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  • 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%).

  • Feb, 2013

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    Party trust to handle important election issues

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

     

    Labor

    Liberal

    Greens

    Don’t know

    Diff
    11
    Feb
    13

    Diff
    19
    Nov
    12

    Diff
    18
    Jun
    12

    Management of the economy

    31%

    46%

    3%

    21%

    -15

    -14

    -18

    Ensuring a quality education for all children

    37%

    35%

    6%

    22%

    +2

    +5

    -2

    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system

    33%

    36%

    6%

    25%

    -3

    -3

    -6

    Protecting the environment

    20%

    21%

    39%

    20%

    +18

    +16

    +17

    A fair industrial relations system

    39%

    33%

    4%

    23%

    +6

    +9

    +6

    Political leadership

    29%

    37%

    6%

    29%

    -8

    -12

    -16

    Addressing climate change

    21%

    24%

    29%

    26%

    +5

    +9

    +7

    Controlling interest rates

    27%

    41%

    3%

    30%

    -14

    -11

    -18

    Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries

    33%

    36%

    4%

    27%

    -3

    -2

    -6

    Ensuring a quality water supply

    21%

    27%

    23%

    29%

    -6

    -7

    -12

    Housing affordability

    27%

    33%

    5%

    35%

    -6

    -5

    -11

    Ensuring a fair taxation system

    31%

    37%

    4%

    28%

    -6

    -9

    -10

    Security and the war on terrorism

    25%

    38%

    4%

    33%

    -13

    -15

    -22

    Treatment of asylum seekers

    20%

    37%

    14%

    30%

    -17

    -18

    -20

    Managing population growth

    21%

    33%

    7%

    39%

    -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.

    Labor has a significant lead over the  Liberal Party only on ensuring a fair industrial relations system. 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, ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system and protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries. Since November, there has been very little shift on any issue.

  • Jun, 2012

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    Party trust to handle important election issues

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

     

    Labor

    Liberal

    Greens

    Don’t know

    Difference

    18 Jun 12

    Difference

    5 Dec 11

    Management of the economy

    26%

    44%

    3%

    27%

    -18

    -18

    Ensuring a quality education for all children

    33%

    35%

    5%

    26%

    -2

    -2

    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system

    30%

    36%

    7%

    27%

    -6

    -3

    Protecting the environment

    17%

    21%

    38%

    24%

    +17

    +14

    A fair industrial relations system

    36%

    30%

    6%

    28%

    +6

    +4

    Political leadership

    21%

    37%

    7%

    36%

    -16

    -17

    Addressing climate change

    18%

    24%

    31%

    27%

    +7

    +6

    Controlling interest rates

    22%

    40%

    3%

    35%

    -18

    -18

    Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries

    29%

    35%

    6%

    31%

    -6

    -3

    Ensuring a quality water supply

    16%

    28%

    23%

    33%

    -12

    -12

    Housing affordability

    22%

    33%

    5%

    39%

    -11

    -10

    Ensuring a fair taxation system

    26%

    36%

    5%

    32%

    -10

    -9

    Security and the war on terrorism

    18%

    40%

    4%

    38%

    -22

    -19

    Treatment of asylum seekers

    16%

    36%

    13%

    36%

    -20

    -19

    Managing population growth

    17%

    36%

    7%

    40%

    -19

    -17

    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.

    Labor does not have a substantial lead over the Liberal Party on any item measured. The Liberal Party has maintained strong leads on management of the economy, controlling interest rates, political leadership and security and the war on terrorism.

    There is little difference between Labor and the Liberals for ensuring a quality education for all children, ensuring the quality of Australia’s health systerm and protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries. Overall, there has been very little change in these results since December.

  • Oct, 2010

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    Party best handling important election issues

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

    Labor Liberal Greens Don’t know
    Management of the economy 37% 42% 2% 19%
    Ensuring a quality education for all children 42% 31% 4% 23%
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system 36% 35% 5% 25%
    Protecting the environment 19% 20% 40% 21%
    A fair industrial relations system 44% 30% 4% 22%
    Political leadership 34% 36% 5% 25%
    Addressing climate change 21% 22% 31% 26%
    Controlling interest rates 28% 42% 2% 29%
    Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries 41% 33% 3% 23%
    Ensuring a quality water supply 24% 27% 21% 29%
    Housing affordability 31% 31% 4% 34%
    Ensuring a fair taxation system 35% 35% 3% 28%
    Security and the war on terrorism 27% 35% 4% 34%
    Treatment of asylum seekers 26% 33% 9% 33%
    Standing up for regular Australian working families 44% 28% 4% 23%
    Managing population growth 28% 33% 7% 33%
    Making sure Australian working people got fair treatment at their workplace 45% 29% 3% 23%

    Labor is trusted most to handle a fair industrial relations system (44%), ensuring a quality education for all children (42%) and protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries (41%).

    The Liberals are trusted most to handle management of the economy (42%), controlling interest rates (42%) and security and the war on terrorism (35%).

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