favour the middle class, Favour the poor, favour the rich, iberal/National Coalition, Labor, policies
Q. In general, do you think the policies of the Liberal/National Coalition and the policies of Labor favour the rich, favour the middle class, favour the poor, or do they treat all groups equally?
|
Favour the rich |
Favour the average Australian |
Favour the poor |
Treat all groups equally |
Don’t know |
|
| The policies of the Liberal/National Coalition… |
54% |
16% |
5% |
13% |
12% |
| The policies of Labor… |
16% |
34% |
22% |
11% |
17% |
Just over half (54%) of Australians believe that the policies of the Lib/Nat Coalition favour the rich. 16% think they favour the average Australian, 5% think they favour the poor and 13% think they favour all groups equally.
The largest proportion of Australians (34%) think that the policies of Labor favour the average Australian. 16% think they favour the rich, 22% think they favour the poor and 11% think they treat all groups equally.
Labor and Green voters were more likely to think that the Lib/Nat’s favour the rich (81% each), and that Labor favour the average Australian (53% of Labor voters and 57% of Green voters).
There were no significant differences based on gender.
For a more detailed breakdown of this question, please download the Essential Report.
Q. In general, do you think the next Federal Budget, to be announced on Tuesday 13th May 2014 will be good or bad for?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Good |
Total Bad |
Very good |
Good |
Neither good nor bad |
Bad |
Very bad |
Don’t know |
| You personally |
8% |
55% |
2% |
6% |
28% |
36% |
19% |
9% |
| Average working people |
9% |
63% |
2% |
7% |
19% |
45% |
18% |
9% |
| Australian business |
25% |
33% |
3% |
22% |
28% |
25% |
8% |
14% |
| The economy over all |
28% |
36% |
6% |
22% |
24% |
22% |
14% |
12% |
| People who are well off |
40% |
23% |
14% |
26% |
27% |
18% |
5% |
11% |
| People on lower incomes |
12% |
60% |
2% |
10% |
17% |
33% |
27% |
10% |
| Australian families |
11% |
59% |
2% |
9% |
20% |
37% |
22% |
10% |
| Older Australians |
8% |
67% |
1% |
7% |
18% |
34% |
33% |
9% |
| Younger Australians |
11% |
49% |
2% |
9% |
28% |
29% |
20% |
12% |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Green |
Vote Other |
||||
|
Total Good |
Total Bad |
Total Good |
Total Bad |
Total Good |
Total Bad |
Total Good |
Total Bad |
|
7% |
70% |
11% |
38% |
4% |
69% |
5% |
67% |
|
6% |
77% |
15% |
44% |
3% |
81% |
5% |
72% |
|
28% |
34% |
27% |
30% |
17% |
40% |
20% |
40% |
|
11% |
55% |
54% |
14% |
11% |
14% |
15% |
47% |
|
50% |
20% |
26% |
28% |
56% |
12% |
47% |
20% |
|
9% |
79% |
21% |
39% |
1% |
78% |
7% |
74% |
|
6% |
77% |
20% |
37% |
2% |
78% |
5% |
71% |
|
6% |
78% |
14% |
47% |
– |
76% |
5% |
79% |
|
11% |
65% |
15% |
30% |
1% |
70% |
6% |
58% |
Over half (54%) of Australians believe that the budget will be bad for them personally. 67% think it will be bad for older Australians, 63% for average working people and 60% for people on lower incomes.
The only group that more Australians thought the budget would be good for rather than bad was ‘people who are well off’ (40% good, 23% bad).
Just 25% think the budget will be good for Australian business and 28% for the economy overall.
Labor voters are most likely to think that the budget will be bad for ‘people on lower incomes’ (79%), ‘older Australians’ (78%), ‘average working people’ (77%) and ‘Australian families’ (77%).
The only area where Lib/Nat voters were more likely to think that the budget would be good rather than bad was for ‘the economy overall’ (54% think it will be good, 14% think it will be bad).
In terms of the impact for them personally, there was no difference between males and females. Those aged 30-55 were the most likely to think that the budget would be bad for them personally (61% compared to 46% for those under 30 and 51% for those aged 55+).
2PP, Labor Party, Liberal Party, two party preferred, Voting intention
Q. If a Federal Election was held today to which party will you probably give your first preference vote? If not sure, which party are you currently leaning toward?
Q. If don’t know -Well which party are you currently leaning to?
Sample size = 1,929 respondents
| First preference/leaning to |
Election 7 Sep 13 |
|
4 weeks ago 8/4/14 |
2 weeks ago 22/4/14 |
Last week 29/4/14 |
This week 06/05/14 |
| Liberal |
|
40% |
39% |
38% |
38% |
|
| National |
|
3% |
2% |
2% |
3% |
|
| Total Lib/Nat |
45.6% |
42% |
41% |
40% |
40% |
|
| Labor |
33.4% |
38% |
37% |
38% |
38% |
|
| Greens |
8.6% |
9% |
11% |
10% |
10% |
|
| Palmer United Party |
5.5% |
3% |
5% |
5% |
5% |
|
| Other/Independent |
6.9% |
8% |
6% |
6% |
8% |
| 2 Party Preferred |
Election 7 Sep 13 |
|
4 weeks ago 8/4/14 |
2 weeks ago 22/4/14 |
Last week 29/4/14 |
This week 06/05/14 |
| Liberal National |
53.5% |
49% |
49% |
48% |
48% |
|
| Labor |
46.5% |
51% |
51% |
52% |
52% |
NB. The data in the above tables comprise 2-week averages derived from the first preference/leaning to voting questions. Respondents who select ‘don’t know’ are not included in the results. The two-party preferred estimate is calculated by distributing the votes of the other parties according to their preferences at the 2013 election.
economy, Government management
Q. How would you rate the Government’s management of the Australian economy compared to how governments in other countries around the world have managed their economies?
|
Total
|
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
|
6 May 2013 (Labor Government) |
|
| Total Good |
40% |
24% |
68% |
22% |
30% |
39% |
||
| Total Poor |
31% |
47% |
6% |
55% |
43% |
32% |
||
| Very good |
9% |
3% |
17% |
6% |
7% |
11% |
||
| Good |
31% |
21% |
51% |
16% |
23% |
28% |
||
| Neither good nor poor |
24% |
26% |
23% |
24% |
25% |
24% |
||
| Poor |
14% |
20% |
4% |
20% |
18% |
17% |
||
| Very poor |
17% |
27% |
2% |
35% |
25% |
15% |
||
| Don’t know |
5% |
4% |
3% |
– |
2% |
5% |
40% of Australians would rate the government’s management of the economy, compared to other countries around the world, as good.
31% would rate their management of the economy as poor.
There has been no major shift in attitudes since the last time this question was asked in May 2013 (for the then Labor Government).
Labor (24%), Green (22%) and other (30%) voters were less likely to rate the government’s management of the economy as ‘good’. Lib/Nat voters (64%) were more likely to rate the government’s management of the economy as ‘good’.
Those aged 65+ were more likely to rate the government’s management of the economy as ‘good’ (55%).
Chris Bowen, Joe Hockey, trust to handle the economy
Q. Who would you trust most to handle Australia’s economy – The Treasurer Joe Hockey or the Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen?
|
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
|
| Joe Hockey |
33% |
6% |
73% |
1% |
21% |
|
| Chris Bowen |
27% |
53% |
5% |
42% |
22% |
|
| Don’t know |
41% |
41% |
22% |
57% |
57% |
33% of Australians most trust Joe Hockey to handle Australia’s economy. 27% most trust Chris Bowen. The largest proportion of Australian’s selected ‘don’t know’ (41%).
Although Labor voters were more likely to select Chris Bowen (53%), 41% still selected ‘don’t know’.
Lib/Nat voters were more likely to select Joe Hockey (73%), but 22% still picked ‘don’t know’.
Green voters were more likely to select Chris Bowen, with the majority (57%) selecting don’t know.
economy, financial interests, interests of Australians, middle class in Australia
Q. Which party – Labor or Liberal – do you think is best when it comes to:
|
Labor |
Liberal |
No Difference |
Don’t Know |
Difference (Labor v. Liberal) |
|
| Representing the interests of Australian working families |
47% |
20% |
26% |
7% |
27% |
| Representing the interests of you and people like you |
39% |
29% |
24% |
8% |
10% |
| Standing up for the middle class in Australia |
38% |
24% |
29% |
9% |
14% |
| Representing the interests of the large corporate and financial interests |
13% |
54% |
22% |
11% |
-41% |
| Being more concerned about the interests of working families in Australia than the rich and large business and financial interests |
46% |
17% |
26% |
10% |
29% |
| Handling the economy overall |
26% |
40% |
23% |
10% |
-14% |
| Handling the economy in a way that tries to take the interests of working families into consideration as much as it takes the interests of the large corporate and financial groups |
37% |
27% |
23% |
13% |
10% |
| Handling the economy in a way that best helps small business |
27% |
32% |
28% |
13% |
-5% |
| Handling the economy in a way that best helps the middle class |
31% |
30% |
27% |
12% |
1% |
| Handling the economy in a way that helps you and people like you the most. |
37% |
29% |
23% |
11% |
8% |
Labor was more likely to be selected as the party best at all of the items, except for ‘Representing the interests of the large corporate and financial interests’ (54% Liberal, 13% Labor), ‘Handling the economy overall’ (40% Liberal, 26% Labor) and ‘Handling the economy in a way that best helps small business’ (32% Liberal, 27% Labor).
Q. How concerned are you that you or some member of your immediate family will lose their job in the next year or so: very concerned, somewhat concerned, or not at all concerned?
|
Total
|
|
Male |
Female |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
|
Aug 2012 |
Feb 2014 |
|
| Total Concerned |
57% |
54% |
60% |
68% |
47% |
58% |
63% |
47% |
55% |
|||
| Very concerned |
23% |
22% |
25% |
31% |
15% |
23% |
30% |
13% |
22% |
|||
| Somewhat concerned |
34% |
32% |
35% |
37% |
32% |
35% |
33% |
34% |
33% |
|||
| Not at all concerned |
29% |
31% |
28% |
18% |
45% |
25% |
23% |
37% |
31% |
|||
| Don’t know |
7% |
8% |
5% |
6% |
5% |
5% |
7% |
8% |
6% |
|||
| No employees in the immediate family |
7% |
7% |
7% |
7% |
4% |
11% |
9% |
7% |
8% |
Just over half (57%) of Australians are concerned that they, or a member of their immediate family will lose their jobs in the next year or so.
This is an increase of +3% from when the question was last asked in February 2014, and an increase of +10% from August 2013.
Females (60%) are more likely to be concerned than males (54%).
Labor (68%) and Other (63%) voters are more likely to be concerned. Lib/Nat (47%) are less likely to be concerned. Lib/Nat voters are the group most likely to indicate that they are not at all concerned (45% compared to 29% for the overall sample).
Those aged 35-54 were the most likely to be concerned (62%).
Those in VIC were the least likely to be concerned (53%). Those in QLD (63%) and NSW (59%) were more likely.
Q. In the past 10 years, do you believe the gap between the rich and everyone else has increased, decreased or stayed the same?
|
Total
|
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
|
| Total increased |
77% |
84% |
68% |
87% |
80% |
|
| Total decreased |
3% |
1% |
4% |
1% |
6% |
|
| Increased a lot |
47% |
58% |
32% |
56% |
58% |
|
| Increased a little |
30% |
26% |
36% |
31% |
22% |
|
| Stayed the same |
15% |
11% |
23% |
8% |
12% |
|
| Decreased a little |
2% |
1% |
4% |
1% |
3% |
|
| Decreased a lot |
1% |
– |
– |
– |
3% |
|
| Don’t know |
5% |
5% |
5% |
4% |
3% |
Over three-quarters (77%) of Australians believe that the gap between the rich and everyone else has increased. Just 3% believe it has decreased.
Labor (84%) and Greens (87%) voters were more likely to think that it had increased, while Lib/Nat voters were less likely (68%).