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Attitude to Bridget McKenzie’s resignation and grant allocation
Q The Deputy Leader of the Nationals resigned last month for having a conflict of interest in awarding a grant to a shooting club of which she was a member. There are ongoing questions about the extent to which other ministers knew and participated in the allocation of regional sporting grants.
| NET: Agree | NET: Disagree | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | Unsure | |
| The investigation needs to continue to investigate any MP involved in the allocation of sports grants | 71% | 16% | 42% | 28% | 10% | 6% | 13% |
| The minister’s resignation should be the end of the matter | 43% | 42% | 19% | 24% | 21% | 21% | 14% |
| NET: Agree | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | Difference |
| The investigation needs to continue to investigate any MP involved in the allocation of sports grants | 71% | 70% | +1 |
| The minister’s resignation should be the end of the matter | 43% | 49% | -6 |
| Base (n) | 1,096 | 1,057 | – |
- 71% of participants agree that the investigation needs to continue to investigate any MP involved in the allocation of sports grants, which is no different to the Feb’20 results.
- On the other hand, now 43% of participants agree that the minister’s resignation should be the end of the matter (43%) down 6pts from Feb’20.
Government support for coal-fired power plants
Q. Which of the following statements regarding the future of coal is closest to your view?
| Total | Federal Voting Intention (Lower House) | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | ||
| The government should be working to shut down mines and coal-fired power plants as soon as possible | 32% | 36% | 21% | 62% | 27% |
| The government should let the coal mining industry and coal-fired power plants continue operating as long as they are profitable, but not subsidise them or support the expansion of the industry | 47% | 45% | 52% | 28% | 50% |
| The government should subsidise coal-fired power plants to keep them going and provide financial support for new mines and other projects in the coal industry | 21% | 19% | 27% | 10% | 22% |
| Base (n) | 1,090 | 336 | 390 | 104 | 146 |
- 47% of participants say that letting the coal mining industry and coal-fired power plants continue operating as long as they are profitable, but not subsidise them or support the expansion of the industry is closest to their view.
- A third (32%) say working to shut down mines and coal-fired power plants as soon as possible is closest to their view, with Greens voters most likely to select that option (62%).
- Coalition voters are most likely to say subsidising coal-fired power plants to keep them going and provide financial support for new mines and other projects in the coal industry, is closest to their view (27%).
Attitudes towards coal
Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about coal?
| NET: Agree | NET: Disagree | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | Unsure | |
| Improvements in renewable energy will mean that burning coal to generate electricity will become less necessary | 75% | 14% | 43% | 32% | 8% | 6% | 11% |
| Advances in technology and international action on climate change will mean coal becomes uneconomical to extract in the future | 65% | 18% | 28% | 36% | 12% | 6% | 17% |
| If we’re serious about dealing with climate change, Australia needs to get out of coal as soon as possible | 64% | 24% | 34% | 29% | 13% | 11% | 13% |
| Even if Australia stops exporting coal for electricity generation, it should still export coal for steel production | 61% | 19% | 26% | 36% | 12% | 7% | 20% |
| Rather than digging it all up now, Australia should leave its coal resources in the ground to use when it becomes more valuable in the future | 53% | 29% | 21% | 33% | 20% | 8% | 18% |
| NET: Agree | Age | Federal Voting Intention (Lower House) | ||||||
| Total | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | |
| Improvements in renewable energy will mean that burning coal to generate electricity will become less necessary | 75% | 80% | 76% | 70% | 82% | 70% | 83% | 68% |
| Advances in technology and international action on climate change will mean coal becomes uneconomical to extract in the future | 65% | 74% | 61% | 61% | 73% | 60% | 70% | 53% |
| If we’re serious about dealing with climate change, Australia needs to get out of coal as soon as possible | 64% | 75% | 65% | 52% | 72% | 54% | 87% | 49% |
| Even if Australia stops exporting coal for electricity generation, it should still export coal for steel production | 61% | 61% | 64% | 59% | 60% | 72% | 38% | 59% |
| Rather than digging it all up now, Australia should leave its coal resources in the ground to use when it becomes more valuable in the future | 53% | 64% | 53% | 44% | 57% | 50% | 56% | 45% |
| Base (n) | 1,090 | 341 | 374 | 375 | 336 | 390 | 104 | 146 |
- Three-quarters of participants (75%) agree that improvements in renewable energy will mean that burning coal to generate electricity will become less necessary, 65% agree that advances in technology and international action on climate change will mean coal becomes uneconomical to extract in the future and 64% agree if we’re serious about dealing with climate change, Australia needs to get out of coal as soon as possible.
- Participants aged 18-34, those with a university education and Greens or Labor voters are more likely to agree with these statements than those over 55, those with a secondary school education and Coalition or other voters (other minor party or independent candidate).
- Coalition voters are most likely to agree that even if Australia stops exporting coal for electricity generation, it should still export coal for steel production (72%), compared to 38% of Greens voters.
- Capital city residents are more likely to agree if we’re serious about dealing with climate change, Australia needs to get out of coal as soon as possible (67%) and rather than digging it all up now, Australia should leave its coal resources in the ground to use when it becomes more valuable in the future (56%); than non-capital city residents (56% and 47% respectively).
Support for zero-carbon pollution target for 2050
Q. To what extent would you support or oppose setting a zero-carbon pollution target for 2050 if it were adopted by the Federal Government?
| Federal Voting Intention (Lower House) | Jan’20 | |||||
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | ||
| Strongly support | 31% | 38% | 22% | 59% | 19% | 32% |
| Somewhat support | 44% | 42% | 46% | 33% | 44% | 39% |
| Somewhat oppose | 15% | 13% | 17% | 6% | 17% | 18% |
| Strongly oppose | 11% | 7% | 15% | 2% | 20% | 12% |
| NET: Support | 75% | 80% | 68% | 91% | 63% | 71% |
| NET: Oppose | 25% | 20% | 32% | 9% | 37% | 29% |
| Base (n) | 1,090 | 336 | 390 | 104 | 146 | 1,080 |
- 75% of participants support setting a zero-carbon pollution target for 2050 if it were adopted by the Federal Government, up from 71% in January.
- The majority of all party voter support the introduction of targets. 91% of Greens voters, 80% of Labor and 68% of Coalition party voters all support the introduction of targets.
- Women (79%), capital city residents (77%) and Greens voters (91%) are most likely to support this initiative.
- Men (70%), non-capital city residents (70%) and independent/other party voters (63%) are least likely to support this initiative.
Type of volunteering engaged with
Q. Which, if any, of the following types of organisations do you currently volunteer for?
| Age | Employment Status | ||||||
| Total | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | In paid employment | Not in paid employment | Retired | |
| Organisations providing support services, such as volunteer fire services, animal rescue and other charities | 16% | 25% | 11% | 12% | 18% | 10% | 13% |
| Sports clubs or arts-based organisations | 14% | 22% | 10% | 10% | 17% | 10% | 9% |
| Volunteer organisations linked with schools (e.g. reading support) | 11% | 16% | 13% | 5% | 16% | 6% | 5% |
| Organisations promoting causes, such as environmental groups, political campaigns | 10% | 18% | 9% | 5% | 14% | 6% | 6% |
| Church or faith-based organisations | 9% | 11% | 9% | 8% | 10% | 7% | 9% |
| Community organisations, such as Scouts or historical societies | 9% | 14% | 5% | 7% | 10% | 6% | 10% |
| None of these | 59% | 44% | 64% | 66% | 53% | 71% | 62% |
| Base (n) | 1,090 | 341 | 374 | 375 | 592 | 243 | 222 |
- 41% of participants volunteer at one of the listed organisations – with organisations providing support services (16%) most frequently selected.
- 18-34 year olds, university educated and participants working in paid employment are more likely to volunteer for any listed organisation.
- Capital city residents and those with dependent children are more likely to volunteer at an organisation linked with schools (13% and 18% respectively) or promoting causes (12% and 14%) than non-capital city residents (both 7%) and those without dependent children (7% and 8%).
- Greens voters are most likely to volunteer for an organisation providing support services (27%).
Support for Government initiatives for volunteers
Q. People have suggested a number of things the government could do to encourage people to volunteer more. How strongly do you support or oppose each of the following?
| NET: Support | NET: Oppose | Strongly support | Somewhat support | Neither support nor oppose | Somewhat oppose | Strongly oppose | |
| Allow volunteers to claim travel and other expenses from volunteering as tax deductions | 69% | 10% | 29% | 40% | 21% | 6% | 4% |
| The government reimburses volunteers directly for any out of pocket expenses from volunteering | 60% | 14% | 25% | 35% | 25% | 9% | 5% |
| Give companies tax breaks when they allow their staff to take time off to do volunteer work | 58% | 11% | 20% | 38% | 31% | 7% | 4% |
- 69% of participants support allowing volunteers to claim travel and other expenses from volunteering as tax deductions, 60% support the government directly reimbursing volunteers for any out of pocket expenses from volunteering and 58% support giving companies tax breaks when they allow their staff to take time off to do volunteer work.
- Greens voters are most likely to support giving companies tax breaks when they allow their staff to take time off to do volunteer work (70%) whereas, independent/other party voters are least likely to support that suggestion (47%).
Actions taken since Coronavirus outbreak
Q. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, do any of the following statements apply to you?
| Age | ||||
| Total | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | |
| I have stayed away from cities or town centres | 20% | 27% | 22% | 13% |
| I have avoided going to restaurants | 20% | 26% | 23% | 11% |
| I have stayed away from shopping centres | 17% | 23% | 19% | 9% |
| I have cancelled an overseas trip | 15% | 26% | 16% | 4% |
| None of these | 70% | 57% | 66% | 84% |
| Base (n) | 1,090 | 341 | 374 | 375 |
- 30% of participants have changed their behaviour in some way listed – with 20% saying they have either stayed away from cities or town centres, or avoided going to restaurants.
- 18-34 year olds (43%), university educated (39%), capital city residents (34%) and those with dependent children (36%) are most likely to report changing their behaviour since the Coronavirus outbreak.
- Whereas 55+ year olds (16%), those with a secondary school education (20%), non-capital residents (23%) and participants without dependent children (27%) are least likely to report behavioural changes.
Attitudes towards border protection and Coronavirus
Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the Coronavirus?
| NET: Agree | NET: Disagree | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Neither agree nor disagree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | |
| Because of global movements in people we are more vulnerable to the spread of viruses like this | 81% | 5% | 43% | 38% | 14% | 3% | 2% |
| The Australian government has been right to prevent people from mainland China entering Australia | 80% | 6% | 53% | 27% | 14% | 4% | 3% |
| The government and the media have done a good job in keeping the public informed about the virus | 62% | 15% | 22% | 40% | 23% | 10% | 5% |
| The border with China should be kept open to keep money from tourism and students coming into the country | 20% | 54% | 6% | 14% | 26% | 22% | 32% |
| NET: Agree | Age | Federal Voting Intention (Lower House) | ||||||
| Total | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | |
| Because of global movements in people we are more vulnerable to the spread of viruses like this | 81% | 70% | 82% | 90% | 80% | 86% | 76% | 84% |
| The Australian government has been right to prevent people from mainland China entering Australia | 80% | 71% | 80% | 88% | 79% | 88% | 66% | 82% |
| The government and the media have done a good job in keeping the public informed about the virus | 62% | 53% | 59% | 73% | 61% | 73% | 49% | 53% |
| The border with China should be kept open to keep money from tourism and students coming into the country | 20% | 28% | 20% | 13% | 21% | 21% | 22% | 13% |
| Base (n) | 1,090 | 341 | 374 | 375 | 336 | 390 | 104 | 146 |
- Four out of five participants agree that because of global movements in people we are more vulnerable to the spread of viruses like this (81%) or the Australian government has been right to prevent people from mainland China entering Australia (80%).
- Three in five agree the government and the media have done a good job in keeping the public informed about the virus (62%); but only one in five agree that the border with China should be kept open to keep money from tourism and students coming into the country (20%).
- Participants over 55 years old (90%, 88% and 73% agreement respectively) and Liberal voters (86%, 88% and 73%) are more likely to agree with the top three statements.
- Capital residents are more likely to agree that government and the media have done a good job in keeping the public informed about the virus than those in non-capital cities (65% compared to 57%).
- Men, 18-34 year olds and participants with a university education are more likely to agree that the border with China should be kept open to keep money from tourism and students coming into the country (24%, 28%, 29% respectively); than women, participants over 55 or with a secondary school education (16%, 13%, 12% respectively).
Essential Report
Two Party Preferred: 14 May 2019
Labor
51.5%-0.5
Coalition
48.5%+0.5
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