(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Just as Kevin Rudd stands down as leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and prime minister, the majority of people in the country were expressing dissatisfaction with his work, according to a poll by Newspoll published in The Australian. 55 per cent of respondents were unhappy with Rudd’s leadership, up one point since late May.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Just as Kevin Rudd stands down as leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and prime minister, the majority of people in the country were expressing dissatisfaction with his work, according to a poll by Newspoll published in The Australian. 55 per cent of respondents were unhappy with Rudd’s leadership, up one point since late May.
The popularity of opposition leader Tony Abbott of the Liberal Party is also low, with 49 per cent of respondents dissatisfied with his work. Rudd was still the preferred prime minister over Abbott, 46 per cent to 37 per cent.
On Jun. 23, ALP member and deputy prime minister Julia Gillard called for a snap leadership challenge to Rudd to be held the following day. Although the prime minister had expressed confidence in having enough backers within his party’s ranks, he decided to step aside before the vote took place. Gillard became the first woman to serve as prime minister in Australia.
Yesterday, Gillard discussed her environmental proposals, saying, "If elected as Prime Minister I will re-prosecute the case for a carbon price at home and abroad. I will do that as global economic conditions improve and as our economy continues to strengthen."
Abbott dismissed the new prime minister, saying, "It’s clear that if you want to change the policies you’re going to have to change the government. They’ve changed the salesman but they haven’t changed the product."
Polling Data
Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way Kevin Rudd is doing his job as prime minister?
|
Jun. 20
|
May 30
|
May 16
|
|
|
Satisfied
|
36%
|
36%
|
39%
|
|
Dissatisfied
|
55%
|
54%
|
51%
|
|
Uncommitted
|
9%
|
10%
|
10%
|
Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way Tony Abbott is doing his job as leader of the opposition?
|
|
Jun. 20
|
May 30
|
May 16
|
|
Satisfied
|
38%
|
37%
|
42%
|
|
Dissatisfied
|
49%
|
49%
|
45%
|
|
Uncommitted
|
13%
|
14%
|
13%
|
Who do you think would make the better prime minister?
|
|
Jun. 20
|
May 30
|
May 16
|
|
Kevin Rudd (ALP)
|
46%
|
49%
|
49%
|
|
Tony Abbott (Lib.)
|
37%
|
33%
|
33%
|
|
Uncommitted
|
17%
|
18%
|
18%
|
Source: Newspoll / The Australian
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,147 Australian voters, conducted from Jun. 18 to Jun. 20, 2010. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
