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  • Nov, 2010

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    Importance of NBN

    Q. The Federal Government plans to build a National Broadband Network over the next few years. How important do you think it is for Australia to build a National Broadband Network?

    Total

    Nov 10

    Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens Nov 09
    Total important 69% 87% 54% 84% 65%
    Total not important 25% 9% 42% 12% 26%
    Very Important 35% 55% 17% 55% 30%
    Quite Important 34% 32% 37% 29% 35%
    Not so important 14% 6% 21% 10% 20%
    Not at all important 11% 3% 21% 2% 6%
    Don’t know 6% 4% 4% 3% 8%

    69% think that it is important for Australia to build a National Broadband Network and 25% think it is not important. This represents an increase in support (net +5%) for the NBN since this question was last asked in November 2009.

    Labor (87%) and Greens voters (84%) and more likely to think the NBN is important. A majority of Liberal/National voters (54%) think it is important although a sizable minority (42%) think it is not important.

    A majority of all age groups believe the NBN is important, although support tends to decrease with increasing age – of those aged 65+, 54% think it is important and 45% not important.

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  • Nov, 2010

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    Benefit of NBN

    Q. Thinking about the Government’s plan to build a national broadband network, how much benefit will a national broadband network be to-

    Total benefit Great

    benefit

    Some benefit Little benefit Don’t know Total benefit

    April 09

    Australian businesses 84% 55% 29% 8% 8% 80%
    Schools 78% 48% 30% 14% 8% na
    The general public overall 78% 44% 34% 15% 8% 76%
    Children 72% 39% 33% 19% 9% na
    The Australian economy 71% 39% 32% 18% 11% 65%
    You personally 65% 33% 32% 27% 8% 66%
    The economy of your local community 65% 32% 33% 24% 12% na

    The NBN is thought to be of most benefit to Australian business (84%), schools (78%) and the general public overall (78%). Since this question was last asked in April 2009, perceptions of benefit have increased for Australian business (+4%) and the Australian economy (+6%).

    65% think they will personally benefit from the NBN. Those most likely to think they will benefit personally are aged under 35 (74%) Labor voters (83%), Greens voters (80%) and full-time workers (71%).

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  • Nov, 2010

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    Julia, Blokes and the Bradley Effect

    First Published on The Drum 23/11/2010

    As if dealing with four independent blokes, a Green bloke and a blokey bloke in charge of the Opposition is not enough, now Julia Gillard is developing a problem with blokes outside the Parliament.

    Having politely indicated that they were happy with a female Prime Minister in the lead-up to the federal election, this week’s Essential Report picks up sharp moves in the attitudes of the brotherhood.

    In the absence of any compelling policy development to explain the surge, we are left with the Bradley Effect, the theory created to explain why an African-American candidate lost the 1982 race for Governor of California despite having a massive lead in the polls.

    The details of the Bradley Effect later, first some numbers from this week’s Essential Report.

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  • Nov, 2010

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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 = 1,869

    First preference/leaning to 6 months ago 4 weeks ago 2 weeks ago Last week This week
    Liberal 39% 41% 42% 42% 42%
    National 2% 3% 4% 3% 3%
    Total Lib/Nat 41% 44% 46% 45% 45%
    Labor 40% 41% 39% 39% 38%
    Greens 10% 8% 8% 10% 10%
    Other/Independent 9% 7% 7% 7% 8%
    2PP 6 months ago 4 weeks ago 2 weeks ago Last week

    This week
    Total Lib/Nat 48% 50% 51% 51% 51%
    Labor 52% 50% 49% 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.

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  • Nov, 2010

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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 10 19 Jul 10 26 Jul 10 2 Aug 10 9 Aug 10 16 Aug 10 20 Sep 10 18 Oct 10 22 Nov 10 Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens Kevin Rudd v Tony Abbott

    21 Jun 10

    Julia Gillard 53% 50% 51% 48% 45% 46% 47% 49% 45% 94% 6% 76% 47%
    Tony Abbott 26% 27% 26% 30% 33% 35% 35% 33% 34% 1% 78% 3% 30%
    Don’t know 21% 23% 23% 22% 21% 19% 18% 17% 21% 5% 17% 21% 23%

    45% (down 4%) believe Julia Gillard would make the better Prime Minister and 34% (up 1%) prefer Tony Abbott – a closing of the gap from 16% to 11% since last month’s figures.

    Men favour Julia Gillard over Tony Abbott 41%/40% and women 49%/28%.

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  • Nov, 2010

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    Impact of Competition on Interest rates

    Q. If there was more competition between Australian banks, do you think this would stop the banks increasing interest rates by more than the Reserve Bank rate increases?

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Yes 47% 48% 50% 55%
    No 31% 31% 34% 18%
    Don’t know 22% 22% 16% 27%

    47% think that if there was more competition between Australian banks, this would stop the banks increasing interest rates by more than the Reserve Bank rate increases while 31% disagree.

    Older people and those on lower incomes were split in their opinions – for those aged 55+, 41% agreed and 38% disagreed while 41% of those on incomes under $600pw disagreed and 38% agreed.

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  • Nov, 2010

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    Trust to Handle Banking Issues

    Q. Who would you trust most to deal with issues affecting the Australian banking industry – the Treasurer Wayne Swan and the Labor Party or the shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey and the Liberal Party?

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Wayne Swan and the Labor Party 33% 69% 5% 52%
    Joe Hockey and the Liberal Party 38% 5% 80% 13%
    Don’t know 29% 26% 14% 35%

    38% have most trust in Joe Hockey and the Liberal Party to handle issues affecting the banking industry and 33% trust Wayne Swan and the Labor Party.

    Those aged 55+ trust Joe Hockey more (47% to 35%) while those on incomes under $600pw trust Wayne Swan more (42% to 38%)

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  • Nov, 2010

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    Same Sex Marriage

    Q. Do you think people of the same sex should or should not be allowed to marry?

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Should be allowed to marry 53% 57% 45% 80%
    Should not be allowed to marry 36% 32% 45% 12%
    Don’t know 11% 10% 10% 8%

    Same-sex marriage is supported by just over half (53%) of respondents and 36% are opposed.

    Those most likely to think people of the same sex should be allowed to marry are female (59%), aged under 55 (60%) and Greens voters (80%).

    Those most likely to think people of the same sex should not be allowed to marry are male (42%), aged 55+ (57%) and Liberal/National voters (45%).

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