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  • Dec, 2011

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    Important Decisions

    Q. Which of the following decisions made by the Federal Labor Government since they were elected do you think is most important for Australia’s future? And which is second? And which is third?

    First Second Third Total
    The mining tax on large profits 17% 18% 13% 48%
    Addressing climate change with the carbon tax 19% 11% 13% 43%
    Increase compulsory superannuation to 12% 17% 13% 12% 42%
    Provide 18 weeks paid parental leave 7% 6% 7% 20%
    Childcare rebate increased from 30% to 50% 4% 7% 6% 17%
    Allow Labor politicians to have a conscience vote on same-sex marriage 4% 6% 5% 15%
    Allow the export of uranium to India 4% 5% 4% 13%
    Gambling reforms which require poker machine players to set a limit on losses. 3% 5% 5% 13%
    Plain packaging for cigarettes 3% 4% 5% 12%
    None of them 13% 3% 3% 13%
    Don’t know 8% 1% 2% 8%

    The three most important decisions made by the Government were the mining tax, the carbon tax and the increase in compulsory superannuation.

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  • Dec, 2011

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    Trust in Media

    Q. How much trust do you have in what you read or hear in the following media?

    Total a lot/some

    15 Mar 10

    Total a lot /some

    25 Jul 11

    Total a lot /some A lot of trust Some trust Not much trust No trust at all Don’t know Don’t use
    News and opinion in daily newspapers 62% 53% 46% 3% 43% 32% 13% 3% 5%
    News and opinion in local newspapers 54% 52% 4% 48% 29% 11% 3% 5%
    Commercial TV news and current affairs 64% 48% 43% 5% 38% 34% 19% 3% 2%
    ABC TV news and current affairs 70% 71% 72% 23% 49% 14% 6% 3% 5%
    Commercial radio news and current affairs 54% 46% 45% 4% 41% 30% 15% 3% 6%
    ABC radio news and current affairs 62% 67% 67% 19% 48% 14% 6% 3% 10%
    Commercial radio talkback programs 38% 33% 33% 5% 28% 32% 22% 3% 10%
    ABC radio talkback programs 45% 47% 47% 7% 40% 28% 9% 3% 13%
    News and opinion websites 49% 41% 38% 3% 35% 36% 14% 4% 9%
    Internet blogs 20% 20% 17% 1% 16% 37% 25% 5% 15%

    Since July, trust in media has dropped for daily newspapers (-7%) and commercial TV news and current affairs (-5%).

    ABC TV news and current affairs has the highest number of people who have a lot/some trust (72%). This is followed by ABC radio news and current affairs (67%).

    The lowest level of trust was recorded for internet blog (17%). This was followed by commercial radio talkback programs (33%).

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  • Dec, 2011

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    Regulation of Newspapers

    Q. Newspapers and magazines are regulated by the Australian Press Council which was established by the media industry and comprises representatives of media organisations and as well as independent members.

    From what you read, do you think that the Press Council is doing a good or poor job of regulating newspapers in Australia?

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Total good 20% 22% 25% 14%
    Total poor 25% 26% 22% 37%
    Very good job 1% 3% 1%
    Good job 19% 19% 24% 14%
    Neither good nor poor 38% 38% 40% 31%
    Poor job 17% 15% 16% 24%
    Very poor job 8% 11% 6% 13%
    Don’t know 17% 14% 13% 18%

    20% believed that the Press Council is doing a good job of regulating newspapers and 25% thought it is doing a poor job. 38% say they are doing neither a good nor poor job and 17% don’t know.

    Those most likely to think they are doing a good job were aged under 35 (25%) and Liberal/National voters (25%). Those most likely to think they are doing a poor job were aged 55+ (35%) and Greens voters (37%).

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  • Dec, 2011

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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 = 1,922 respondents

    First preference/leaning to Election

    21 Aug 10

    4 weeks ago 2 weeks ago Last week This week
    Liberal 43% 46% 45% 44%
    National 3% 3% 3% 3%
    Total Lib/Nat 43.6% 46% 48% 48% 47%
    Labor 38.0% 35% 34% 34% 34%
    Greens 11.8% 9% 10% 11% 10%
    Other/Independent 6.6% 9% 7% 8% 9%
    2PP Election

    21 Aug 10

    4 weeks ago 2 weeks ago Last week This week
    Total Lib/Nat 49.9% 54% 55% 54% 54%
    Labor 50.1% 46% 45% 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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  • Dec, 2011

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    Federal Election

    Q. Do you think the Labor Government should run its full term until 2013 when the next Federal election is due or should a new election be held now?

    5 Sept 11 Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Should run to 2013 40% 47% 89% 20% 73%
    Should hold election now 48% 41% 7% 74% 16%
    Don’t know 12% 12% 4% 6% 11%

    47% think that the Labor Government should be allowed to run its full term trough to 2013 and 41% think a new election should be held. This is almost exactly the reverse of the results when this question was previously asked in September when 48% thought an election should be held now and 40% thought the Government should run its full term.

    Support for the Government to run its full term has increased among Labor voters (from 82% to 89%) and Liberal/National voters (11% to 20%) but dropped from 80% to 73% for Greens voters.

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  • Dec, 2011

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    Important election issues

    Q. Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election?

    First Second Third Total 6 June 11 24 Jan 11 11 Oct 10 25 Jan 10
    Management of the economy 39% 16% 7% 62% 61% 65% 62% 63%
    Ensuring a quality education for all children 4% 8% 10% 22% 26% 26% 32% 23%
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system 12% 18% 17% 47% 49% 49% 48% 48%
    Protecting the environment 4% 5% 4% 13% 15% 13% 12% 16%
    A fair industrial relations system 3% 4% 4% 11% 8% 10% 11% *
    Political leadership 7% 6% 5% 18% 17% 16% 16% 23%
    Addressing climate change 3% 4% 3% 10% 15% 10% 11% 16%
    Controlling interest rates 2% 4% 5% 11% 13% 21% 17% 15%
    Australian jobs and protection of local industries 11% 12% 13% 36% 32% 30% 30% 33%
    Ensuring a quality water supply * 2% 2% 4% 5% 6% 6% 12%
    Housing affordability 3% 4% 6% 13% 16% 16% 17% 14%
    Ensuring a fair taxation system 3% 5% 8% 16% 17% 18% 16% 14%
    Security and the war on terrorism 1% 1% 2% 4% 8% 5% 6% 9%
    Treatment of asylum seekers 2% 3% 3% 8% 5% 5% 5% *
    Managing population growth 1% 3% 4% 8% 12% 11% 10% *

    *Not asked

    62% of people surveyed rated management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 47% ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system and 36% Australian jobs and protection of local industries.

    Since June, there have been only minor changes in these figures – there has been an increase in the importance of Australian jobs and protection of local industries (+4%) and declines in the importance of addressing climate change (-5%), ensuring a quality education for all children (-4%), managing population growth (-4%) and security and the war on terrorism (-4%).

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  • Dec, 2011

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    Party trust to handle important election issues

    Q. And which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?

    Labor Liberal Greens Don’t know
    Management of the economy 27% 45% 2% 25%
    Ensuring a quality education for all children 34% 36% 5% 25%
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system 31% 34% 6% 29%
    Protecting the environment 16% 23% 37% 24%
    A fair industrial relations system 38% 34% 5% 23%
    Political leadership 23% 40% 5% 33%
    Addressing climate change 19% 25% 31% 25%
    Controlling interest rates 24% 42% 2% 32%
    Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries 32% 35% 4% 29%
    Ensuring a quality water supply 18% 30% 24% 29%
    Housing affordability 23% 33% 5% 38%
    Ensuring a fair taxation system 28% 37% 4% 31%
    Security and the war on terrorism 21% 40% 3% 35%
    Treatment of asylum seekers 17% 36% 12% 35%
    Managing population growth 18% 35% 9% 39%

    Labor does not have a substantial lead over the Liberal Party on any item measured.  The 9% lead it had in June on “a fair industrial relations system” has been reduced to 4%. There is also little difference between Labor and the Liberals for ensuring a quality education for all children, ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system and protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries.

    The Liberal Party has maintained strong leads on management of the economy, controlling interest rates, political leadership and security and the war on terrorism.

    Overall, there has been a slight weakening of Labor’s position since June.

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  • Dec, 2011

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    Christmas Spending


    Q. And now about Christmas spending – compared to last year, do you expect to be spending more on gifts at Christmas, less or much the same?

    Dec 08 Dec 09 Nov 10 Dec 11
    Will spend more 3% 11% 10% 13%
    Will be spending less 38% 38% 38% 40%
    Spend much the same 55% 47% 48% 44%
    Don’t know 5% 4% 5% 3%

    Views about spending on gifts at Christmas remain similar to last year’s. 13% say they will spend more (up 3%), 40% spend less (up 2%) and 44% much the same (down 4%).

    23% of those aged under 35 say they will spend more, 46% of those aged 35-44 will spend less and 56% of those aged 55+ will spend much the same. There is no significant relationship between changes in spending and income.

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