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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%).

  • Sep, 2013

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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 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.

  • Aug, 2013

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    Party leader trust most on issues

    Q.  Which party leader – Kevin Rudd or Tony Abbott – would you trust most to handle the following issues?

     

    Kevin Rudd

    Tony Abbott

    No difference

    Don’t know

    Net difference

    Difference for parties

    23 Jul 13

    Management of the economy

    32%

    35%

    21%

    11%

    -3

    -15

    Ensuring a quality education for all children

    41%

    25%

    24%

    10%

    +16

    +9

    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system

    37%

    27%

    25%

    11%

    +10

    +1

    Protecting the environment

    33%

    22%

    31%

    14%

    +11

    na

    A fair industrial relations system

    41%

    28%

    19%

    12%

    +13

    +11

    Political leadership

    37%

    32%

    22%

    9%

    +5

    -7

    Addressing climate change

    35%

    21%

    31%

    13%

    +14

    na

    Controlling interest rates

    24%

    32%

    32%

    12%

    -8

    -14

    Australian jobs and protection of local industries

    32%

    30%

    25%

    13%

    +2

    -1

    Ensuring a quality water supply

    26%

    23%

    36%

    15%

    +3

    -7

    Housing affordability

    26%

    25%

    34%

    15%

    +1

    -2

    Ensuring a fair taxation system

    31%

    32%

    26%

    11%

    -1

    -2

    Security and the war on terrorism

    25%

    29%

    33%

    13%

    -4

    -15

    Treatment of asylum seekers

    26%

    31%

    32%

    11%

    -5

    -11

    Managing population growth

    21%

    28%

    37%

    15%

    -7

    -13

    Substantially more respondents said they would trust Kevin Rudd more than Tony Abbott to handle a quality education for all children, a fair industrial relations system, addressing climate change, protecting the environment and ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system. Tony Abbott is more trusted to control interest rates and manage population growth.

    When compared with a similar question about trust in the parties asked last month, Kevin Rudd rates considerably better that the Labor Party on management of the economy, political leadership and security and the war on terrorism.

  • Jul, 2013

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    Most important election issues

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

     

    Total

    23 Jul 13

     

    Total

    17 Jun 13

    11 Feb 13

    19 Nov 12

    30 Jul 12

    5 Dec 11

    6 June 11

    25 Jan 10

    Management of the economy

    45%

    47%

    62%

    66%

    64%

    62%

    61%

    63%

    Ensuring a quality education for all children

    25%

    25%

    29%

    35%

    26%

    22%

    26%

    23%

    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system

    42%

    45%

    52%

    57%

    47%

    47%

    49%

    48%

    Protecting the environment

    12%

    13%

    14%

    14%

    11%

    13%

    15%

    16%

    A fair industrial relations system

    10%

    10%

    12%

    8%

    12%

    11%

    8%

    na

    Political leadership

    21%

    22%

    14%

    15%

    25%

    18%

    17%

    23%

    Addressing climate change

    11%

    11%

    9%

    9%

    9%

    10%

    15%

    16%

    Controlling interest rates

    13%

    11%

    9%

    11%

    9%

    11%

    13%

    15%

    Australian jobs and protection of local industries

    39%

    34%

    40%

    32%

    41%

    36%

    32%

    33%

    Ensuring a quality water supply

    3%

    5%

    4%

    5%

    3%

    4%

    5%

    12%

    Housing affordability

    17%

    14%

    11%

    14%

    13%

    13%

    16%

    14%

    Ensuring a fair taxation system

    20%

    19%

    21%

    17%

    18%

    16%

    17%

    14%

    Security and the war on terrorism

    8%

    8%

    6%

    5%

    5%

    4%

    8%

    9%

    Treatment of asylum seekers

    14%

    11%

    6%

    6%

    10%

    8%

    5%

    na

    Managing population growth

    9%

    11%

    9%

    7%

    8%

    8%

    12%

    na

    45% of people surveyed rated management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 42% ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system, 39% Australian jobs and protection of local industries and 25% ensuring a quality education for all children.

    There has been little change since this question was asked last month – Australian jobs and protection of local industries is up 5 points to 39% and treatment of asylum seekers is up 3 points (and up 8 points since February) to 14%.

  • Jan, 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? (Number from 1 to 3 where 1 is the most important, 2 the second most important, etc)

    One Two Three Total Total 11th Oct 10 Total 25th Jan 10
    Management of the economy 37% 18% 10% 65% 62% 63%
    Ensuring a quality education for all children 5% 10% 11% 26% 32% 23%
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system 13% 20% 16% 49% 48% 48%
    Protecting the environment 4% 3% 6% 13% 12% 16%
    A fair industrial relations system 2% 4% 4% 10% 11% *
    Political leadership 6% 5% 5% 16% 16% 23%
    Addressing climate change 3% 3% 4% 10% 11% 16%
    Controlling interest rates 5% 8% 8% 21% 17% 15%
    Australian jobs and protection of local industries 10% 8% 12% 30% 30% 33%
    Ensuring a quality water supply 1% 2% 3% 6% 6% 12%
    Housing affordability 5% 5% 6% 16% 17% 14%
    Ensuring a fair taxation system 4% 6% 8% 18% 16% 14%
    Security and the war on terrorism 1% 2% 2% 5% 6% 9%
    Treatment of asylum seekers 1% 2% 2% 5% 5% *
    Managing population growth 2% 5% 4% 11% 10% *

    *Not asked

    65% of people surveyed rated management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 49% ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system and 30% Australian jobs and protection of local industries.

    Only 10% rate addressing climate change as one of their three most important issues and 6% rate ensuring a quality water supply.

    Over the past 12 months there has been an increase in the importance of controlling interest rates (from 15% to 21%) and a decrease in the importance of addressing climate change (from 16% to 10%).

    Comments »

  • Jan, 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? (Number from 1 to 3 where 1 is the most important, 2 the second most important, etc)

    Total Labor Liberal/ National Green
    Management of the economy 65% 63% 77% 47%
    Ensuring a quality education for all children 26% 33% 20% 24%
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system 49% 52% 47% 37%
    Protecting the environment 13% 12% 6% 42%
    A fair industrial relations system 10% 18% 5% 8%
    Political leadership 16% 11% 25% 14%
    Addressing climate change 10% 10% 5% 22%
    Controlling interest rates 21% 17% 22% 19%
    Australian jobs and protection of local industries 30% 33% 32% 18%
    Ensuring a quality water supply 6% 4% 6% 5%
    Housing affordability 16% 15% 13% 21%
    Ensuring a fair taxation system 18% 17% 19% 14%
    Security and the war on terrorism 5% 5% 8% 5%
    Treatment of asylum seekers 5% 3% 5% 15%
    Managing population growth 11% 8% 12% 9%

    Compared to the average, Labor voters are more likely to rate ensuring a quality education for all children (33%) and a fair industrial relations system (18%) as important.

    Liberal/National voters attach more importance to management of the economy (77%) and political leadership (25%) while Greens voters are more likely to nominate protecting the environment (42%), addressing climate change (22%) and treatment of asylum seekers (15%).

    Comments »

  • Jan, 2011

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    Party best handling 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 33% 43% 2% 22%
    Ensuring a quality education for all children 39% 33% 4% 24%
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system 33% 33% 7% 27%
    Protecting the environment 16% 19% 40% 24%
    A fair industrial relations system 40% 30% 5% 25%
    Political leadership 28% 37% 4% 31%
    Addressing climate change 18% 20% 34% 28%
    Controlling interest rates 22% 40% 2% 35%
    Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries 36% 33% 4% 27%
    Ensuring a quality water supply 21% 28% 20% 31%
    Housing affordability 26% 30% 7% 37%
    Ensuring a fair taxation system 28% 35% 4% 32%
    Security and the war on terrorism 23% 37% 4% 36%
    Treatment of asylum seekers 20% 33% 12% 35%
    Standing up for regular Australian working families 41% 27% 6% 25%
    Managing population growth 21% 36% 7% 37%
    Making sure Australian working people got fair treatment at their workplace 41% 29% 6% 25%

    Labor is trusted most to handle a fair industrial relations system (40%), ensuring a quality education for all children (39%) and standing up for regular Australian working families (41%).

    The Liberals are trusted most to handle management of the economy (43%), controlling interest rates (40%), political leadership (37%) and security and the war on terrorism (37%).

    In October, Labor was considered substantially better to handle 5 of the issues surveyed and Liberals 5 issues – compared to this survey where Labor leads on 4 issues and Liberals on 8 issues. The Liberals have now established a lead on political leadership (+9%), water supply (+7%), and taxation (+7%).

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