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  • Sep, 2017

    Renewables vs fossil fuels

    Q. As far as you know, which energy source – renewable energy like solar and wind OR fossil fuels like coal and gas – is better for each of the following?

      Renewable energy better Fossil fuels better No difference Don’t know   May 2015 Renewable May 2015 Fossil fuels
    The environment 73% 8% 10% 10%   69% 5%
    Electricity costs 41% 27% 14% 18%   47% 18%
    The economy 40% 28% 14% 18%   42% 20%
    Jobs 34% 26% 20% 20%   37% 20%

     

    Overall, respondents think that renewable energy is better for the environment (73%), electricity costs (41%), the economy (40%) and jobs (34%). Since this question was asked in May 2015, main changes are an increase for renewables being better for the environment (from 69% to 73%) and a decline for renewables being better for electricity costs (from 47% to 41%).

     

    There were few substantial differences across demographic groups – other than for men who were more likely to believe fossil fuels were better for the economy (36%), jobs (32%) and electricity costs (33%).

     

    Liberal/National voters were more likely to think fossil fuels are better for the economy (39%), jobs (37%) and electricity costs (35%).

  • Sep, 2017

    Lower energy prices

    Q. Which party do you think would be more likely to deliver lower energy prices?

      Total   Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens Vote other
    A Coalition Government 19%   5% 43% 7% 11%
    A Labor Government 28%   60% 10% 32% 10%
    No difference 35%   23% 35% 34% 64%
    Don’t know 18%   12% 12% 27% 15%

     

    28% think that a Labor Government would be more likely to deliver lower energy prices and 19% think a Coalition Government would deliver lower prices. However, more than half either thought there would be no difference (35%) or could not give an opinion (18%).

  • Sep, 2017

    Federal 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? If don’t know – Well which party are you currently leaning to?

      Total   Last week 29/8/17 2 weeks ago 22/8/17 4 weeks ago 8/8/17   Election 2 Jul 16
    Liberal 33%   34% 34% 34%    
    National 4%   3% 3% 3%    
    Total Liberal/National 36%   37% 37% 37%   42.0%
    Labor 37%   36% 37% 39%   34.7%
    Greens 10%   10% 9% 9%   10.2%
    Nick Xenophon Team 2%   3% 3% 3%    
    Pauline Hanson’s One Nation 8%   8% 8% 8%    
    Other/Independent 6%   6% 6% 5%   13.1%
    2 party preferred              
    Liberal National 47%   47% 47% 46%   50.4%
    Labor 53%   53% 53% 54%   49.6%

     

    1. Sample = 1,784. 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 2016 election.
  • Sep, 2017

    Same-sex marriage

    Q. Do you support changing the law to allow same-sex couples to marry?

      Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens Vote other   Men Women Aged 18-34 Aged 35-54 Aged 55+   Will

    def-initely vote

    		 Will prob-ably vote Will not vote
    Yes 59% 73% 47% 82% 48% 52% 65% 69% 57% 49% 69% 60% 16%
    No 31% 18% 42% 14% 46% 38% 24% 20% 33% 39% 28% 27% 72%
    Don’t know 11% 8% 12% 3% 6% 10% 11% 11% 10% 12% 2% 13% 12%

     

    59% (up 2% from 2 weeks ago) support changing the law to allow same-sex couples to marry and 31% (down 1%) are opposed.

    Those most in favour of changing the marriage laws are Labor voters (73%), Greens voters (82%), women (65%) and those aged 18-34 (69%).

    Those who would definitely vote in the national survey are more likely to support same-sex marriage (69%).

  • Sep, 2017

    Likelihood of voting

    Q. How likely are you to vote in the national postal vote on same-sex marriage?

      Total   Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens Vote other   Men Women Aged 18-34 Aged 35-54 Aged 55+   Support same sex marriage Don’t support same sex marriage
    Will definitely vote 62%   68% 59% 74% 68%   58% 66% 58% 58% 72%   74% 58%
    Will probably vote 16%   15% 22% 17% 15%   19% 14% 18% 16% 14%   17% 14%
    Will probably not vote 4%   4% 6% 1% 4%   6% 2% 5% 5% 2%   2% 8%
    Will definitely not vote 3%   4% 2% 3% 1%   3% 3% 4% 4% 3%   <1% 9%
    Not sure 10%   7% 10% 5% 7%   9% 10% 9% 12% 7%   4% 6%
    I am not enrolled to vote at my current address 4%   1% 1% – 5%   4% 5% 7% 5% 2%   4% 5%

     

    62% (down 1% from 2 weeks ago) say they will definitely vote in the same-sex marriage national vote and 16% (down 2%) will probably vote.

    Those most likely to definitely vote are Greens voters (74%), women (66%) and aged 55+ (72%).

    74% of those in favour of same-sex marriage will definitely vote compared to 58% of those opposed. (Note: these figures are identical to 2 weeks ago)

  • Sep, 2017

    Date of Australia Day

    Q. Australia Day is celebrated annually on 26thJanuary, which is the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet of British ships at Sydney Cove, New South Wales. Would you support or oppose changing the date on which Australia Day is celebrated?

      Total   Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens Vote other   Men Women Aged 18-34 Aged 35-54 Aged 55+
    Total support 26%   34% 23% 44% 18%   31% 23% 38% 25% 17%
    Total oppose 54%   44% 68% 33% 72%   53% 56% 42% 53% 71%
    Strongly support 14%   18% 10% 34% 13%   16% 13% 21% 13% 9%
    Support 12%   16% 13% 10% 5%   15% 10% 17% 12% 8%
    Oppose 16%   19% 18% 13% 9%   16% 17% 19% 15% 16%
    Strongly oppose 38%   25% 49% 20% 63%   37% 39% 23% 38% 55%
    No opinion 19%   22% 10% 23% 9%   17% 21% 20% 22% 12%

     

    26% would support changing the date of Australia Day and 54% are opposed (including 38% strongly opposed).

    Those most likely to support changing the date were Greens voters (44%), aged 18-34 (38%) and university educated (35%).

  • Sep, 2017

    Celebrating Australia Day

    Q. Do you think holding Australia Day on the 26th January means it can be celebrated by all Australians?

      Total   Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens Vote other   Men Women Aged 18-34 Aged 35-54 Aged 55+
    Yes, can be celebrated by all Australians 70%   65% 82% 48% 80%   73% 68% 65% 70% 77%
    No, cannot be celebrated by all Australians 18%   23% 12% 42% 10%   16% 20% 19% 20% 15%
    Don’t know 12%   12% 6% 10% 9%   11% 12% 16% 11% 8%

     

    70% believe that Australia Day can be celebrated by all Australians and 18% think it cannot.

    Those most likely to think it cannot be celebrated by all Australians were Greens voters (42%) and university educated (25%).

  • Sep, 2017

    Power prices

    Q. Who or what do you mostly blame most for rising power prices?

      Total   Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens Vote other   Men Women Aged 18-34 Aged 35-54 Aged 55+
    Private power companies trying to maximise profits 49%   50% 53% 47% 54%   49% 50% 44% 54% 51%
    The Turnbull Government for failing to have a long-term energy plan 22%   31% 11% 31% 23%   24% 20% 23% 21% 21%
    Environmentalists for pushing for action on climate change 9%   4% 16% 5% 10%   11% 6% 7% 8% 11%
    Renewable energy companies for producing higher-cost power 5%   3% 7% 6% 3%   5% 5% 4% 4% 8%
    Don’t know 15%   12% 13% 11% 9%   11% 18% 22% 13% 9%

     

    49% think private power companies trying to maximise profits are most to blame for rising power prices and 22% think the Turnbull Government is most to blame. 9% blame environmentalists pushing for action on climate change and only 5% blame renewable energy costs.

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