afghanistan, Afghanistan War, army, Australian troops, Greens, Labor, Liberals, military, Nationals, Polling, polls, war
Q. Thinking about the Australian troops in Afghanistan, do you think Australia should –
| 25 Oct 2010 | 21 Mar 2011 | 29 Aug 2011 | Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Increase the number of troops in Afghanistan | 10% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 3% |
| Keep the same number of troops in Afghanistan | 30% | 30% | 26% | 22% | 21% | 29% | 11% |
| Withdraw our troops from Afghanistan | 47% | 56% | 64% | 64% | 66% | 57% | 76% |
| Don’t know | 14% | 9% | 7% | 11% | 10% | 10% | 10% |
64% (no change) think Australia should withdraw our troops from Afghanistan, 22% (down 4%) think we should maintain troop numbers and 3% (down 1%) think we should increase them.
Since October last year, support for withdrawal of Australian troops has increased from 47% to 64%. There was majority support for withdrawal by all voting groups – 57% of Lib/Nat voters, 66% Labor and 76% Greens. Support for withdrawal was also similar across age groups but women were more likely than men to support withdrawal of troops (72% to 55%).
Greens, Labor, Liberals, Minerals Resource Rent Tax, mining, mining companies, Mining tax, Nationals, Polling, polls
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the proposed mining tax (called the Minerals Resource Rent Tax) on large profits of mining companies?
| 12 Jul 2010 | 5 Sep 2011 | Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total approve | 50% | 46% | 51% | 74% | 32% | 85% |
| Total disapprove | 28% | 34% | 33% | 13% | 55% | 7% |
| Strongly approve | 13% | 18% | 18% | 32% | 5% | 51% |
| Approve | 37% | 28% | 33% | 42% | 27% | 34% |
| Disapprove | 18% | 18% | 20% | 11% | 30% | 7% |
| Strongly disapprove | 10% | 16% | 13% | 2% | 25% | – |
| Don’t know | 22% | 19% | 15% | 12% | 12% | 9% |
51% approve the Government’s proposed mining tax and 33% disapprove. This represents a strengthening in support since this question was asked in September (from net +12% to net +18%).
Labor voters (74%) and Greens voters (85%) strongly support the tax – but Liberal/National voters disapprove 55% to 32%.
Carbon emissions, carbon pollution, Carbon Tax, environment, Greens, Labor, Liberals, Nationals, Polling, polls, Pollution
Q. Do you support or oppose the Government’s carbon pricing scheme which, from July 2012, will require industries to pay a tax based on the amount of carbon pollution they emit?
| 7 March | 18 April | 23 May | 14 June | 18 July | 1 Aug | 19 Sep | 17 Oct | Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total support | 35% | 39% | 41% | 38% | 39% | 39% | 37% | 39% | 38% | 66% | 13% | 86% |
| Total oppose | 48% | 49% | 44% | 49% | 49% | 51% | 52% | 53% | 53% | 26% | 80% | 11% |
| Strongly support | 9% | 13% | 14% | 13% | 15% | 15% | 14% | 14% | 14% | 28% | 1% | 48% |
| Support | 26% | 26% | 27% | 25% | 24% | 24% | 23% | 25% | 24% | 38% | 12% | 38% |
| Oppose | 19% | 15% | 15% | 19% | 16% | 19% | 17% | 17% | 17% | 11% | 22% | 5% |
| Strongly oppose | 29% | 34% | 29% | 30% | 33% | 32% | 35% | 36% | 36% | 15% | 58% | 6% |
| Don’t know | 18% | 12% | 15% | 13% | 12% | 10% | 12% | 9% | 10% | 9% | 7% | 2% |
Views on the carbon pricing scheme have changed very little since June and there has been no significant change since the legislation was passed. 38% support the scheme (down 1% since October) and 53% oppose (no change).
The only demographic group to support the scheme were aged under 35’s – 45% support/40% oppose. Among those aged 55+, 37% support and 59% oppose.
fair work, Greens, industrial laws, IR, Labor, Liberal Party, Liberals, Nationals, poll, Polling, rights at work, tony abbott, WorkChoices, workers
Q. If they won the next election, how likely do you think it would be that Tony Abbott and the Liberal Party would try to bring back industrial laws similar to WorkChoices?
| 31 May 10 | 12 July 10 | Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total likely | 58% | 56% | 51% | 75% | 33% | 78% |
| Total unlikely | 21% | 24% | 27% | 13% | 44% | 11% |
| Very likely | 28% | 26% | 22% | 45% | 4% | 41% |
| Quite likely | 30% | 30% | 29% | 30% | 29% | 37% |
| Not very likely | 18% | 18% | 19% | 9% | 31% | 8% |
| Not at all likely | 3% | 6% | 8% | 4% | 13% | 3% |
| Don’t know | 20% | 20% | 22% | 11% | 23% | 11% |
Respondents were less likely to think that Tony Abbott and the Liberal Party would try to bring back industrial laws similar to WorkChoices than when a similar question was asked last year. 51% (down 5%) think it is likely that Tony Abbott and the Liberal Party would try to bring back industrial laws similar to WorkChoices if they won the next election and 27% (up 3%) think it is unlikely.
75% of Labor voters and 78% of Greens voters think it is likely, while Liberal/National voters are split 33% likely to 44% unlikely.
Election, fair work, Greens, IR, Labor, Liberals, Nationals, poll, Polling, rights at work, work, WorkChoices, workers
Q. If the Liberals won the election and reintroduced WorkChoices or similar laws, how concerned would you be?
| 31 May 10 | 12 July 10 | Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Very concerned | 28% | 29% | 26% | 53% | 4% | 54% |
| Quite concerned | 17% | 19% | 15% | 22% | 11% | 15% |
| A little concerned | 20% | 16% | 20% | 12% | 24% | 21% |
| Not concerned | 24% | 25% | 27% | 6% | 52% | 6% |
| Don’t know | 11% | 11% | 11% | 7% | 9% | 4% |
Respondents were also less concerned about the re-introduction of WorkChoices than last year. 41% (down 7%) would be quite or very concerned if WorkChoices or similar laws were re-introduced and 47% (up 6%) were only a little or not concerned.
75% of Labor voters and 69% of Greens voters would be concerned. 76% of Liberal/National voters would be a little/not concerned and 15% concerned. Those most concerned were aged 25-34 (47%) and aged 45-54 (48%).
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.