The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Jul, 2015

    Do you think it is likely or unlikely that intelligent life exists somewhere else in the universe?

    Q. Do you think it is likely or unlikely that intelligent life exists somewhere else in the universe? 

      Total   Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens Vote Other
    Total likely 60% 67% 54% 71% 55%
    Total unlikely 26% 19% 35% 18% 31%
    Very likely 23% 25% 20% 32% 20%
    Likely 37% 42% 34% 39% 35%
    Unlikely 16% 12% 21% 13% 16%
    Very unlikely 10% 7% 14% 5% 15%
    Don’t know 15% 14% 10% 11% 14%

    60% think it is likely that intelligent life exists somewhere else in the universe and 26% think it is unlikely.

    Those more likely to think intelligent life exist elsewhere were men (64%), Greens voters (71%) and Labor voters (67%).

  • Jul, 2015

    Federal politics – 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 = 1,789 respondents

    First preference/leaning to

    Election 7 Sep 13

    4 weeks ago 23/6/15

    2 weeks ago 7/7/15

    Last week 14/7/15

    This week 21/7/15

    Liberal

    38%

    38%

    38%

    38%

    National

    3%

    3%

    3%

    3%

    Total Liberal/National

    45.6%

    41%

    41%

    41%

    41%

    Labor

    33.4%

    39%

    39%

    38%

    38%

    Greens

    8.6%

    10%

    10%

    11%

    11%

    Palmer United Party

    5.5%

    1%

    1%

    2%

    2%

    Other/Independent

    6.9%

    8%

    9%

    9%

    9%

    2 Party Preferred

    Election 7 Sep 13

    4 weeks ago 23/6/15

    2 weeks ago 7/7/15

    Last week 14/7/15

    This week 21/7/15

    Liberal National

    53.5%

    48%

    48%

    48%

    48%

    Labor

    46.5%

    52%

    52%

    52%

    52%

    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 2013 election.

  • Jul, 2015

    ,

    Coal vs renewables

    Q. Which of the following statements is closest to your view?

    Total

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Vote Other

    Governments should prioritise support for the coal industry over the renewable energy industry

    6%

    3%

    14%

    2%

    Government should prioritise support for the renewable energy industry over the coal industry

    50%

    56%

    39%

    89%

    56%

    The Government should treat both industries equally

    28%

    28%

    35%

    5%

    34%

    Don’t know

    15%

    13%

    12%

    6%

    8%

    50% of respondents agree more with the statement that the Government should prioritise support for the renewable energy industry over the coal industry and only 6% think they should prioritise coal over renewables. 28% think they should treat both industries equally.

    Those most likely to think the Government should give priority to renewable energy were Greens voters (89%) and respondents with university education (59%).

  • Jul, 2015

    ,

    Coal vs renewables – Government priorities

    Q. And which of the following statements do you think is closer to the Federal Government’s current position?

    Total

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Vote Other

    The Government prioritises the coal industry over the renewable energy industry

    49%

    59%

    38%

    81%

    51%

    The Government prioritises the renewable energy industry over the coal industry

    12%

    10%

    16%

    10%

    8%

    The Government treats both industries equally

    13%

    9%

    20%

    18%

    Don’t know

    27%

    23%

    26%

    9%

    23%

    49% of respondents agree more with the statement that the Government prioritises the coal industry over the renewable energy industry and only 12% think they prioritise the renewable energy industry over the coal industry. 13% think they treat both industries equally.

    Those most likely to think the Government prioritises the coal industry were Greens voters (81%) and Labor voters (59%).

  • Jul, 2015

    ,

    Government support for energy industries

    Q. Do you think the Federal Government gives enough or not enough support to the following?

    Gives enough support

    Does not give enough support

    Don’t know

    The coal industry

    60%

    12%

    28%

    Wind farms

    18%

    56%

    25%

    Large scale solar

    15%

    55%

    30%

    Roof top solar

    21%

    57%

    22%

    60% think that the Federal Government gives enough support to the coal industry and a majority think they do not give enough support to roof top solar (57%), wind farms (56%) or large scale solar (55%).

    A majority of all voter groups think the Government gives enough support to the coal industry.
    A large majority of Labor and Greens voters think the Government does not give enough support to roof top solar (Labor 67%/Greens 79%), wind farms (71%/86%) or large scale solar (66%/82%).

    Liberal/National voters were more divided but were more likely to think the Government does not give enough support to large scale solar (26% enough/42% not enough), roof top solar (33%/43%) or wind farms (34%/39%).

  • Jul, 2015

    Trade with Indonesia

    Q. It was recently announced that Australia’s live export trade to Indonesia has fallen substantially. Do you think this is likely to be a result of the Australian Government’s relationship with Indonesia or is it more likely to be due to other factors?

    Total

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Vote Other

    A result of Australia’s relationship with Indonesia

    40%

    50%

    30%

    49%

    48%

    Due to other factors

    32%

    24%

    45%

    28%

    26%

    Don’t know

    28%

    26%

    25%

    23%

    27%

    40% think that the fall in Australia’s live export trade to Indonesia is a result of Australia’s relationship with Indonesia and 32% think it is due to other factors.

    Liberal/National voters are more likely to think it is dues to other factors (45%) rather than our relationship with Indonesia (30%).

  • Jul, 2015

    Early election

    Q. Do you expect the Coalition Government will run its full term until later in 2016 when the next Federal election is due or will they call an early election?

    Total

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Vote Other

    Will run full term

    48%

    34%

    72%

    35%

    43%

    Will call early election

    25%

    41%

    11%

    40%

    27%

    Don’t know

    27%

    25%

    17%

    25%

    30%

    48% think the Government will run its full term and 25% think the Government will call an early election.

    A majority of 72% of Liberal/National voters think the Government will run its full term while Labor voters (41%) and Greens voters (40%) tend to think there will be an early election.

  • Jul, 2015

    ,

    Gun laws

    Q. Do you think Australian gun ownership laws are too strong, not strong enough or about right?

    Total

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Vote Other

    Too strong

    6%

    5%

    6%

    1%

    13%

    Not strong enough

    45%

    47%

    48%

    30%

    47%

    About right

    40%

    37%

    41%

    61%

    35%

    Don’t know

    10%

    11%

    5%

    8%

    6%

    45% think Australia’s gun laws are not strong enough and 40% think they are about right. Only 6% think they are too strong.

    Those most likely to think the gun laws are not strong enough were aged 55+ (64%) and live in NSW (52%).

    Those most likely to think the gun laws are about right were women (45%), aged 18-34 (53%), Greens voters (61%) and live in Victoria (48%).

Error: