The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Jan, 2011

    , , , , , , , , , , ,

    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 = 1,906

    First preference/leaning to Election

    21 Aug 10

    2 weeks ago Last week This week
    Liberal 43% 42% 42%
    National 3% 3% 3%
    Total Lib/Nat 43.6 46% 45% 45%
    Labor 38.0 38% 37% 37%
    Greens 11.8 10% 11% 11%
    Other/Independent 6.6 6% 7% 7%
    2PP Election

    21 Aug 10

    2 weeks ago Last week This week
    Total Lib/Nat 49.9% 52% 51% 51%
    Labor 50.1% 48% 49% 49%

    NB.  The data in the above tables comprise 2-week averages derived 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.

    Comments »

  • Jan, 2011

    , , , , , , , , , ,

    Flood Levy

    Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the Government introducing a one-off levy on taxpayers to pay for damage caused by the recent floods? (Question commissioned by Network Ten)

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens Queensland NSW Victoria Other states
    Total approve 39% 63% 23% 48% 46% 35% 37% 43%
    Total disapprove 53% 31% 73% 41% 46% 57% 56% 51%
    Strongly approve 12% 24% 3% 19% 11% 10% 12% 14%
    Approve 27% 39% 20% 29% 35% 25% 25% 27%
    Disapprove 24% 20% 28% 21% 21% 25% 27% 22%
    Strongly disapprove 29% 11% 45% 20% 25% 32% 29% 29%
    Don’t know 8% 6% 5% 10% 9% 8% 6% 9%

    39% approved of the Government introducing a one-off levy on taxpayers to pay for damage caused by the recent floods and 53% disapproved.

    63% of Labor voters approved but Liberal/National voters strongly disapproved (73%).

    Queensland residents were more likely to approve than residents of other states.

    By income, those earning under $52,000 per year disapproved 47% to 44% approved and those earning over $52,000 disapproved 57% to 38% approved.

    Question commissioned by Ten network.

    Comments »

  • Jan, 2011

    , , , , , ,

    Government vs Private Sector

    Q. Which of the following are better run by the private sector and which are better run by Government?

    Better run by private sector Better run by Government Don’t know
    Electricity 22% 61% 17%
    Water 15% 70% 16%
    Trains, buses and ferries 19% 68% 13%
    Motorways 17% 70% 13%
    Community services such as child protection 14% 71% 15%
    Broadband services 53% 29% 19%
    Health insurance services 48% 37% 15%
    Property insurance 55% 27% 19%
    Prisons 10% 76% 15%
    Universities 20% 64% 16%

    A substantial majority believed that the Government is better at running prisons (76%), community services (71%), water (70%) and motorways (70%). However, they are more likely to think that the private sector is better at running property insurance (55%), broadband services (53%) and health insurance (48%).

    Although Liberal/National voters were a little more likely to favour the private sector on most issues, they also supported the Government running most services except for broadband services (63% private/24% Government), health insurance (59%/32%) and property insurance (65%/23%). Labor voters favoured the private sector to run broadband (44%/38%) and property insurance (50%/31%) but were split on health insurance (41% private/43% Government).

    Support for Government run services was a little higher in NSW than in Victoria – e.g. electricity (64% NSW/59% Vic), water (73%/65%).

    Comments »

  • Jan, 2011

    , , , , , , , ,

    Funding Flood Damage

    Q. Which of the following do you think is the best way for the Government to pay for the damage caused by the recent floods?

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Introduce a one-off levy 22% 42% 9% 22%
    Sell off Medibank Private 2% 1% 4% 2%
    Scrap or postpone the NBN (National Broadband Network) 28% 11% 48% 10%
    Postpone returning the budget to surplus 24% 26% 23% 27%
    Raise taxes on mining company profits 10% 10% 6% 23%
    None of them 7% 5% 7% 9%
    Don’t know 7% 5% 3% 7%

    Overall, there was no clearly preferred means of funding the flood damage. The most supported ways to fund flood damage were to scrap or postpone the NBN (28%), postpone returning the budget to surplus (24%) and introducing a one-off levy (22%). Only 2% favoured selling Medibank Private. Labor voters favoured the levy (42%) and Liberal/National voters favoured scrapping or postponing the NBN (48%).

    Greens voters were split between postponing the return to surplus (27%), a tax on mining company profits (23%) and introducing a levy (22%).

    Scrapping or postponing the NBN was strongly favoured by those aged 55+ (40%).

    Comments »

  • Jan, 2011

    , , , , , ,

    Spending Funds for Flood Damage

    Q. If the Government introduces a levy to pay for flood damage, which of the following should the Government spend those funds on?

    Yes No Don’t know Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Replace and repair infrastructure – e.g. roads, rail, power, telecommunications 92% 3% 5% 92% 95% 95%
    Replace and repair public buildings – e.g. schools, hospitals 92% 3% 5% 93% 93% 95%
    Compensate individuals who were not insured for flood damage 35% 42% 22% 37% 35% 34%
    Compensate businesses for lost income 36% 43% 20% 40% 36% 33%
    Compensate farmers for lost income 58% 26% 16% 61% 58% 54%
    Compensate workers for lost wages 43% 37% 20% 50% 41% 36%
    Compensation for all people affected – regardless of whether or not they have insurance cover 30% 51% 19% 32% 31% 23%

    Respondents overwhelmingly supported using Government funding for rebuilding infrastructure and public buildings (92%).

    A majority (58%) also supported compensating farmers for lost income. However, they were more likely to oppose compensating businesses or those who were not insured for flood damage. Only 30% supported Government funding for anyone affected.

    There were relatively small differences between voter groups – except for compensating workers for lost wages which 50% of Labor voters supported compared to 41% of Lib/Nat voters and 36% of Greens voters.

    Comments »

  • Jan, 2011

    , , , , , , , , , , , ,

    Performance of Groups/Organisations

    Q. And from what you have seen and heard, how would you rate each of the following in terms of how they have responded to the floods?

    Total good Total poor Very good Good Average Poor Very poor Don’t know
    The Federal Labor Government 48% 15% 15% 33% 26% 7% 8% 11%
    The Federal Coalition Opposition 29% 19% 6% 23% 37% 12% 7% 15%
    The Queensland State Government 78% 3% 48% 30% 10% 1% 2% 9%
    The Queensland State Government (Qld only) 79% 3% 51% 28% 11% 1% 2% 7%
    The Victorian State Government 48% 4% 14% 34% 22% 3% 1% 26%
    The Victorian State Government (Vic only) 53% 8% 13% 40% 23% 6% 2% 16%
    The NSW State Government 33% 12% 8% 25% 27% 8% 4% 27%
    The NSW State Government (NSW only) 26% 22% 5% 21% 33% 13% 9% 20%
    The Australian military 78% 2% 49% 29% 8% 1% 1% 10%
    State emergency services 88% 2% 71% 17% 4% 1% 1% 7%
    The media 61% 9% 26% 35% 23% 5% 4% 7%
    The banks 22% 26% 6% 16% 30% 17% 9% 23%
    The insurance industry 10% 53% 2% 8% 22% 25% 28% 14%
    Australian businesses overall 48% 8% 13% 35% 30% 6% 2% 14%
    The Australian people overall 85% 2% 56% 29% 7% 1% 1% 6%

    Groups with highest ratings for their response to the floods were state emergency services (88% good), the Australian people overall (85%), the Queensland State Government (78%) and the Australian military (78%).

    The Federal Government’s response was rated 48% good/15% poor/26% average while the Federal Opposition was rated 29% good/19% poor/37% average.

    The only groups with overall negative ratings were the insurance industry (53% poor/10% good) and the banks (26% poor/22% good).

    Comments »

  • Jan, 2011

    , , , , , , , , , , ,

    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 = 1,896

    First preference/leaning to Election

    21 Aug 10

    Last week This week
    Liberal 43% 42%
    National 3% 3%
    Total Lib/Nat 43.6 46% 45%
    Labor 38.0 38% 37%
    Greens 11.8 10% 11%
    Other/Independent 6.6 6% 7%
    2PP Election

    21 Aug 10

    Last week This week
    Total Lib/Nat 49.9% 52% 51%
    Labor 50.1% 48% 49%

    NB.  The data in the above tables comprise 2-week averages derived 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.

    Comments »

  • Jan, 2011

    , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

    Important election issues

    Q. Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election? (Number from 1 to 3 where 1 is the most important, 2 the second most important, etc)

    One Two Three Total Total 11th Oct 10 Total 25th Jan 10
    Management of the economy 37% 18% 10% 65% 62% 63%
    Ensuring a quality education for all children 5% 10% 11% 26% 32% 23%
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system 13% 20% 16% 49% 48% 48%
    Protecting the environment 4% 3% 6% 13% 12% 16%
    A fair industrial relations system 2% 4% 4% 10% 11% *
    Political leadership 6% 5% 5% 16% 16% 23%
    Addressing climate change 3% 3% 4% 10% 11% 16%
    Controlling interest rates 5% 8% 8% 21% 17% 15%
    Australian jobs and protection of local industries 10% 8% 12% 30% 30% 33%
    Ensuring a quality water supply 1% 2% 3% 6% 6% 12%
    Housing affordability 5% 5% 6% 16% 17% 14%
    Ensuring a fair taxation system 4% 6% 8% 18% 16% 14%
    Security and the war on terrorism 1% 2% 2% 5% 6% 9%
    Treatment of asylum seekers 1% 2% 2% 5% 5% *
    Managing population growth 2% 5% 4% 11% 10% *

    *Not asked

    65% of people surveyed rated management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 49% ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system and 30% Australian jobs and protection of local industries.

    Only 10% rate addressing climate change as one of their three most important issues and 6% rate ensuring a quality water supply.

    Over the past 12 months there has been an increase in the importance of controlling interest rates (from 15% to 21%) and a decrease in the importance of addressing climate change (from 16% to 10%).

    Comments »

Error: