(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – More Australians are content with the performance of their prime minister and leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), according to a poll by Newspoll published in The Australian. 56 per cent of respondents are satisfied with the way Kevin Rudd is doing his job, up six points since late September.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – More Australians are content with the performance of their prime minister and leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), according to a poll by Newspoll published in The Australian. 56 per cent of respondents are satisfied with the way Kevin Rudd is doing his job, up six points since late September.
Australia held a federal election in November 2007. Final results gave the ALP 85 seats in the 150-member House of Representatives. ALP leader 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. The Liberals have an alliance with the National party.
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 right after the ballot. On Sept. 16, Turnbull won a new internal leadership race, edging Nelson by four votes. 50 per cent of respondents are satisfied with Turnbull’s performance as leader of the opposition.
In the preferred prime minister category, Rudd holds an 18-point advantage over Turnbull.
On Oct. 16, Rudd discussed his views on the global economic crisis, saying, "The government remains determined to take whatever action is necessary to underpin economic growth. (…) Australians are not a bunch of panic merchants, but a bunch of sensible people who believe in the future of the country."
Polling Data
Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way Kevin Rudd is doing his job as prime minister?
|
Oct. 12 |
Sept. 21 |
Sept. 7 |
|
|
Satisfied |
56% |
50% |
54% |
|
Dissatisfied |
32% |
37% |
32% |
|
Uncommitted |
12% |
13% |
14% |
Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way Malcolm Turnbull is doing his job as leader of the opposition?
|
Oct. 12 |
Sept. 7 (*) |
|
|
Satisfied |
50% |
35% |
|
Dissatisfied |
25% |
42% |
|
Uncommitted |
25% |
23% |
Who do you think would make the better prime minister? (*)
|
Oct. 12 |
Sept. 21 |
Sept. 7 |
|
|
Kevin Rudd (ALP) |
54% |
54% |
62% |
|
Malcolm Turnbull (Lib.) |
36% |
24% |
16% |
|
Uncommitted |
20% |
22% |
22% |
(*) Brendan Nelson was listed in the Sept. 7 survey instead of Malcolm Turnbull.
Source: Newspoll / The Australian
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,149 Australian voters, conducted from Oct. 10 to Oct. 12, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
