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  • Apr, 2012

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    Opinion of Superannuation Increase

    Q. Do you support or oppose the Federal Government’s plan to increase superannuation payments from nine per cent to 12 per cent by 2019-20?

     

    23 May 2011

    Total

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Total support

    69%

    69%

    80%

    66%

    72%

    Total oppose

    13%

    13%

    7%

    19%

    7%

    Strongly support

    21%

    29%

    43%

    25%

    25%

    Support

    48%

    40%

    37%

    41%

    47%

    Oppose

    10%

    8%

    4%

    12%

    3%

    Strongly oppose

    3%

    5%

    3%

    7%

    4%

    Don’t know

    18%

    18%

    13%

    16%

    22%

    69% support the Federal Government’s plan to increase superannuation payments from nine per cent to 12 per cent by 2019-20 and 13% oppose – no change since this question was asked in May last year. However, the strength of support has increased with 29% strongly supporting the measure (up 8%).

    Support is higher for those aged 35-54 (76%), full-time workers (76%) and those earning over $1,600pw (77%).

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  • Apr, 2012

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    Cost of Superannuation for Employers

    Q. In the next two years employer superannuation payments will increase by 0.25% per year, and then by 0.5% each year up to 2019 when it reaches 12%. Do you agree or disagree that these increases are reasonable and affordable for employers or should employees bear the cost by accepting lower pay rises?

     

    Total

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    This is a reasonable and affordable cost for employers

    58%

    68%

    50%

    62%

    Employees should bear the cost by accepting lower pay rises

    19%

    12%

    26%

    14%

    Don’t know

    23%

    20%

    23%

    24%

    58% think that the yearly superannuation increases are a reasonable and affordable cost for employers and 19% think employees should bear the cost by accepting lower pay rises.

    Those most likely to think the increases are a reasonable and affordable cost for employers were aged 25-44 (67%), full-time workers (66%) and those earning over $1,0000pw (64%).

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  • Apr, 2012

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    Attributes to describe the Prime Minister

    Q.  Which of the following describe your opinion of the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard?

     

    5 Jul 10

    4 Oct 10

    7 Feb 11

    27 Jun 11

    2 Apr 12

    Difference

    Intelligent

    87%

    81%

    75%

    73%

    61%

    -12%

    Hard-working

    89%

    82%

    76%

    75%

    65%

    -10%

    A capable leader

    72%

    59%

    52%

    42%

    38%

    -4%

    Arrogant

    37%

    39%

    44%

    48%

    53%

    +5%

    Out of touch with ordinary people

    35%

    44%

    50%

    60%

    65%

    +5%

    Understands the problems facing Australia

    68%

    55%

    52%

    44%

    41%

    -3%

    Visionary

    48%

    38%

    30%

    26%

    25%

    -1%

    Superficial

    51%

    52%

    54%

    +2%

    Good in a crisis

    61%

    46%

    46%

    41%

    36%

    -5%

    Narrow-minded

    28%

    35%

    43%

    46%

    53%

    +7%

    More honest than most politicians

    45%

    37%

    37%

    29%

    26%

    -3%

    Trustworthy

    49%

    42%

    40%

    30%

    25%

    -5%

    Julia Gillard’s key attributes were hard-working (65%), out of touch with ordinary people (65%) and intelligent (61%).

    Major changes since this question was asked in June last year were decreases for intelligent (-12%), hard-working (-10%) and an increase of 7% for narrow-minded.

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  • Apr, 2012

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    Attributes to describe the Opposition Leader

    Q.  Which of the following describe your opinion of the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott?

     

     

    5 Jul 10

    4 Oct 10

    7 Feb 11

    27 Jun 11

    2 Apr 12

    Change

    Intelligent

    70%

    71%

    64%

    61%

    56%

    -5%

    Hard-working

    76%

    78%

    72%

    75%

    68%

    -7%

    A capable leader

    47%

    52%

    48%

    45%

    41%

    -4%

    Arrogant

    59%

    60%

    58%

    60%

    61%

    +1%

    Out of touch with ordinary people

    57%

    53%

    54%

    57%

    54%

    -3%

    Understands the problems facing Australia

    50%

    53%

    50%

    48%

    49%

    +1%

    Visionary

    32%

    31%

    27%

    27%

    26%

    -1%

    Superficial

    45%

    49%

    49%

    Good in a crisis

    40%

    42%

    41%

    40%

    36%

    -4%

    Narrow-minded

    56%

    53%

    51%

    54%

    54%

    More honest than most politicians

    33%

    32%

    31%

    32%

    30%

    -2%

    Trustworthy

    33%

    35%

    34%

    32%

    32%

    Tony Abbott’s key attributes were hard-working (68%), arrogant (61%) and intelligent (56%).

    Major changes since this question was asked in June last year were decreases for hard-working (-7%) and intelligent (-5%).

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  • Apr, 2012

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    Comparison of Leader Attributes

     

    Julia Gillard

    Tony Abbott

    Difference

    Intelligent

    61%

    56%

    +5%

    Hard-working

    65%

    68%

    -3%

    A capable leader

    38%

    41%

    -3%

    Arrogant

    53%

    61%

    -8%

    Out of touch with ordinary people

    65%

    54%

    +11%

    Understands the problems facing Australia

    41%

    49%

    -8%

    Visionary

    25%

    26%

    -1%

    Superficial

    54%

    49%

    +5%

    Good in a crisis

    36%

    36%

    Narrow-minded

    53%

    54%

    -1%

    More honest than most politicians

    26%

    30%

    -4%

    Trustworthy

    25%

    32%

    -7%

    Julia Gillard rates higher than Tony Abbott on out of touch with ordinary people (+11%), intelligent (+5%) and superficial (+5%).

    She rates lower than Tony Abbott on arrogant (-8%), understands the problems facing Australia (-8%) and trustworthy (-7%).

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  • Apr, 2012

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    Size of Government

    Q.  Overall, do you think Government in Australia is too large and tries to do too much?

     

    Total

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Government is too large

    44%

    32%

    55%

    32%

    Government is not too large

    28%

    44%

    20%

    31%

    Don’t know

    28%

    24%

    25%

    37%

    44% think that Government in Australia is too large and tries to do too much and 28% think it is not too large.

    Those most likely to think Government is too large were men (55%), aged 55+ (58%), and Liberal/National voters (55%).

    Those most likely to think Government is not too large were aged under 35 (36%) and Labor voters (44%).

    Comments »

  • Apr, 2012

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    Type of Government

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

     

    Total

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    An active Government is necessary to provide important public services, and to protect ordinary Australians from unfair policies and practices on the part of large financial and/or industrial groups.

    67%

    82%

    59%

    82%

    We don’t need big government and extensive regulation of business and finance to take care of these matters:  the market itself can deal with many of these issues on their own.

    20%

    10%

    28%

    11%

    Don’t know

    13%

    8%

    13%

    8%

    67% agree more that an active Government is necessary and 20% agree more with the view that the market can deal with many issues.

    Strongest support for an active Government came from Labor and Greens voters (82%), women (70%) and aged under 25 (77%).

    Comments »

  • Apr, 2012

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    Role of Government

    Q.  For each of the following issues, do you think the Government does too much, too little or just about the right amount:

     

    Too much

    Too little

    About right

    Don’t know

     Providing quality health care services

    2%

    74%

    19%

    5%

     Protecting citizens from industrial and other kinds of pollution.

    10%

    43%

    36%

    11%

     Making sure the banks and other large financial institutions operate honestly and treat their clients fairly

    3%

    62%

    28%

    6%

     Making sure that the roads, bridges and other public transportation facilities are in good repair and safe.

    1%

    63%

    30%

    5%

     Ensuring that there is adequate, affordable and accessible public transport.

    2%

    67%

    25%

    6%

    Ensuring that our population is protected from crime, terrorism and other threats.

    5%

    47%

    41%

    7%

    Providing a quality education system

    2%

    54%

    37%

    7%

    Respondents were more likely to think the Government does too little on each of the issues measured.

    In particular, they think the Government does too little in terms of health care services (74%), adequate, affordable and accessible public transport (67%), roads, bridges and other public transportation (63%) and making sure the banks and other large financial institutions operate honestly and treat their clients fairly (62%).

    Issues over which they were more divided were protecting citizens from industrial and other kinds of pollution (46% about right/too much) and ensuring that our population is protected from crime, terrorism and other threats (46% about right/too much).

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