THE Labor government may have saved the economy from recession, and interest rates are at record lows, but most voters still rate the Coalition as the better party to handle both issues, the latest Herald/Nielsen poll finds.
The poll, which canvasses opinion on the issues that will shape this year's federal election, shows Labor well ahead in the eyes of voters in its traditional areas of health and education. It has slipped a bit on the environment, but in a warning for Tony Abbott, Labor remains streets ahead on industrial relations.
The poll of 1400 voters was taken from Thursday to Saturday night. From Monday to Wednesday the government released its policies for a national curriculum and health reform, interest rates rose by 0.25 percentage points and the national accounts figures helped vindicate the government's stimulus package by showing strong growth for the December quarter.
However, the poll finds 51 per cent of voters back the Coalition on the economy, compared with 42 per cent for Labor.
The Herald last polled the issues in October 2007, just before the previous federal election. Then, only 30 per cent of voters backed Labor on the economy, meaning it has made up 12 percentage points since being in government.
In recent weeks Kevin Rudd has claimed the economic management mantle from his opponents and cited the appointment of Barnaby Joyce as finance spokesman as evidence the Liberals do not deserve the title.
On interest rates, 48 per cent of voters rate the Coalition as the best party compared with 39 per cent for Labor. The cash rate fell to a record low of 3 per cent during the economic crisis but are on the rise again as the recovery takes hold.
The poll confirms that Mr Rudd is playing to Labor strengths by shifting the debate to health and education.
On health, Labor leads the Coalition by 53 per cent to 37 per cent. On education, Labor leads the Coalition by 59 per cent to 33 per cent. Both findings are similar to those of the October 2007 poll.
The government, however, has taken a hit on the environment since 2007 when climate change was a key point of difference between the Howard government and the then Rudd Labor opposition.
Then, Labor led on the environment by 57 per cent to 27 per cent. Since then, however, Mr Rudd has failed to have his emissions trading scheme pass the Senate and the home insulation and green loan schemes have been scrapped because of blowouts and maladministration. Subsequently, the latest poll shows that Labor's support on the environment has slipped to 51 per cent while the Coalition's support has risen 9 points to 36 per cent.
In a warning for Mr Abbott, who plans to unwind some of Labor's new laws, industrial relations is still as much a Labor strength as it was at the last election. The poll shows 56 per cent back Labor and 36 per cent the Coalition.
Yesterday the ACTU released a new campaign accusing Mr Abbott of wanting to bring back Work Choices.
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