OZ voters angry with Gillard, want new election

CANBERRA - Australian voters are angry with Prime Minister Julia Gillard, and are in favour of another election, even if it meant another campaign and more cost to the taxpayer, according to the Ipsos Mackay Mind and Mood October report.

The voters have also raised serious concerns about the stability of the new government.

News.com.au quoted the Ipsos Mackay report, which measures Australian attitudes to a wide range of subjects through extensive group surveys, as saying that the ousting of Kevin Rudd by Gillard was still an issue for the voters.

“For those who believed Gillard instigated the coup, she was viewed as disloyal and power hungry. For those who believed she was merely a puppet of the ALP’s faceless men, they were disappointed she didn’t show greater strength and independence,” Ipsos Mackay Chief researcher Rebecca Huntley said.

The report is based on group discussions conducted in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Bendigo and Townsville in September 2010.

The new paradigm of politics was causing new anxieties for many. One major concern voiced was that the situation was too precarious, with even a minor event sending us back to the polls sooner than later, the report said.

“As one voter put it, ‘the sooner something gets sorted out in another election the better. At least we will get something that is definite’. Another voter… felt insecure about a government elected by only half the population. I know it costs money to go back to the polls but I think we should do it,” Huntley added.

Many of the voters reportedly felt that Gillard stood for nothing, or very little other than holding onto power.

The latest finding is a sharp contras to the Mind and Mood April survey done in April, which found that consumers held mainly positive attitudes towards Gillard, the then Deputy Prime Minister, it added. (ANI)