The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Dec, 2014

    , ,

    Last 12 months

    Q. Thinking about the last 12 months, has it been a good or bad year for each of the following?

     

    Total good

    Total poor

    Net score

     

    Very good

    Good

    Neither good nor poor

    Poor

    Very poor

    Don’t know

     

    Net score Dec 2013

    The Australian economy

    20%

    33%

    -13

    1%

    19%

    39%

    26%

    7%

    7%

    -13

    Australian politics in general

    12%

    65%

    -53

    1%

    11%

    25%

    32%

    23%

    7%

    -62

    Large companies and corporations

    30%

    16%

    +14

    6%

    24%

    38%

    12%

    4%

    16%

    -9

    Small business

    13%

    41%

    -28

    1%

    12%

    32%

    33%

    8%

    14%

    -45

    Trade unions

    11%

    29%

    -18

    2%

    9%

    38%

    20%

    9%

    23%

    -25

    The average Australian

    17%

    40%

    -23

    1%

    16%

    36%

    28%

    12%

    7%

    -22

    Your personal financial situation

    23%

    34%

    -11

    2%

    21%

    39%

    22%

    12%

    4%

    -8

    Your workplace (employees only)

    26%

    31%

    -5

    2%

    24%

    38%

    24%

    7%

    4%

    +8

    You and your family overall

    29%

    26%

    +3

    3%

    26%

    41%

    19%

    7%

    5%

    +18

    Respondents believed that this year has been a poor for all groups except large companies and corporations (+14) and you and your family overall (+3). It was considered a particularly bad year for Australian politics in general (-53), small business (-28) and the average Australian (-23).

    Relative to 2013 (as measured in December last year), this year was considered better for politics in general (up 9), large corporations and businesses (up 23) and small businesses (up 17) but worse for their workplace (down 13) and you and your family overall (down 15).

  • Dec, 2011

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

    The Past Year – The Economy and Industries

    Q. Thinking about the last 12 months, has it been a good or bad year for each of the following?

    Total good

    (Dec 10

    Total bad

    (Dec 10)

    Total good Total bad Very good Good Neither good nor bad Bad Very bad Don’t know
    The banks 69% 13% 71% 8% 35% 36% 16% 6% 2% 4%
    The mining industry 57% 14% 68% 11% 34% 34% 15% 8% 3% 6%
    Large companies and corporations 44% 15% 40% 22% 8% 32% 32% 18% 4% 6%
    The Australian economy 41% 20% 33% 31% 4% 29% 32% 24% 7% 3%
    The media 30% 14% 25% 27% 6% 19% 37% 19% 8% 10%
    Farming and agriculture 14% 50% 23% 40% 2% 21% 30% 28% 12% 7%
    The environment 14% 37% 20% 33% 3% 17% 41% 24% 9% 6%
    Small business 14% 45% 10% 61% 1% 9% 24% 42% 19% 6%

    A majority of respondents think it has been a good year for the banks (71%) and the mining industry (68%). They are also more likely to think it has been a good year for large companies and corporations (40% good/22% bad) and the economy (33%/31%). However, they are more likely to think the year has been bad for small business (61%), farming and agriculture (40%) and the environment (33%).

    In terms of the economy, Labor voters (50% good/18% bad) and Greens voters (47%/15%) were more likely to think it has been a good year – while 45% of Liberal/National voters considered it poor and 23% good.

    Compared to last years’ results, respondents considered 2011 a better year than 2010 for the mining industry (up 11% to 68% good), farming and agriculture (up 9% to 23%) and the environment (up 6% to 20%). Perceptions of the economy dropped from a net +21% to +2%.

    Comments »

  • Dec, 2011

    , , , , , , , ,

    The Past Year – Political Parties

    Q. Has it been a good or bad year for each of the following political parties?

    Total good

    (Dec 10)

    Total bad

    (Dec 10)

    Total good Total bad Very good Good Neither good nor bad Bad Very bad Don’t know
    The Greens 42% 21% 33% 29% 7% 26% 28% 15% 14% 11%
    The Liberal Party 33% 27% 27% 30% 4% 23% 34% 22% 8% 9%
    The Labor Party 21% 47% 16% 53% 2% 14% 22% 33% 21% 8%

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Total good Total bad Total good Total bad Total good Total bad Total good Total bad
    The Greens 33% 29% 41% 16% 23% 45% 70% 3%
    The Liberal Party 27% 30% 13% 45% 45% 16% 17% 45%
    The Labor Party 16% 53% 35% 32% 7% 73% 11% 48%

    Respondents were more likely to think it has been a good year for the Greens (33%) than the Liberal Party (27%) or the Labor Party (16%).

    Among their own voters 70% think it has been a good year for the Greens, 45% the Liberal Party and 35% the Labor Party.

    Compared to last year’s results, all parties figures have declined – The Greens net +21% to +4%, Liberals from net +6% to -3% and Labor from net -26% to -37%.

    Comments »

  • Dec, 2011

    , , , , , , , ,

    The Past Year – Politicians

    Q. Has it been a good or bad year for each of the following politicians?

    Total good

    (Dec 10)

    Total bad

    (Dec 10)

    Total good Total bad Very good Good Neither good nor bad Bad Very bad Don’t know
    Julia Gillard 49% 25% 21% 57% 3% 18% 16% 35% 22% 6%
    Bob Brown 38% 21% 32% 27% 8% 24% 26% 14% 13% 16%
    Tony Abbott 30% 33% 21% 38% 2% 19% 32% 25% 13% 8%
    Malcolm Turnbull 10% 43% 17% 23% 2% 15% 45% 16% 7% 17%
    Kevin Rudd 10% 70% 31% 30% 5% 26% 31% 22% 8% 7%

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Total good Total bad Total good Total bad Total good Total bad Total good Total bad
    Julia Gillard 21% 57% 41% 36% 10% 77% 29% 43%
    Bob Brown 32% 27% 37% 19% 25% 40% 66% 4%
    Tony Abbott 21% 38% 9% 57% 39% 18% 7% 64%
    Malcolm Turnbull 17% 23% 18% 21% 18% 23% 23% 22%
    Kevin Rudd 31% 30% 37% 24% 31% 38% 29% 25%

    Overall, only Bob Brown (32%/27%) was thought to have had a good year. Respondents were divided on whether Kevin Rudd has had a good year (31%/30%). Only 21% thought Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott had a good year in 2011. 2011 was considered worse than 2010 for each of the party leaders. Malcolm Turnbull and Kevin Rudd were considered to have had a somewhat better year compared to 2010.

    Among their own voters thought, 66% (down 2%) thought Bob Brown had a good year, 41% (down 28%) thought Julia Gillard had a good year and 39% (down 5%) thought Tony Abbott has had a good year.

    Comments »

  • Dec, 2011

    , , , , , ,

    The Past Year – Personal

    Q. Has it been a good or bad year for each of the following?

    Total good

    (Dec 10)

    Total bad

    (Dec 10)

    Total good Total bad Very good Good Neither good nor bad Bad Very bad Don’t know
    Your personal financial situation 28% 28% 30% 32% 5% 25% 37% 22% 10% 1%
    Your workplace * 43% 21% 43% 23% 8% 35% 33% 18% 5% 2%
    You and your family overall 43% 19% 44% 20% 8% 36% 34% 15% 5% 1%

    * based on working people

    Respondents were evenly divided over whether it has been a good or bad year financially. Those most likely to say it was a good year were full-time workers (38% good/28% bad), aged under 35 (37%/28%) and incomes over $1,600pw (41%/25%).

    Respondents were more positive about their workplace (43%/23%) and overall for themselves and their family (44%/20%). Younger respondents were a little more positive about themselves and their family– those aged under 35 split 50% good/15% bad.

    On these measures 2011 was considered very similar to 2010.

    Comments »

Error: