Labor better on economy and Dutton least popular major party leader since 1987, ANU poll finds

Voters thought ‘leadership qualities Dutton most lacked were inspiration, closely followed by compassion’, co-author of Australian Electoral Study says

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Voters backed Labor as the party best placed to manage the economy at the federal election, with Peter Dutton’s decision to oppose tax cuts seeing the Coalition squander a nearly 40-year advantage.

The collapse in support on economic policies – revealed in the latest instalment of the Australian Electoral Study (AES), released on Wednesday – contributed to the former opposition leader’s historic unpopularity with voters and Labor’s thumping win.