2PP, Essential Report, Federal Government, federal politics, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, two party preferred, voting, 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 = 1,888 respondents
| First preference/leaning to | Election
21 Aug 10 |
4 weeks ago | 2 weeks ago | Last week | This week |
| Liberal | 46% | 45% | 45% | 45% | |
| National | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% | |
| Total Lib/Nat | 43.6% | 49% | 48% | 48% | 48% |
| Labor | 38.0% | 32% | 33% | 33% | 32% |
| Greens | 11.8% | 12% | 10% | 11% | 11% |
| Other/Independent | 6.6% | 8% | 9% | 8% | 8% |
| 2PP | Election
21 Aug 10 |
4 weeks ago | 2 weeks ago | Last week | This week |
| Total Lib/Nat | 49.9% | 56% | 55% | 55% | 55% |
| Labor | 50.1% | 44% | 45% | 45% | 45% |
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.
Australian Republic, commonwealth, ER, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberals, Nationals, Republic
Q. Are you in favour or against Australia becoming a republic?
| Jan 2010 | March 2011 | Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| In favour | 41% | 39% | 41% | 51% | 35% | 56% |
| Against | 32% | 34% | 33% | 21% | 45% | 19% |
| No opinion | 27% | 27% | 26% | 28% | 19% | 26% |
41% favour Australia becoming a republic and 33% are against – showing little change since this question was asked in January 2010. 26% have no opinion.
Those most in favour were men (51%), Greens voters (56%) and Labor voters (51%).
Those most against were aged 65+ (56%) and Liberal/National voters (45%).
commonwealth, Commonwealth of Nations, ER, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberals, Nationals
Q. Do you think Australia benefits from being part of the Commonwealth of Nations (formerly known as the British Commonwealth)?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total some/a lot of benefit | 47% | 47% | 55% | 38% |
| Benefits a lot | 14% | 13% | 20% | 3% |
| Some benefit | 33% | 34% | 35% | 35% |
| Benefits a little | 19% | 21% | 18% | 24% |
| No benefit | 19% | 19% | 18% | 23% |
| Don’t know | 14% | 13% | 10% | 15% |
47% believed there is some or a lot of benefit in being part of the Commonwealth and 19% think there is no benefit.
Those most likely to think there is some/a lot of benefit were aged 65+ (64%) and Liberal/National voters (55%)
British Throne, commonwealth, ER, Essential Report, Greens, king, Labor, Liberals, Nationals, queen, royal, Royal Family, royal succession
Q. Currently a male child takes precedence over a female child in succeeding the British throne, even if he is younger than his older sister. In your opinion, should the laws relating to the Royal Family be changed to allow the first born to become King or Queen regardless of whether they are male or female?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| The law should change so the first born child succeeds the throne regardless of gender | 61% | 69% | 59% | 77% |
| The law should remain the same so that male heirs have priority | 13% | 9% | 17% | 4% |
| No opinion | 25% | 22% | 24% | 19% |
61% agreed that the law should change so the first born child succeeds the throne and only 13% think the law should remain the same so that male heirs have priority. These results are very similar to a poll conducted in UK in April which showed 60% agreeing with a law change and 18% opposed (Angus Reid Public Opinion).
A majority of all demographic and voter groups supported a law change.
ER, Essential Report, Greens, Industrial action, job cuts, Labor, Liberals, Nationals, Qantas, Qantas Dispute, Qantas management, Qantas workers
Q. Qantas and its workers are currently in dispute over pay, conditions and jobs. Who do you think is most to blame for this dispute – Qantas management or the workers?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Qantas management | 36% | 54% | 25% | 47% |
| Qantas workers | 13% | 6% | 22% | 4% |
| Both equally | 37% | 30% | 41% | 34% |
| Don’t know | 14% | 10% | 12% | 15% |
36% believe that Qantas management is most to blame for the current dispute and 13% think the workers are most to blame – 37% think both are equally to blame.
All demographic and voter groups are more likely to think management is to blame than workers.
54% of Labor voters and 47% of Greens voters think management is most to blame while Liberal/National voters are more likely to think both are equally to blame (41%).
2PP, Essential Report, Federal Government, federal politics, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, two party preferred, voting, 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 = 1,905 respondents
| First preference/leaning to | Election
21 Aug 10 |
4 weeks ago | 2 weeks ago | Last week | This week |
| Liberal | 46% | 45% | 45% | 45% | |
| National | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% | |
| Total Lib/Nat | 43.6% | 49% | 48% | 48% | 48% |
| Labor | 38.0% | 32% | 33% | 33% | 33% |
| Greens | 11.8% | 10% | 11% | 10% | 11% |
| Other/Independent | 6.6% | 9% | 9% | 9% | 8% |
| 2PP | Election
21 Aug 10 |
4 weeks ago | 2 weeks ago | Last week | This week |
| Total Lib/Nat | 49.9% | 56% | 55% | 55% | 55% |
| Labor | 50.1% | 44% | 45% | 45% | 45% |
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.
ALP, Approval of Julia Gillard, ER, Essential Report, Julia Gillard, Labor, PM, Prime Minister
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Julia Gillard is doing as Prime Minister?
| 19 Jul | 20 Dec | 17 Jan 2011 | 14 Feb | 14 Mar | 11 Apr | 9 May | 14 June | 11 July | 15 Aug | 12 Sept | 17 Oct | |
| Total approve | 52% | 43% | 51% | 48% | 41% | 37% | 41% | 34% | 29% | 35% | 28% | 34% |
| Total disapprove | 30% | 40% | 36% | 41% | 46% | 50% | 48% | 54% | 62% | 55% | 64% | 59% |
| Strongly approve | 11% | 10% | 8% | 9% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 6% | 5% | 6% | 5% | 7% |
| Approve | 41% | 33% | 43% | 39% | 34% | 30% | 34% | 28% | 24% | 29% | 23% | 27% |
| Disapprove | 17% | 24% | 24% | 25% | 22% | 25% | 26% | 29% | 30% | 24% | 28% | 27% |
| Strongly disapprove | 13% | 16% | 12% | 16% | 24% | 25% | 22% | 25% | 32% | 31% | 36% | 32% |
| Don’t know | 18% | 17% | 14% | 11% | 13% | 13% | 11% | 13% | 9% | 11% | 8% | 7% |
After dropping last month Julia Gillard’s approval rating has improved this month. 34% (up 6%) approve of the job Julia Gillard is doing as Prime Minister and 59% (down 5%) disapprove – a change in net rating from -36 to -25 over the last 5 weeks.
74% of Labor voters approve (up 8%) and 21% disapprove (down 5%).
By gender – men 36% approve/60% disapprove, women 32% approve/58% disapprove.
Better Prime Minister, ER, Essential Report, Greens, Julia Gillard, Labor, Liberals, PM, Prime Minister, tony abbott
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott?
| 5 Jul 2010 | 17 Jan 2011 | 14 Feb | 14 Mar | 11 Apr | 9 May | 14 June | 11 July | 15 Aug | 12 Sept | 17 Oct | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Julia Gillard | 53% | 47% | 48% | 44% | 42% | 43% | 41% | 37% | 38% | 36% | 38% | 82% | 4% | 85% |
| Tony Abbott | 26% | 32% | 31% | 33% | 33% | 35% | 36% | 39% | 36% | 40% | 39% | 2% | 82% | 4% |
| Don’t know | 21% | 21% | 20% | 23% | 24% | 22% | 24% | 24% | 26% | 24% | 23% | 16% | 14% | 11% |
38% believe Julia Gillard would make the better Prime Minister and 39% prefer Tony Abbott – a net improvement for Julia Gillard of 3% on last month’s figures (from -4% to -1%).
Men prefer Tony Abbott 42%/38% and women favour Julia Gillard 38%/36%.