Less than half the population supports compulsory voting — but whether forced to vote or not, no one is in a hurry to cast a ballot for Tony Abbott as prime minister.
The latest poll results from Essential Research show voters are not enamoured with Australia’s electoral system, which is based on compulsory voting, often with mandatory preferencing thrown in. When Essential asked its online panel about a bid to make voting voluntary at the state and federal levels, just 49% said they’d oppose the move. Forty per cent said they’d support it and 11% said “don’t know”.
Coalition voters were the most enthusiastic about making voting voluntary, while Labor voters were more inclined to keep it compulsory. However, Labor voters were the most likely to give the ballot box a miss if they had the choice; 61% of Labor voters would “definitely vote” if it was optional, compared with 67% for Coalition and Green voters. Lumping all voting intentions together, 25% said they would “probably vote”, leaving a small minority — 15% — to say they would probably or definitely not vote (or “don’t know”).
Last week, Liberal figures including Brownyn Bishop floated the prospect of compulsory voting with optional preferencing (some experts predict such a system would most help the Liberals, while stripping Labor of some Greens preferences, and perhaps disadvantaging the Nationals). Essential found the public are certainly no fans of mandatory preferencing in elections.
When asked which of three systems they preferred — preferential, optional preferential or first past the post — the preferential option came last, with 23% making it their choice. First past the post was the most popular option, with 44% support, while optional preferencing came second on 25% support. The public split along party lines; Coalition voters were particularly keen on first past the post, Labor voters liked a preferential system and Greens voters went for optional preferential.
However you ask the question to Australian voters in an election, the answer is rarely “Tony Abbott”. Essential found Abbott’s low popularity has sunk further, while Julia Gillard has staged a modest resurgence with punters.
Approval of Gillard has lifted four points to 41% in the last month — her best result in almost two years — while disapproval of her has fallen to 49%. She’s still in net disapproval territory, but in contemporary Australian politics those numbers aren’t bad.
Abbott just can’t get off the mat — he’s on 33% approval and 57% disapproval, his highest disapproval rating in at least three years. Despite recent attempts to improve his standing with women — including media appearances by his wife, and chief of staff Peta Credlin — 30% of voters strongly disapprove of him.
When asked who would make a better PM, more than a quarter of Coalition voters (27%) responded “don’t know” or “Julia Gillard”. Overall, Gillard leads Abbott 42% to 33% as preferred PM.
However, while the public loves to hate Abbott, it’s not proving an election winner for Labor. Essential found voting intention was largely unchanged from last month, on 54-46% to the Coalition on two-party-preferred. On the primary vote, which if voters had their way could be a lot more important than 2PP, the Coalition leads on 48% from Labor (36%) and the Greens (8%).
Essential polled just over 1000 respondents between Thursday and yesterday.
The crazy thing is that despite Abbott’s low numbers & Gillard’s relatively better numbers the Coalition are still ahead.
Both parties need to do something
The Govt need to get the positive part of what they have done out there ( Good luck with that given the News Ltd bias) but they certianly don’t need to knock Abbott.
Whne the issue arises they should be statesman like. For example when he’s running around as a fireman don’t knock him but be daming with faint praise and point out it would be far more impressive if the camera weren’t there and if the real praise could go to the true fighters etc
Or on other issues just be dismissive and say that’s typical Abbott what can you expect but we ( the govt) don’t focus on his failings but are keeping our eye on the ball and doing this positive thing. If people want to vote for an extremist like Abbott then that’s their perogative and its called democracy
The other thing is if I was the govt I would schhedule an early morning press conference to announce/reinforce some positive intitiative. This would require Abbott to respond therefore he wouldn’t have tiome to get on his bike. As his office well knows that if Abbott can’t burn some energy off then he goes troppo during the day
The Govt just need sto let Abbott destroy himself and stand aloof and promote positive actions. Avoid the politics of the negative which is Abbotts strong point.
Any criticism he makes can be easily disarmed by just saying ” Well Mr Abvbott would say that …and then go into a positive amswer”
For the Libs. Just get rid of Abbott & they’re home & hosed
Hi Pav, how goes it?
I am not entirely in accord with your suggested political strategy for the ALP.
Ninconpoops like Abbott should be exposed for what they are, ambitious empty heads who intellectually vasilate between thought bubbles to serve their own ambitions regardless of there implications to the nation.
They must be exposed to show any Opposition Party should attend to the real reason they are in opposition is because of past inadeqaucies and lack of updated policy development.
G’day Mike,
Absolutely stuffed after the holiday break.that’s me.
TRouble with pointing out Abbotts failings then it becomes a bit of a school yard squabble andthe voters turn off to both sides.
Like the old saying goes. Don’t argue with idiots. They drag you down to their level and beat you wioth experience”
Although our generally supine media has yet to really call Abbott out I detect a slight breeze of change.
I also believe that the numbers show the voters have rumbled to Abbotty so there is little benefir in further underlining his incapacity and unfitness. That’s a given. What is need ed for the govt is to establish a narrative that show cases tjeir considerable achievements.
They can’t do both so it is better they don’t focus on Abbott
Essential Research needs to double its sample size before we can be very confident that the views in their sample match the overall population, provided we don’t have any other reason to think their sample will not match the overall population. That said, it does seem that Abbott draws disapproval. Since he gets a good run in the press, we have to ask why so many disapprove, despite the many opportunities he has to put his views in a good light, in any part of the media, including the ABC.
One impression I have is he will wield power ruthlessly, if he gets a chance. Perhaps others pick up this scary side of Abbott, since not so many would share my rejection of what he stands for.
An online panel for the poll result . Well how many in the sample ? 49% said they would oppose the move to voluntary voting as against 40% would support it . Maybe the heading should be more prefer compulsory voting than oppose it .