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  • Jan, 2012

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    Should Australia be a Country that “Makes things”

    Q. A number of politicians have said about the manufacturing industry that Australia should be an economy that “makes things.” Do you agree or disagree?

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Total agree 79% 84% 84% 76%
    Total disagree 6% 6% 7% 6%
    Strongly agree 25% 27% 27% 16%
    Agree 54% 57% 57% 60%
    Disagree 6% 5% 7% 5%
    Strongly disagree * * 1%
    Don’t know 14% 10% 9% 18%

    There was strong agreement with the idea that Australia should be an economy that “makes things”. 79% agreed and only 6% of respondents disagreed.

    84% of both Labor and Liberal/National voters agreed – but generally results were similar across demographic groups.

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  • Jan, 2012

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    Federal politics – 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 = 1,899 respondents

    First preference/leaning to Election

    21 Aug 10

    Last poll

    (19.12.11)

    This week
    Liberal 45% 45%
    National 3% 3%
    Total Lib/Nat 43.6% 47% 48%
    Labor 38.0% 35% 35%
    Greens 11.8% 9% 9%
    Other/Independent 6.6% 8% 8%
    2PP Election

    21 Aug 10

    Last poll This week
    Total Lib/Nat 49.9% 54% 54%
    Labor 50.1% 46% 46%

    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 2010 election.

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  • Jan, 2012

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    Approval of Julia Gillard

    Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Julia Gillard is doing as Prime Minister?

    19 Jul 2010 20 Dec 2010 14 Mar

    2011

    14 June 12 Sept 17 Oct 14 Nov 12 Dec 16 Jan 2012
    Total approve 52% 43% 41% 34% 28% 34% 37% 34% 37%
    Total disapprove 30% 40% 46% 54% 64% 59% 55% 54% 52%
    Strongly approve 11% 10% 7% 6% 5% 7% 8% 6% 6%
    Approve 41% 33% 34% 28% 23% 27% 29% 28% 31%
    Disapprove 17% 24% 22% 29% 28% 27% 25% 25% 27%
    Strongly disapprove 13% 16% 24% 25% 36% 32% 30% 29% 25%
    Don’t know 18% 17% 13% 13% 8% 7% 9% 11% 12%

    Julia Gillard’s approval rating has improved a little since last month. 37% (up 3%) approve of the job Julia Gillard is doing as Prime Minister and 52% (down 2%) disapprove – a change in net rating from -20 to -15 over the last 5 weeks. This is the best net rating for the Prime Minister since May last year.

    76% of Labor voters approve (up 3%) and 15% disapprove (down 4%).

    By gender – men 34% approve/57% disapprove, women 37% approve/47% disapprove.

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  • Jan, 2012

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    Approval of Tony Abbott

    Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Tony Abbott is doing as Opposition Leader?

    18 Jan

    2010

    5 Jul

    2010

    20 Dec 2010 14 Mar

    2011

    14 June 12 Sept 17 Oct 14 Nov 12 Dec 16 Jan 2012
    Total approve 37% 37% 39% 38% 38% 39% 40% 36% 32% 35%
    Total disapprove 37% 47% 39% 47% 48% 50% 51% 52% 53% 51%
    Strongly approve 5% 8% 9% 7% 6% 8% 8% 6% 6% 7%
    Approve 32% 29% 30% 31% 32% 31% 32% 30% 26% 28%
    Disapprove 20% 23% 21% 24% 25% 23% 23% 26% 25% 25%
    Strongly disapprove 17% 24% 18% 23% 23% 27% 28% 26% 28% 26%
    Don’t know 26% 16% 22% 16% 15% 11% 9% 12% 14% 13%

    Tony Abbott’s approval rating has also improved a little over the last month. 35% (up 3%) approve of the job Tony Abbott is doing as Opposition Leader and 51% (down 2%) disapprove – a change in net rating from -21 to -16 over the last 5 weeks.

    68% (up 3%) of Coalition voters approve and 21% (down 1%) disapprove.

    By gender – men 41% approve/49% disapprove, women 29% approve/53% disapprove.

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  • Jan, 2012

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    Better Prime Minister

    Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott?

    5 Jul 2010 14 Mar 14 June 12 Sept 17 Oct 14 Nov 12 Dec 16 Jan 2012 Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Julia Gillard 53% 44% 41% 36% 38% 41% 39% 39% 83% 5% 69%
    Tony Abbott 26% 33% 36% 40% 39% 36% 35% 36% 5% 76% 4%
    Don’t know 21% 23% 24% 24% 23% 24% 26% 25% 12% 20% 27%

    39% believe Julia Gillard would make the better Prime Minister and 36% prefer Tony Abbott – no significant change from last month’s result.

    Men prefer Tony Abbott 41%/37% and women favour Julia Gillard 41%/31%.

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  • Jan, 2012

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    Saving

    Q. Compared to 12 months ago, are you saving more, saving less or saving about the same? (note – saving includes paying off your mortgage)

    Total Men Women Aged 18-34 Aged 35-54 Aged 55+ Work full time Work part time Don’t work
    Total saving more 28% 26% 29% 41% 26% 19% 35% 27% 21%
    Total saving less 33% 34% 31% 27% 31% 40% 30% 28% 40%
    Saving a lot more 7% 6% 7% 13% 5% 4% 10% 4% 5%
    Saving a little more 21% 20% 22% 28% 21% 15% 25% 23% 16%
    About the same 37% 38% 36% 28% 42% 40% 34% 44% 37%
    Saving a little less 17% 18% 16% 17% 14% 20% 17% 12% 20%
    Saving a lot less 16% 16% 17% 10% 17% 20% 13% 16% 20%
    Don’t know 2% 2% 1% 3% 1% 1% 1% 1% 2%

    28% of respondents say they are saving more than they were 12 months ago and 33% are saving less – 37% are saving about the same.

    Those aged under 35 tend to be saving more (41% more/27% less) while those aged 55+ are saving less (19% more/40% less).

    There is a strong relationship with work status. 35% of those in fulltime work are saving more, 44% of those in part-time work are saving about the same and 40% of those not working are saving less.

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  • Jan, 2012

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    Spending

    Q. Compared to 12 months ago, are you spending more or less on the following –

    Total spending more Total spending less Spending a lot more Spending a little more Spending about the same Spending a little less Spending a lot less Don’t know
    Food and groceries 60% 10% 20% 40% 30% 7% 3% 1%
    Gas and electricity 70% 9% 36% 34% 20% 5% 4% 1%
    Telephone and internet services 38% 11% 11% 27% 49% 9% 2% 1%
    Entertainment such as cinemas and restaurants 20% 39% 5% 15% 38% 20% 19% 3%
    Retail products such as clothing and electrical goods 20% 38% 5% 15% 41% 22% 16% 1%

    70% say they are spending more on gas and electricity and 60% say they are spending more on food and groceries. But they were more likely to be spending less on entertainment (20% more/39% less) and other retail products (20% more/38% less).

    Perceptions of spending on food and groceries is similar across demographic groups. However, older respondents are more likely to say they are spending more on gas and electricity (80% of those aged 55+) and less on entertainment (46% of those aged 55+). For those aged under 35, 28% are spending more on entertainment and 34% less.

    There is a similar pattern for spending on retail products – for those aged under 35, 27% are spending more and 32% less while for those aged 55+, 15% are spending more and 44% less.

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  • Jan, 2012

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    Shopping

    Q. Compared to 12 months ago are you shopping more or less at –

    Total shopping more Total shopping less Shopping a lot more Shopping a little more Shopping about the same Shopping a little less Shopping a lot less Don’t know
    Major retail stores 10% 36% 3% 7% 53% 21% 15% 1%
    Major shopping centres 11% 32% 3% 8% 56% 20% 12% 1%
    Local shopping centres 18% 20% 4% 14% 61% 14% 6% 1%
    On the internet 42% 18% 10% 32% 37% 8% 10% 3%

    Overall, respondents say they are shopping less at major retail stores and major shopping centres. Shopping at local centres  remains about the same.

    47% of those aged 55+ say they are shopping less at major retail stores. Among those aged under 35, 22% are shopping more at major retail stores and 29% less.

    Although 42% say they are shopping more on the internet, 18% say they are shopping less. Among those aged under 35, 56% are shopping more on the internet and 11% less. Those on higher incomes are more likely to be increasing their internet shopping –  50% of those earning $1,000 pw are spending more and only 11% less.

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