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  • Nov, 2010

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    Party Best at Handling Issues

    Q. Between Liberal and Labor, which party do you think would be best at managing each of the following issues?

      Labor Liberal No difference Don’t know Labor-Liberal difference
    Improving wages for low income earners 34% 20% 34% 13% +14
    The age pension 27% 23% 37% 13% +4
    Executive salaries 22% 20% 44% 14% +2
    Unemployment 24% 25% 38% 13% -1
    Regulation of large corporations 21% 24% 41% 14% -3
    Affordability of housing 19% 24% 44% 13% -5
    Jobs going overseas 18% 24% 44% 14% -6
    Superannuation 18% 27% 40% 15% -9
    Petrol and energy prices 16% 26% 45% 13% -10
    Regulation of banks 19% 29% 39% 14% -10
    Interest rates 17% 30% 41% 13% -13
    Food prices and inflation generally 18% 31% 38% 13% -13
    Taxation 18% 32% 37% 13% -14
    Government debt 15% 42% 31% 12% -27

    The only substantial lead for the Labor Party is on improving wages for low income earners (34% to 20%).

     Liberal Party strengths are in managing Government debt (42%/15%), taxation (32%/18%), food prices and inflation (31%/18%) and interest rates (30%/17%).

    Although overall opinions are closely related to voting intention, the Liberal Party generally performs better among its voters than the Labor Party does with its voters. On Government debt Labor voters split 35% Labor/14% Liberal/42% no difference and on petrol and energy prices 37%/2%/50%. Comments »

  • Aug, 2010

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    Party Best at

    Q. Which of the major parties – Labor or Liberal – do you think is the best party when it comes to –

      Labor Liberal Don’t know Labor margin
    Making sure large companies pay their fair share of taxation 47% 25% 28% +22
    Looking after the needs of low income earners and pensioners 42% 23% 34% +19
    Understanding the needs of the average Australian 43% 28% 29% +15
    Ensuring a quality education for all children 42% 27% 31% +15
    Handling environmental and climate change issues 38% 24% 38% +14
    Handling the economy in a way that helps working people in Australia 44% 35% 21% +9
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system  38% 29% 33% +9
    Representing the interests of you and people like you 43% 35% 22% +8
    Having a vision for Australia’s future 36% 33% 31% +3
    Providing strong leadership 33% 33% 34%
    Handling Australia’s relations with other countries 33% 38% 29% -5
    Handling Australia’s economy 38% 44% 18% -6
    Being a stable and reliable Government 30% 38% 31% -8
    Dealing with the issue of immigration 25% 43% 32% -18

     Main strengths for Labor are making sure large companies pay their fair share of taxation, looking after the needs of low income earners and pensioners, understanding the needs of the average Australian, ensuring a quality education for all children and handling environmental and climate change issues.

     The Liberal Party is considered to be best at dealing with the issue of immigration, being a stable and reliable Government and handling Australia’s economy. Comments »

  • Mar, 2010

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    Party best at looking after Australia’s interests

    Q.  Which party – Labor or Liberal – would by best at the following –

      Labor Liberal No difference Don’t know
    Being on the side of Australian working people when it comes to issues affecting them at the workplace 48% 18% 24% 10%
    Handling the economy in a way that best protects ordinary working people in Australia 39% 30% 20% 11%
    Creating jobs for Australian workers 36% 27% 26% 11%
    Representing you and people like you 35% 30% 24% 11%
    Handling the economy 30% 37% 23% 10%
    Controlling inflation 24% 35% 31% 11%
    Keeping interest rates low 23% 29% 35% 13%
    Dealing with the budget and keeping government spending down in general 22% 42% 26% 10%

    Just under half (48%) of those surveyed think that Labor is the best party at being on the side of Australian working people when it comes to issues affecting them at the workplace, 39% think Labor is best at handling the economy in a way that protects ordinary working people in Australia. 

    The Liberal Party score highest in terms of dealing with the budget and keeping government spending down in general (42%) and handling the economy (37%). 

     In terms of being on the side of Australian working people when it comes to issues affecting them at the workplace, under half (46%) of Coalition voters surveyed think the Liberal Party is best at handling this, 33% of these voters think there is no difference and 16% of Coalition voters think Labor is best at being on the side of Australian working people when it comes to workplace issues.  Comments »

  • Jan, 2010

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    Party best at

    Q. Which party do you think is best at handling each of the following issues?

      Labor Liberal Labor margin No difference Don’t know Labor margin Oct 09
    A fair industrial relations system 42% 23% +19% 19% 16% +27%
    Addressing climate change 35% 16% +19% 29% 19% +18%
    Protecting the environment 32% 15% +17% 34% 19% +21%
    Australian jobs and protection of local industries 35% 22% +13% 26% 17% +17%
    Ensuring a quality education for all children 32% 20% +12% 32% 17% +17%
    Political leadership 36% 25% +11% 23% 16% +20%
    Ensuring a quality water supply 24% 17% +7% 38% 20% +13%
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system  27% 21% +6% 34% 19% +10%
    Ensuring a fair taxation system 30% 24% +6% 28% 18% +8%
    Housing affordability 23% 19% +4% 38% 20% +9%
    Management of the economy 28% 35% -7% 20% 16%
    Security and the war on terrorism 18% 25% -7% 38% 19% +2%
    Controlling interest rates 20% 28% -8% 34% 18%

     Labor has its strongest lead over the Liberal Party when it comes to a fair industrial relations system (+19%), addressing climate change (+19%) and protecting the environment (+17%).   Labor trails the Liberal Party in terms of controlling interest rates (-8%), security and the war on terrorism (-7%) and management of the economy (-7%).  

     Since October 2009, Labor has lost the margin it had over the Liberal Party in some areas, most significantly in the areas of political leadership (-9%), a fair industrial relations system (-8%), ensuring a quality water supply (-6%).  

     Results followed party lines with Labor voters tending to favour the Labor Party and Liberal voters favouring the Liberal Party. Comments »

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