TRENDS: with Peter Lewis

An overabundance of free online content means we value it less than ever before, polling shows.

The ructions within newspaper empires Fairfax and News Limited centre on our move to online media. But while the opinion makers have written acres on the subject, it seems the general public is less concerned. Essential Media polling shows that only 25 per cent of us are concerned about the potential death of newspapers.

And our online reading habits show why. Sixty per cent of the population do not take in any daily news. Peter Lewis and the 3Q panel discuss this celebration of ignorance and its future implications.

Read more on the polling here.

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 = 1,876 respondents

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. These estimates have a confidence interval of approx. + or – 2%.

Awareness of European Economic Crisis

Q. Have you heard or read a lot, a fair amount, just a little or almost nothing about the financial and economic crisis in some European countries such as Greece and Spain?

54% said they had heard a lot or a fair amount about the financial and economic crisis in Europe.

Those who had heard or read most were men (62% a lot/fair amount), aged 55+ (67%), and income $1,600+ pw (63%).

Impact on Australia of European Economic Crisis

Q. How much impact do you think the current economic and financial problems in Europe have on the Australian economy— a major impact, some impact, only a small impact or no impact?

14% think the financial and economic problems in Europe have a major impact on the Australian economy and 60% think they have some impact. Only 19% think they have only a small or no impact.

82% of respondents aged 55+ and 83% of Liberal/National voters think they have major/some impact.

Those most likely to think they have only a small or no impact were aged under 35 (23%) and Greens voters (30%).

Of those who had heard or read a lot about the problems in Europe, 26% think they have a major impact on the Australian economy and 58% think they have some impact.

Statements about European Economic Crisis

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

A majority (53%) of respondents agreed with the statement that “The economic and financial crisis in Europe already clearly impact on countries we do business with like the UK and US so it will definitely have a significant impact on the Australian economy”.

Those most likely to agree with this statement were aged 55+ (64%) and Liberal/National voters (65%).

39% of Labor voters agreed with the statement that “The economic and financial crisis in Europe may have some impact on Australia but it will be very limited – because of our great distance from Europe and our trade and investment is no longer dependent on Europe.”

Of those who had heard or read a lot about the problems in Europe, 36% agreed that “The economic and financial crisis in Europe may have some impact on Australia but it will be very limited – because of our great distance from Europe and our trade and investment is no longer dependent on Europe” and 61% agreed that “The economic and financial crisis in Europe already clearly impact on countries we do business with like the UK and US so it will definitely have a significant impact on the Australian economy”.

Trust to Deal with Global Economic Problems

Q. Who do you trust most to deal effectively with global economic problems – Julia Gillard and the Labor Party or Tony Abbott and the Liberal Party?

42% would trust Tony Abbott and the Liberal Party more to deal effectively with global economic problems and 32% would trust Julia Gillard and the Labor Party more.

Those more likely to trust Tony Abbott and the Liberal Party were aged 55+ (51%), full-time workers (46%) and income $1,600+ pw (48%).

Respondents earning less than $1,000 pw were more likely to trust Julia Gillard and the Labor Party  (39%) than Tony Abbott and the Liberal Party (35%).

Of those who had heard or read a lot about the crisis in Europe, 46% would trust Tony Abbott and the Liberal Party more to deal effectively with global economic problems and 41% would trust Julia Gillard and the Labor Party more.

Asylum Seeker Debate

Q. Do you think the current debate over handling of asylum seekers shows that Australian politicians are genuinely concerned about the welfare of asylum seekers or are they just playing politics over the issue?

Only 11% think that Australian politicians are genuinely concerned about the welfare of asylum seekers and 78% think they are just playing politics over the issue.

There were no substantial differences across demographic groups.

Party Most Concerned about Finding Fair and Reasonable Solution

Q. Which party do you think is most concerned about finding a fair and reasonable solution to how Australia handles asylum seekers?

32% think no party is concerned about finding a fair and reasonable solution to how Australia handles asylum seekers. 28% think the Liberal Party is most concerned, 14% the Labor Party and 13% the Greens.

Labor voters were the least likely to think their preferred party was most concerned (46%) – while 60% of Greens voters and 59% of Liberal/National voters thought their party was most concerned.

Too Soft or Too Tough on Asylum Seekers

Q. Do you think the Federal Labor Government is too tough or too soft on asylum seekers or is it taking the right approach?

60% think the Government is too soft on asylum seekers, 12% think they are too tough and 11% think they are taking the right approach.

Since this question was last asked in October 2010, those thinking they are too tough has increased from 7% to 12% – while too soft has declined from 63% to 60% and taking the right approach declined from 18% to 11%.

Carbon Tax

Q. Since the carbon tax was introduced on 1^st July, have you noticed any increase in the costs of goods or services?

31% say they have noticed an increase in the costs of goods or services since the carbon tax was introduced and 54% say they have not noticed any increase in costs.

Those most likely to say they have noticed an increase in costs were aged 25-44 (36%), Liberal/National voters (40%) and full-time workers (34%).