Australia's Most Unpopular Prime Minister Revealed

[icyfroth]

Oh dear here's another political thread. And we were going to cut back. Oh well...

Tony Abbott may not be Australia's most popular prime minister following the release of the Federal Budget but he's still less despised than Paul Keating and Julia Gillard, analysts say.

Mr Abbott's popularity in the polls has sunk to a depressing low after last week's new taxes and drastic spending cuts were introduced.

But there's hope yet for the Liberal PM, if you look at the approval ratings of his most polarising predecessors.

Mr Abbott's new 30 percent approval rating since his September 7, 2013 election, doesn't even come close to that of Paul Keating.

The former Labor leader's popularity plunged to an all-time low of 17 percent in August 1993, following the delivery of his government's budget.

He remains Australia's most unpopular prime minister on record.

Most unpopular PMs

1 Paul Keating, deficit-reducing taxation hike, August 1993 (17%)

2 Julia Gillard at the height of the AWU scandal, September 2011 (23%)

3 Malcolm Fraser, report recommends public service cuts, May 1981 (26%)

4 Gough Whitlam during Overseas Loans Affair, July 1975 (26%) 5 Bob Hawke, country caught in recession, December 1991 (27%)

Most popular PMs

1 Kevin Rudd, his triumphant world tour, April 2008 (71%)

2 John Howard after elected PM first time, May 1996 (67%)

3 John Gorton, support for Australia's involvement in Vietnam War, August 1968 (63%)

4 Bob Hawke, no major events, January 1986 (62%)

5 Gough Whitlam, strong support at elections, May 1974 (58%)

Julia Gillard took out the second spot with a 23 percent approval rating in September 2011 at the height of the Australian Workers Union scandal in which her former partner, Bruce Wilson, was accused of embezzlement.

"We saw with Gillard that the perception of lies about the carbon tax dinted public perception," Roy Morgan Research poll manager Julian McCrann said.

"We are seeing a similar thing with Tony Abbott and the belief he has misrepresented himself."

However, in fourth and fifth position on the list, Gough Whitlam and Bob Hawke also recorded the fifth and fourth highest approval ratings, respectively

Newspoll chief executive Martin O'Shannessy said the polls only really count in the months before an election.

"Keating, Howard and Fraser were all intensely disliked but they came back at election time because they were good economic leaders," he said.

Mr Abbott currently sits in seventh place, with John Howard at six (28 percent) and Malcolm Fraser at three (26 percent).

Read more at http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2014/05/20/14/27/abbott-more-popular-than-keating-gillard#KBGkIt...

He might still get to see the Lodge when the renos are done

[boris1gary]

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@para-sights wrote:

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@boris1gary wrote:

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@para-sights wrote:

If "lies" tainted Gillard it's hard to not deduce that the "lies" that  Abbott has made may in fact follow him all the way to the next election. It's hard to say

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It's not that hard to say - Abbott has lied his way into government, he's still lying now and will lie his way (soon) into history. I was going to write into our history books but I will go with pamphlet.

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Yes it's going to seem like a weird reversal to him that all the implied and outright acusations of lies and deception he shouted as opposition will likely be used to derail him

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I've been trying to think of some scenarios that might save him/them but only come up with ridiculous hollywood type ones.

[spotweldersfriend]

Lazarus with a triple by-pass 🙂

[para-sights]

Yes I don't think even the Murdoch press is going to risk another dodgy tabloid campaign again to save him. Even they know they could face a severe backlash to try it a second time

[spotweldersfriend]

Reform I.R and financial system,privatise the Commonwealth bank,float the $,superannuation for all workers.Not a great deal happened under Hawke:D

[icyfroth]

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@paintsew007 wrote:

I agree freaky-looks like a Press Release LOL!!

my, my, how desperate are 'we Ordinary Politicians' getting?  ROFLMAO

The coveted 5 smilie face award for you Icy LOL!!

 * PPPPFFFFTtttt! c'mon On!

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thank you Paints. I really coveted that. First one I ever got

[crystal**flake]

I liked Keating.

[icyfroth]

I didn't

I'll always remember that incredulous look on his face when found he'd lost the election.

[nevynreally]

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@icyfroth wrote:

I didn't

I'll always remember that incredulous look on his face when found he'd lost the election.

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Me either, quite liked Hawke though, had a good team behind him. Makes you wonder if the genpop need a spokeperson rather than a leader?

[icyfroth]

I liked John Howard, probably because he seemed the underdog. I loved when they did that debate he and Keating. How he had to overcome that nervous shoulder hitch.

How dismissive Keating was of "little Johnny", how scornful.

The look on his face when it dawned on him he'd lost the election to him. Priceless.