Fed: Labor seen as better equipped to handle most issues: survey
By Colin Brinsden23 Mar 2009 4:30 PM
EDS: Embargoed until 1630 AEDT Monday, March 23
CANBERRA, March 23 AAP - The Rudd government is considered better equipped to handle most issues facing the country, although the coalition is still seen as the better manager of the economy - but only just.
Essential Research's latest weekly survey found the Labor government was considered most capable in 12 of 13 categories, including industrial relations, climate change and political leadership.
Even on interest rates, Labor polled just ahead of the coalition at 27 per cent to 26 per cent, leaving John Howard's claim that interest rates would always be lower under the coalition to fade into history.
Indeed, the Reserve Bank of Australia's official cash rate presently sits at a 45-year low of 3.25 per cent, and financial markets are predicting it will go even lower.
But when it comes to the management of the economy, the coalition polled 31 per cent to Labor's 30 per cent.
Labor was seen as far better able to handle a fair industrial relations system at 47 per cent compared to the opposition's 19 per cent.
On climate change the government polled 36 per cent to the coalition's 11 per cent, and on political leadership Labor polled 44 per cent to 19 per cent.
Over the week, support for Labor rose two percentage points to 60 per cent on a two-party preferred basis and the coalition eased two percentage points to 40 per cent.
Respondents approved of crossbench senators holding up and demanding changes to legislation.
The survey found 37 per cent gave Family First Senator Steve Fielding and independent Nick Xenophon the thumbs up, while 29 per cent disapproved.
The survey was conducted between March 17 and 22 and attracted 1,285 responses.
