(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The Australian Labor Party (ALP) has gained public support this month, according to a poll by Roy Morgan International. 51.5 per cent of respondents would vote for the governing party in the next election to the House of Representatives, up two points since early December.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The Australian Labor Party (ALP) has gained public support this month, according to a poll by Roy Morgan International. 51.5 per cent of respondents would vote for the governing party in the next election to the House of Representatives, up two points since early December.
The opposition Coalition of Liberals and Nationals is second with 33 per cent, followed by the Australian Greens with 10.5 per cent, and Family First with two 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 24-point lead over the Coalition.
Australia held a federal election in November 2007. Final results gave the ALP 85 seats in the 150-member House of Representatives. ALP leader Kevin Rudd was officially sworn in as prime minister in December, bringing an end to the 11-year tenure of Liberal leader John Howard as head of Australia’s government.
Howard failed to retain his seat in the Bennelong constituency and stepped down as Liberal leader. Brendan Nelson—a former defence minister—defeated former environment minister Malcolm Turnbull in an internal leadership ballot by just three votes.
On Jan. 26, Nelson discussed his views on the Australia Day celebrations, saying they are a time to "reflect what it means to be an Australian and for us, as Australians, it’s about courage, mateship, giving others a fair go and making sure—whether by birth or immigration—if we are Australians, we’re Australians first and we’re Australians last."
Polling Data
If a federal election for the House of Representatives were being held today, which party would receive your first preference?
|
Jan. 13 |
Dec. 9 |
|
|
Australian Labor Party |
51.5% |
49.5% |
|
Coalition (Liberal / National) |
33% |
34% |
|
Australian Greens |
10.5% |
10.5% |
|
Family First |
2% |
2.5% |
|
Others |
5.5% |
3.5% |
Two-Party Preferred Vote
|
Jan. 13 |
Dec. 9 |
|
|
Australian Labor Party |
62% |
61.5% |
|
Coalition (Liberal / National) |
38% |
38.5% |
Source: Roy Morgan International
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,825 Australian voters, conducted on Jan. 5, Jan. 6, Jan. 12 and Jan. 13, 2008. No margin of error was provided.
