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

Rarely but occasionally, an exception is expressed with one ALP voter this time describing Peter Costello as a "greyhound".

When it came to Kim Beazley voters tended to be consistent in their descriptions. Again, they tended to choose dogs that fit into the "likeable" category. However, for Beazley the type of breed voters chose also appeared to reflect even slower, bigger cuddly type of dogs.

• "Great Dane - big but gentle" (ALP Voter)
• "A big shaggy dog" (Swinging Voter)
• "Yeah a Great Dane - he's kind but he can bite and he is loud" (ALP Voter)
• "Yes, a big slow dog" (Liberal Voter)
• "St Bernard" (ALP Voter)
• "Definitely St Bernard" (Green Voter)
• "Big old bulldog" (ALP Voter)
• "St Bernard" (Liberal Voter)
• "Overweight German Shepard" (ALP Voter)

Research Methodology

On Line Opinion conducted the focus group research in conjunction with Springboard Australia through a private internet chat room on the evenings May 19 and 24, 2005. The script was constant between the groups. Some additional questions were asked to probe responses further were necessary and appropriate.

Subjects were selected from a group of 575 voters who had filled in an Internet survey on the Budget and the Liberal Party leadership. Participants were from Tasmania, Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.