11).
Party trust to handle issues
Q. Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
|
Labor |
Liberal |
Greens |
Don’t know |
Difference 17 Jun 13 |
Difference 11 Feb 13 |
Difference 19 Nov 12 |
Difference 18 Jun 12 |
|
| Management of the economy |
28% |
46% |
2% |
24% |
-18 |
-15 |
-14 |
-18 |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children |
37% |
36% |
4% |
23% |
+1 |
+2 |
+5 |
-2 |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system |
32% |
37% |
6% |
26% |
-5 |
-3 |
-3 |
-6 |
| Protecting the environment |
19% |
24% |
34% |
22% |
+10 |
+18 |
+16 |
+17 |
| A fair industrial relations system |
37% |
34% |
5% |
24% |
+3 |
+6 |
+9 |
+6 |
| Political leadership |
23% |
42% |
5% |
30% |
-19 |
-8 |
-12 |
-16 |
| Addressing climate change |
19% |
26% |
26% |
28% |
– |
+5 |
+9 |
+7 |
| Controlling interest rates |
25% |
42% |
2% |
31% |
-17 |
-14 |
-11 |
-18 |
| Australian jobs and protection of local industries |
30% |
37% |
4% |
29% |
-7 |
-3 |
-2 |
-6 |
| Ensuring a quality water supply |
19% |
33% |
18% |
31% |
-14 |
-6 |
-7 |
-12 |
| Housing affordability |
24% |
36% |
5% |
35% |
-12 |
-6 |
-5 |
-11 |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system |
28% |
39% |
4% |
29% |
-11 |
-6 |
-9 |
-10 |
| Security and the war on terrorism |
23% |
41% |
3% |
34% |
-18 |
-13 |
-15 |
-22 |
| Treatment of asylum seekers |
17% |
39% |
12% |
32% |
-22 |
-17 |
-18 |
-20 |
| Managing population growth |
18% |
37% |
8% |
38% |
-19 |
-12 |
-15 |
-19 |
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 Liberal Party has maintained strong leads on management of the economy, controlling interest rates, political leadership, security and the war on terrorism, treatment of asylum seekers and managing population growth.
There is little difference between Labor and the Liberals on ensuring a quality education for all children and a fair industrial relations system. Since February, there have been significant shifts to the Liberals on protecting the environment, political leadership, ensuring a quality water supply and managing population growth.
Important election issues
Q. Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election?
|
First |
Second |
Third |
Total 19 Nov 12 |
Total 30 Jul 12 |
5 Dec 11 |
6 June 11 |
25 Jan 10 |
|
| Management of the economy |
47% |
11% |
9% |
66% |
64% |
62% |
61% |
63% |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children |
7% |
16% |
11% |
35% |
26% |
22% |
26% |
23% |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system |
15% |
22% |
20% |
57% |
47% |
47% |
49% |
48% |
| Protecting the environment |
3% |
6% |
5% |
14% |
11% |
13% |
15% |
16% |
| A fair industrial relations system |
2% |
3% |
3% |
8% |
12% |
11% |
8% |
na |
| Political leadership |
6% |
5% |
4% |
15% |
25% |
18% |
17% |
23% |
| Addressing climate change |
2% |
2% |
5% |
9% |
9% |
10% |
15% |
16% |
| Controlling interest rates |
2% |
5% |
4% |
11% |
9% |
11% |
13% |
15% |
| Australian jobs and protection of local industries |
8% |
11% |
13% |
32% |
41% |
36% |
32% |
33% |
| Ensuring a quality water supply |
1% |
2% |
2% |
5% |
3% |
4% |
5% |
12% |
| Housing affordability |
3% |
6% |
5% |
14% |
13% |
13% |
16% |
14% |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system |
2% |
5% |
9% |
17% |
18% |
16% |
17% |
14% |
| Security and the war on terrorism |
* |
1% |
3% |
5% |
5% |
4% |
8% |
9% |
| Treatment of asylum seekers |
1% |
1% |
3% |
6% |
10% |
8% |
5% |
na |
| Managing population growth |
1% |
2% |
4% |
7% |
8% |
8% |
12% |
na |
*Not asked
66% of people surveyed rated management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 57% ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system, 35% ensuring a quality education for all children and 32% Australian jobs and protection of local industries.
Since July, there has been an increase in the importance of ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system (+10%) and ensuring a quality education for all children (+9%) and a decline in the importance of political leadership (-10%) and Australian jobs and protection of local industries (-9%).
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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