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  • Feb, 2015

    , , , ,

    Party Trust to Handle Issues

    Q.  Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?

     

    Liberal

    Labor

    Greens

    Don’t know

     

    Difference

     

    Difference

    June 2014

    Management of the economy

    42%

    25%

    5%

    28%

    +17

    +13

    Ensuring a quality education for all children

    28%

    38%

    8%

    26%

    -10

    -15

    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system

    28%

    38%

    7%

    27%

    -10

    -13

    Protecting the environment

    17%

    16%

    42%

    25%

    -25

    -22

    A fair industrial relations system

    28%

    38%

    6%

    28%

    -10

    -11

    Political leadership

    32%

    25%

    5%

    37%

    +7

    +6

    Addressing climate change

    18%

    19%

    36%

    28%

    -17

    -12

    Controlling interest rates

    36%

    23%

    5%

    37%

    +13

    +12

    Australian jobs and protection of local industries

    28%

    37%

    6%

    29%

    -9

    -12

    Ensuring a quality water supply

    25%

    19%

    26%

    31%

    +6

    +5

    Housing affordability

    25%

    31%

    7%

    37%

    -6

    -4

    Ensuring a fair taxation system

    31%

    33%

    6%

    31%

    -2

    +1

    Security and the war on terrorism

    41%

    22%

    4%

    33%

    +19

    +16

    Treatment of asylum seekers

    33%

    20%

    18%

    29%

    +13

    +17

    Managing population growth

    32%

    20%

    9%

    39%

    +12

    +10

    Note – Differences are calculated by subtracting Labor % from Liberal % – except for the two issues on which the Greens lead in which case it is Liberal minus Greens.

    The Liberal Party is trusted more to handle security and the war on terrorism (+19), management of the economy (+17), controlling interest rates (+13) and treatment of asylum seekers (+13). The Labor Party is trusted more to handle a quality education for all children (-10), ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system  (-10), a fair industrial relations system (-10) and Australian jobs and protection of local industries (-9).

    There have been no substantial movements since this question was asked in June. Main changes have been an improvement for the Liberal Party on education (up net 5 points), the economy (up 4) and treatment of asylum seekers (down 4).

  • Aug, 2014

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    Importance of environmental issues

    Q. How important are the following environmental issues to you?

     

    Total import-ant

    Total not import-ant

     

    Very import-ant

    Moder-ately import-ant

     

    Import -ant

    Vote Labor

    Import -ant

    Vote Lib/ Nat

    Import -ant

    Vote Greens

    Import -ant

    Vote Other

    Protecting the Great Barrier Reef

    91%

    7%

    58%

    33%

    94%

    89%

    94%

    90%

    Protecting endangered species

    87%

    11%

    49%

    38%

    91%

    83%

    89%

    87%

    Cutting air and water  pollution

    87%

    11%

    46%

    41%

    91%

    83%

    89%

    85%

    Protecting  native forests

    86%

    11%

    45%

    41%

    91%

    83%

    91%

    87%

    Deforestation (for timber and paper)

    80%

    17%

    35%

    45%

    83%

    76%

    77%

    76%

    Strengthen environmental protection laws

    77%

    20%

    35%

    42%

    84%

    69%

    88%

    79%

    Deforestation (for palm oil products)

    74%

    22%

    37%

    37%

    78%

    67%

    82%

    75%

    Population growth

    73%

    25%

    33%

    40%

    72%

    77%

    67%

    74%

    Addressing climate change

    71%

    27%

    37%

    34%

    84%

    57%

    85%

    67%

    The most important environmental issues were protecting the Great Barrier Reef (91%), protecting endangered species (87%), cutting air and water pollution (87%) and protecting native forests (86%). All issues were thought to be important by over 70% of respondents.

    The ranking of issues was similar across party voting groups except for –

    • Addressing climate change, which was rated more important by Labor voters (84%) and Greens voters (85%) but lower by Liberal/National voters (57%).
    • Strengthen environmental protection laws, which was rated more important by Labor voters (84%) and Greens voters (88%).

    Population growth, which was rated more important by Liberal/National voters (77%).

  • Feb, 2014

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    Party trust to handle issues

    Q.  Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?

     

    Labor

    Liberal

    Greens

    Don’t know

     

    Difference 11 Feb 14

    Difference 19 Nov 13

    Management of the economy

    27%

    46%

    2%

    25%

    -19

    -26

    Ensuring a quality education for all children

    39%

    32%

    5%

    25%

    +7

    +2

    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system

    35%

    33%

    6%

    26%

    +2

    -1

    Protecting the environment

    17%

    22%

    37%

    23%

    +15

    +14

    A fair industrial relations system

    37%

    32%

    3%

    28%

    +5

    +2

    Political leadership

    26%

    39%

    4%

    31%

    -13

    -23

    Addressing climate change

    20%

    25%

    28%

    27%

    +3

    +5

    Controlling interest rates

    25%

    42%

    3%

    30%

    -17

    -21

    Australian jobs and protection of local industries

    34%

    32%

    4%

    30%

    +2

    -7

    Ensuring a quality water supply

    20%

    30%

    21%

    29%

    -10

    -13

    Housing affordability

    28%

    30%

    5%

    37%

    -2

    -6

    Ensuring a fair taxation system

    29%

    35%

    4%

    32%

    -6

    -11

    Security and the war on terrorism

    23%

    39%

    3%

    35%

    -16

    -22

    Treatment of asylum seekers

    20%

    36%

    15%

    29%

    -16

    -18

    Managing population growth

    21%

    32%

    8%

    38%

    -11

    -19

    Note – Differences are calculated by subtracting Liberal % from Labor % – except for the two issues on which the Greens lead in which case it is Greens minus Liberal.

    The Liberal Party is trusted more to handle management of the economy (-19), controlling interest rates (-17), security and the war on terrorism (-16) and treatment of asylum seekers (-16). The Labor Party is trusted more to handle a quality education for all children (+7) and a fair industrial relations system (+5).

    Since this question was asked in November, the Labor Party has improved its position on all issues – especially political leadership (up 10%), Australian jobs and protection of local industries (up 9%), managing population growth (up 8%) and managing the economy (up 7%).

  • Jun, 2012

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    Approval of Marine Reserves

    Q. The Federal Government recently announced plans to protect large areas of Australia’s marine environment in a network of marine reserves. Do you approve or disapprove of these plans?

    Total

     

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Total approve

    70%

    79%

    62%

    89%

    Total disapprove

    13%

    8%

    22%

    1%

    Strongly approve

    35%

    45%

    23%

    64%

    Approve

    35%

    34%

    39%

    25%

    Disapprove

    9%

    6%

    15%

    1%

    Strongly disapprove

    4%

    2%

    7%

    Don’t know

    16%

    13%

    16%

    10%

    70% approved of the Federal Government’s plans to protect large areas of Australia’s marine environment in a network of marine reserves and 13% disapproved.

    Approval was similar across all demographic groups – no group recorded approval lower than 65%.

  • Jul, 2011

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    Concern About Climate Change

    Q. Over the last 2 years, have you become more concerned or less concerned about the environmental effects of global warming or do you feel about the same as you did 2 years ago? (This question was commissioned by Network Ten).

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens Men Women Age

    18-34

    Aged

    35-54

    Aged 55+
    Total more concerned 46% 61% 35% 72% 45% 47% 55% 42% 42%
    Total less concerned 11% 4% 19% 2% 16% 6% 12% 11% 10%
    Much more concerned 15% 23% 7% 36% 14% 16% 16% 14% 16%
    A little more concerned 31% 38% 28% 36% 31% 31% 39% 28% 26%
    A little less concerned 5% 3% 8% 1% 7% 3% 6% 6% 3%
    Much less concerned 6% 1% 11% 1% 9% 3% 6% 5% 7%
    About the same 40% 32% 45% 24% 35% 45% 29% 43% 48%
    Don’t know 3% 3% 2% 2% 3% 3% 3% 5% *

    46% say they have become more concerned about the effects of global warming over the last 2 years, 11% are less concerned and 40% say they feel about the same.

    Those more likely to be more concerned are Labor voters (61%), Greens voters (72%) and those aged under 35 (55%).

    Those more likely to feel about the same are Liberal/National voters (45%), women (45%) and those aged 55+ (48%).

    Comments »

  • Jun, 2011

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    Important election issues

    Q. Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election?

    Total Labor Liberal/ National Green
    Management of the economy 61% 60% 76% 28%
    Ensuring a quality education for all children 26% 29% 24% 27%
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system 49% 50% 50% 51%
    Protecting the environment 15% 17% 10% 52%
    A fair industrial relations system 8% 12% 4% 4%
    Political leadership 17% 16% 20% 16%
    Addressing climate change 15% 23% 6% 45%
    Controlling interest rates 13% 15% 13% 6%
    Australian jobs and protection of local industries 32% 28% 36% 12%
    Ensuring a quality water supply 5% 5% 3% 7%
    Housing affordability 16% 16% 13% 16%
    Ensuring a fair taxation system 17% 14% 19% 16%
    Security and the war on terrorism 8% 4% 13% 1%
    Treatment of asylum seekers 5% 3% 5% 12%
    Managing population growth 12% 12% 12% 9%

    There were few substantial differences between voters on issues they considered important. Compared to the average, Labor voters are more likely to rate addressing climate change (23%) as important.

    Liberal/National voters attach more importance to management of the economy (76%) and security and the war on terrorism (13%) while Greens voters are more likely to nominate protecting the environment (52%), addressing climate change (45%) and treatment of asylum seekers (12%).

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  • Jun, 2011

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    Party trusted to handle important election issues

    Q. And which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?

    Labor Liberal Greens Don’t know
    Management of the economy 29% 47% 3% 22%
    Ensuring a quality education for all children 38% 35% 5% 23%
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system 33% 35% 6% 25%
    Protecting the environment 18% 21% 39% 23%
    A fair industrial relations system 40% 31% 4% 24%
    Political leadership 26% 38% 5% 31%
    Addressing climate change 21% 24% 29% 26%
    Controlling interest rates 26% 44% 3% 28%
    Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries 35% 35% 4% 26%
    Ensuring a quality water supply 21% 28% 22% 29%
    Housing affordability 26% 34% 4% 35%
    Ensuring a fair taxation system 29% 37% 4% 30%
    Security and the war on terrorism 25% 40% 3% 32%
    Treatment of asylum seekers 19% 39% 11% 31%
    Managing population growth 21% 36% 7% 36%

    Labor is the most trusted party on only one issue – a fair industrial relations system. There is little difference between Labor and the Liberals for ensuring a quality education for all children, ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system and protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries.

    This represents a weakening in Labor’s position over the last few months. In January Labor was trusted most to handle ensuring a quality education for all children and in October Labor also had a significant lead on protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries.

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  • Oct, 2010

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    Most important environmental problem

      Q. Which of these do you think is the most important environmental problem facing Australia today?

    Q.  And which would you say is the second most important?

      Most important Second most important Total
    Water supply 33% 20% 53%
    The health of rivers and waterways 17% 21% 38%
    Pollution 14% 17% 31%
    Climate change 16% 14% 30%
    Loss of native habitat 8% 11% 19%
    Logging of native forests 4% 8% 12%
    Greenhouse gases 2% 6% 8%
    Don’t know 6% 2% 6%

    Water supply (53%) and the health of rivers and waterways (38%) were considered the most important environmental problems facing Australia today.

    Younger respondents were more likely to nominate climate change (36% of aged under 45) while 47% of those aged 45+ nominated the health of rivers and waterways. Water supply was the top issue for all segments except Green voters who nominated climate change as their most important issue (51%).

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