Leader Attributes – Tony Abbott
Q. Which of the following describe your opinion of the Prime Minister, Tony Abbott?
2 Sep 14 (as Opposition leader) |
29 Oct 14 |
15 Apr |
|
Total 27 May |
Change |
|
Out of touch with ordinary people |
52% |
51% |
56% |
67% |
+11 |
|
Arrogant |
52% |
54% |
58% |
63% |
+5 |
|
Narrow-minded |
55% |
54% |
56% |
61% |
+5 |
|
Hard working |
71% |
67% |
66% |
57% |
-9 |
|
Superficial |
48% |
49% |
50% |
57% |
+7 |
|
Intolerant |
47% |
49% |
47% |
55% |
+8 |
|
Intelligent |
63% |
62% |
59% |
52% |
-7 |
|
Aggressive |
47% |
46% |
45% |
52% |
+7 |
|
Erratic |
43% |
43% |
43% |
51% |
+8 |
|
Understands the problems facing Australia |
46% |
51% |
48% |
42% |
-5 |
|
A capable leader |
46% |
52% |
50% |
41% |
-9 |
|
Good in a crisis |
39% |
45% |
45% |
35% |
-10 |
|
Visionary |
35% |
33% |
34% |
31% |
-3 |
|
More honest than most politicians |
34% |
39% |
37% |
30% |
-7 |
|
Trustworthy |
38% |
40% |
40% |
29% |
-11 |
Tony Abbott’s key attributes were out of touch with ordinary people (67%), arrogant (63%), narrow-minded (61%), hard working (57%) and superficial (57%).
Since April, the largest shifts have been for out of touch with ordinary people (+11), trustworthy (-11), good in a crisis (-10), hard working (-9) and a capable leader (-9).
Leader Attributes – Tony Abbott
Q. Which of the following describe your opinion of the Prime Minister, Tony Abbott?
2 Sep 14 (as Opposition leader) |
29 Oct 14 |
|
Total 15 Apr |
Change |
|
Hard working |
71% |
67% |
66% |
-1 |
|
Intelligent |
63% |
62% |
59% |
-3 |
|
Arrogant |
52% |
54% |
58% |
+4 |
|
Narrow-minded |
55% |
54% |
56% |
+2 |
|
Out of touch with ordinary people |
52% |
51% |
56% |
+5 |
|
A capable leader |
46% |
52% |
50% |
-2 |
|
Superficial |
48% |
49% |
50% |
+1 |
|
Understands the problems facing Australia |
46% |
51% |
48% |
-3 |
|
Intolerant |
47% |
49% |
47% |
-2 |
|
Aggressive |
47% |
46% |
45% |
-1 |
|
Good in a crisis |
39% |
45% |
45% |
– |
|
Erratic |
43% |
43% |
43% |
– |
|
Trustworthy |
38% |
40% |
40% |
– |
|
More honest than most politicians |
34% |
39% |
37% |
-2 |
|
Visionary |
35% |
33% |
34% |
+1 |
Tony Abbott’s key attributes were hard working (66%), intelligent (59%), arrogant (58%), narrow-minded (56%) and out of touch with ordinary people (56%).
Since October, the largest shifts have been for out of touch with ordinary people (+5) and arrogant (+4).
Leader Attributes – Bill Shorten
Q. Which of the following describe your opinion of the Opposition Leader, Bill Shorten?
29 Oct 14 |
|
Total 15 Apr |
Change |
|
Intelligent |
69% |
63% |
-6 |
|
Hard working |
65% |
60% |
-5 |
|
Understands the problems facing Australia |
50% |
44% |
-6 |
|
Out of touch with ordinary people |
42% |
44% |
+2 |
|
Superficial |
37% |
43% |
+6 |
|
A capable leader |
49% |
42% |
-7 |
|
Arrogant |
35% |
40% |
+5 |
|
Narrow-minded |
31% |
39% |
+8 |
|
Erratic |
30% |
37% |
+7 |
|
Good in a crisis |
40% |
36% |
-4 |
|
Trustworthy |
34% |
32% |
-2 |
|
Intolerant |
30% |
32% |
+2 |
|
Aggressive |
31% |
31% |
– |
|
Visionary |
33% |
28% |
-5 |
|
More honest than most politicians |
27% |
26% |
-1 |
Bill Shorten’s key attributes were intelligent (63%), hard working (60%), understands the problems facing Australia (44%) and out of touch with ordinary people (44%). Since October, the largest shifts have been for narrow-minded (+8), a capable leader (-7), erratic (+7), intelligent (-6), understands the problems facing Australia (-6) and superficial (+6).
Leader attributes – Julia Gillard
Q. Which of the following describe your opinion of the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard?
5 |
4 |
7 |
27 |
2 |
17 |
14 |
2 |
Change |
|
Intelligent |
87% |
81% |
75% |
73% |
61% |
68% |
72% |
69% |
-3% |
Hard-working |
89% |
82% |
76% |
75% |
65% |
69% |
72% |
66% |
-6% |
Out of touch with ordinary people |
35% |
44% |
50% |
60% |
65% |
56% |
53% |
64% |
+11% |
Arrogant |
37% |
39% |
44% |
48% |
53% |
46% |
47% |
55% |
+8% |
Superficial |
51% |
52% |
54% |
46% |
46% |
55% |
+9% |
||
Narrow-minded |
28% |
35% |
43% |
46% |
53% |
46% |
45% |
55% |
+10% |
Aggressive |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
42% |
46% |
55% |
+9% |
Erratic |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
43% |
40% |
55% |
+15% |
Intolerant |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
37% |
37% |
49% |
+12% |
Good in a crisis |
61% |
46% |
46% |
41% |
36% |
43% |
50% |
44% |
-6% |
A capable leader |
72% |
59% |
52% |
42% |
38% |
43% |
50% |
37% |
-13% |
Understands the problems facing Australia |
68% |
55% |
52% |
44% |
41% |
43% |
47% |
37% |
-10% |
Visionary |
48% |
38% |
30% |
26% |
25% |
31% |
29% |
30% |
+1% |
More honest than most politicians |
45% |
37% |
37% |
29% |
26% |
31% |
30% |
27% |
-3% |
Trustworthy |
49% |
42% |
40% |
30% |
25% |
30% |
32% |
25% |
-7% |
Julia Gillard’s key attributes were intelligent (69%), hard-working (66%), out of touch with ordinary people (64%), arrogant (55%), superficial (55%), narrow-minded (55%), aggressive (55%) and erratic (55%). Almost all positive leader attributes for Gillard moved down and the negative attributes moved down from the last time the question was polled in January. The biggest shifts were for erratic (+15%), a capable leader (-13%), intolerant (+12), out of touch with ordinary people (+11%), narrow-minded (+10%) and understands the problems facing Australia (-10%).
Leader Attributes – Julia Gillard
Q. Which of the following describe your opinion of the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard?
5 Jul 10 |
4 Oct 10 |
7 Feb 11 |
27 Jun 11 |
2 Apr 12 |
17 Sept 12 |
14 Jan 13 |
Change |
|
Intelligent |
87% |
81% |
75% |
73% |
61% |
68% |
72% |
+4% |
Hard-working |
89% |
82% |
76% |
75% |
65% |
69% |
72% |
+3% |
A capable leader |
72% |
59% |
52% |
42% |
38% |
43% |
50% |
+7% |
Arrogant |
37% |
39% |
44% |
48% |
53% |
46% |
47% |
+1% |
Out of touch with ordinary people |
35% |
44% |
50% |
60% |
65% |
56% |
53% |
-3% |
Understands the problems facing Australia |
68% |
55% |
52% |
44% |
41% |
43% |
47% |
+4% |
Visionary |
48% |
38% |
30% |
26% |
25% |
31% |
29% |
-2% |
Superficial |
|
|
51% |
52% |
54% |
46% |
46% |
– |
Good in a crisis |
61% |
46% |
46% |
41% |
36% |
43% |
50% |
+7% |
Narrow-minded |
28% |
35% |
43% |
46% |
53% |
46% |
45% |
-1% |
More honest than most politicians |
45% |
37% |
37% |
29% |
26% |
31% |
30% |
-1% |
Trustworthy |
49% |
42% |
40% |
30% |
25% |
30% |
32% |
+2% |
Intolerant |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
37% |
37% |
– |
Aggressive |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
42% |
46% |
+4% |
Erratic |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
43% |
40% |
-3% |
Gillard’s key attributes were hard-working (72%), intelligent (72%), out of touch with ordinary people (53%), a capable leader (50%) and good in a crisis (50%). Almost all positive leader attributes for Gillard moved up from the last time the question was polled in September 2012. The biggest shifts on the positive attributes were on a capable leader (+7%) and good in a crisis (+7%).
Leader Attributes – Tony Abbott
Q. Which of the following describe your opinion of the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott?
5 Jul 10 |
4 Oct 10 |
7 Feb 11 |
27 Jun 11 |
2 Apr 12 |
17 Sept 12 |
14 Jan 13 |
Change |
|
Intelligent |
70% |
71% |
64% |
61% |
56% |
62% |
64% |
+2% |
Hard-working |
76% |
78% |
72% |
75% |
68% |
67% |
70% |
+3% |
A capable leader |
47% |
52% |
48% |
45% |
41% |
37% |
43% |
+6% |
Arrogant |
59% |
60% |
58% |
60% |
61% |
63% |
61% |
-2% |
Out of touch with ordinary people |
57% |
53% |
54% |
57% |
54% |
57% |
54% |
-3% |
Understands the problems facing Australia |
50% |
53% |
50% |
48% |
49% |
43% |
47% |
+4% |
Visionary |
32% |
31% |
27% |
27% |
26% |
29% |
28% |
-1% |
Superficial |
|
|
45% |
49% |
49% |
51% |
48% |
-3% |
Good in a crisis |
40% |
42% |
41% |
40% |
36% |
35% |
39% |
+4% |
Narrow-minded |
56% |
53% |
51% |
54% |
54% |
59% |
56% |
-3% |
More honest than most politicians |
33% |
32% |
31% |
32% |
30% |
27% |
29% |
+2% |
Trustworthy |
33% |
35% |
34% |
32% |
32% |
30% |
33% |
+3% |
Intolerant |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
53% |
49% |
-4% |
Aggressive |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
59% |
55% |
-4% |
Erratic |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
51% |
51% |
– |
Abbott’s key attributes were hard-working (70%), intelligent (64%), arrogant (61%), narrow-minded (56%), aggressive (55%) and out of touch with ordinary people (54%).
Since September last year, Tony Abbott has improved his ratings a little on most positive attributes – the biggest shift being for a capable leader (+6%).
Leader attributes – comparisons
Gillard |
Abbott |
Difference |
|
Intelligent |
72% |
64% |
+8% |
Hard-working |
72% |
70% |
+2% |
A capable leader |
50% |
43% |
+7% |
Arrogant |
47% |
61% |
-14% |
Out of touch with ordinary people |
53% |
54% |
-1% |
Understands the problems facing Australia |
47% |
47% |
– |
Visionary |
29% |
28% |
+1% |
Superficial |
46% |
48% |
-2% |
Good in a crisis |
50% |
39% |
+11% |
Narrow-minded |
45% |
56% |
-11% |
More honest than most politicians |
30% |
29% |
+1% |
Trustworthy |
32% |
33% |
-1% |
Intolerant |
37% |
49% |
-12% |
Aggressive |
46% |
55% |
-9% |
Erratic |
40% |
51% |
-11% |
Compared to Tony Abbott, Julia Gillard is seen as more likely to be considered good in a crisis (+11%), intelligent (+8%) and a capable leader (+7%).
Abbott is regarded by significantly more respondents to be arrogant (+14%), narrow minded (+11%), intolerant (+12%) and erratic (+11%).
Leader Attributes – Comparisons
Gillard |
Abbott |
Difference |
|
Intelligent |
68% |
62% |
+6% |
Hard-working |
69% |
67% |
+2% |
A capable leader |
43% |
37% |
+6% |
Arrogant |
46% |
63% |
-17% |
Out of touch with ordinary people |
56% |
57% |
-1% |
Understands the problems facing Australia |
43% |
43% |
– |
Visionary |
31% |
29% |
+2% |
Superficial |
46% |
51% |
-5% |
Good in a crisis |
43% |
35% |
+8% |
Narrow-minded |
46% |
59% |
-13% |
More honest than most politicians |
31% |
27% |
+4% |
Trustworthy |
30% |
30% |
– |
Intolerant |
37% |
53% |
-16% |
Aggressive |
42% |
59% |
-17% |
Erratic |
43% |
51% |
-8% |
Compared to Abbott, Gillard is seen as more intelligent (+6%), a more capable leader (+6%) and good in a crisis (+8%).
Abbott is regarded by significantly more respondents to be arrogant (+17%), narrow minded (+13%), intolerant (+16%) and aggressive (+17%).
Since the last time the question was polled, Gillard has narrowed the gap on ‘out of touch with ordinary people’ (moving from +11% in April compared to Abbott to -1% this week) as well as ‘understands the problem facing Australia’ (-8% in April 2012 to equal with Abbott this month).

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