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  • Apr, 2010

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    Opposition Leader Tony Abbott

    Q. Do you think the Opposition Leader Tony Abbott is spending too much time on activities not related to his job as Opposition Leader?

      %
    Spend too much time 32%
    Not spending too much time 45%
    Don’t know 23%

    Just under half (45%) of those surveyed think Tony Abbott is not spending too much time on activities not related to his job as Opposition Leader, 32% think he spends too much time on activities not related to his job and 23% don’t know.

    Labor voters were more likely to think Tony Abbott is spending too much time on activities not related to his job (50%), while Coalition voters were more likely to think he is not spending too much time on activities not related to his job (76%). 

    People aged 55 years and over were more likely to think Abbott is not spending too much time on activities not related to his job (53%), as were males (49%).  Comments »

  • Mar, 2010

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    Attributes to describe the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott

    Q.  Which of the following describe your opinion of the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott?

      7 Dec 09  1 March 10 Difference
    Intelligent 71% 71%
    Hard-working 69% 69%
    A capable leader 46% 49% +3%
    Demanding 53% 55% +2%
    Arrogant 53% 53%
    Out of touch with ordinary people 53% 50% -3%
    Understands the problems facing Australia 46% 49% +3%
    Visionary 34% 33% -1%
    Superficial 42% 43% +1%
    Good in a crisis 39% 38% -1%
    Narrow-minded 52% 57% +5%
    Down to earth 46% 46%
    Too inflexible 45% 49% +4%
    Complacent 31% 33% +2%
    More honest than most politicians 31% 34% +3%
    Trustworthy 36% 38% +2%

     Since we asked this question in December 2007, Abbott has gained the most points when it comes to appearing narrow minded (+5%) and appearing too inflexible (+4%). 

     When it comes to positive traits, Abbott has gained some ground in terms of appearing as a capable leader (+3%) who understands the problems facing Australia (+3%) and more honest than most politicians (+3%).  Comments »

  • Dec, 2009

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    Approval of the Opposition Leader

    Q. Do you strongly approve, approve, disapprove or strongly disapprove of the job Tony Abbott is doing as Opposition Leader?

    Malcolm Turnbull Tony Abbott
    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 4% 3% 3% 2% 4% 2% 3% 3% 2% 7%
    Approve 37% 29% 25% 28% 20% 20% 24% 26% 23% 27%
    Disapprove 21% 26% 31% 28% 31% 30% 35% 30% 33% 18%
    Strongly disapprove 9% 17% 17% 21% 26% 28% 18% 20% 22% 18%
    Don’t know 29% 24% 24% 21% 19% 20% 21% 20% 19% 31%
    Total approve 41% 32% 28% 30% 24% 22% 27% 29% 25% 34%
    Total disapprove 30% 43% 48% 49% 57% 58% 53% 50% 55% 36%

    34% of respondents approve of the job Tony Abbott is doing as Opposition Leader, 36% disapprove and 31% don’t know.

    Perception followed party lines – Coalition voters were more likely to approve of the job Abbott is doing as Opposition Leader (65%) while Labor voters were more likely to disapprove (55%).   15% of Coalition voters disapprove of the job Abbott is doing as Opposition Leader.

    Abbott’s approval rating is nine percentage points higher than the score Turnbull received right before he was replaced as Opposition Leader.    However, Turnbull’s approval rating when he took on the leadership role in September 2009 was 36% and his disapproval rating was 30%.  This is a slightly better result than that scored by Abbott after his succession to the leadership position.

    Comments »

  • Dec, 2009

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    Attributes to Describe the Opposition Leader

    Q.  Which of the following describe your opinion of the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott?

    Abbott

    7 Dec 09

    Turnbull

    29 June 09

    Rudd

    7 Dec 09

    Abbott lead over Turnbull Abbott lead over Rudd
    Intelligent 71% 75% 82% -4% -11%
    Hard-working 69% 68% 77% +1% -8%
    A capable leader 46% 39% 69% +7% -23%
    Demanding 53% 62% 60% -9% -7%
    Arrogant 53% 69% 49% -16% +4%
    Out of touch with ordinary people 53% 65% 45% -12% +8%
    Understands the problems facing Australia 46% 48% 59% -2% -13%
    Visionary 34% 26% 48% +8% -14%
    Superficial 42% 51% 41% -9% +1%
    Good in a crisis 39% 32% 58% +7% -19%
    Narrow-minded 52% 51% 36% +1% +16%
    Down to earth 46% 25% 55% +21% -9%
    Too inflexible 45% 47% 38% -2% +7%
    Complacent 31% 38% 38% -7% -7%
    More honest than most politicians 31% 16% 49% +15% -18%
    Trustworthy 36% * 51% * -15%

    *Not asked in June 2009 poll

    When it comes to rating Abbott, people think he is intelligent (71%) and hard-working (69%), yet demanding (53%), arrogant (53%) and out of touch with ordinary people (53%).

    Abbott scores higher than his predecessor Turnbull in terms of qualities such as being down to earth (+21%), more honest than most politicians (+15%), visionary (+8%), capable leader (+7%) and good in a crisis (+7%).

    Males were slightly more likely than females to think that Abbott is superficial (46% v 39%), honest (34% v 28%), visionary (37% v 32%) and down to earth (48% v 43%).

    Comments »

  • Nov, 2009

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    Approval of the Opposition Leader

    Q. Do you strongly approve, approve, disapprove or strongly disapprove of the job Malcolm Turnbull is doing as Opposition Leader?

    29% of people surveyed approve of the job Malcolm Turnbull is doing as Opposition Leader and 50% disapprove.   Turnbull’s approval rating has increased slightly since we last asked this question (+2%), and his disapproval rating has seen a slight decrease (-3%).

    Approval followed party lines – Coalition voters were more likely to approve (56%), while Labor voters were more likely to disapprove (70%).   28% of Coalition voters disapprove of the job Turnbull is doing as Opposition Leader.

    Malcolm Turnbull’s net rating of -21% is a 5 point improvement on the September result and his best result since May.

    Comments »

  • Oct, 2009

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    Turnbull as Leader of the Opposition

    Q. Which statement do you think most accurately reflects Malcolm Turnbull’s time as leader of the Opposition?

    More than half (58%) of people surveyed think that Turnbull has shown he hasn’t got the temperament, patience and judgement to be a leader of a major party.   42% think that despite all the criticism, Turnbull is capable of being the leader of the Opposition and given more time to develop his skills and experience, he could be a good leader of Australia.

    Results reflected party lines – Labor voters were more likely to think that Turnbull hasn’t got the temperament to be a leader of a major party (78%), while Coalition voters were more likely to think Turnbull is capable of being leader, and given more time to develop his skills and experience, he could be a good leader (68%).  However, a significant number of Coalition voters think that Turnbull hasn’t got what it takes to be a leader of a major party (32%).

    People aged 55 years and over were more likely to think that Turnbull is capable of being a good leader, he just needs more time (50%), while respondents aged 25 -34 were more likely to think Turnbull hasn’t got what it takes to be a leader of a major party (69%).

    Comments »

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