Trust in industries
Q. How much trust do you have in the following industries to act in the public interest
|
Total a lot/some trust |
A lot of trust |
Some trust |
Not much trust |
No trust at all |
Don’t know |
|
| Agriculture |
72% |
20% |
52% |
18% |
4% |
5% |
| Tourism |
68% |
12% |
56% |
22% |
6% |
5% |
| Manufacturing |
56% |
8% |
48% |
30% |
8% |
7% |
| Construction and development |
48% |
5% |
43% |
33% |
12% |
6% |
| Retail |
47% |
3% |
44% |
38% |
12% |
3% |
| Telecommunications |
37% |
3% |
34% |
41% |
18% |
3% |
| Banking |
33% |
5% |
28% |
36% |
29% |
3% |
| Mining |
32% |
3% |
29% |
35% |
25% |
8% |
| Media |
30% |
2% |
28% |
40% |
27% |
2% |
| Power companies |
18% |
1% |
17% |
37% |
41% |
4% |
The industries most trusted to act in the public interest were agriculture (72% some/a lot of trust), tourism (68%) and manufacturing (56%).
The industries least trusted to act in the public interest were power companies (18%), the media (30%), mining (32%) and banking (33%).
The only industry on which there were major differences was mining where 43% of Liberal/National voters had a lot/some trust compared to only 25% of Labor voters and 17% of Greens voters.
Attitudes to public sector cuts
Q. There have recently been a significant number of public service jobs cut in various states around the country.
How do you think each of the following will fare as are result of public sector job cuts?
|
Get better |
Get worse |
Stay much the same |
Don’t know |
|
| The rate of unemployment |
4% |
61% |
25% |
10% |
| Delivery of public services |
5% |
54% |
29% |
11% |
| The welfare of disadvantaged Australians |
5% |
53% |
30% |
12% |
| Retail and spending |
4% |
50% |
35% |
11% |
| The welfare of all Australians |
6% |
49% |
34% |
11% |
| State budgets |
18% |
42% |
27% |
13% |
| The economy in general |
11% |
41% |
37% |
11% |
| Governments’ ability to respond to natural disasters |
7% |
32% |
45% |
16% |
The majority of respondents believe that the following things will get worse as a result of public sector cuts: the rate of unemployment (61%), delivery of public services (54%) and the welfare of disadvantaged Australians (53%).
The larger portion of respondents also think that retail and spending will get worse (50%), as well as the welfare of all Australians (49%), state budgets (42%) and the economy in general (41%).
A larger portion of respondents believe that the governments’’ ability to respond to natural disasters will stay much the same (45%) than those that believe it will get worse (32%).
Australian Industries
Q. How much do average Australians benefit from having strong industries in each of the following sectors?
|
Benefit a lot |
Some benefit |
A little benefit |
No benefit |
Don’t know |
|
| Tourism |
45% |
30% |
11% |
4% |
10% |
| Agriculture |
45% |
29% |
12% |
4% |
11% |
| Construction |
44% |
32% |
11% |
3% |
10% |
| Mining |
44% |
31% |
10% |
4% |
11% |
| Manufacturing |
44% |
30% |
11% |
4% |
10% |
| Retail |
40% |
34% |
11% |
5% |
10% |
| Hospitality |
36% |
36% |
13% |
4% |
10% |
| Finance |
34% |
34% |
15% |
5% |
11% |
| Telecommunications |
31% |
36% |
17% |
5% |
11% |
Over 40% of respondents think the average Australian benefits a lot from having strong industries in tourism (45%), agriculture (45%), construction (44%), mining (44%) and manufacturing (44%).
Major demographic differences were -
60% of aged 55+ think there is a lot of benefit from manufacturing
62% of aged 55+ and 50% of Labor voters think there is a lot of benefit from construction
53% of aged 45-64 think there is a lot of benefit from retail
60% of aged 55+ and 52% of Labor voters think there is a lot of benefit from tourism
58% of aged 55+ and 48% of Coalition voters think there is a lot of benefit from mining
57% of aged 55+ think there is a lot of benefit from agriculture
Impact of Dollar on Industry
Q. The Australian dollar is now at $1.05 US and has been historically higher than the normal range of 60c-80c US. Is the high Australian dollar good or bad for the following industries?
|
Total good |
Total bad |
Very good |
Good |
Neither good nor bad |
Bad |
Very bad |
Don’t know |
|
| Mining industry |
29% |
29% |
10% |
19% |
20% |
24% |
5% |
22% |
| Farming & Grazing Industry |
16% |
49% |
4% |
12% |
16% |
36% |
13% |
19% |
| Finance Industry |
38% |
15% |
9% |
29% |
25% |
12% |
3% |
21% |
| Construction Industry |
24% |
26% |
4% |
20% |
28% |
22% |
4% |
23% |
| Manufacturing industry |
15% |
50% |
3% |
12% |
14% |
29% |
21% |
20% |
| Retail Industry |
23% |
47% |
6% |
17% |
14% |
30% |
17% |
16% |
| Australian Tourism Industry |
20% |
56% |
8% |
12% |
10% |
31% |
25% |
14% |
Overall, respondents think that the high Australian dollar has only been good for the finance industry (38% good/15% bad).
They believe that it has been particularly bad for the tourism industry (20% good/56% bad), the manufacturing industry (15%/50%), the farming and grazing industry (16%/49%) and the retail industry (23%/47%)
On the mining industry, they were split 29% good/29% bad.
Importance of Industries for Providing Jobs
Q. How important are the following industries for providing jobs for Australians into the future?
| Very important | Quite important | Somewhat important | Not very important | Don’t know | |
| Mining | 64% | 24% | 7% | 2% | 3% |
| Construction | 58% | 30% | 9% | 0% | 2% |
| Manufacturing | 55% | 29% | 12% | 2% | 2% |
| Tourism | 53% | 33% | 11% | 1% | 2% |
| Retail | 47% | 35% | 13% | 2% | 2% |
| Hospitality | 46% | 38% | 12% | 1% | 3% |
| Finance | 39% | 38% | 18% | 3% | 3% |
| Telecommunications | 39% | 37% | 18% | 3% | 3% |
Respondents regard the mining (64%), construction (58%) and manufacturing (55%) industries to be the most important for providing jobs for Australians in the future.
This was followed closely by the tourism (53%), retail (47%) and hospitality (46%) industries.
The finance (39%) and telecommunications (39%) industries are the most likely to be seen as only ‘somewhat important’ (18%) for providing jobs.
Spending
Q. Compared to 12 months ago, are you spending more or less on the following -
| Total spending more | Total spending less | Spending a lot more | Spending a little more | Spending about the same | Spending a little less | Spending a lot less | Don’t know | |
| Food and groceries | 60% | 10% | 20% | 40% | 30% | 7% | 3% | 1% |
| Gas and electricity | 70% | 9% | 36% | 34% | 20% | 5% | 4% | 1% |
| Telephone and internet services | 38% | 11% | 11% | 27% | 49% | 9% | 2% | 1% |
| Entertainment such as cinemas and restaurants | 20% | 39% | 5% | 15% | 38% | 20% | 19% | 3% |
| Retail products such as clothing and electrical goods | 20% | 38% | 5% | 15% | 41% | 22% | 16% | 1% |
70% say they are spending more on gas and electricity and 60% say they are spending more on food and groceries. But they were more likely to be spending less on entertainment (20% more/39% less) and other retail products (20% more/38% less).
Perceptions of spending on food and groceries is similar across demographic groups. However, older respondents are more likely to say they are spending more on gas and electricity (80% of those aged 55+) and less on entertainment (46% of those aged 55+). For those aged under 35, 28% are spending more on entertainment and 34% less.
There is a similar pattern for spending on retail products – for those aged under 35, 27% are spending more and 32% less while for those aged 55+, 15% are spending more and 44% less.
Shopping
Q. Compared to 12 months ago are you shopping more or less at -
| Total shopping more | Total shopping less | Shopping a lot more | Shopping a little more | Shopping about the same | Shopping a little less | Shopping a lot less | Don’t know | |
| Major retail stores | 10% | 36% | 3% | 7% | 53% | 21% | 15% | 1% |
| Major shopping centres | 11% | 32% | 3% | 8% | 56% | 20% | 12% | 1% |
| Local shopping centres | 18% | 20% | 4% | 14% | 61% | 14% | 6% | 1% |
| On the internet | 42% | 18% | 10% | 32% | 37% | 8% | 10% | 3% |
Overall, respondents say they are shopping less at major retail stores and major shopping centres. Shopping at local centres remains about the same.
47% of those aged 55+ say they are shopping less at major retail stores. Among those aged under 35, 22% are shopping more at major retail stores and 29% less.
Although 42% say they are shopping more on the internet, 18% say they are shopping less. Among those aged under 35, 56% are shopping more on the internet and 11% less. Those on higher incomes are more likely to be increasing their internet shopping - 50% of those earning $1,000 pw are spending more and only 11% less.
Satisfaction with Major Retailers
Q. How satisfied are you with the following?
| Total satisfied | Total dissatisfied | Very satisfied | Satisfied | Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied | Dissatisfied | Very dissatisfied | Don’t know | |
| The range of products available at major retailers | 55% | 14% | 8% | 47% | 30% | 12% | 2% | 2% |
| Prices of goods at major retailers | 30% | 34% | 2% | 28% | 35% | 26% | 8% | 2% |
| Quality of goods available at major retailers | 46% | 16% | 4% | 42% | 36% | 13% | 3% | 1% |
| Standard of service at major retailers | 31% | 36% | 3% | 28% | 33% | 24% | 12% | 1% |
Overall, respondents were satisfied with the range of products and quality of goods available at major retailers. Only 14% were dissatisfied with range of products and 16% with the quality of goods available. There were no major differences by demographics on these two issues
However, they were mixed opinions concerning process and standard of service. Older respondents were least satisfied with prices – 41% of under 35’s were satisfied compared to 24% of over 55’s. Customer service was more an issue for older respondents – 45% of over 55’s said they were dissatisfied and only 21% satisfied.
Australian Industries
Q. Thinking about Australian industries, how would you rate the current state of the following industries?
| Total good | Total poor | Very good | Good | Poor | Very poor | |
| Mining | 85% | 15% | 76% | 9% | 2% | 13% |
| Construction | 77% | 23% | 47% | 30% | 7% | 16% |
| Hospitality | 81% | 19% | 46% | 35% | 7% | 12% |
| Tourism | 81% | 19% | 45% | 36% | 7% | 12% |
| Finance | 76% | 24% | 44% | 32% | 8% | 16% |
| Telecommunications | 78% | 22% | 43% | 35% | 11% | 11% |
| Media | 72% | 28% | 38% | 34% | 12% | 16% |
| Agriculture | 75% | 25% | 36% | 39% | 9% | 16% |
| Retail | 75% | 25% | 26% | 49% | 16% | 9% |
| Manufacturing | 62% | 38% | 19% | 43% | 22% | 16% |
76% rate the state of the mining industry as very good – the only industry to score above 50%. However at least 75% think all other industries except manufacturing are in a very good or good state.
Only 19% rate manufacturing as very good – and 38% rate it poor or very poor.
Most Important Industries
Q. And which of these industries are the three most important for Australia’s economic future?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Mining | 67% | 77% | 67% | 61% |
| Agriculture | 58% | 57% | 59% | 58% |
| Tourism | 46% | 47% | 43% | 56% |
| Manufacturing | 37% | 30% | 40% | 36% |
| Construction | 25% | 26% | 26% | 31% |
| Finance | 21% | 18% | 23% | 17% |
| Retail | 17% | 18% | 17% | 12% |
| Telecommunications | 14% | 16% | 11% | 20% |
| Hospitality | 10% | 10% | 9% | 6% |
| Media | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Don’t know | 4% | * | 4% | 3% |
Australia’s most important industries are thought to be mining (67%), agriculture (58%), tourism (46%) and manufacturing (37%). Opinions are consistent across voter groups in terms of order of importance.
Careers
Q. Which of the following occupations do you think provide good careers for young people?
| Yes | No | Don’t know | |
| Trades | 88% | 6% | 6% |
| Computing and information technology | 86% | 6% | 7% |
| Nursing | 78% | 15% | 7% |
| Teaching | 75% | 17% | 8% |
| Tourism and hospitality | 72% | 19% | 9% |
| Police | 71% | 20% | 9% |
| Defence forces | 71% | 20% | 9% |
| Banking and finance | 70% | 19% | 10% |
| Retail | 54% | 36% | 10% |
The most favoured occupations for providing good careers were thought to be trades (88%), computing and IT (86%) and nursing (78%).
All occupations tested scored at least 70% except for retail at 54%.
Younger respondents (aged 18-35) tended to have a similar order of preference to the general population – their most favoured occupations were trades (78%), computing and IT (76%), teaching (68%) and nursing (67%).
Essential Report
Two Party Preferred: 20 May 2013
In this week's report:
3Q: Latest episodes
-
Essential Report with EMC’s Peter Lewis and Jackie Woods
Comments19 Sep 2012Lewis and Woods talk through this week’s polling numbers: voting intention, leader attributes, drug laws in Australia, and more…
-
Are we ready for the grey revolution?
Comments12 Sep 2012Ken Morrison says our cities need to be transformed for our ageing population – and it’s not solely about nursing homes.
-
Ships, trains and submarines — can we build them here?
Comments11 Sep 2012Tim Ayres wishes Clive Palmer and other mining giants would give local manufacturers a go instead of heading overseas.
-
Do we undervalue our public sector innovations?
Comments11 Sep 2012Nadine Flood questions whether governments take our science and other publicly funded breakthroughs for granted.
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