funding and policy, Labor politicians
Q. When making decisions about funding and policies, do you think that Labor politicians listen to the following groups too much, not enough or just the right amount?
|
Too much |
Not enough |
Just the right amount |
|
| Unions |
47% |
24% |
29% |
| The Media |
46% |
18% |
35% |
| Celebrities |
40% |
13% |
47% |
| Property Developers |
39% |
21% |
40% |
| Mining Companies |
37% |
29% |
34% |
| Environmental Groups |
33% |
35% |
32% |
| Member based lobby groups (like GetUp!) |
32% |
28% |
40% |
| Religious Organisations |
32% |
26% |
42% |
| Public Servants |
32% |
31% |
37% |
| Foreign Leaders |
31% |
24% |
44% |
| Active citizens on social media |
25% |
36% |
39% |
| Students |
23% |
45% |
32% |
| Welfare Groups |
21% |
44% |
35% |
| Employer Groups |
19% |
45% |
36% |
| Average Citizens |
8% |
64% |
28% |
Respondents tended to think that Labor politicians listen too much to unions, the media, celebrities and property developers.
They thought they did not listen enough to average citizens, employer groups, welfare groups and students.
Q. The Australian Government is currently negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a regional trade agreement involving SE-Asian nations, South American nations, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand. This is largely being conducted behind closed doors, to allow government negotiators to have open and frank conversations and compromise on elements of the deal. Some commentators have expressed concern at the fact that no media or public are allowed to be part of this process, and the content of the deal is being kept secret.
Are you concerned or not concerned that these negotiations are closed to the public and the media?
| Raising the GST to 12% for all items currently covered |
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
| Very concerned |
23% |
34% |
11% |
33% |
30% |
|
| Somewhat concerned |
28% |
32% |
24% |
37% |
27% |
|
| Not really concerned |
26% |
21% |
33% |
18% |
23% |
|
| Not at all concerned |
11% |
5% |
23% |
3% |
3% |
|
| Don’t know |
11% |
8% |
9% |
9% |
18% |
51% said they were very or somewhat concerned that Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations are closed to the public and the media – 37% were not concerned.
Those most concerned were Greens voters (70%) and Labor voters (66%). Those least concerned were Liberal/National voters (56%) and incomes over $1,600 pw (47%).
refugees in Cambodia, resettle refugees
Q. Would you support or oppose an agreement with Cambodia to resettle refugees arriving in Australia by boat?
|
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
|
| Total support |
37% |
31% |
46% |
23% |
46% |
|
| Total oppose |
39% |
47% |
33% |
49% |
35% |
|
| Strongly support |
11% |
9% |
16% |
5% |
14% |
|
| Support |
26% |
22% |
30% |
18% |
32% |
|
| Oppose |
18% |
23% |
17% |
19% |
13% |
|
| Strongly oppose |
21% |
24% |
16% |
30% |
22% |
|
| Don’t know |
24% |
22% |
21% |
28% |
18% |
37% support an agreement with Cambodia to resettle refugees arriving in Australia by boat and 39% oppose.
49% of Greens voters and 47% of Labor voters oppose while 46% of Liberal/National voters support. There were no major differences across demographic groups.
Q. In the most recent budget, The Federal Government announced that it would be continuing the funding of the school chaplaincy program at a cost for $245 million.
Which schools program do you think is more appropriate for the Federal Government to fund?
|
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
|
| Religious chaplains only |
5% |
3% |
9% |
– |
6% |
|
| Secular social workers only |
17% |
21% |
10% |
41% |
11% |
|
| Both chaplains and social workers |
37% |
35% |
41% |
32% |
44% |
|
| None of the above |
23% |
23% |
22% |
21% |
23% |
|
| Don’t know |
18% |
17% |
18% |
6% |
15% |
The most preferred option was for the Government to fund both chaplains and social workers (37%).
Only 5% supported the Government’s policy of funding only religious chaplains.
Greens voters were more likely to prefer secular social workers only (41%) while 41% of Liberal/National voters preferred both chaplains and social workers.
2PP, Greens, Labor Party, Liberal Party, two party preferred, 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 = 1,855 respondents
| First preference/leaning to |
Election 7 Sep 13 |
|
4 weeks ago 22/4/14 |
2 weeks ago 06/05/14 |
Last week 12/5/14 |
This week 19/05/14 |
| Liberal |
|
39% |
38% |
38% |
38% |
|
| National |
|
2% |
3% |
3% |
3% |
|
| Total Lib/Nat |
45.6% |
41% |
40% |
40% |
40% |
|
| Labor |
33.4% |
37% |
38% |
39% |
40% |
|
| Greens |
8.6% |
11% |
10% |
9% |
8% |
|
| Palmer United Party |
5.5% |
5% |
5% |
5% |
5%% |
|
| Other/Independent |
6.9% |
6% |
8% |
8% |
7% |
| 2 Party Preferred |
Election 7 Sep 13 |
|
4 weeks ago 8/4/14 |
2 weeks ago 06/05/14 |
Last week 12/5/14 |
This week 19/05/14 |
| Liberal National |
53.5% |
49% |
48% |
48% |
48% |
|
| Labor |
46.5% |
51% |
52% |
52% |
52% |
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 2013 election.
Handling of the Federal Budget
Q. Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the way the Liberal-National Coalition government is handling the federal budget?
|
Total
|
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
|
| Total Approve |
30% |
7% |
69% |
10% |
8% |
|
| Total Disapprove |
52% |
85% |
12% |
70% |
71% |
|
| Strongly approve |
10% |
2% |
24% |
2% |
– |
|
| Approve |
20% |
5% |
45% |
8% |
8% |
|
| Neither approve nor disapprove |
14% |
6% |
18% |
15% |
17% |
|
| Disapprove |
19% |
23% |
11% |
16% |
33% |
|
| Strongly disapprove |
33% |
62% |
1% |
54% |
38% |
|
| Don’t know |
4% |
2% |
1% |
5% |
5% |
Just over half (52%) of Australians disapprove of the way the Lib-Nat Coalition government is handling the federal budget. 30% approve and 14% neither approve nor disapprove. 4% don’t know.
Labor (85%), Greens (70%) and Other (71%) voters were far more likely to disapprove. Lib/Nat voters were more likely to approve (69%).
There were no significant differences based on gender.
australian business, average working people, economy overall, Federal Budget
Q. In general, do you think the Federal Budget, announced on Tuesday 13th May 2014 was good or bad for?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Good |
Total Bad |
Very good |
Good |
Neither good nor bad |
Bad |
Very bad |
Don’t know |
| You personally |
13% |
52% |
3% |
10% |
31% |
29% |
23% |
4% |
| Average working people |
14% |
59% |
2% |
12% |
24% |
34% |
25% |
3% |
| Australian business |
36% |
23% |
7% |
29% |
32% |
14% |
9% |
8% |
| The economy over all |
40% |
32% |
11% |
29% |
23% |
18% |
14% |
6% |
| People who are well off |
45% |
16% |
16% |
29% |
33% |
11% |
5% |
6% |
| People on lower incomes |
11% |
66% |
3% |
8% |
18% |
27% |
39% |
4% |
| Australian families |
11% |
62% |
3% |
8% |
24% |
32% |
30% |
4% |
| Older Australians |
10% |
66% |
2% |
8% |
19% |
28% |
38% |
4% |
| Younger Australians |
16% |
55% |
5% |
11% |
25% |
22% |
33% |
5% |
More Australians thought that the budget would be bad for each of the group than thought it would be good.
The only exceptions were ‘people who are well off’ (45% good, 16% bad) and ‘Australian business’ (36% thought the budget would be good, 23% bad).
The areas with the highest ‘bad’ rating were ‘older Australians’ (66%), ‘people on lower incomes’ (66%), ‘Australian families’ (62%) and ‘average working people’ (59%).
Download the Essential Report for a voting intention breakdown of this question.
Q. In general, do you think the next Federal Budget, to be announced on Tuesday 13th May 2014 will be good or bad for?
|
Pre-Budget |
Post-Budget |
|||
|
|
Total Good |
Total Bad |
Total Good |
Total Bad |
| You personally |
8% |
55% |
13% |
52% |
| Average working people |
9% |
63% |
14% |
59% |
| Australian business |
25% |
33% |
36% |
23% |
| The economy over all |
28% |
36% |
40% |
32% |
| People who are well off |
40% |
23% |
45% |
16% |
| People on lower incomes |
12% |
60% |
11% |
66% |
| Australian families |
11% |
59% |
11% |
62% |
| Older Australians |
8% |
67% |
10% |
66% |
| Younger Australians |
11% |
49% |
16% |
55% |
Perceptions of the how the budget will impact on each of these groups have not shifted dramatically from when the question was last asked prior to the budget.
The key areas of difference are listed below: