Newspoll: Western Australian State Voting Intention and Leaders’ Ratings

Introduction ...... 3 Table 1. Political Issues Trends. State Voting Intention and Leaders’ Ratings. Satisfaction with Premier...... 4 Table 2 Political Issues Trends. Western Australia State Voting Intention and Leaders’ Ratings. Better Premier...... 8 Table 3. Political Issues Trends. Western Australia State Voting Intention and Leaders’ Ratings. Satisfaction with Leader of the Opposition ...... 12 Table 4. Political Issues Trends. Western Australia State Voting Intention and Leaders’ Ratings. Voting Intention...... 17

Fact Sheet 13. January 2014.

 2014

Except to the extent of the uses permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means including information storage and retrieval systems, without the prior written consent from the Librarian, Western Australian Parliamentary Library, other than by Members of the Western Australian Parliament in the course of their official duties.

Western Australian Parliamentary Library Parliament House Harvest Terrace WA 6000 [email protected]

ISSN 1 921243 69 4

January 2014

WA Parliamentary Library. Scope Note 13, January 2014

Introduction

Scope Notes is a series of fact sheets based on questions frequently asked of the Parliamentary Library. This Scope Note includes data from the Western Australian State Voting Intention and Leaders’ Ratings polls published by Newspoll. It includes data relating to Western Australians’ Satisfaction with Premier; Better Premier; Satisfaction with Leader of the Opposition; and Voting Intentions. Newspoll results are published in table format in The Australian. The data is also made available on the Newspoll website - http://www.newspoll.com.au.

According to Newspoll, these surveys were conducted on the telephone by trained interviewers among voters throughout Western Australia. Telephone numbers and the person within the household were selected at random. The data was weighted to reflect the population distribution of Western Australia.

Newspoll seems to attract considerable attention across the media. However, as many have observed in the past, ultimately the only political poll that matters is the one taken on election day. “The so-called science of poll-taking is not a science at all but a mere necromancy. People are unpredictable by nature, and although you can take a nation’s pulse, you can’t be sure that the nation hasn’t just run up a flight of stairs” (White, 1948).

WA Parliamentary Library. Fact Sheet 13, January 2014

Table 1. Political Issues Trends. Western Australia State Voting Intention and Leaders’ Ratings. Satisfaction with Premier

Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way ... is doing his/her job as Premier?

Mr Brian BURKE (ALP) Satisfied Dissatisfied Uncommitted % % % 24-26 Jan 1986 67 22 11 Feb-Apr 1986 72 20 8 May-Jul 1986 60 31 9 Aug-Oct 1986 52 38 10 Nov-Dec 1986 53 39 8 Jan-Mar 1987 60 34 6 Apr-Jun 1987 64 28 8 Jul-Sep 1987 63 28 9 Oct-Dec 1987 59 33 8 Jan-Feb 1988 68 26 6 Figure 1.1 Satisfaction with Premier. Brian Burke was Premier of WA 25 Feb 1983-25 Feb 1988.

Mr (ALP) Satisfied Dissatisfied Uncommitted % % % Feb-Apr 1988 37 14 49 Apr-Jul 1988 55 16 29 Jul-Oct 1988 61 26 13 Oct-Dec 1988 56 29 15 31 Jan-2 Feb 1989 49 42 9 Feb-Apr 1989 58 31 11 Figure 1.2 Satisfaction with Premier Peter Dowding was Premier of WA 25 Feb 1988-12 Feb 1990.

Ms (ALP) Satisfied Dissatisfied Uncommitted % % % Jan-Mar 1992 63 28 9 Apr-Jun 1992 68 25 7 Jul-Sep 1992 60 32 8 Oct-Dec 1992 54 37 9 Figure 1.3 Satisfaction with Premier Carmen Lawrence was Premier of WA 12 Feb 1990-16 Feb 1993.

4 WA Parliamentary Library. Fact Sheet 13, January 2014

Mr (LIB) Satisfied Dissatisfied Uncommitted % % % Mar-May 1993 32 45 23 Jun-Aug 1993 41 47 12 Sep-Oct 1993 48 43 9 Nov-Dec 1993 49 37 14 Jan-Mar 1994 58 35 7 Apr-Jun 1994 55 37 8 Jul-Sep 1994 58 34 8 Oct-Dec 1994 57 34 9 Jan-Mar 1995 52 40 8 Apr-Jun 1995 47 46 7 Jul-Sep 1995 46 46 8 Oct-Dec 1995 45 48 7 Jan-Mar 1996 45 44 11 Apr-Jun 1996 54 38 8 Jul-Sep 1996 53 38 9 Oct-Nov 1996 58 30 12 11-12 Dec 1996 51 39 10 Apr-Jun 1997 45 45 10 Jul-Sep 1997 48 43 9 Oct-Dec 1997 51 41 8 Jan-Mar 1998 40 44 16 Apr-Jun 1998 36 51 13 Jul-Sep 1998 39 52 9 Oct-Dec 1998 40 44 16 Jan-Mar 1999 43 45 12 Apr-Jun 1999 42 46 12 Jul-Sep 1999 38 51 11 Oct-Dec 1999 37 51 12 Jan-Mar 2000 40 49 11 Apr-Jun 2000 41 47 12 Jul-Sept 2000 42 48 10 Oct-Dec 2000 39 47 14 7-8 Feb 2001 40 51 9 Figure 1.4 Satisfaction with Premier Richard Court was Premier of WA 16 Feb 1993-16 Feb 2001.

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Dr (ALP) Satisfied Dissatisfied Uncommitted % % % Jul-Sep 2001 51 23 26 Oct-Dec 2001 50 34 16 Jan-Mar 2002 50 31 19 Apr-Jun 2002 53 26 21 Jul-Sep 2002 55 27 18 Oct-Dec 2002 56 24 20 Jan-Mar 2003 53 28 19 Apr-Jun 2003 53 26 21 Jul-Sep 2003 45 33 22 Oct-Dec 2003 42 40 18 Jan-Mar 2004 46 39 15 Apr-Jun 2004 47 35 18 Jul-Sep 2004 52 33 15 Oct-Dec 2004 46 38 16 28-30 Jan 2005 46 40 14 23-24 Feb 2005 51 38 11 Oct-Dec 2005 49 36 15 Figure 1.5 Satisfaction with Premier Geoff Gallop was Premier of WA 16 Feb 2001-25 Jan 2006.

Mr (ALP) Satisfied Dissatisfied Uncommitted % % % Jan-Mar 2006 53 15 32 Apr-Jun 2006 60 16 24 Jul-Sep 2006 52 23 25 Oct-Dec 2006 52 30 18 Jan-Mar 2007 60 25 15 Apr-Jun 2007 57 24 19 Jul-Sep 2007 58 26 16 Oct-Dec 2007 57 26 17 Jan-Mar 2008 56 27 17 Apr-Jun 2008 53 34 13 Aug 10-14 2008 49 40 11 Sept 2-4 2008 42 48 10 Figure 1.6 Satisfaction with Premier Alan Carpenter was Premier of WA 25 Jan 2006 - 6 September 2008.

Mr (Lib) Satisfied Dissatisfied Uncommitted % % % Jan-Mar 2009 56 23 21 Jan-Mar 2010 51 34 15 Apr-Jun 2010 55 33 12 Jul-Sep 2010 56 32 12 Oct-Dec 2010 55 35 10 Jan-Mar 2011 54 33 13 Apr-Jun 2011 50 37 13 Jul-Sept 2011 51 35 14

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Mr Colin Barnett (Lib) Satisfied Dissatisfied Uncommitted % % % Oct-Dec 2011 58 28 14 Jan-Mar 2012 51 33 16 Jul-Sep 2012 48 37 15 Oct-Dec 2013 49 37 14 Feb 3-7 2013 47 42 11 Mar 4-7 2013 51 36 13 Oct-Dec 2013 34 54 12 Figure 1.7 Satisfaction with Premier. Colin was Premier of WA 26 September 2008 - WA Parliamentary Library. Fact Sheet 13, January 2014

Table 2 Political Issues Trends. Western Australia State Voting Intention and Leaders’ Ratings. Better Premier.

Who do you think would make the better Premier?

Mr Brian BURKE (ALP) Mr Bill HASSELL (LIB) Uncommitted % % % 24-26 Jan 1986 64 17 19 4-5 Feb 1986 66 12 22 Figure 2.1 Better Premier

Mr Peter DOWDING (ALP) Mr Barry MACKINNON (LIB) Uncommitted % % % 31 Jan-2 Feb 1989 49 27 24 Figure 2.2 Better Premier

Ms Carmen Mr Barry Mr Richard Uncommitted LAWRENCE (ALP) MACKINNON (LIB) COURT (LIB) % % % % Jan-Mar 1992 53 22 - 25 Apr-May 1992 62 19 - 19 May-Jun 1992 56 - 20 24 Jul-Sep 1992 54 - 25 21 Oct-Dec 1992 51 - 26 23 Figure 2.3 Better Premier

Mr Richard COURT (LIB) Ms Carmen LAWRENCE (ALP) Uncommitted % % % Mar-May 1993 27 61 12 Jun-Aug 1993 36 50 14 Sep-Oct 1993 35 55 10 Nov-Dec 1993 41 44 15 Jan-Feb 1994 44 44 12 Figure 2.4 Better Premier

Mr Richard COURT (LIB) Mr Ian TAYLOR (ALP) Uncommitted % % % Feb-Mar 1994 51 24 25 Apr-Jun 1994 52 25 23 Jul-Sep 1994 55 22 23 Figure 2.5 Better Premier

8 WA Parliamentary Library. Fact Sheet 13, January 2014

Mr Richard COURT (LIB) Mr Jim MCGINTY (ALP) Uncommitted % % % Oct- Dec 1994 60 19 21 Jan-Mar 1995 53 22 25 Apr-Jun 1995 49 28 23 Jul-Sep 1995 48 28 24 Oct-Dec 1995 47 28 25 Jan-Mar 1996 49 28 23 Apr-Jun 1996 55 24 21 Jul-Sep 1996 56 20 24 Figure 2.6 Better Premier

Mr Richard COURT (LIB) Dr Geoff GALLOP (ALP) Uncommitted % % % Oct-Nov 1996 53 20 27 11-12 Dec 1996 51 29 20 Apr-Jun 1997 47 30 23 Jul-Sep 1997 49 30 21 Oct -Dec 1997 48 33 19 Jan -Mar 1998 39 29 32 Apr -Jun 1998 40 33 27 Jul-Sep 1998 42 33 25 Oct-Dec 1998 44 32 24 Jan-Mar 1999 42 29 29 Apr-Jun 1999 44 32 24 Jul-Sep 1999 35 33 32 Oct-Dec 1999 40 33 27 Jan-Mar 2000 42 34 24 Apr-Jun 2000 42 31 27 Figure 2.7 Better Premier

Mr Richard COURT (LIB) Dr Geoff GALLOP (ALP) Uncommitted % % % Jul -Sep 2000 40 31 29 Oct -Dec 2000 39 30 31 7-8 Feb 2001 40 40 20 Figure 2.8 Better Premier

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Dr Geoff GALLOP (ALP) Mr Colin BARNETT (LIB) Uncommitted % % % Jul-Sep 2001 50 16 34 Oct-Dec 2001 51 20 29 Jan-Mar 2002 47 19 34 Apr-Jun 2002 55 16 29 Jul-Sep 2002 53 17 30 Oct-Dec 2002 56 12 32 Jan-Mar 2003 54 17 29 Apr-Jun 2003 56 15 29 Jul-Sep 2003 50 19 31 Oct-Dec 2003 46 23 31 Jan-Mar 2004 47 23 30 Apr-Jun 2004 53 21 26 Jul-Sep 2004 55 20 25 Oct-Dec 2004 48 26 26 28-30 Jan 2005 52 31 17 23-24 Feb 2005 58 27 15 Figure 2.9 Better Premier

Dr Geoff GALLOP (ALP) Mr Matt BIRNEY (LIB) Uncommitted % % % Oct-Dec 2005 51 25 24 Figure 2.10 Better Premier

Mr Alan CARPENTER (ALP) Mr Matt BIRNEY (LIB) Uncommitted % % % Jan-Mar 2006 56 14 30 Figure 2.11 Better Premier

Mr Alan CARPENTER (ALP) Mr (LIB) Uncommitted % % % Apr-Jun 2006 58 12 30 Jul-Sep 2006 52 15 33 Oct-Dec 2006 54 17 29 Jan-Mar 2007 63 14 23 Apr-Jun 2007 59 14 27 Jul-Sep 2007 59 14 27 Oct-Dec 2007 63 13 24 Figure 2.12 Better Premier

Mr Alan CARPENTER (ALP) Mr (LIB) Uncommitted % % % Jan-Mar 2008 61 12 27 Apr-Jun 2008 64 14 22 Figure 2.13 Better Premier

Mr Alan CARPENTER (ALP) Mr Colin BARNETT (LIB) Uncommitted % % % Aug 10-14 2008 49 31 20 Sept 2-4 2008 48 35 17 Figure 2.14 Better Premier 10 WA Parliamentary Library. Scope Note 13, January 2014

Mr Colin BARNETT (LIB) Mr (ALP) Uncommitted % % % Jan-Mar 2009 60 14 26 Jan-Mar 2010 58 19 23 Apr-Jun 2010 60 19 21 Jul-Sep 2010 61 17 22 Oct-Dec 2010 60 16 24 Jan-Mar 2011 56 17 27 Apr-Jun 2011 58 18 24 Jul-Sept 2011 56 22 22 Oct-Dec 2011 59 18 23 Figure 2.15 Better Premier

Mr Colin BARNETT (LIB) Mr Eric Ripper and Uncommitted Mr Mark McGowan (ALP) % % % Jan-Mar 2012 43 30 27 Jul-Sep 2012 45 29 26 Oct-Dec 2012 48 29 23 Feb 3-7 2013 44 40 16 Mar 4-7 2013 52 31 17 Oct-Dec 2013 37 43 20 Figure 2.16 Better Premier – Mark McGowan became Leader of the Opposition taking over from Eric Ripper 23 January 2012. WA Parliamentary Library. Scope Note 13, January 2014

Table 3. Political Issues Trends. Western Australia State Voting Intention and Leaders’ Ratings. Satisfaction with Leader of the Opposition

Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way ... is doing his/her job as Leader of the Opposition?

Mr Bill HASSELL (LIB) Satisfied Dissatisfied Uncommitted % % % 24-26 Jan 1986 33 42 25 Feb-Apr 1986 38 41 21 May-Jul 1986 32 46 22 Aug-Oct 1986 34 44 22 Figure 3.1 Satisfaction with Leader of the Opposition Bill Hassell was Leader of the Opposition 15 Feb 1984-25 Nov 1986.

Mr Bill HASSELL (LIB) / Mr Barry MACKINNON (LIB) Satisfied Dissatisfied Uncommitted % % % Nov-Dec 1986 21 14 65 Figure 3.2 Satisfaction with Leader of the Opposition Bill Hassell was Leader of the Opposition 15 Feb 1984-25 Nov 1986. He was succeeded by Barry MacKinnon 25 Nov 1986-12 May 1992.

Mr Barry MACKINNON (LIB) Satisfied Dissatisfied Uncommitted % % % Jan-Mar 1987 34 26 40 Apr-Jun 1987 36 33 31 Jul-Sep 1987 36 27 37 Oct-Dec 1987 44 28 28 Jan-Apr 1988 46 27 27 Apr-Jul 1988 48 28 24 Jul-Oct 1988 49 31 20 Oct-Dec 1988 42 34 24 31 Jan-2 Feb 1989 37 46 17 Feb-Apr 1989 43 43 14 Jan-Mar 1992 40 45 15 Apr-May 1992 30 54 16 Figure 3.3 Satisfaction with Leader of the Opposition Barry Mackinnon was Leader of the Opposition 25 Nov 1986-12 May 1992.

Mr Richard COURT (LIB) Satisfied Dissatisfied Uncommitted % % % May-Jun 1992 22 28 50 Jul-Sep 1992 24 39 37 Oct-Dec 1992 29 47 24 Figure 3.4 Satisfaction with Leader of the Opposition Richard Court was Leader of the Opposition 12 May 1992-6 Feb 1993. WA Parliamentary Library. Scope Note 13, January 2014

Ms Carmen LAWRENCE (ALP) Satisfied Dissatisfied Uncommitted % % % Mar-May 1993 69 22 9 Jun-Aug 1993 59 32 9 Sep-Oct 1993 66 24 10 Nov-Dec 1993 56 30 14 Jan-Feb 1994 60 33 7 Figure 3.5 Satisfaction with Leader of the Opposition Carmen Lawrence was Leader of the Opposition 6 Feb 1993-7 Feb 1994.

Mr Ian TAYLOR (ALP) Satisfied Dissatisfied Uncommitted % % % Feb-Mar 1994 35 16 49 Apr-Jun 1994 36 29 35 Jul-Sep 1994 37 36 27 Figure 3.6 Satisfaction with Leader of the Opposition Ian Taylor was Leader of the Opposition 7 Feb 1994-12 Oct 1994.

Mr Ian TAYLOR (ALP) / Mr Jim MCGINTY (ALP) Satisfied Dissatisfied Uncommitted % % % Oct-Dec 1994 31 27 42 Figure 3.7 Satisfaction with Leader of the Opposition Ian Taylor was Leader of the Opposition 7 Feb 1994-12 Oct 1994. He was succeeded by Jim McGinty 12 Oct 1994-15 Oct 1996

Mr Jim MCGINTY (ALP) Satisfied Dissatisfied Uncommitted % % % Jan-Mar 1995 40 29 31 Apr-Jun 1995 34 39 27 Jul-Sep 1995 37 40 23 Oct-Dec 1995 38 37 25 Jan-Mar 1996 35 36 29 Apr-Jun 1996 41 36 23 Jul-Sep 1996 36 39 25 Figure 3.8 Satisfaction with Leader of the Opposition Jim McGinty was Leader of the Opposition 12 Oct 1994-15 Oct 1996

Mr Jim MCGINTY (ALP) /Dr Geoff GALLOP (ALP) Satisfied Dissatisfied Uncommitted % % % Oct-Nov 1996 32 19 49 Figure 3.9 Satisfaction with Leader of the Opposition Jim McGinty was Leader of the Opposition 12 Oct 1994-8 Oct 1996. He was succeeded by Geoff Gallop 8 Oct 1996-10 Feb 2001. WA Parliamentary Library. Fact Sheet 13, January 2014

Dr Geoff GALLOP (ALP) Satisfied Dissatisfied Uncommitted % % % 11-12 Dec 1996 43 30 27 Apr-Jun 1997 44 29 27 Jul-Sep 1997 46 27 27 Oct-Dec 1997 46 29 25 Jan-Mar 1998 43 28 29 Apr-Jun 1998 41 30 29 Jul-Sep 1998 39 34 27 Oct-Dec 1998 43 28 29 Jan-Mar 1999 43 28 29 Apr-Jun 1999 43 32 25 Jul-Sep 1999 41 31 28 Oct-Dec 1999 40 32 28 Jan-Mar 2000 42 31 27 Apr-Jun 2000 40 37 23 Jul-Sep 2000 44 31 25 Oct-Dec 2000 40 33 27 7-8 Feb 2001 48 33 19 Figure 3.10 Satisfaction with Leader of the Opposition Geoff Gallop was Leader of the Opposition 8 Oct 1996-10 Feb 2001.

Mr Colin BARNETT (LIB) Satisfied Dissatisfied Uncommitted % % % Jul-Sep 2001 35 28 37 Oct-Dec 2001 37 34 29 Jan-Mar 2002 38 33 29 Apr-Jun 2002 35 39 26 Jul-Sep 2002 34 38 28 Oct-Dec 2002 29 40 31 Jan-Mar 2003 34 40 26 Apr-Jun 2003 34 37 29 Jul-Sep 2003 36 36 28 Oct-Dec 2003 30 47 23 Jan-Mar 2004 39 41 20 Apr-Jun 2004 35 42 23 Jul-Sep 2004 37 41 22 Oct-Dec 2004 37 37 26 28-30 Jan 2005 38 43 19 23-24 Feb 2005 36 50 14 Figure 3.11 Satisfaction with Leader of the Opposition Colin Barnett was Leader of the Opposition 26 Feb 2001-9 Mar 2005.

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Mr Matt BIRNEY (LIB) Satisfied Dissatisfied Uncommitted % % % Oct-Dec 2005 45 27 28 Jan-Mar 2006 38 33 29 Figure 3.12 Satisfaction with Leader of the Opposition Matt Birney was Leader of the Opposition 9 Mar 2005-24 Mar 2006.

Mr Paul OMODEI (LIB) Satisfied Dissatisfied Uncommitted % % % Apr-Jun 2006 33 27 40 Jul-Sep 2006 35 30 35 Oct-Dec 2006 37 32 31 Jan-Mar 2007 31 37 32 Apr-Jun 2007 32 39 29 Jul-Sep 2007 32 40 28 Oct-Dec 2007 31 41 28 Figure 3.13 Satisfaction with Leader of the Opposition Paul Omodei was the Leader of the Opposition 24 Mar 2006-17 Jan 2008

Mr Troy BUSWELL (LIB) Satisfied Dissatisfied Uncommitted % % % Jan-Mar 2008 27 34 39 Apr-Jun 2008 26 52 22 Figure 3.14 Satisfaction with Leader of the Opposition Troy Buswell was the Leader of the Opposition since 17 Jan 2008 - 7 Aug 2008

Mr Colin BARNETT (LIB) Satisfi Dissatisfied Uncommitted ed % % % 2-4 Sept 2008 40 43 17 Figure 3.14 Satisfaction with Leader of the Opposition Colin Barnett was Leader of the Opposition since 7 Aug 2008 - 26 Sept 2008

Mr Eric Ripper (ALP) Satisfied Dissatisfied Uncommitted % % % 2-4 Sep 2008 40 43 17 Jan-Mar 2009 35 34 31 Jan-Mar 2010 33 43 24 Apr-Jun 2010 36 44 20 Jul-Sep 2010 34 42 24 Oct-Dec 2010 33 43 24 Jan-Mar 2011 31 44 25 Apr-Jun 2011 33 43 24 July-Sept 2011 34 43 23 Oct-Dec 2011 59 18 23 Figure 3.15 Satisfaction with Leader of the Opposition Eric Ripper has been the Leader of the Opposition since 26 Sept 2008

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Mr Eric Ripper/Mr Mark McGowan (ALP) Satisfied Dissatisfied Uncommitted % % % Jan-Mar 2012 43 17 40 Jul-Sep 2012 48 23 29 Oct-Dec 2012 44 26 30 Feb 3-7 2013 51 26 23 Mar 4-7 2013 49 29 22 Oct-Dec 2013 51 22 27 Figure 3.16 Satisfaction with Leader of Opposition Eric Ripper was Opposition Leader from 26 Sept 2008 – 23 January 2012. Mark McGowan is now Opposition Leader WA Parliamentary Library. Fact Sheet 13, January 2014

Table 4. Political Issues Trends. Western Australia State Voting Intention and Leaders’ Ratings. Voting Intention

If a state election for the Lower House was held today, which one of the following would you vote for? If “uncommitted”, to which of these do you have a leaning?

ALP Lib Nat Lib/Nat ON GWA AD Other % % % % Election 19 Feb 1983 54 - - 44 - - 1 1 Newspoll 24-26 Jan 1986 54 - - 43 - - 3 * Newspoll 4-5 Feb 1986 55 - - 40 - - 4 1 Election 8 Feb 1986 53 - - 45 - - 0.7 1.3 Newspoll Feb-Apr 1986 58 - - 38 - - 2 2 Newspoll May-Jul 1986 52 - - 43 - - 4 1 Newspoll Aug-Oct 1986 47 - - 46 - - 5 2 Newspoll Nov-Dec 1986 45 - - 50 - - 4 1 Newspoll Jan-Mar 1987 46 - - 48 - - 4 2 Newspoll Apr-Jun 1987 56 - - 39 - - 5 * Newspoll Jul-Sep 1987 50 - - 45 - - 4 1 Newspoll Oct-Dec 1987 46 - - 48 - - 5 1 Newspoll Jan-Apr 1988 47 - - 47 - - 4 2 Newspoll Apr-Jul 1988 49 - - 43 - - 6 2 Newspoll Jul-Oct 1988 47 - - 49 - - 3 1 Newspoll Oct-Dec 1988 46 - - 47 - - 3 4 Newspoll 31 Jan-2 Feb 1989 45 - - 45 - - 2 8 Election 4 Feb 1989 42.5 - - 47.4 - - 1.4 8.7 Newspoll Feb-Apr 1989 44 - - 45 - - 6 5 Newspoll Jan-Mar 1992 35 - - 53 - - 4 8 Newspoll Apr-Jun 1992 38 - - 46 - - 6 10 Newspoll Jul-Sep 1992 39 - - 46 - - 5 10 Newspoll Oct-Dec 1992 43 - - 46 - - 6 5 Election 6 Feb 1993 37.1 - - 49.5 - - 2.3 11.1 Newspoll Mar-May 1993 47 - - 45 - - 3 5 Newspoll Jun-Aug 1993 40 - - 52 - - 4 4 Newspoll Sep-Oct 1993 41 - - 49 - - 4 6 Newspoll Nov-Dec 1993 34 - - 57 - - 4 5 Newspoll Jan-Mar 1994 33 - - 58 - - 4 5 Newspoll Apr-Jun 1994 37 - - 52 - - 6 5 Newspoll Jul-Sep 1994 34 - - 54 - - 4 8 Newspoll Oct-Dec 1994 34 - - 53 - - 4 9 Newspoll Jan-Mar 1995 38 - - 48 - - 5 9 Newspoll Apr-Jun 1995 32 - - 50 - - 6 12 Newspoll Jul-Sep 1995 32 - - 49 - - 4 15 Newspoll Oct-Dec 1995 35 - - 44 - - 6 15 Newspoll Jan-Mar 1996 36 - - 50 - - 5 9 Newspoll Apr-Jun 1996 31 - - 52 - - 6 11 Newspoll Jul-Sep 1996 29 - - 53 - - 7 11 Newspoll Oct-Nov 1996 30 - - 56 - - 6 8 Newspoll 11-12 Dec 1996 33 - - 48 - - 4.5 14.5 Election 14 Dec 1996 35.8 - - 45.7 - - 5.1 13.4 Newspoll Apr-Jun 1997 35 - - 47 - - - 18 Newspoll Jul-Sep 1997 35 - - 46 - - - 19 Newspoll Oct-Dec 1997 37 - - 48 - - - 15

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ALP Lib Nat Lib/Nat ON GWA AD Other % % % % Newspoll Jan-Mar 1998 40 - - 43 - - - 17 Newspoll Apr-Jun 1998 38 - - 42 - - - 20 Newspoll Jul-Sep 1998 40 - - 40 - - - 20 Newspoll Oct-Dec 1998 41 - - 45 - - - 14 Newspoll Jan-Mar 1999 40 - - 47 - - - 13 Newspoll Apr-Jun 1999 41 - - 44 - - - 15 Newspoll Jul-Sep 1999 41 - - 42 - - - 17 Newspoll Oct-Dec 1999 43 36 4 40 2 6 4 5 Newspoll Jan-Mar 2000 43 37 6 43 1 5 3 5 Newspoll Apr-Jun 2000 40 37 6 43 2 4 3 8 Newspoll Jul-Sep 2000 43 35 6 41 3 4 4 5 Newspoll Oct-Dec 2000 41 34 8 42 5 5 2 5 Newspoll 7-8 Feb 2001 39 35 3 38 7 5 3 8 Election 10 Feb 2001 37.2 31.2 3.2 34.4 9.6 7.3 2.6 8.9 Newspoll Jul-Sep 2001 35 37 5 42 6 9 3 5 Newspoll Oct-Dec 2001 35 41 3 44 5 9 3 4 Newspoll Jan-Mar 2002 34 37 4 41 2 6 3 14 Newspoll Apr-Jun 2002 39 36 5 41 2 6 2 10 Newspoll Jul-Sep 2002 37 37 3 40 2 8 2 11 Newspoll Oct-Dec 2002 35 38 4 42 1 10 2 10 Newspoll Jan-Mar 2003 36 38 4 42 1 8 2 11 Newspoll Apr-Jun 2003 39 36 3 39 1 9 1 11 Newspoll Jul-Sep 2003 34 40 2 42 2 8 1 13 Newspoll Oct-Dec 2003 35 39 3 42 2 7 1 13 Newspoll Jan-Mar 2004 37 39 3 42 2 7 1 11 Newspoll Apr-Jun 2004 38 39 3 42 * 7 1 12 Newspoll Jul-Sep 2004 38 38 3 41 * 9 2 10 Newspoll Oct-Dec 2004 35 46 3 49 * 7 1 8 Newspoll 28-30 Jan 2005 42 40 4 44 1 6 * 7 Newspoll 23-24 Feb 2005 45 36.5 3 39.5 0.5 7 - 8 Election Feb 26 2005 41.9 35.6 3.7 39.3 - 7.6 - 11.2 Newspoll Oct - Dec 2005 37 39 4 43 - 5 - 15 Newspoll Jan - Mar 2006 42 35 4 39 - 8 - 11 Newspoll Apr - Jun 2006 42 37 3 40 - 4 - 14 Newspoll Jul - Sep 2006 42 37 3 40 - 6 - 12 Newspoll Oct - Dec 2006 38 40 2 42 - 7 - 13 Newspoll Jan - Mar 2007 39 35 4 39 - 10 - 12 Newspoll Apr - Jun 2007 44 35 3 38 - 8 - 10 Newspoll Jul - Sep 2007 44 38 5 43 - 6 - 7 Newspoll Oct - Dec 2007 40 41 4 45 - 8 - 7 Newspoll Jan - Mar 2008 42 35 3 38 - 12 - 8 Newspoll Apr - Jun 2008 41 31 4 35 - 16 - 8 Newspoll 10 - 14 Aug 2008 42 37 5 42 - 10 - 6 Newspoll 2 - 4 Sep 2008 35 37 6 43 - 12 - 10 Election 6 Sept 2008 35.8 38.4 4.9 43.3 - 11.9 - 9 Figure 4.1 Voting Intentions

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ALP Lib Nat Lib/Nat ON GWA AD Other % % % % Newspoll Jan - Mar 2009 33 42 5 47 - 13 - 7 Newspoll Jan - Mar 2010 37 40 5 45 - 11 - 7 Newspoll Apr - Jun 2010 32 38 6 44 - 16 - 8 Newspoll Jul - Sept 2010 30 41 6 47 - 14 - 9 Newspoll Oct - Dec 2010 29 42 7 49 - 13 - 9 Newspoll Jan - Mar 2011 31 43 6 49 - 13 - 7 Newspoll Apr - Jun 2011 30 43 6 49 - 12 - 9 Newspoll Jul - Sept 2011 29 42 6 48 - 13 - 10 Newspoll Oct – Dec 2011 29 49 4 50 - 12 - 9 Newspoll Jan – Mar 2012 35 39 6 45 - 11 - 9 Newspoll Jul – Sep 2012 30 43 5 48 12 - 10 Newspoll Oct – Dec 2012 30 43 6 49 12 9 Newspoll Feb 3-7 2013 35 45 6 51 8 6 Election Mar 9 2013 33.1 47.1 6.1 53.2 8.4 5.3 Newspoll Oct – Dec 2013 33 36 8 44 13 10 Figure 4.1 Voting Intentions

Notes and Acknowledgements

1. The data used in these tables is compiled from data available on the Newspoll website. For more information about the statistics, including survey methodology, please refer to the website - http://www.newspoll.com.au.

2. This Fact Sheet is based on information compiled in 2007 by the WA Parliamentary Library in response to a Member-request. It has since been amended and updated.

Abbreviations

ALP AD Australian Democrats GWA Greens (WA) Ind. Independent Lib. Liberal Nat. National Party

Sources

Newspoll http://www.newspoll.com.au

E. B. White, in the New Yorker, 13 Nov 1948, in E. Knowles (ed.), The Oxford Dictionary of 20th Century Quotations, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1998, p. 326.