(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Adults in Australia regard their current prime minister as a well-prepared and visionary politician, but think he has poor people skills compared to the leader of the opposition, according to a poll by Newspoll published in The Australian. 95 per cent of respondents think John Howard is experienced, while 57 per cent think the same of Australian Labor Party (ALP) leader Kevin Rudd.

While 84 per cent of respondents think Rudd cares for people, 68 per cent see that quality in Howard. More than 75 per cent of respondents believe Howard has a vision for Australia, understands the country’s major issues, is decisive and strong, and is experienced; but 62 per cent see him as arrogant, and fewer regard him as likeable, in touch with the voters and trustworthy.

Conversely, more than two-thirds of respondents say Rudd is likeable, in touch with the voters and trustworthy, and only 34 per cent see him as arrogant.

In the October 2004 election, Howard was rewarded with a fourth term in office, as his Coalition of Liberals and Nationals secured 87 seats in the House of Representatives. The ALP—led by Mark Latham—elected 60 lawmakers. In December 2006, foreign affairs spokesman Rudd became the new leader of the ALP, defeating Kim Beazley in an internal caucus ballot.

In mid-October Howard said he would include in the next education budget a motion to enforce at least 150 hours of history lessons in all junior secondary schools in Australia. New South Wales education minister and ALP member John Della Bosca said history has been compulsory in that state’s schools for more than a decade, covering all key events and themes.

Della Bosca added: "(The proposal) demonstrates that Mr. Howard is either arrogant and out of touch, or sadly mistaken about the use of his election stunts. (...) Once again Mr. Howard has taken the view that he should bully the states, bully school communities, and badger people and blackmail school communities using federal taxpayers’ money."

A legislative election is scheduled for Nov. 24.

Polling Data

Here are some words other people have used to describe prime minister John Howard and opposition leader Kevin Rudd. Do you agree that each of the following describes Mr. Howard / Mr. Rudd?

Source: Newspoll / The Australian
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,708 Australian voters, conducted from Nov. 2 to Nov. 4, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

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