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  • Feb, 2014

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    Party trust to handle issues

    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%).

  • Jan, 2014

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    Better or worse under Liberal/National Government

    Q. Under the new Liberal/National Government, do you expect the following will get better or worse?

    Total
    better

    Total worse

    Net

    A
    lot better

    A little better

    Stay much the same

    A little wor-
    se

    A
    lot wor-
    se

    Don’t know

    Better
    Sept 13

    Wor
    -se
    Sept 13

    Political leadership

    33%

    38%

    -5

    15%

    18%

    25%

    12%

    26%

    3%

    42%

    31%

    Trust in Government

    30%

    43%

    -13

    12%

    18%

    26%

    13%

    30%

    3%

    36%

    36%

    Unemployment

    22%

    45%

    -23

    6%

    16%

    30%

    21%

    24%

    3%

    27%

    37%

    The economy overall

    30%

    38%

    -8

    10%

    20%

    29%

    21%

    17%

    3%

    38%

    30%

    The cost of living

    17%

    52%

    -35

    5%

    12%

    29%

    25%

    27%

    3%

    27%

    40%

    Interest rates

    16%

    33%

    -17

    5%

    11%

    47%

    18%

    15%

    4%

    17%

    31%

    Health services

    18%

    45%

    -27

    5%

    13%

    35%

    18%

    27%

    3%

    23%

    42%

    Job security

    17%

    49%

    -32

    5%

    12%

    32%

    21%

    28%

    3%

    22%

    43%

    Workers rights and conditions

    14%

    45%

    -31

    5%

    9%

    36%

    14%

    31%

    4%

    18%

    47%

    Company profits

    40%

    18%

    +22

    13%

    27%

    38%

    8%

    10%

    4%

    47%

    14%

    The environment

    16%

    41%

    -25

    5%

    11%

    39%

    14%

    27%

    4%

    18%

    39%

    Education and schools

    20%

    43%

    -23

    6%

    14%

    33%

    19%

    24%

    3%

    25%

    41%

    Public services

    17%

    46%

    -29

    6%

    11%

    35%

    20%

    26%

    3%

    20%

    45%

    Benefits for people on Government support – such as pensioners and the unemployed

    13%

    49%

    -36

    4%

    9%

    35%

    21%

    28%

    3%

    19%

    44%

    Your personal financial situation

    18%

    37%

    -19

    5%

    13%

    42%

    20%

    17%

    2%

    22%

    35%

    Except for company profits, respondents believed all issues measured would get worse under the new Liberal/National Government. Expectations on each issue have declined since this question was asked immediately after the election. The largest declines have been for cost of living (net score down 22), the economy overall (-16), political leadership (-16), unemployment (-13) and trust in Government (-13).

  • Feb, 2013

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    Expectations of a Liberal/National Government

    Q. If the Labor Party lost the next election, do you think the following would be better or worse under a Liberal/National Government led by Tony Abbott?

     

    A lot better

    A little better

    Stay much the same

    A little worse

    A lot worse

    Don’t use

    NET (Better-Worse)

    Political leadership

    16%

    19%

    27%

    10%

    24%

    4%

    +1

    Trust in Government

    13%

    19%

    29%

    12%

    22%

    4%

    -2

    Unemployment

    7%

    18%

    39%

    13%

    19%

    5%

    -7

    The economy overall

    16%

    22%

    31%

    12%

    16%

    4%

    +10

    The cost of living

    6%

    19%

    36%

    14%

    21%

    4%

    -10

    Interest rates

    5%

    13%

    48%

    14%

    16%

    5%

    -12

    Health services

    6%

    19%

    36%

    16%

    20%

    4%

    -11

    Job security

    7%

    17%

    36%

    14%

    22%

    4%

    -12

    Workers rights and conditions

    5%

    13%

    37%

    15%

    25%

    5%

    -22

    Company profits

    13%

    28%

    37%

    6%

    10%

    6%

    +25

    The environment

    5%

    13%

    47%

    11%

    21%

    4%

    -14

    Job creation

    8%

    20%

    39%

    13%

    16%

    4%

    -1

    Public services

    6%

    15%

    42%

    13%

    20%

    4%

    -12

    Benefits for people on Government support – such as pensioners and the unemployed

    5%

    13%

    39%

    16%

    23%

    5%

    -21

    Your personal financial situation

    6%

    16%

    42%

    15%

    16%

    4%

    -9

    Under a Liberal Government, respondents though that the economy overall (+10) and company profits (+25) would be better.

    However they were more likely to think that workers rights and conditions (-22), benefits for people on Government support  (-21), the environment (-14), interest rates (-12), job security (-12), public services, health services (-11) and the cost of living (-10) would all be worse. 22% think their own financial situation will be better, 31% think it will be worse and 42% much the same.

  • Jul, 2012

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    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

    30 Jul 12

    5 Dec 11

    6 June 11

    25 Jan 10

    Management of the economy

    38%

    16%

    10%

    64%

    62%

    61%

    63%

    Ensuring a quality education for all children

    5%

    10%

    11%

    26%

    22%

    26%

    23%

    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system

    10%

    19%

    18%

    47%

    47%

    49%

    48%

    Protecting the environment

    3%

    4%

    4%

    11%

    13%

    15%

    16%

    A fair industrial relations system

    4%

    3%

    5%

    12%

    11%

    8%

    *

    Political leadership

    11%

    7%

    7%

    25%

    18%

    17%

    23%

    Addressing climate change

    3%

    3%

    3%

    9%

    10%

    15%

    16%

    Controlling interest rates

    2%

    2%

    5%

    9%

    11%

    13%

    15%

    Australian jobs and protection of local industries

    13%

    15%

    13%

    41%

    36%

    32%

    33%

    Ensuring a quality water supply

    *

    1%

    2%

    3%

    4%

    5%

    12%

    Housing affordability

    3%

    5%

    5%

    13%

    13%

    16%

    14%

    Ensuring a fair taxation system

    4%

    7%

    7%

    18%

    16%

    17%

    14%

    Security and the war on terrorism

    1%

    1%

    3%

    5%

    4%

    8%

    9%

    Treatment of asylum seekers

    3%

    4%

    3%

    10%

    8%

    5%

    *

    Managing population growth

    2%

    3%

    3%

    8%

    8%

    12%

    *

    *Not asked

    64% of people surveyed rated management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 47% ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system and 41% Australian jobs and protection of local industries.

    Since December, there has been an increase in the importance of political leadership (+7%), Australian jobs and protection of local industries (+5%) and ensuring a quality education for all children (+4%).

  • Jun, 2012

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    Party trust to handle important election issues

    Q.  Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?

     

    Labor

    Liberal

    Greens

    Don’t know

    Difference

    18 Jun 12

    Difference

    5 Dec 11

    Management of the economy

    26%

    44%

    3%

    27%

    -18

    -18

    Ensuring a quality education for all children

    33%

    35%

    5%

    26%

    -2

    -2

    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system

    30%

    36%

    7%

    27%

    -6

    -3

    Protecting the environment

    17%

    21%

    38%

    24%

    +17

    +14

    A fair industrial relations system

    36%

    30%

    6%

    28%

    +6

    +4

    Political leadership

    21%

    37%

    7%

    36%

    -16

    -17

    Addressing climate change

    18%

    24%

    31%

    27%

    +7

    +6

    Controlling interest rates

    22%

    40%

    3%

    35%

    -18

    -18

    Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries

    29%

    35%

    6%

    31%

    -6

    -3

    Ensuring a quality water supply

    16%

    28%

    23%

    33%

    -12

    -12

    Housing affordability

    22%

    33%

    5%

    39%

    -11

    -10

    Ensuring a fair taxation system

    26%

    36%

    5%

    32%

    -10

    -9

    Security and the war on terrorism

    18%

    40%

    4%

    38%

    -22

    -19

    Treatment of asylum seekers

    16%

    36%

    13%

    36%

    -20

    -19

    Managing population growth

    17%

    36%

    7%

    40%

    -19

    -17

    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.

    Labor does not have a substantial lead over the Liberal Party on any item measured. The Liberal Party has maintained strong leads on management of the economy, controlling interest rates, political leadership and security and the war on terrorism.

    There is little difference between Labor and the Liberals for ensuring a quality education for all children, ensuring the quality of Australia’s health systerm and protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries. Overall, there has been very little change in these results since December.

  • Jun, 2011

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    Important election issues

    Q. Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election?

    Total Labor Liberal/ National Green
    Management of the economy 61% 60% 76% 28%
    Ensuring a quality education for all children 26% 29% 24% 27%
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system 49% 50% 50% 51%
    Protecting the environment 15% 17% 10% 52%
    A fair industrial relations system 8% 12% 4% 4%
    Political leadership 17% 16% 20% 16%
    Addressing climate change 15% 23% 6% 45%
    Controlling interest rates 13% 15% 13% 6%
    Australian jobs and protection of local industries 32% 28% 36% 12%
    Ensuring a quality water supply 5% 5% 3% 7%
    Housing affordability 16% 16% 13% 16%
    Ensuring a fair taxation system 17% 14% 19% 16%
    Security and the war on terrorism 8% 4% 13% 1%
    Treatment of asylum seekers 5% 3% 5% 12%
    Managing population growth 12% 12% 12% 9%

    There were few substantial differences between voters on issues they considered important. Compared to the average, Labor voters are more likely to rate addressing climate change (23%) as important.

    Liberal/National voters attach more importance to management of the economy (76%) and security and the war on terrorism (13%) while Greens voters are more likely to nominate protecting the environment (52%), addressing climate change (45%) and treatment of asylum seekers (12%).

    Comments »

  • Jun, 2011

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    Party trusted to handle important election issues

    Q. And which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?

    Labor Liberal Greens Don’t know
    Management of the economy 29% 47% 3% 22%
    Ensuring a quality education for all children 38% 35% 5% 23%
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system 33% 35% 6% 25%
    Protecting the environment 18% 21% 39% 23%
    A fair industrial relations system 40% 31% 4% 24%
    Political leadership 26% 38% 5% 31%
    Addressing climate change 21% 24% 29% 26%
    Controlling interest rates 26% 44% 3% 28%
    Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries 35% 35% 4% 26%
    Ensuring a quality water supply 21% 28% 22% 29%
    Housing affordability 26% 34% 4% 35%
    Ensuring a fair taxation system 29% 37% 4% 30%
    Security and the war on terrorism 25% 40% 3% 32%
    Treatment of asylum seekers 19% 39% 11% 31%
    Managing population growth 21% 36% 7% 36%

    Labor is the most trusted party on only one issue – a fair industrial relations system. There is little difference between Labor and the Liberals for ensuring a quality education for all children, ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system and protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries.

    This represents a weakening in Labor’s position over the last few months. In January Labor was trusted most to handle ensuring a quality education for all children and in October Labor also had a significant lead on protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries.

    Comments »

  • Sep, 2010

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    Assessment of Leaders

     Q. Which leader – Julia Gillard or Tony Abbott – would you say has shown more leadership abilities during the period since the election?

      Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Julia Gillard 47% 92% 10% 73%
    Tony Abbott 35% 2% 75% 4%
    Don’t know 18% 6% 15% 23%

     47% think Julia Gillard has shown more leadership abilities during the period since the election and 35% favour Tony Abbott.

    By gender – men favour Julia Gillard 47%/38%, women 48%/31%. Comments »

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