The dramatic extent of Labor’s reputational damage with the electorate is made clear in today’s Essential Report, which concentrates on the perceived attributes of the major parties and the Greens.
Essential has asked about a series of positive and negative attributes of the parties twice before, in 2009 and last year. Just over a year ago, Labor performed significantly more poorly than in 2009, but the party’s perceptions have dramatically worsened since then.
Seventy two per cent of voters believe “will promise to do anything to win votes” applies to Labor, up nine points since March last year, while 66% believe “divided” applies — a massive 30-point increase since last year. “Out of touch” has increased 13 points to 61%, and “moderate” has dropped 12 points to 51%. Even otherwise uncharacteristic descriptions such as “extreme” now garner significant support, up 12 points to 38%. And whereas even last year 52% of voters thought Labor had a good team of leaders, only 34% now feel that way.
For the Liberals, however, it’s all positive: a drop in the number of voters who think they’ll promise to do anything to win votes — down from 72% to 65%; a rise in “moderate” perceptions by five points to 55%; “out of touch” down to 54%, “divided” down from 66% to 49%. There was also a big improvement on “good team of leaders”, but off rather a low base, up nine points to 40%. The Liberals lead Labor on nearly every positive indicator and trail on nearly every negative indicator. Labor still has a one-point lead on “looks after the interests of working people.”
Essential also asked the same questions about the Greens. They did poorly on attributes such as “extreme” (61%) and “out of touch” (60%) but were lower than the major parties on “will promise to do anything to win votes” (52%). But they also performed as well as or better than Labor and Liberal on “clear about what they stand for” (51%) and “have a vision for the future” (49%). Labor only scored 28% on “clear about what they stand for” (the Liberals scored 44%) and 43% on “vision for the future” (Liberals 48%). There’s also little risk of the Greens being perceived as too close to corporate and financial interests — the Liberals were way ahead on that, on 60%; 46% of voters thought that of Labor, but only 22% (and what on earth were they thinking) of the Greens.
On other questions, the recent scandals around ADFA don’t appear to have tarnished the reputation of the military as a career option — 71% of people still think it provides a good career for young people, although it isn’t as well regarded as a trade, or ICT (both well over 80%) or teaching or nursing. And voters also strongly support greater regulation of poker machines — 62% want more regulation of pokies, second only to online gambling (68%) and well ahead of sports and horse racing betting.
On voting intention, it’s steady: Coalition primary vote on 47%, Labor on 35%; Greens down a point to 10%, the same 2PP as last week, 54-46% to the Coalition.
The ALP haven’t abided by their grass roots polices for years. I stopped giving them my primary vote when Bob Hawke gave the nod to the third Uranium mine, against ALP National Policy. I said, ‘I’m not working my dinger off in the branch and/or on polling day, while you give me the middle finger’? That was it – I think it was 1984! I was disgusted. Hawke had also brought in scabs during the pilot’s strike – this from a past President of the ACTU? What does that say?
Look at the present situation re asylum seekers. From giving Howard a deserved serve over his appalling human rights abuses while in Opposition, now, for the sake of the rabid racist votes, they’re going to bring back TPV’s with a few limitations? How disgusting?
Canada has 25,000 asylum seekers per year and no mandatory detention, for an indefinite period. They take about 30 days for health and security checks, and then people are released while awaiting their decision for permanent refuge – those not found to be in need of refuge are sent back, but not to danger! We don’t hear about hysterical govt members/opposition members in Canada over this number. And the costs? It’s just ridiculous and inhumane!
Instead of standing up to the media; taking the racists and shock jocks to task for their misinformation and blatant lies, they start adopting the horrific stance of the coalition!
Will someone in msm please, AGAIN, tell Abbott and Scott that seeking asylum in Australia or anywhere else is NOT ILLEGAL!!!!!!(scream – scream!)
More numbers. More conjecture and piffle.
Please, Crikey, give us a break. How about banning surveys except in the runup to elections (say, 3 months) and for other short windows, something like the way that so-called PowerPlays of 5 overs are staged in 50-over cricket so that commentators can pretend that there is something happening which is more interesting.
Two power plays of 5 overs = 20% of the match. On an annualised basis, that amounts to, say, 10 weeks per year when this type of stuff can be dragged out. The other 42 weeks will be that much better by comparison.
I’m with John, give us a frigging rest from this piffle. The opinions of a few hundred dingbats in an online opinion poll means nothing at all.
ENOUGH POLLS, NO MORE POLLS.
I think I will start a perty called the NO MORE FRIGGING POLLS PARTY. Anything to stop this drivel.
Both parties would be so much more appealing if they didn’t think of themselves as ‘brands’ and instead possessed something close to principles.
ALP – it’s the choice of a new generation
Australian Liberal Party – Just Do It