approval of PM, opinion on pm, personality traits of pm, Prime Minister, rudd
Q. Which of the following describe your opinion of the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd?
| 29 June 09 | 7 Dec 09 | 1 March 10 | Difference from Jun 09 | Difference from Dec 09 | |
| Intelligent | 84% | 82% | 82% | -2% | – |
| Hard-working | 83% | 77% | 77% | -6% | – |
| A capable leader | 72% | 69% | 65% | -7% | -4% |
| Demanding | 67% | 60% | 55% | -12% | -5% |
| Arrogant | 46% | 49% | 45% | -1% | -4% |
| Out of touch with ordinary people | 41% | 45% | 45% | +4% | – |
| Understands the problems facing Australia | 67% | 59% | 62% | -5% | +3% |
| Visionary | 49% | 48% | 44% | -5% | -4% |
| Superficial | 40% | 41% | 46% | +6% | +5% |
| Good in a crisis | 60% | 58% | 56% | -4% | -2% |
| Narrow-minded | 32% | 36% | 36% | +4% | – |
| Down to earth | 56% | 55% | 57% | +1% | +2% |
| Too inflexible | 32% | 38% | 38% | +6% | – |
| Complacent | 28% | 38% | 40% | +12% | +2% |
| More honest than most politicians | 47% | 49% | 47% | – | -2% |
| Trustworthy | n/a | 51% | 51% | – | – |
Comparing our June 2009 results with those obtained this week, Rudd has gained points in terms of appearing complacent (+12%), superficial (+6%) and too inflexible (+6%). He has lost the most ground in terms of appearing as demanding (-12%), a capable leader (-7%) and hard-working (-6%).
Comparing this week’s results with those obtained in December 2009, Rudd has gained the most ground in terms of appearing superficial (+5%) and lost the most ground in terms of appearing demanding (-5%), arrogant (-4%), visionary (-4%) and as a capable leader (-4%). Comments »
approval, approval of PM, Prime Minister, rudd
Q. Do you strongly approve, approve, disapprove or strongly disapprove of the job Kevin Rudd is doing as Prime Minister?
| 9 Feb 09 | 30 Mar 09 | 18 May 09 | 29 Jun 09 | 10 Aug 09 | 28 Sept 09 | 9 Nov 09 | 30 Nov 09 | 14 Dec 09 | 18 Jan 10 | 22 Feb 10 | |
| Strongly approve | 17% | 21% | 14% | 14% | 13% | 15% | 14% | 9% | 10% | 11% | 11% |
| Approve | 50% | 50% | 48% | 48% | 47% | 51% | 47% | 47% | 47% | 44% | 41% |
| Disapprove | 15% | 14% | 18% | 18% | 17% | 17% | 19% | 20% | 20% | 19% | 20% |
| Strongly disapprove | 8% | 7% | 11% | 9% | 10% | 6% | 13% | 15% | 12% | 14% | 17% |
| Don’t know | 9% | 9% | 9% | 11% | 12% | 11% | 8% | 10% | 10% | 12% | 11% |
| Total approve | 67% | 71% | 62% | 62% | 60% | 66% | 61% | 56% | 57% | 55% | 52% |
| Total disapprove | 23% | 21% | 29% | 29% | 27% | 23% | 32% | 35% | 32% | 33% | 37% |
Just over half (52%) of those surveyed approve of the job Kevin Rudd is doing as Prime Minister, 37% disapprove and 11% don’t know. This gives Kevin Rudd a net approval rating of +15%.
Rudd has the lowest approval rating and the highest disapproval rating that has been reported in the Essential Report since we began asking this question in 2008.
Results followed party lines – Labor voters were more likely to approve of the job Rudd is doing (92%), while Coalition voters were more likely to disapprove (78%). 17% of Coalition voters approve of the job Rudd is doing as Prime Minister.
59% of Green voters approve of the job Rudd is doing, while 30% of these same voters disapprove.
People aged 18 – 24 were more likely to approve of the job Rudd is doing (59%), while people aged 65 years and over were more likely to disapprove (59%). Comments »
Better PM, Gillard, preferred PM, Prime Minister, rudd
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd or Julia Gillard?
| Total | Male | Female | Labor | Coalition | Greens | |
| Kevin Rudd | 45% | 50% | 40% | 69% | 31% | 39% |
| Julia Gillard | 26% | 23% | 29% | 22% | 27% | 42% |
| Don’t know | 29% | 27% | 31% | 9% | 41% | 19% |
When it comes to who people think would make a better Prime Minister – 45% support Kevin Rudd, 26% support Julia Gillard and 29% don’t know.
Labor voters were more likely to support Rudd (69%), Green voters were more likely to support Gillard (42%) and Coalition voters were more likely to indicate they don’t know who would make a better Prime Minister (41%).
Males were more likely to think Rudd would make a better Prime Minister (50%), while females were more likely to prefer Gillard (29%).
In terms of age differences, support was strongest for Rudd amongst the 18 – 24 year olds (55%). Rudd’s support decreases as age increases with 40% of people aged 55 years and over favouring Rudd as Prime Minister. Comments »
approval, approval of PM, kevin rudd, Labor, Prime Minister, rudd
Q. Do you strongly approve, approve, disapprove or strongly disapprove of the job Kevin Rudd is doing as Prime Minister?
| 12 Jan 09 | 9 Feb 09 | 30 Mar 09 | 18 May 09 | 29 Jun 09 | 10 Aug 09 | 28 Sept 09 | 9 Nov 09 | 30 Nov 09 | 14 Dec 09 | |
| Strongly approve | 14% | 17% | 21% | 14% | 14% | 13% | 15% | 14% | 9% | 10% |
| Approve | 52% | 50% | 50% | 48% | 48% | 47% | 51% | 47% | 47% | 47% |
| Disapprove | 16% | 15% | 14% | 18% | 18% | 17% | 17% | 19% | 20% | 20% |
| Strongly disapprove | 6% | 8% | 7% | 11% | 9% | 10% | 6% | 13% | 15% | 12% |
| Don’t know | 11% | 9% | 9% | 9% | 11% | 12% | 11% | 8% | 10% | 10% |
| Total approve | 66% | 67% | 71% | 62% | 62% | 60% | 66% | 61% | 56% | 57% |
| Total disapprove | 22% | 23% | 21% | 29% | 29% | 27% | 23% | 32% | 35% | 32% |
Kevin Rudd’s approval rating has increased slightly since we last asked this question (+1%) and his disapproval rating has decreased slightly (-3%).
Opinion followed party lines – Labor voters were more likely to approve (92%) while Coalition voters were more likely to disapprove (74%). 18% of Coalition voters approve of the job Kevin Rudd is doing as Prime Minister.