Voters' views on the federal Budget: no longer 'relaxed and comfortable'

• "Pete should sit down and shut up."
• "Peter needs to grow up!"
• "Costello should go for it, or walk away with his tail between his legs."
• "I do not like Peter Costello and don't understand why he thinks he has the right to be the leader of the Liberal Party."
• "Waste of time. I would not vote for Peter Costello."
• "I will not vote for Costello, don't trust him."
• "Much as I dislike Howard and his policies, I'd rather have him in charge of the country than Captain Smirk. I regard Costello as competent and intelligent but I find his world view as illustrated by his manner and actions repulsive."
• "Peter Costello acts as if he had some divine right to become the next Liberal Leader - there are others who may be better than him. He should stop acting petulantly and wait the party's decision."
• "Costello won't make a good leader, he is too smug. Howard is a real statesman and done a good job as leader."
• "What makes Peter Costello think he has the right to 'inherit' the leadership?"
• "I don't think that Costello has an unchallenged right to the Prime Minister's job."
• "Howard won four and is a winner, why change now. Costello should shut up and get on with the job he's got."
• "Forget the personalities - Mr Howard has the record - and he is still steaming ahead - good on him!"
• "Can't stand Costello, Howard lesser of two idiots."

Some voters did prefer a change of leadership to Costello:

• "Time for Howard to go and step aside and give the challenger a go."
• "The sooner Howard goes the better."
• "Totally agree: Costello is a whole lot more trustworthy than little Johnnie ... who has lied to us so many, many times."
• "(If) he (Howard) is going to resign then yes, it should be well before the next election, so we can decide on Costello with some knowledge."

Doggy in the Window?

For a number of years, at the end of each focus group, to gain an insight in to how they characterise political leaders in simple descriptive terms we often ask the question: "If you had to describe (NAME) as a breed of dog, what breed would that be?"

We have used this technique in the research for the 2003 NSW State Election, the Queensland 2004 State election and the last Federal election. We asked the question again this year given the recent change of Labor leadership and speculation over a Howard-Costello challenge. Interestingly, the question always provokes a quick response from participants and very often very similar answers regardless of party affiliation.

Our research has consistently found that strong and successful political leaders are characterised by voters as "worker" dogs. These dogs are the type a person would have for protection or to do work around the home or property. Generally, they are small, agile and aggressive.

Previous research has found Bob Carr, Peter Beattie and John Howard have most often been characterised as these breeds of "worker" dogs. In our most recent research a selection of voter's responses included the following, when asked to describe the breed of dog John Howard was:

• "Bulldog" (Liberal Voter)
• "Fox Terrier" (Swinging Voter)
• "Fox Terrier" (ALP Voters)
• "Mongrel" (ALP voter)
• "A fantastic Jack Russell - does not let go - intelligent and keeps trying" (Liberal Voter)
• "Australian cattle dog ... Because he's so great at working the sheep" (Green Voter)
• "Dog in the manger" (ALP Voter)

By contrast, our research has found that voters often describe some leaders as "likeable" dogs. These are the kind of dogs a person would like to play with in the backyard but you would not expect to them to protect you or be great worker dogs. They are usually bigger, bounding and playful dogs.

Interestingly, voters often describe Opposition Leaders in these terms. Our research found this was how voters characterised John Brogden in the 2003 NSW State election.

Our research this year found many voters described Peter Costello in these terms:

• "Cocker spaniel" (Liberal Voter)
• "Spaniel/Labrador cross" (ALP Voter)
• "A Labrador" (Swinging Voter)
• "Poodle" (ALP Voter)
• "One of those big sad looking ones with big ears" (Liberal Voter)
• "Lap dog" (ALP Voter)
• "A boxer" (Liberal Voter)
• "A Basset Hound" (Liberal Voter)