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  • 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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    Party trust to handle issues

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

     

    Labor

    Liberal

    Greens

    Don’t know

     

    Difference 23 Jul 13

    Difference 17 Jun 13

    Management of the economy

    29%

    44%

    3%

    25%

    -15

    -18

    Ensuring a quality education for all children

    40%

    31%

    4%

    25%

    +9

    +1

    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system

    34%

    33%

    7%

    27%

    +1

    -5

    Protecting the environment

    19%

    21%

    39%

    21%

    +18

    +10

    A fair industrial relations system

    41%

    30%

    4%

    24%

    +11

    +3

    Political leadership

    28%

    35%

    5%

    31%

    -7

    -19

    Addressing climate change

    20%

    23%

    30%

    27%

    +7

    Controlling interest rates

    26%

    40%

    2%

    32%

    -14

    -17

    Australian jobs and protection of local industries

    34%

    35%

    4%

    26%

    -1

    -7

    Ensuring a quality water supply

    19%

    26%

    22%

    32%

    -7

    -14

    Housing affordability

    26%

    28%

    6%

    39%

    -2

    -12

    Ensuring a fair taxation system

    31%

    33%

    5%

    31%

    -2

    -11

    Security and the war on terrorism

    23%

    38%

    4%

    36%

    -15

    -18

    Treatment of asylum seekers

    22%

    33%

    13%

    31%

    -11

    -22

    Managing population growth

    20%

    33%

    8%

    39%

    -13

    -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.

    On most issues, the Labor Party has gained ground on the Liberals since last month just before Kevin Rudd took over the leadership. However, the Liberal Party has maintained strong leads on management of the economy, controlling interest rates, security and the war on terrorism, treatment of asylum seekers and managing population growth.

    Labor has now established a significant lead on a fair industrial relations system and ensuring quality education. The largest shifts to Labor were for quality education (+8), industrial relations (+8), political leadership (+12), housing affordability (+10) and treatment of asylum seekers (+11).

  • Jun, 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 17 Jun 13

    Difference 11 Feb 13

    Difference

    19 Nov 12

    Difference

    18 Jun 12

    Management of the economy

    28%

    46%

    2%

    24%

    -18

    -15

    -14

    -18

    Ensuring a quality education for all children

    37%

    36%

    4%

    23%

    +1

    +2

    +5

    -2

    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system

    32%

    37%

    6%

    26%

    -5

    -3

    -3

    -6

    Protecting the environment

    19%

    24%

    34%

    22%

    +10

    +18

    +16

    +17

    A fair industrial relations system

    37%

    34%

    5%

    24%

    +3

    +6

    +9

    +6

    Political leadership

    23%

    42%

    5%

    30%

    -19

    -8

    -12

    -16

    Addressing climate change

    19%

    26%

    26%

    28%

    +5

    +9

    +7

    Controlling interest rates

    25%

    42%

    2%

    31%

    -17

    -14

    -11

    -18

    Australian jobs and protection of local industries

    30%

    37%

    4%

    29%

    -7

    -3

    -2

    -6

    Ensuring a quality water supply

    19%

    33%

    18%

    31%

    -14

    -6

    -7

    -12

    Housing affordability

    24%

    36%

    5%

    35%

    -12

    -6

    -5

    -11

    Ensuring a fair taxation system

    28%

    39%

    4%

    29%

    -11

    -6

    -9

    -10

    Security and the war on terrorism

    23%

    41%

    3%

    34%

    -18

    -13

    -15

    -22

    Treatment of asylum seekers

    17%

    39%

    12%

    32%

    -22

    -17

    -18

    -20

    Managing population growth

    18%

    37%

    8%

    38%

    -19

    -12

    -15

    -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 has maintained strong leads on management of the economy, controlling interest rates, political leadership, security and the war on terrorism, treatment of asylum seekers and managing population growth.

    There is little difference between Labor and the Liberals on ensuring a quality education for all children and a fair industrial relations system. Since February, there have been significant shifts to the Liberals on protecting the environment, political leadership, ensuring a quality water supply and managing population growth.

  • 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.

  • Feb, 2013

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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

    11 Feb 13

    19 Nov 12

    30 Jul 12

    5 Dec 11

    6 June 11

    25 Jan 10

    Management of the economy

    62%

    66%

    64%

    62%

    61%

    63%

    Ensuring a quality education for all children

    29%

    35%

    26%

    22%

    26%

    23%

    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system

    52%

    57%

    47%

    47%

    49%

    48%

    Protecting the environment

    14%

    14%

    11%

    13%

    15%

    16%

    A fair industrial relations system

    12%

    8%

    12%

    11%

    8%

    na

    Political leadership

    14%

    15%

    25%

    18%

    17%

    23%

    Addressing climate change

    9%

    9%

    9%

    10%

    15%

    16%

    Controlling interest rates

    9%

    11%

    9%

    11%

    13%

    15%

    Australian jobs and protection of local industries

    40%

    32%

    41%

    36%

    32%

    33%

    Ensuring a quality water supply

    4%

    5%

    3%

    4%

    5%

    12%

    Housing affordability

    11%

    14%

    13%

    13%

    16%

    14%

    Ensuring a fair taxation system

    21%

    17%

    18%

    16%

    17%

    14%

    Security and the war on terrorism

    6%

    5%

    5%

    4%

    8%

    9%

    Treatment of asylum seekers

    6%

    6%

    10%

    8%

    5%

    na

    Managing population growth

    9%

    7%

    8%

    8%

    12%

    na

    *Not asked

    62% of people surveyed rated management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 52% ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system, 40% Australian jobs and protection of local industries and 29% ensuring a quality education for all children.

    Since November, there has been an increase in the importance of Australian jobs and protection of local industries (+8%) and a decline in the importance of ensuring a quality education for all children (-6%) and ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system (-5%).

  • Dec, 2012

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    The past year – the economy and industries

    Q. Thinking about the last 12 months, has it been a good or bad year for each of the following?

     

    Total good

    (Dec 10

    Total bad

    (Dec 10)

    Total good

    (Dec 11)

    Total bad (Dec 11)

    Total good

    (Dec 12)

    Total bad

    (Dec 12)

    Very good

    Good

    Neither good nor
    bad

    Bad

    Very bad

    Don’t know

    The banks

    69%

    13%

    71%

    8%

    68%

    11%

    30%

    38%

    17%

    8%

    3%

    5%

    The mining industry

    57%

    14%

    68%

    11%

    53%

    19%

    17%

    36%

    22%

    15%

    4%

    6%

    Large companies and corporations

    44%

    15%

    40%

    22%

    32%

    31%

    5%

    27%

    32%

    25%

    6%

    6%

    The Australian economy

    41%

    20%

    33%

    31%

    29%

    37%

    4%

    25%

    32%

    28%

    9%

    3%

    You and your family

    na

    na

    na

    na

    29%

    36%

    6%

    23%

    34%

    25%

    11%

    2%

    The media

    30%

    14%

    25%

    27%

    21%

    40%

    5%

    16%

    33%

    29%

    11%

    6%

    Farming and agriculture

    14%

    50%

    23%

    40%

    20%

    40%

    2%

    18%

    33%

    28%

    12%

    7%

    Trade unions

    na

    na

    na

    na

    18%

    30%

    4%

    14%

    37%

    22%

    8%

    15%

    The environment

    14%

    37%

    20%

    33%

    18%

    37%

    3%

    15%

    40%

    26%

    11%

    6%

    The average Australian

    na

    na

    na

    na

    17%

    45%

    2%

    15%

    36%

    34%

    11%

    3%

    Small business

    14%

    45%

    10%

    61%

    10%

    62%

    1%

    9%

    24%

    39%

    23%

    5%

    Australian politics in general

    na

    na

    na

    na

    9%

    61%

    2%

    7%

    26%

    29%

    32%

    4%

    A majority of respondents think it has been a good year for the banks (68%) and the mining industry (53%). They are split over whether it has been a good year for large companies and corporations (32% good/31% bad). However, they are much more likely to think the year has been bad for small business (62%), Australian politics in general (61%), the average Australian (45%), farming and agriculture (40%) and the media (40%).

    Compared to last year’s results, respondents considered 2012 a worse year than 2011 for the mining industry (“good” down 15% to 53%), large companies and corporations (“good” down 8% to 32%) and the media (“bad” up 13% to 40%).

  • Nov, 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

    19 Nov 12

    Total

    30 Jul 12

    5 Dec 11

    6 June 11

    25 Jan 10

    Management of the economy

    47%

    11%

    9%

    66%

    64%

    62%

    61%

    63%

    Ensuring a quality education for all children

    7%

    16%

    11%

    35%

    26%

    22%

    26%

    23%

    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system

    15%

    22%

    20%

    57%

    47%

    47%

    49%

    48%

    Protecting the environment

    3%

    6%

    5%

    14%

    11%

    13%

    15%

    16%

    A fair industrial relations system

    2%

    3%

    3%

    8%

    12%

    11%

    8%

    na

    Political leadership

    6%

    5%

    4%

    15%

    25%

    18%

    17%

    23%

    Addressing climate change

    2%

    2%

    5%

    9%

    9%

    10%

    15%

    16%

    Controlling interest rates

    2%

    5%

    4%

    11%

    9%

    11%

    13%

    15%

    Australian jobs and protection of local industries

    8%

    11%

    13%

    32%

    41%

    36%

    32%

    33%

    Ensuring a quality water supply

    1%

    2%

    2%

    5%

    3%

    4%

    5%

    12%

    Housing affordability

    3%

    6%

    5%

    14%

    13%

    13%

    16%

    14%

    Ensuring a fair taxation system

    2%

    5%

    9%

    17%

    18%

    16%

    17%

    14%

    Security and the war on terrorism

    *

    1%

    3%

    5%

    5%

    4%

    8%

    9%

    Treatment of asylum seekers

    1%

    1%

    3%

    6%

    10%

    8%

    5%

    na

    Managing population growth

    1%

    2%

    4%

    7%

    8%

    8%

    12%

    na

    *Not asked

    66% of people surveyed rated management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 57% ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system, 35% ensuring a quality education for all children and 32% Australian jobs and protection of local industries.

    Since July, there has been an increase in the importance of ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system (+10%) and ensuring a quality education for all children (+9%) and a decline in the importance of political leadership (-10%) and Australian jobs and protection of local industries (-9%).

  • 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%).

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