Difference Between Labor and Liberal Parties
Q. Thinking about the Federal Parliament, how much difference do you think there is between the policies of the Labor Party and the Liberal Party?
| Total
8 Nov 10 |
Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Very little difference | 29% | 21% | 20% | 13% | 29% |
| Some difference | 43% | 39% | 41% | 40% | 51% |
| A lot of difference | 19% | 31% | 32% | 44% | 15% |
| Don’t know | 9% | 8% | 6% | 4% | 4% |
21% of respondents think that there is very little difference between the policies of the Labor and Liberal parties. This is less than in November 2010 (29%). 39% of respondents think that there is some difference and 31% think there is a lot of difference (up from 19% in November last year).
Green voters (29%) were more likely to think that there is little difference.
There is little difference between the responses by gender or state.
Those aged 65+ were the most likely to think that there is a lot of difference between the policies of Labor and the Liberal parties (55%).
Change in Difference Between Labor and Liberal Parties
Q. Do you think that in the last few years, the policies of the Labor Party and the Liberal Party have become more similar or do you think their policies have been moving apart?
| Total
8 Nov 10 |
Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Become more similar | 51% | 40% | 41% | 36% | 56% |
| Moving further apart | 17% | 31% | 28% | 41% | 22% |
| No change | 21% | 17% | 24% | 15% | 11% |
| Don’t know | 12% | 11% | 7% | 8% | 11% |
40% of respondents think that the Labor and Liberal parties are becoming more similar – a drop from the 51% who thought the same thing in November 2010.
31% think that they are moving further apart – a big increase from the 17% who thought the same thing in November 2010.
Green voters (56%) were the most likely to think that they were becoming more similar. However 41% of Labor voters and 36% of Lib/Nat voters also thought that they were becoming more similar.
Lib/Nat voters were the most likely to think that they were moving further apart (41%).
There was no substantial differences based on gender, state or age
Attributes of the Liberal Party
Q. And which statements do you feel fit the Liberal Party?
| 6 July 09 | 14 Mar 10
|
27 April 11 | % change | |
| Will promise to do anything to win votes | 67% | 72% | 65% | -7% |
| Too close to the big corporate and financial interests | 60% | n.a. | ||
| Moderate | 50% | 50% | 55% | +5% |
| Out of touch with ordinary people | 62% | 58% | 54% | -4% |
| Understands the problems facing Australia | 44% | 43% | 51% | +8% |
| Divided | 74% | 66% | 49% | -17% |
| Have a vision for the future | 48% | n.a. | ||
| Clear about what they stand for | 44% | n.a. | ||
| Has a good team of leaders | 29% | 31% | 40% | +9% |
| Looks after the interests of working people | 38% | n.a. | ||
| Extreme | 36% | 38% | 36% | -2% |
| Keeps its promises | 28% | 23% | 33% | +10% |
The Liberal Party’s main attributes were – will promise anything to win votes (65%), too close to the big corporate and financial interest (60%), moderate (55%) and out of touch with ordinary people (54%).
Since these questions were last asked in March 2010, most of the Liberal Party’s positive attributes have increased and the negative attributes decreased. Main changes since last March were – divided (down 17% to 49%), keeps its promises (up 10% to 33%) and has a good team of leaders (up 9% to 40%).
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