(Angus Reid Global Scan) – Support for John Howard increased at the start of the year in Australia, according to a Newspoll published in The Australian. 51 per cent of respondents are satisfied with the performance of their prime minister, up eight points since mid-December.
(Angus Reid Global Scan) – Support for John Howard increased at the start of the year in Australia, according to a Newspoll published in The Australian. 51 per cent of respondents are satisfied with the performance of their prime minister, up eight points since mid-December.
In the October 2004 election, Howard was rewarded with a fourth term in office, as his Coalition of Liberals and Nationals secured 87 seats in the House of Representatives. The Australian Labor Party (ALP)—led by Mark Latham—elected 60 lawmakers.
In January, Kim Beazley took over as opposition leader. Beazley commanded the ALP from March 1996 to November 2001. 36 per cent of respondents are satisfied with Beazley’s performance, up three points in four weeks.
The retirement of defence minister Robert Hill—who quit politics to become Australia’s ambassador to the United Nations (UN)—will force a cabinet reshuffle. ALP foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd criticized the prime minister, saying that, if Howard actually gave Hill the UN position, this would represent “the comprehensive prostitution of Australia’s diplomatic service.”
Support for Howard as the preferred prime minister is at 56 per cent, a 31-point advantage over Beazley.
Polling Data
Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way John Howard is doing his job as prime minister?
Jan. 15 | Dec. 18 | Dec. 4 | |
Satisfied | 51% | 43% | 42% |
Dissatisfied | 40% | 46% | 48% |
Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way Kim Beazley is doing his job as leader of the opposition?
Jan. 15 | Dec. 18 | Dec. 4 | |
Satisfied | 36% | 33% | 36% |
Dissatisfied | 47% | 51% | 44% |
Who do you think would make the better prime minister?
Jan. 15 | Dec. 18 | Dec. 4 | |
John Howard (Lib.) | 56% | 51% | 50% |
Kim Beazley (ALP) | 25% | 27% | 29% |
Source: Newspoll / The Australian
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,150 Australian voters, conducted from Jan. 13 to Jan. 15, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
