Q. How would you rate your own personal financial situation currently?
|
Total
|
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
|
| Total Good |
29% |
24% |
37% |
29% |
21% |
|
| Total Poor |
26% |
32% |
17% |
34% |
37% |
|
| Very good |
4% |
3% |
5% |
4% |
1% |
|
| Good |
25% |
21% |
32% |
25% |
20% |
|
| Fair |
42% |
41% |
45% |
35% |
41% |
|
| Poor |
17% |
18% |
12% |
27% |
26% |
|
| Very poor |
9% |
14% |
5% |
7% |
11% |
|
| I’d rather not say |
2% |
3% |
1% |
1% |
1% |
Just 29% of Australians would rate their own current financial situation as ‘good’. 26% would rate it as poor, with the largest proportion rating their current financial situation as ‘fair’ (45%).
Lib/Nat voters (37%) were more likely to rate their current financial situation as good. Labor (24%) and Other (21%) voters were less likely.
Although males and females differed little in the percentage who rated their current financial situation as ‘good’ (29% each), females (29%) were more likely than males (22%) to rate their financial situation as ‘poor’. Males (47%) were more likely than females (38%) to rate their situation as ‘fair’.
Those in QLD (37%) were more likely to rate their situation as ‘good’. Those in NSW (27%) and VIC (26%) were less likely.
Australian economic issues, cost of living, national debt, unemployement
Q. Which Australian economic issue worries you most?
|
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
|
| Unemployment |
11% |
15% |
9% |
16% |
6% |
|
| The cost of living |
56% |
63% |
49% |
46% |
70% |
|
| The current budget deficit |
6% |
1% |
14% |
5% |
2% |
|
| National debt |
5% |
2% |
12% |
2% |
5% |
|
| House prices |
7% |
6% |
7% |
9% |
6% |
|
| The high Australian dollar |
2% |
2% |
2% |
4% |
2% |
|
| Insecure employment |
7% |
9% |
4% |
15% |
7% |
|
| Don’t know |
2% |
1% |
2% |
2% |
– |
|
| None of these |
2% |
1% |
1% |
2% |
2% |
The majority of Australians (56%) selected ‘the cost of living’ as the Australian economic issue that worries them most.
At 11% ‘unemployment’ was the second most frequently selected.
Labor (63%) and Other (70%) voters were even more likely to select ‘the cost of living’. Lib/Nat (49%) and Green (46%) voters were less likely.
Females (63%) were more likely than males (50%) to select the cost of living. Those aged 65+ were less likely to select ‘the cost of living’ (50%), and were more likely to select ‘the current budget deficit’ (17%) and ‘national debt’ (12%).
Q. Would you support or oppose a temporary ‘deficit’ tax on high and middle income earners aimed at bringing the budget back to surplus?
|
Total
|
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
|
| Total Support |
34% |
30% |
46% |
20% |
34% |
|
| Total Oppose |
34% |
43% |
24% |
39% |
34% |
|
| Strongly support |
11% |
12% |
13% |
10% |
10% |
|
| Support |
23% |
18% |
33% |
10% |
24% |
|
| Neither support nor oppose |
24% |
17% |
25% |
26% |
28% |
|
| Oppose |
13% |
14% |
11% |
19% |
10% |
|
| Strongly oppose |
21% |
29% |
13% |
20% |
24% |
|
| Don’t know |
9% |
10% |
4% |
15% |
3% |
34% of Australian’s support the deficit tax, while 34% oppose it. 24% neither support nor oppose.
Lib/Nat voters (46%) are more likely to support the tax, but 24% do oppose it.
Labor (43%) and Greens (39%) voters are more likely to oppose the tax, however 30% of Labor voters, and 20% of Greens voters support it.
Those aged 65+ were the age group most likely to support the tax, with 52% indicating that they support it. Those aged 55-64 also had higher levels of support (40%).
Those in QLD (43%) were also more likely to support the tax.
Q. Which of the following is closest to your view:
|
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
|
| Introducing a new ‘deficit’ tax would be a broken promise by the Abbott Government |
48% |
71% |
24% |
70% |
54% |
|
| It is more important to reduce the deficit than stick to pre-election promises |
33% |
14% |
61% |
8% |
34% |
|
| Don’t know |
19% |
15% |
15% |
22% |
11% |
48% of Australian’s would consider a new ‘deficit’ tax to be a broken promise by the Abbott Government.
33% believe it is more important to reduce the deficit than stick to pre-election promises.
Labor (71%) and Green (70%) voters were more likely to consider the deficit tax a broken promise. Lib/Nat voters were more likely to think that it is more important to reduce the deficit than stick to pre-election promises (61%).
Liberal Government parental leave, paid parental leave
Q. The Liberal Government plans to introduce a new parental leave policy which gives new parents up to 26 weeks leave at their current full rate of pay (up to $100,000) to be partly paid for by a 1.5 per cent levy on large companies.
The current policy introduced by the previous Labor Government gives new parents 18 weeks leave at the minimum wage rate paid for by the Government.
Which scheme do you support most?
|
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
|
Feb 14* |
|
| The government’s policy |
19% |
17% |
24% |
18% |
16% |
23% |
||
| The current policy |
36% |
48% |
26% |
50% |
32% |
36% |
||
| Neither |
34% |
26% |
40% |
22% |
43% |
32% |
||
| Don’t know |
11% |
9% |
11% |
10% |
9% |
9% |
*The Feb 2014 question outlined the original Liberal policy, which would have given up to 26 weeks leave at the parent’s current full rate of pay up to $150,000.
The largest proportion (36%) of Australians prefers the current parental leave policy. Just 19% support the government’s policy; while a large proportion (34%) support neither.
The latest results show a slight drop in support for the government’s policy (down from 23% in February 2014; this question included the original upper limit of $150,000).
Labor voters were more likely to support the current policy (48%). However, 17% support the government’s policy, and 26% support neither. Lib/Nat voters were most likely to support neither policy (40%). However, 24% support the government’s policy, and 26% support the current policy.
Those aged 18-34 were most likely to support the government’s policy (33%). Those aged 35-44 were reflective of the overall sample, with 20% supporting the government’s policy, 36% supporting the current policy and 29% supporting neither. Those aged 45+ were far more likely to select ‘neither’ (47%), with just 9% supporting the government’s policy, and 36% the current policy.
2PP, Greens, 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 = 1,837 respondents
| First preference/leaning to |
Election 7 Sep 13 |
|
4 weeks ago 1/4/14 |
2 weeks ago 15/4/14 |
Last week 22/4/14 |
This week 29/4/14 |
| Liberal |
|
40% |
40% |
39% |
38% |
|
| National |
2% |
3% |
2% |
2% |
||
| Total Lib/Nat |
45.6% |
42% |
42% |
41% |
40% |
|
| Labor |
33.4% |
39% |
37% |
37% |
38% |
|
| Greens |
8.6% |
9% |
10% |
11% |
10% |
|
| Palmer United Party |
5.5% |
3% |
4% |
5% |
5% |
|
| Other/Independent |
6.9% |
7% |
7% |
6% |
6% |
| 2 Party Preferred |
Election 7 Sep 13 |
|
4 weeks ago 1/4/14 |
2 weeks ago 15/4/14 |
Last week 22/4/14 |
This week 29/4/14 |
| Liberal National |
53.5% |
49% |
50% |
49% |
48% |
|
| Labor |
46.5% |
51% |
50% |
51% |
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.
Bill Shorten, Labor party and unions
Q. The Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has proposed reforms to the Labor Party to change the roles played by unions and party members in control of the party. These include making it easier to join the Labor Party, eliminating requirement to be a union member and increasing member involvement in selection of leaders and candidates.
Would these reforms make you more likely or less likely to vote for the Labor Party or would they make no difference to your vote?
|
Total
|
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
|
| Total more likely |
26% |
38% |
15% |
38% |
26% |
|
| Total less likely |
6% |
2% |
10% |
5% |
7% |
|
| Much more likely |
8% |
16% |
3% |
5% |
6% |
|
| A little more likely |
18% |
22% |
12% |
33% |
20% |
|
| Make no difference |
59% |
51% |
71% |
49% |
61% |
|
| A little less likely |
2% |
1% |
1% |
2% |
4% |
|
| Much less likely |
4% |
1% |
9% |
3% |
3% |
|
| Don’t know |
9% |
9% |
4% |
8% |
6% |
Overall, one-quarter of Australians (26%) say that the proposed reforms would make them more likely to vote for the Labor Party.
Most (59%) say that it will make no difference.
71% of Lib/Nat voters say that the reforms would make no difference to their likelihood to vote for the Labor Party.
Q. Would you ever consider becoming a member of a political party?
|
Total
|
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
|
| Yes |
15% |
18% |
13% |
19% |
12% |
|
| No |
72% |
69% |
75% |
62% |
73% |
|
| I am already a member of a political party |
1% |
1% |
2% |
1% |
3% |
|
| Don’t know |
12% |
13% |
9% |
17% |
12% |
Just 15% of Australians would consider becoming a member of a political party (1% said that they were already a member of a political party).
Greens voters (19%) were the most likely to state that they would consider becoming a member of a political party. Lib/Nat voters (13%) and those that vote for other parties (12%) were the least likely.
Males (20%) were more likely than females (10%) to state that they would consider joining a political party.
81% of those aged under 30, compared to 69% of those aged 31-50 and 71% of those aged 50+ said that they would not ever consider joining a political party.