- Many Australian adults believe their current prime minister is the best person to lead the Coalition of Liberals and Nationals into the next election to the House of Representatives, according to a poll by Roy Morgan International. 43 per cent of respondents prefer to have John Howard in charge.
- Many Australian adults believe their current prime minister is the best person to lead the Coalition of Liberals and Nationals into the next election to the House of Representatives, according to a poll by Roy Morgan International. 43 per cent of respondents prefer to have John Howard in charge.
Current treasurer Peter Costello is second on the list with 17 per cent, followed by foreign minister Alexander Downer with eight per cent, and parliamentary secretary Malcom Turnbull and health minister Tony Abbott with six per cent each. Support is lower for defence minister Brendan Nelson and workplace relations minister Kevin Andrews.
In the October 2004 election, Howard was rewarded with a fourth term in office, as the Coalition secured 87 seats in the House of Representatives. The Australian Labor Party (ALP)—led by Mark Latham—elected 60 lawmakers. In January 2005, Kim Beazley took over as opposition leader. Beazley commanded the ALP from March 1996 to November 2001.
As far as ALP leadership hopefuls, Beazley and shadow health minister Julia Gillard are tied with 26 per cent, followed by foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd with 20 per cent. Support is lower for union leader Bill Shorten, education spokeswoman Jenny Macklin, treasury spokesman Wayne Swan, communications spokesman Lindsay Tanner and industrial relations spokesman Stephen Smith.
Yesterday, Business Council of Australia chief executive Katie Lahey urged Howard and Costello to remain in their respective positions, saying, “They are a very successful team both domestically and internationally. (…) I think the broad view is they would like to see what has been a very good relationship continue for as long as possible.”
The next election is tentatively scheduled for October 2007.
Polling Data
If you were a Liberal or National Party voter and helping to choose the Coalition leader for the next federal election, who would you prefer?
John Howard | 43% |
Peter Costello | 17% |
Alexander Downer | 8% |
Malcom Turnbull | 6% |
Tony Abbott | 6% |
Brendan Nelson | 3% |
Kevin Andrews | 2% |
Someone else | 3% |
Can’t say | 12% |
If you were a Labor Party voter and helping to choose the Labor leader for the next Federal election, who would you prefer?
Kim Beazley | 26% |
Julia Gillard | 26% |
Kevin Rudd | 20% |
Bill Shorten | 5% |
Jenny Macklin | 4% |
Wayne Swan | 3% |
Lindsay Tanner | 2% |
Stephen Smith | 1% |
Can’t say | 13% |
Source: Roy Morgan International
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 578 Australian voters, conducted on Jul. 12 and Jul. 13, 2006. No margin of error was provided.
