02 April 2012, 020412, Comparison of Leaders, Julia Gillard, Labor, leader attributes, leaders, Liberal, political leaders, Polling, polls, tony abbott
Julia Gillard |
Tony Abbott |
Difference |
|
Intelligent |
61% |
56% |
+5% |
Hard-working |
65% |
68% |
-3% |
A capable leader |
38% |
41% |
-3% |
Arrogant |
53% |
61% |
-8% |
Out of touch with ordinary people |
65% |
54% |
+11% |
Understands the problems facing Australia |
41% |
49% |
-8% |
Visionary |
25% |
26% |
-1% |
Superficial |
54% |
49% |
+5% |
Good in a crisis |
36% |
36% |
– |
Narrow-minded |
53% |
54% |
-1% |
More honest than most politicians |
26% |
30% |
-4% |
Trustworthy |
25% |
32% |
-7% |
Julia Gillard rates higher than Tony Abbott on out of touch with ordinary people (+11%), intelligent (+5%) and superficial (+5%).
She rates lower than Tony Abbott on arrogant (-8%), understands the problems facing Australia (-8%) and trustworthy (-7%).
asylum seekers, ER, Essential Report, Julia Gillard, leaders, Malaysia solution, political leaders, tony abbott
Q. Regardless of how you vote, what words would you use to describe the positions taken by Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott on the issue of asylum seekers, including the recent attempt at legislating the deal with Malaysia?
Julia Gillard | Tony Abbott | Difference | |
Just playing politics | 46% | 47% | -1 |
Stubborn | 26% | 20% | +6 |
Unethical | 24% | 14% | +10 |
Too soft | 21% | 7% | +14 |
Populist | 13% | 14% | -1 |
Cruel | 13% | 9% | +4 |
Responsible | 11% | 16% | -5 |
Fair | 10% | 15% | -5 |
Too hard | 10% | 6% | +4 |
Balanced | 7% | 11% | -4 |
Principled | 6% | 11% | -5 |
Visionary | 6% | 5% | +1 |
Nearly half the respondents believe that both Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott have been “just playing politics” over the issue of asylum seekers.
The main differences between the leaders positions on asylum seekers were that Julia Gillard was more likely to be considered “too soft” (21% to 7%) and “unethical” (24% to 14%). Julia Gillard was also a little more likely to be considered “stubborn” (26% to 20%).