(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The Australian Labor Party (ALP) is holding on to the lead in the country’s federal political scene, according to a poll by Galaxy published in The Herald Sun. 44 per cent of respondents would vote for the ALP in this year’s legislative ballot, while 42 per cent would support the governing Coalition of Liberals and Nationals.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The Australian Labor Party (ALP) is holding on to the lead in the country’s federal political scene, according to a poll by Galaxy published in The Herald Sun. 44 per cent of respondents would vote for the ALP in this year’s legislative ballot, while 42 per cent would support the governing Coalition of Liberals and Nationals.
The Australian Greens are third with 10 per cent. Australia’s preferential voting system—where electors indicate an order of predilection for each contender, and the ballots from smaller parties are re-distributed—gives the ALP a six-point lead over the Coalition.
In the October 2004 election, prime minister John Howard was rewarded with a fourth term in office, as the Coalition secured 87 seats in the House of Representatives. The ALP—led by Mark Latham—elected 60 lawmakers. In December 2006, foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd became the new leader of the ALP, defeating Kim Beazley in an internal caucus ballot.
On Jun. 5, Howard discussed his plans to curb global warming, saying, “Implementing an emissions trading scheme and setting a long-term goal for reducing emissions will be the most momentous economic decision Australia will take in the next decade. If we get this wrong it will do enormous damage to the economy, to jobs and to the economic well-being of ordinary Australians, especially low-income households.”
Greens senator Bob Brown disagreed with the prime minister’s views, saying, “Climate change is not going to wait for the Liberal Party. Keeping global temperature rises to two degrees Celsius or less requires rigorous action now.”
Polling Data
What party would you vote for in the next election to the House of Representatives?
Jun. 3 | May 13 | |
Australian Labor Party | 44% | 49% |
Coalition (Liberal / National) | 42% | 39% |
Australian Greens | 10% | 9% |
Other parties | 4% | 3% |
Two-Party Preferred Vote
Jun. 3 | May 13 | |
Australian Labor Party | 53% | 57% |
Coalition (Liberal / National) | 47% | 43% |
Source: Galaxy / The Herald Sun
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,021 Australian voters, conducted from Jun. 1 to Jun. 3, 2007. No margin of error was provided.
