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  • Apr, 2012

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    Attributes to describe the Prime Minister

    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

    Difference

    Intelligent

    87%

    81%

    75%

    73%

    61%

    -12%

    Hard-working

    89%

    82%

    76%

    75%

    65%

    -10%

    A capable leader

    72%

    59%

    52%

    42%

    38%

    -4%

    Arrogant

    37%

    39%

    44%

    48%

    53%

    +5%

    Out of touch with ordinary people

    35%

    44%

    50%

    60%

    65%

    +5%

    Understands the problems facing Australia

    68%

    55%

    52%

    44%

    41%

    -3%

    Visionary

    48%

    38%

    30%

    26%

    25%

    -1%

    Superficial

    51%

    52%

    54%

    +2%

    Good in a crisis

    61%

    46%

    46%

    41%

    36%

    -5%

    Narrow-minded

    28%

    35%

    43%

    46%

    53%

    +7%

    More honest than most politicians

    45%

    37%

    37%

    29%

    26%

    -3%

    Trustworthy

    49%

    42%

    40%

    30%

    25%

    -5%

    Julia Gillard’s key attributes were hard-working (65%), out of touch with ordinary people (65%) and intelligent (61%).

    Major changes since this question was asked in June last year were decreases for intelligent (-12%), hard-working (-10%) and an increase of 7% for narrow-minded.

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  • Mar, 2012

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    Approval of Julia Gillard

    Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Julia Gillard is doing as Prime Minister?

     

    19 Jul 2010

    20 Dec 2010

    14 Mar

    2011

    14 June

    12 Sept

    17 Oct

    14 Nov

    12 Dec

    16 Jan 2012

    13 Feb

    12 Mar

    Total approve

    52%

    43%

    41%

    34%

    28%

    34%

    37%

    34%

    37%

    36%

    32%

    Total disapprove

    30%

    40%

    46%

    54%

    64%

    59%

    55%

    54%

    52%

    53%

    61%

    Strongly approve

    11%

    10%

    7%

    6%

    5%

    7%

    8%

    6%

    6%

    6%

    8%

    Approve

    41%

    33%

    34%

    28%

    23%

    27%

    29%

    28%

    31%

    30%

    24%

    Disapprove

    17%

    24%

    22%

    29%

    28%

    27%

    25%

    25%

    27%

    26%

    29%

    Strongly disapprove

    13%

    16%

    24%

    25%

    36%

    32%

    30%

    29%

    25%

    27%

    32%

    Don’t know

    18%

    17%

    13%

    13%

    8%

    7%

    9%

    11%

    12%

    11%

    7%

    Julia Gillard’s approval rating has dropped substantially since last month. 32% (down 4%) approve of the job Julia Gillard is doing as Prime Minister and 61% (up 8%) disapprove – a change in net rating from -17 to -29 over the last 4 weeks. This is her lowest rating since September.

    75% of Labor voters approve (down 4%) and 20% disapprove (up 6%).

    By gender – men 32% approve/62% disapprove, women 32% approve/60% disapprove.

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  • Mar, 2012

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    Better Prime Minister

    Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott?

     

    5 Jul 2010

    14 Mar

    14 June

    12 Sept

    17 Oct

    14 Nov

    12 Dec

    16 Jan 2012

    13 Feb

    12 Mar

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Julia Gillard

    53%

    44%

    41%

    36%

    38%

    41%

    39%

    39%

    41%

    40%

    84%

    6%

    74%

    Tony Abbott

    26%

    33%

    36%

    40%

    39%

    36%

    35%

    36%

    34%

    37%

    4%

    76%

    5%

    Don’t know

    21%

    23%

    24%

    24%

    23%

    24%

    26%

    25%

    25%

    23%

    12%

    18%

    21%

    40% (down 1%) believe Julia Gillard would make the better Prime Minister and 37% (up 3%) prefer Tony Abbott – a net change from +7% to +3% for Julia Gillard.

    Both men and women prefer Julia Gillard 40%/37%.

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  • Feb, 2012

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    Approval of Julia Gillard

    Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Julia Gillard is doing as Prime Minister?

    19 Jul 2010 20 Dec 2010 14 Mar

    2011

    14 June 12 Sept 17 Oct 14 Nov 12 Dec 16 Jan 2012 13 Feb
    Total approve 52% 43% 41% 34% 28% 34% 37% 34% 37% 36%
    Total disapprove 30% 40% 46% 54% 64% 59% 55% 54% 52% 53%
    Strongly approve 11% 10% 7% 6% 5% 7% 8% 6% 6% 6%
    Approve 41% 33% 34% 28% 23% 27% 29% 28% 31% 30%
    Disapprove 17% 24% 22% 29% 28% 27% 25% 25% 27% 26%
    Strongly disapprove 13% 16% 24% 25% 36% 32% 30% 29% 25% 27%
    Don’t know 18% 17% 13% 13% 8% 7% 9% 11% 12% 11%

    Julia Gillard’s approval rating has remained much the same as last month. 36% (down 1%) approve of the job Julia Gillard is doing as Prime Minister and 53% (up 1%) disapprove – a change in net rating from -15 to -17 over the last 4 weeks.

    79% of Labor voters approve (up 3%) and 14% disapprove (down 1%).

    By gender – men 39% approve/53% disapprove, women 34% approve/52% disapprove.

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  • Feb, 2012

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    Better Prime Minister

    Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott?

    5 Jul 2010 14 Mar 14 June 12 Sept 17 Oct 14 Nov 12 Dec 16 Jan 2012 13 Feb Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Julia Gillard 53% 44% 41% 36% 38% 41% 39% 39% 41% 85% 5% 76%
    Tony Abbott 26% 33% 36% 40% 39% 36% 35% 36% 34% 3% 73% 7%
    Don’t know 21% 23% 24% 24% 23% 24% 26% 25% 25% 12% 22% 17%

    41% (up 2%) believe Julia Gillard would make the better Prime Minister and 34% (down 2%) prefer Tony Abbott – a net change from +3% to +7% for Julia Gillard. This is Julia Gillard’s best result since May last year.

    Men prefer Julia Gillard 42%/37% and women favour Julia Gillard 40%/32%.

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  • Jan, 2012

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    Australia’s Best Prime Minister

    Q. Choosing from the following list, who do you think has been Australia’s best Prime Minister?

    Term of office Total

    19 Jan 2009

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens Aged 18-34 Aged 35-54 Aged 55+
    John Curtin 7 Oct 1941 – 5 Jul 1945 4% 2% 4% 1% 3% 1% 2% 3%
    Ben Chifley 13 Jul 1945 – 19 Dec 1949 2% 1% 2% 1% 1% 1% 1% 3%
    Robert Menzies 19 Dec 1949 – 26 Jan 1966 11% 11% 4% 18% 4% 4% 8% 21%
    Harold Holt 26 Jan 1966 – 19 Dec 1967 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1%
    John Gorton 10 Jan 1968 – 10 Mar1971 1%
    William McMahon 10 Mar 1971 – 5 Dec 1972 1%
    Gough Whitlam 5 Dec 1972 – 11 Nov 1975 9% 9% 15% 1% 18% 8% 9% 10%
    Malcolm Fraser 11 Nov 1975 – 11 Mar 1983 3% 3% 1% 3% 6% 3% 6%
    Bob Hawke 11 Mar 1983 – 20 Dec 1991 12% 15% 23% 5% 22% 12% 21% 10%
    Paul Keating 20 Dec 1991 – 11 Mar 1996 8% 6% 12% 2% 10% 7% 6% 4%
    John Howard 11 Mar 1996 – 3 Dec 2007 28% 33% 8% 61% 5% 33% 31% 35%
    Kevin Rudd 3 Dec 2007 – 24 Jun 2010 20% 15% 21% 6% 27% 25% 15% 6%
    Julia Gillard 24 Jun 2010 – present na 3% 8% 4% 6% 2% 2%

    Note: Percentages based on those who gave an answer.

    33% thought that John Howard has been Australia’s best Prime Minister, 15% chose Kevin Rudd and 15% Bob Hawke.

    Among Liberal/National voters, 61% chose John Howard and 18% Robert Menzies. With 23%, Bob Hawke received the highest rating from Labor voters, just ahead of Kevin Rudd on 21% with Gough Whitlam on 15%. Greens voters favoured Kevin Rudd (27%) and Bob Hawke (22%).

    While John Howard received similar scores across age groups, the 18-34 group were more likely to favour Kevin Rudd (25%), the 35-54’s Bob Hawke (21%) and the 55+ group Robert Menzies (21%). Compared to the results when this question was asked 3 years ago (when Kevin Rudd was Prime Minister), John Howard (+5%) and Bob Hawke (+3%) have improved their ratings while Kevin Rudd’s has dropped 5%.

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  • Jan, 2012

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    Approval of Julia Gillard

    Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Julia Gillard is doing as Prime Minister?

    19 Jul 2010 20 Dec 2010 14 Mar

    2011

    14 June 12 Sept 17 Oct 14 Nov 12 Dec 16 Jan 2012
    Total approve 52% 43% 41% 34% 28% 34% 37% 34% 37%
    Total disapprove 30% 40% 46% 54% 64% 59% 55% 54% 52%
    Strongly approve 11% 10% 7% 6% 5% 7% 8% 6% 6%
    Approve 41% 33% 34% 28% 23% 27% 29% 28% 31%
    Disapprove 17% 24% 22% 29% 28% 27% 25% 25% 27%
    Strongly disapprove 13% 16% 24% 25% 36% 32% 30% 29% 25%
    Don’t know 18% 17% 13% 13% 8% 7% 9% 11% 12%

    Julia Gillard’s approval rating has improved a little since last month. 37% (up 3%) approve of the job Julia Gillard is doing as Prime Minister and 52% (down 2%) disapprove – a change in net rating from -20 to -15 over the last 5 weeks. This is the best net rating for the Prime Minister since May last year.

    76% of Labor voters approve (up 3%) and 15% disapprove (down 4%).

    By gender – men 34% approve/57% disapprove, women 37% approve/47% disapprove.

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  • Jan, 2012

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    Better Prime Minister

    Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott?

    5 Jul 2010 14 Mar 14 June 12 Sept 17 Oct 14 Nov 12 Dec 16 Jan 2012 Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Julia Gillard 53% 44% 41% 36% 38% 41% 39% 39% 83% 5% 69%
    Tony Abbott 26% 33% 36% 40% 39% 36% 35% 36% 5% 76% 4%
    Don’t know 21% 23% 24% 24% 23% 24% 26% 25% 12% 20% 27%

    39% believe Julia Gillard would make the better Prime Minister and 36% prefer Tony Abbott – no significant change from last month’s result.

    Men prefer Tony Abbott 41%/37% and women favour Julia Gillard 41%/31%.

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