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A Morgan Poll released recently found a significantly higher proportion of Australian electors say long-standing Liberal Treasurer and leader-in-waiting Peter Costello (57%) is a better Treasurer than his Opposition counterpart Wayne Swan (26%), while 17% were undecided. 

As part of this survey, Special Morgan Poll Qualitative Research was conducted that looked at reasons why electors said Peter Costello or Wayne Swan would make the better Treasurer.

Key Findings:

• Almost all of Mr Costello’s supporters cited his experience and successful track record as the major reason for their decision. Another appealing aspect for supporters of Mr Costello was the Coalition’s economic policy direction; and

• Similar to Morgan Poll Qualitative Research on John Howard and Kevin Rudd, a majority of people who said Mr Swan would be a better Treasurer than Mr Costello cited disenchantment with policies of the Coalition Government. Interestingly, even when the question (“Thinking of Peter Costello and Wayne Swan. In your opinion, who would make the better Treasurer — Peter Costello or Wayne Swan?”) referred specifically to Treasury duties, John Howard’s name was mentioned on a number of occasions.

Gary Morgan says:

“Treasurer Peter Costello is a Coalition asset and the Labor Party would be fools to personally attack him as they did in the 2004 election campaign.

“There is a long time until the Federal election and as we have seen with Therese Rudd's IR ‘wrong doing’ much can happen in a week.  Unfortunately for the ALP and the Unions this mistake will not be forgotten by Coalition strategists when full scale campaigning begins.”

Special Morgan Poll Qualitative Research was conducted that looked at reasons why electors said Peter Costello or Wayne Swan would make the better Treasurer.

It’s no surprise that almost all of Costello’s supporters cited his experience and successful track record as the major reason for their decision.  Another appealing aspect for supporters of Mr Costello was the Coalition’s economic policy direction:

“Costello has a proven track record.  There are a lot of unknowns coming up in the Labor Party and it’s a bit scary.”

“Costello has done well as Treasurer — in the history of this great country he’s the one who’s achieved the best record: inflation is low, unemployment is remarkably low.  Not many countries have done that and for him to do it for so long is just fantastic.  I think Costello will be the next prime minister after John Howard.”

“He’s got the experience and the knowledge to keep the country on the move.”

“He is much more experienced and I believe he has a good financial plan for Australia.”

“He’s proved himself — the state of the economy is brilliant.  I’ve had tax cuts for the last five budgets — he’s just pretty good at his job!”

“Costello is more experienced and has done an excellent job so far.”

“Swan just doesn’t have the experience that Costello does and not the type of person I’d like to be taking care of Australia’s money.”

“Being a self-employed small business person, they (Costello and Howard) handle the situation with workers acts better.  Their superannuation policy is streets ahead of the rest.”

“He has been managing things for quite a while now and the economy seems to be pretty good at the moment.”

Similar to last week’s Morgan Poll Qualitative Research on John Howard and Kevin Rudd, the majority of people who said Mr Swan would be a better Treasurer than Mr Costello cited disenchantment with policies of the Coalition Government.  Interestingly, even when the question (“Thinking of Peter Costello and Wayne Swan.  In your opinion, who would make the better Treasurer — Peter Costello or Wayne Swan?”) referred specifically to Treasury duties, John Howard’s name was mentioned on a number of occasions.

“The policies of the Labor Party are better.  Costello looks after the capitalists and the poorer just get poorer.  I would go with the AP (Swan) to get the balance back — in 14 years or so it may be good to get the Liberal Party back in power again.”

“I saw Swan at the Press Club luncheon today and I was very impressed.  I think he is quite knowledgeable.”

“Because the Liberal party — Howard and Costello — makes most of their tax cuts for the rich and not for the poor.”

“Because Howard does not have respect for most Australians — he does not understand working people.”

“I think Costello has had a privileged background and he is only looking after the rich.”

“I have a very low opinion of Costello — he is totally out of touch with Australians.  The other fellow (Swan) couldn’t do any worse.”

“I don’t think Costello’s in reality.  I think he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and I just don’t like the man.  Everything he does he sits there with that bloody grin on his face.”

“Because I don’t think the financial priorities of the current regime reflect the needs of the community.”

“Because I’m really disappointed in the way the Liberals have run domestic policy in Australia.  I used to vote liberal and now I fully intend to vote Labor.”

“I don’t think Costello’s got any compassion and I don’t agree with Liberal Party policy and he is a major part of that.”

This special Roy Morgan qualitative research was conducted May 16/17, 2007, with 582 Australian electors.

For further information:

Gary Morgan:  +61 411 129 094

The Morgan Poll is conducted by the ONLY Australian and New Zealand member of the Gallup International Association.

No other public opinion poll taken in Australia has this qualification.

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