(ARGM) – Public support for the opposition Australian Labor Party (ALP) increased dramatically this month, according to a poll by Roy Morgan International. 50 per cent of respondents would vote for the ALP in the next legislative ballot, while 34.5 per cent would back the governing Coalition of Liberals and Nationals.
(ARGM) – Public support for the opposition Australian Labor Party (ALP) increased dramatically this month, according to a poll by Roy Morgan International. 50 per cent of respondents would vote for the ALP in the next legislative ballot, while 34.5 per cent would back the governing Coalition of Liberals and Nationals.
The Australian Greens are third with seven per cent, followed by Family First, the Australian Democrats, and One Nation. 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 20-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. On Dec. 4, foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd became the new leader of the ALP, defeating Kim Beazley in an internal caucus ballot.
Yesterday, Rudd cautioned ALP supporters about the recent numbers, saying, “What I see in the polls around the country is a protest vote against John Howard, who is becoming increasingly out of touch. I do not yet see evidence of an entrenched vote for Labor or a vote for me. I have got nine months of really hard work to do to earn the trust and respect of the people of this state and the people across the country.”
The next legislative election is tentatively scheduled for late 2007.
Polling Data
What party would you vote for in the next election to the House of Representatives?
Dec. 10 | Nov. 19 | Nov. 5 | |
Australian Labor Party | 50% | 40.5% | 40.5% |
Coalition (Liberal / National) | 34.5% | 40.5% | 41.5% |
Australian Greens | 7% | 10% | 9% |
Family First | 2.5% | 2% | 2% |
Australian Democrats | 1.5% | 2.5% | 1.5% |
One Nation | 1% | 1% | 1% |
Two-Party Preferred Vote
Dec. 10 | Nov. 19 | Nov. 5 | |
Australian Labor Party | 60% | 53.5% | 52% |
Coalition (Liberal / National) | 40% | 46.5% | 48% |
Source: Roy Morgan International
Methodology: Face-to-face interviews with 1,065 Australian voters, conducted on Dec. 9 and Dec. 10, 2006. No margin of error was provided.
