Overall the electorate gave a warmer response to Shadow Treasurer Wayne Swan, than Treasurer Peter Costello, but the real message is the electorate is more interested in what the ‘economy’ can deliver in the future (education, health, etc) than the mechanisms by which the economy is managed, or the history of economic management, according to Roy Morgan’s Reactor.
Yesterday afternoon, electors all over Australia reacted to the highs and lows of the debate between Treasurer (and Prime Minister in waiting) Peter Costello and Shadow Treasurer Wayne Swan. An Australia-wide sample of 513 electors was selected by Roy Morgan Research using a stratified random probability sampling methodology designed to provide a representative sample of the Australian electorate. Using the Roy Morgan Reactor, respondents reacted online to key segments of the debate.
The ‘slow measured pace’ of the Treasurer’s Debate was in stark contrast to the kind of discussion that typically engages any audience.
However, the highlights of the debate include the Costello one liner “wall-to-wall incompetence” applied to the idea of an ALP dominated Federal and State Government; and Wayne Swan’s attack “How can you trust anything this Government says?”
On most of the key issues, throughout the 90 minute debate, the Reactor split along party lines — ALP supporters (the Red Line) positive to Mr Swan and negative to Mr Costello; and L-NP supporters (the Blue Line) positive to Mr Costello and negative to Mr Swan.
This is the first time the electorate has reacted to Wayne Swan. In general, Mr Swan polarised the electorate to a larger extent than did Mr Costello. The main exception where he managed to engage the entire electorate was when he articulated the need for a strong economy to ensure our kids get the best possible education and fix hospitals. Mr Swan also did well when he talked about the need to “end the blame game and work with the States” and when he explained his experience. ALP supporters reacted ‘positively’ and L-NP supporters reacted ‘moderately’ (just on or above the mid point).
This is the second time the electorate has reacted to Peter Costello.
The first time, in early October, Australians reacted positively to Peter Costello as he quietly articulated the need for a vision for the future of the country that involves dealing with climate change, water, building a first-class education system, keeping the tax burden low and providing work for everyone who wants it, in an interview with Laurie Oakes on the Sunday Program. The electorate responded positively.
However, in yesterday’s debate, Mr Costello received a positive, but less than overwhelming reaction from L-NP supporters, and a negative, but not devastating reaction from ALP supporters. The only point at which Mr Costello appeared close to winning over the ALP supporters was when he talked about his interest in the economy as an “enabling mechanism for our social goals”, and when he dismissed “reviews and enquiries”, pointing out it was time for action, and listed the action the L-NP had done and what they had planned.
