The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Oct, 2020

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    Federal Government led by Labor or Coalition better at…

    Q. Do you think a Federal Government led by Labor or the Coalition would be better at…?

      Coalition Labor Neither
    Reducing national debt 42% 28% 30%
    Managing the economy 44% 31% 25%
    Creating jobs 39% 38% 23%
    Helping those who’ve lost work because of Covid-19 get back into the workforce 38% 40% 22%
    Supporting those in financial need 35% 42% 23%
    Improving the financial situation of women 31% 38% 31%
    • A Coalition government is thought to be better than Labor at governance issues such as reducing national debt (42% to 28%) and managing the economy (44% to 31%).
    • Elements where Labor is seen to do a better job than the Coalition is in supporting those in financial need (42% to 35%) and improving the financial situation for women (38% to 31%).
    • Both parties are seen to be equally competent to create jobs (39% Coalition, 38% Labor) and helping those who have lost work due to Covid-19 (38% Coalition, 40% Labor).
  • Aug, 2020

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    Federal government better at

    Q. Do you think a Federal Government led by Labor or the Coalition would be better at…?

      Coalition Labor Neither
    Reducing national debt 45% 27% 28%
    Managing the economy 45% 32% 24%
    Stopping community transmission of Covid-19 as soon as possible 39% 31% 30%
    Working with other countries’ leaders appropriately 38% 34% 28%
    Creating jobs 37% 40% 23%
    Supporting those in financial need 35% 43% 22%
    Improving the education system 32% 41% 27%

     

    • A Coalition government is thought to be better than Labor at governance issues such as recovering the economy from Covid-19 (46% Coalition), reducing national debt (45%) and managing the economy (44%).
    • Elements where Labor is seen to do a better job than the Coalition is in improving the education system (41%), supporting those in financial need (43%) an creating jobs (40%).
    • Across all issues between one-fifth (22%) and almost a third (30%) of participants believe that neither party would be better at any of the listed elements.
  • Mar, 2020

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    Federal opposition during Covid-19

    Q. Which of the following is closest to your view on the role of the Federal Labor opposition during the response to the Covid-19 outbreak?

        Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Coalition Labor Greens NET: Other
    Opposition should accept the Government recommendations to ensure decisions are made quickly 49% 52% 45% 46% 46% 54% 66% 40% 35% 49%
    Opposition review and challenge Government decisions to ensure the best decisions are made 33% 35% 31% 33% 30% 36% 24% 45% 41% 33%
    Unsure 19% 13% 24% 21% 24% 10% 10% 15% 25% 18%
    Base (n) 1,034 519 515 342 327 365 324 344 108 126
    • Half of people (49%) prefer decisions to make quickly by to Government to react to the Covid-19 outbreak. This is highest among Coalition voters (66%).
    • A third (33%) want decisions reviewed and challenged by the opposition.
  • May, 2014

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    Policies of the major parties

    Q. In general, do you think the policies of the Liberal/National Coalition and the policies of Labor favour the rich, favour the middle class, favour the poor, or do they treat all groups equally?

     

    Favour the rich

    Favour the average Australian

    Favour the poor

    Treat all groups equally

    Don’t know

    The policies of the Liberal/National Coalition…

    54%

    16%

    5%

    13%

    12%

    The policies of Labor…

    16%

    34%

    22%

    11%

    17%

    Just over half (54%) of Australians believe that the policies of the Lib/Nat Coalition favour the rich. 16% think they favour the average Australian, 5% think they favour the poor and 13% think they favour all groups equally.

    The largest proportion of Australians (34%) think that the policies of Labor favour the average Australian. 16% think they favour the rich, 22% think they favour the poor and 11% think they treat all groups equally.

    Labor and Green voters were more likely to think that the Lib/Nat’s favour the rich (81% each), and that Labor favour the average Australian (53% of Labor voters and 57% of Green voters).

    There were no significant differences based on gender.

    For a more detailed breakdown of this question, please download the Essential Report.

  • Apr, 2014

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    Most important election issues

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

     

    Total

    22 Apr 14

     

    Vote ALP

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Grn

    Vote other

     

    23 Jul 13

    30 Jul 12

    6 June 11

    25 Jan 10

    Management of the economy

    54%

    43%

    75%

    22%

    44%

    45%

    64%

    61%

    63%

    Ensuring a quality education for all children

    27%

    35%

    18%

    38%

    20%

    25%

    26%

    26%

    23%

    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system

    50%

    54%

    43%

    62%

    52%

    42%

    47%

    49%

    48%

    Protecting the environment

    13%

    12%

    7%

    42%

    14%

    12%

    11%

    15%

    16%

    A fair industrial relations system

    12%

    17%

    11%

    8%

    12%

    10%

    12%

    8%

    na

    Political leadership

    15%

    11%

    24%

    6%

    13%

    21%

    25%

    17%

    23%

    Addressing climate change

    10%

    13%

    4%

    28%

    9%

    11%

    9%

    15%

    16%

    Controlling interest rates

    9%

    9%

    11%

    2%

    7%

    13%

    9%

    13%

    15%

    Australian jobs and protection of local industries

    37%

    39%

    37%

    18%

    37%

    39%

    41%

    32%

    33%

    Ensuring a quality water supply

    4%

    5%

    3%

    3%

    5%

    3%

    3%

    5%

    12%

    Housing affordability

    17%

    18%

    16%

    13%

    19%

    17%

    13%

    16%

    14%

    Ensuring a fair taxation system

    20%

    19%

    20%

    9%

    23%

    20%

    18%

    17%

    14%

    Security and the war on terrorism

    5%

    3%

    8%

    3%

    5%

    8%

    5%

    8%

    9%

    Treatment of asylum seekers

    8%

    5%

    5%

    32%

    9%

    14%

    10%

    5%

    na

    Managing population growth

    9%

    6%

    10%

    8%

    16%

    9%

    8%

    12%

    na

    54% of people surveyed rated management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 50% ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system, 37% Australian jobs and protection of local industries and 27% ensuring a quality education for all children.

    Main changes since this question was asked last July – management of the economy up 9%, ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system up 8%, political leadership down 6% and treatment of asylum seekers down 6%.

  • Sep, 2013

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    Party trust to handle issues

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

     

    Labor

    Liberal

    Greens

    Don’t know

     

    Difference 2 Sep 13

    Difference 23 Jul 13

    Management of the economy

    32%

    47%

    4%

    18%

    -15

    -15

    Ensuring a quality education for all children

    42%

    32%

    8%

    19%

    +10

    +9

    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system

    37%

    34%

    8%

    21%

    +3

    +1

    Protecting the environment

    19%

    21%

    43%

    17%

    +22

    +18

    A fair industrial relations system

    41%

    31%

    7%

    21%

    +10

    +11

    Political leadership

    31%

    40%

    6%

    23%

    -9

    -7

    Addressing climate change

    24%

    23%

    32%

    21%

    +9

    +7

    Controlling interest rates

    29%

    41%

    4%

    26%

    -12

    -14

    Australian jobs and protection of local industries

    38%

    36%

    5%

    21%

    -2

    -1

    Ensuring a quality water supply

    22%

    30%

    22%

    26%

    -8

    -7

    Housing affordability

    30%

    32%

    7%

    31%

    -2

    -2

    Ensuring a fair taxation system

    32%

    37%

    6%

    26%

    -5

    -2

    Security and the war on terrorism

    27%

    38%

    5%

    30%

    -11

    -15

    Treatment of asylum seekers

    23%

    36%

    16%

    26%

    -13

    -11

    Managing population growth

    24%

    33%

    9%

    34%

    -9

    -13

    Note – Differences are calculated by subtracting Liberal % from Labor % – except for the two issues on which the Greens lead in which case it is Greens minus Liberal.

    The Labor Party is trusted more to handle a quality education for all children (+10) and a fair industrial relations system (+10).

    The Liberal Party is trusted more to handle management of the economy (-15), treatment of asylum seekers (-13), controlling interest rates (-12) and security and the war on terrorism (-11).

    There have been no major changes since this question was last asked in July.

  • Aug, 2013

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    Party attributes comparison – Labor vs Liberal

     

    Labor

    Liberal

    Difference

    Divided

    66%

    31%

    +35

    Looks after the interests of working people

    53%

    36%

    +17

    Have good policies

    46%

    38%

    +8

    Understands the problems facing Australia

    50%

    48%

    +2

    Will promise to do anything to win votes

    65%

    65%

    Moderate

    48%

    48%

    Has a good team of leaders

    36%

    36%

    Trustworthy

    30%

    30%

    Have a vision for the future

    49%

    51%

    -2

    Extreme

    34%

    39%

    -5

    Keeps its promises

    27%

    32%

    -5

    Out of touch with ordinary people

    51%

    58%

    -7

    Clear about what they stand for

    38%

    45%

    -7

    Too close to the big corporate and financial interests

    31%

    60%

    -29

    The Labor Party is viewed more favourably than the Liberal Party in terms of looking after the interest of working people, being too close to the big corporate and financial interests, having good policies and less out of touch with ordinary people.

    The Liberal Party is seen more favourably in terms of being divided and clear about what they stand for.

  • Jul, 2013

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    Likelihood of voting Labor

    Q. Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for the Labor Party now that Kevin Rudd is leader?

     

    Total

     

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Total more likely

    33%

    61%

    14%

    21%

    Total less likely

    19%

    4%

    33%

    26%

    Much more likely

    20%

    46%

    3%

    10%

    A little more likely

    13%

    15%

    11%

    11%

    Makes no difference

    42%

    34%

    50%

    44%

    A little less likely

    4%

    2%

    4%

    15%

    Much less likely

    15%

    2%

    29%

    11%

    Don’t know

    6%

    2%

    3%

    11%

    33% say they are more likely to vote Labor now the Kevin Rudd is leader, 19% are less likely and 42% say it makes no difference.

    For men, 34% say they are more likely and 19% less likely compared to 32% more likely and 19% less likely with women.

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