Coalition, Federal Government, Labor
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% |
Coalition, Federal Government, Labor
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% |
coronavirus, covid-19, Labor, opposition
Q. Which of the following is closest to your view on the role of the Federal Labor opposition during the response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||||
| Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Coalition | Labor | Greens | NET: Other | ||
| Opposition should accept the Government recommendations to ensure decisions are made quickly | 49% | 52% | 45% | 46% | 46% | 54% | 66% | 40% | 35% | 49% | |
| Opposition review and challenge Government decisions to ensure the best decisions are made | 33% | 35% | 31% | 33% | 30% | 36% | 24% | 45% | 41% | 33% | |
| Unsure | 19% | 13% | 24% | 21% | 24% | 10% | 10% | 15% | 25% | 18% | |
| Base (n) | 1,034 | 519 | 515 | 342 | 327 | 365 | 324 | 344 | 108 | 126 | |
favour the middle class, Favour the poor, favour the rich, iberal/National Coalition, Labor, policies
Q. In general, do you think the policies of the Liberal/National Coalition and the policies of Labor favour the rich, favour the middle class, favour the poor, or do they treat all groups equally?
|
Favour the rich |
Favour the average Australian |
Favour the poor |
Treat all groups equally |
Don’t know |
|
| The policies of the Liberal/National Coalition… |
54% |
16% |
5% |
13% |
12% |
| The policies of Labor… |
16% |
34% |
22% |
11% |
17% |
Just over half (54%) of Australians believe that the policies of the Lib/Nat Coalition favour the rich. 16% think they favour the average Australian, 5% think they favour the poor and 13% think they favour all groups equally.
The largest proportion of Australians (34%) think that the policies of Labor favour the average Australian. 16% think they favour the rich, 22% think they favour the poor and 11% think they treat all groups equally.
Labor and Green voters were more likely to think that the Lib/Nat’s favour the rich (81% each), and that Labor favour the average Australian (53% of Labor voters and 57% of Green voters).
There were no significant differences based on gender.
For a more detailed breakdown of this question, please download the Essential Report.
climate change, economy, Education, Election, Election Issues, environment, Federal Election, Greens, Health, Industrial Relations, Labor, Liberal/National, Liberals
Q. Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election?
|
Total 22 Apr 14 |
|
Vote ALP |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Grn |
Vote other |
|
23 Jul 13 |
30 Jul 12 |
6 June 11 |
25 Jan 10 |
|
| Management of the economy |
54% |
43% |
75% |
22% |
44% |
45% |
64% |
61% |
63% |
||
| Ensuring a quality education for all children |
27% |
35% |
18% |
38% |
20% |
25% |
26% |
26% |
23% |
||
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system |
50% |
54% |
43% |
62% |
52% |
42% |
47% |
49% |
48% |
||
| Protecting the environment |
13% |
12% |
7% |
42% |
14% |
12% |
11% |
15% |
16% |
||
| A fair industrial relations system |
12% |
17% |
11% |
8% |
12% |
10% |
12% |
8% |
na |
||
| Political leadership |
15% |
11% |
24% |
6% |
13% |
21% |
25% |
17% |
23% |
||
| Addressing climate change |
10% |
13% |
4% |
28% |
9% |
11% |
9% |
15% |
16% |
||
| Controlling interest rates |
9% |
9% |
11% |
2% |
7% |
13% |
9% |
13% |
15% |
||
| Australian jobs and protection of local industries |
37% |
39% |
37% |
18% |
37% |
39% |
41% |
32% |
33% |
||
| Ensuring a quality water supply |
4% |
5% |
3% |
3% |
5% |
3% |
3% |
5% |
12% |
||
| Housing affordability |
17% |
18% |
16% |
13% |
19% |
17% |
13% |
16% |
14% |
||
| Ensuring a fair taxation system |
20% |
19% |
20% |
9% |
23% |
20% |
18% |
17% |
14% |
||
| Security and the war on terrorism |
5% |
3% |
8% |
3% |
5% |
8% |
5% |
8% |
9% |
||
| Treatment of asylum seekers |
8% |
5% |
5% |
32% |
9% |
14% |
10% |
5% |
na |
||
| Managing population growth |
9% |
6% |
10% |
8% |
16% |
9% |
8% |
12% |
na |
54% of people surveyed rated management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 50% ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system, 37% Australian jobs and protection of local industries and 27% ensuring a quality education for all children.
Main changes since this question was asked last July – management of the economy up 9%, ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system up 8%, political leadership down 6% and treatment of asylum seekers down 6%.
020913, 2 September 2013, Coalition, economy, environment, Greens, Interest rates, Labor, party trust, quality education
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.
19 August 2013, 190813, Coalition, Labor, Liberal, party attributes
|
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.
01 July 2013, 010713, Labor, Likelihood of voting labor
Q. Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for the Labor Party now that Kevin Rudd is leader?
|
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| Total more likely |
33% |
61% |
14% |
21% |
|
| Total less likely |
19% |
4% |
33% |
26% |
|
| Much more likely |
20% |
46% |
3% |
10% |
|
| A little more likely |
13% |
15% |
11% |
11% |
|
| Makes no difference |
42% |
34% |
50% |
44% |
|
| A little less likely |
4% |
2% |
4% |
15% |
|
| Much less likely |
15% |
2% |
29% |
11% |
|
| Don’t know |
6% |
2% |
3% |
11% |
33% say they are more likely to vote Labor now the Kevin Rudd is leader, 19% are less likely and 42% say it makes no difference.
For men, 34% say they are more likely and 19% less likely compared to 32% more likely and 19% less likely with women.