(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Adults in Australia believe their current head of government is superior to his predecessor on most topics, according to a poll by Essential Research. At least 50 per cent of respondents think Kevin Rudd has been better than John Howard at dealing with indigenous issues and handling the economy in the interests of working people.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Adults in Australia believe their current head of government is superior to his predecessor on most topics, according to a poll by Essential Research. At least 50 per cent of respondents think Kevin Rudd has been better than John Howard at dealing with indigenous issues and handling the economy in the interests of working people.
At least two-in-five respondents also think Rudd has been better than Howard on the issues of protecting the environment, honesty in government, international relations and supporting Australian industries. The former prime minister holds the upper hand on handling the economy and defence.
Australia held a federal election in November 2007. Final results gave the Australian Labor Party (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 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. In September 2008, Turnbull won a new internal leadership race, edging Nelson by four votes.
On Aug. 21, Turnbull criticized Rudd’s economic policies, saying, "We have seen nothing but boasting about how much is being spent. Kevin Rudd is popping up everywhere with a hard hat and a safety vest. (…) There is no surprise that a government with that avowed socialist objective is planning to put up taxes."
Polling Data
Thinking about the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the previous Prime Minister John Howard, who do you think has been better at the following?
|
Rudd |
Howard |
No difference |
Don’t know |
|
|
Indigenous issues |
52% |
13% |
24% |
11% |
|
Handling the economy in the interests of working people |
50% |
25% |
19% |
7% |
|
Protecting the environment |
43% |
11% |
36% |
10% |
|
Honesty in government |
41% |
19% |
32% |
7% |
|
International relations |
40% |
27% |
23% |
10% |
|
Supporting Australian industries |
37% |
26% |
26% |
11% |
|
Handling the economy |
37% |
39% |
16% |
7% |
|
Defence and security |
30% |
35% |
26% |
9% |
Source: Essential Research
Methodology: Online interviews with 1,093 Australian adults, conducted from Aug. 10 to Aug. 16, 2009. No margin of error was provided.
