Election Issues, Labor Party, Liberal Party, party trust
Q: Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
| Liberal | Labor | Don’t know | Difference | ||
| Security and the war on terrorism | 42% | 19% | 39% | +23 | |
| Management of the economy | 42% | 22% | 36% | +20 | |
| Controlling interest rates | 34% | 22% | 44% | +12 | |
| Political leadership | 36% | 25% | 40% | +11 | |
| Managing population growth | 33% | 22% | 45% | +11 | |
| Treatment of asylum seekers | 33% | 25% | 41% | +8 | |
| Ensuring a quality water supply | 26% | 26% | 47% | – | |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system | 27% | 35% | 38% | -8 | |
| Housing affordability | 25% | 35% | 40% | -10 | |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children | 28% | 39% | 34% | -11 | |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 26% | 37% | 37% | -11 | |
| Addressing climate change | 22% | 33% | 45% | -11 | |
| Protecting the environment | 22% | 34% | 43% | -12 | |
| A fair industrial relations system | 27% | 39% | 34% | -12 | |
| Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 26% | 39% | 35% | -13 |
The Liberal Party is trusted more to handle security and the war of terrorism (+23), management of the economy (+20) and controlling interest rates (+12).
The Labor Party is trusted more to handle protecting jobs and local industries (+13), a fair industrial relations system (+12) and protecting the environment (+12).
economy, Education, environment, Health, party trust
Q: Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
| Liberal | Labor | Greens | Don’t know | Difference | Difference
Sep 2015 |
|||
| Management of the economy | 41% | 23% | 4% | 32% | +18 | +16 | ||
| Ensuring a quality education for all children | 28% | 35% | 7% | 30% | -7 | -4 | ||
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 28% | 33% | 8% | 30% | -5 | -2 | ||
| Protecting the environment | 18% | 16% | 39% | 26% | -21 | -20 | ||
| A fair industrial relations system | 27% | 38% | 5% | 30% | -11 | -8 | ||
| Political leadership | 38% | 20% | 7% | 36% | +18 | +9 | ||
| Addressing climate change | 19% | 23% | 31% | 27% | -12 | -12 | ||
| Controlling interest rates | 36% | 22% | 4% | 37% | +14 | +16 | ||
| Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 28% | 35% | 6% | 31% | -7 | -5 | ||
| Ensuring a quality water supply | 25% | 20% | 24% | 31% | +5 | +7 | ||
| Housing affordability | 24% | 31% | 7% | 38% | -7 | – | ||
| Ensuring a fair taxation system | 31% | 31% | 6% | 32% | – | +4 | ||
| Security and the war on terrorism | 41% | 19% | 5% | 36% | +22 | +20 | ||
| Treatment of asylum seekers | 28% | 21% | 17% | 34% | +7 | +12 | ||
| Managing population growth | 32% | 19% | 9% | 40% | +13 | +11 |
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 (+22), management of the economy (+18), political leadership (+18) and controlling interest rates (+14). The Labor Party is trusted more to handle a fair industrial relations system (-11) and Australian jobs, protection of local industries (-7), ensuring a quality education (-7) and housing affordability (-7).
Main changes since this question was asked last month have been an improvement for the Liberal Party on political leadership (up net 9 points), and improvement for the Labor Party on housing affordability (up 7) and treatment of asylum seekers (up 5).
Q. Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
|
Liberal |
Labor |
Greens |
Don’t know |
Difference |
Difference Feb 2015 |
|||
|
Management of the economy |
40% |
24% |
5% |
31% |
+16 |
+17 |
||
|
Ensuring a quality education for all children |
29% |
33% |
8% |
31% |
-4 |
-10 |
||
|
Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system |
29% |
31% |
8% |
31% |
-2 |
-10 |
||
|
Protecting the environment |
20% |
15% |
40% |
25% |
-20 |
-25 |
||
|
A fair industrial relations system |
27% |
35% |
7% |
31% |
-8 |
-10 |
||
|
Political leadership |
32% |
23% |
8% |
36% |
+9 |
+7 |
||
|
Addressing climate change |
21% |
19% |
33% |
27% |
-12 |
-17 |
||
|
Controlling interest rates |
37% |
21% |
5% |
37% |
+16 |
+13 |
||
|
Australian jobs and protection of local industries |
29% |
34% |
6% |
31% |
-5 |
-9 |
||
|
Ensuring a quality water supply |
27% |
20% |
21% |
32% |
+7 |
+6 |
||
|
Housing affordability |
27% |
27% |
7% |
38% |
– |
-6 |
||
|
Ensuring a fair taxation system |
32% |
28% |
7% |
33% |
+4 |
-2 |
||
|
Security and the war on terrorism |
40% |
20% |
5% |
34% |
+20 |
+19 |
||
|
Treatment of asylum seekers |
31% |
19% |
19% |
31% |
+12 |
+13 |
||
|
Managing population growth |
31% |
20% |
8% |
41% |
+11 |
+12 |
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 (+20), management of the economy (+16), controlling interest rates (+16) and treatment of asylum seekers (+12). The Labor Party is trusted more to handle a fair industrial relations system (-8) and Australian jobs and protection of local industries (-5).
Main changes since this question was asked in February have been an improvement for the Liberal Party on the health system (up net 8 points), education (up 6), housing affordability (up 6) and taxation (up 6).
economy, Industrial Relations, party trust, political leadership, protecting the environment, quality education
Q. Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
|
Labor |
Liberal |
Greens |
Don’t know |
|
Difference 11 Feb 14 |
Difference 19 Nov 13 |
|
| Management of the economy |
27% |
46% |
2% |
25% |
-19 |
-26 |
|
| Ensuring a quality education for all children |
39% |
32% |
5% |
25% |
+7 |
+2 |
|
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system |
35% |
33% |
6% |
26% |
+2 |
-1 |
|
| Protecting the environment |
17% |
22% |
37% |
23% |
+15 |
+14 |
|
| A fair industrial relations system |
37% |
32% |
3% |
28% |
+5 |
+2 |
|
| Political leadership |
26% |
39% |
4% |
31% |
-13 |
-23 |
|
| Addressing climate change |
20% |
25% |
28% |
27% |
+3 |
+5 |
|
| Controlling interest rates |
25% |
42% |
3% |
30% |
-17 |
-21 |
|
| Australian jobs and protection of local industries |
34% |
32% |
4% |
30% |
+2 |
-7 |
|
| Ensuring a quality water supply |
20% |
30% |
21% |
29% |
-10 |
-13 |
|
| Housing affordability |
28% |
30% |
5% |
37% |
-2 |
-6 |
|
| Ensuring a fair taxation system |
29% |
35% |
4% |
32% |
-6 |
-11 |
|
| Security and the war on terrorism |
23% |
39% |
3% |
35% |
-16 |
-22 |
|
| Treatment of asylum seekers |
20% |
36% |
15% |
29% |
-16 |
-18 |
|
| Managing population growth |
21% |
32% |
8% |
38% |
-11 |
-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 is trusted more to handle management of the economy (-19), controlling interest rates (-17), security and the war on terrorism (-16) and treatment of asylum seekers (-16). The Labor Party is trusted more to handle a quality education for all children (+7) and a fair industrial relations system (+5).
Since this question was asked in November, the Labor Party has improved its position on all issues – especially political leadership (up 10%), Australian jobs and protection of local industries (up 9%), managing population growth (up 8%) and managing the economy (up 7%).
10 December 2013, 101213, Education, party trust
Q. Which party would you trust most to ensure a quality education for all children?
|
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other/ indep-endent |
|
| Labor |
36% |
84% |
5% |
24% |
28% |
|
| Liberal |
33% |
2% |
72% |
3% |
25% |
|
| Greens |
7% |
3% |
1% |
61% |
6% |
|
| Don’t know |
23% |
11% |
23% |
12% |
41% |
36% trust the Labor Party most to ensure a quality education for all children and 33% trust the Liberal Party most. When this issue was last measured in November, 34% favoured the Labor Party and 32% the Liberal Party.
Those more likely to trust the Labor Party most were aged 35-54 (42%) and people on low incomes (44% of those earning less than $600 pw).
Those more likely to trust the Liberal Party most were aged 55+ (44%) and people earning more than $1,000 pw (38%).
15 October 2013, 151013, GFC, party trust
Q. The shutdown of the US Government has sparked fears of another global recession.
If there was another Global Financial Crisis, which party would you trust most to deal with it?
|
% |
|
Lib/Nat voters |
Labor voters |
Green voters |
|
15 Aug 2011 |
7 May 2012 |
29 Jan 2103 |
|
| The Liberal Party |
38% |
78% |
6% |
5% |
40% |
42% |
40% |
||
| The Labor Party |
29% |
4% |
68% |
39% |
31% |
25% |
26% |
||
| No Difference |
23% |
13% |
16% |
47% |
20% |
23% |
22% |
||
| Don’t know |
10% |
5% |
9% |
9% |
9% |
10% |
11% |
If there was another GFC, 38% of people would trust the Liberal Party most to deal with it. 29% trusted Labor while 23% said there was no difference.
Trust generally followed party lines, with 78% of Lib/Nat voters selecting the Liberals and 68% of Labor voters selecting Labor. 47% of Green voters selected ‘no difference’.
The overall figures are generally in line with those from 2011, 2012 and early in 2013.
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.
23 July 2013, 230713, Education, environment, health system, management of economy, party trust
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).