Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Tony Abbott is doing as Prime Minister?
|
Total |
Vote ALP |
Vote Lib/ |
Vote Greens |
Vote Other |
Tony Abbott as Opp Leader 2 Sep 13 |
Tony Abbott as 24 Sep |
22 Oct |
12 Nov |
14 Jan 14 |
11 Mar |
8 April |
|
| Total approve |
35% |
7% |
80% |
2% |
19% |
40% |
41% |
46% |
45% |
47% |
40% |
41% |
| Total disapprove |
55% |
88% |
12% |
94% |
76% |
49% |
36% |
35% |
40% |
43% |
47% |
47% |
| Strongly approve |
12% |
3% |
29% |
2% |
– |
13% |
14% |
16% |
14% |
13% |
11% |
13% |
| Approve |
23% |
4% |
51% |
– |
19% |
27% |
27% |
30% |
31% |
34% |
29% |
28% |
| Disapprove |
18% |
19% |
10% |
25% |
32% |
19% |
13% |
15% |
19% |
18% |
20% |
17% |
| Strongly disapprove |
37% |
69% |
2% |
69% |
44% |
30% |
23% |
20% |
21% |
25% |
27% |
30% |
| Don’t know |
10% |
5% |
9% |
5% |
5% |
10% |
23% |
19% |
16% |
11% |
12% |
12% |
55% of Australian’s disapprove of the job Tony Abbott is doing as Prime Minister, a jump of +8% since the last time this question was asked in April 2014.
35% approve of the job Tony Abbott is doing, a drop of -6%.
80% of Lib/Nat voters approve of Tony Abbott’s performance, with just 12% disapproving. 88% of Labor voters and 94% of Greens voters disapprove of Tony Abbott’s performance.
Males (39%) were slightly more likely than females (32%) to approve of Tony Abbott, however, the disapproval ratings were similar (54% for males, 57% for females) with females being more likely to select ‘don’t know’ (11% compared to 8% of males).
Those aged 55+ were the most likely to approve of Tony Abbott (49%). Those aged under 30 were the least likely (25%), with those aged 30-55 not significantly different from the average (32%).
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Bill Shorten is doing as Opposition Leader?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote Other |
12 Nov 2013 |
10 Dec |
14 jan 2014 |
11 Mar |
8 April |
|
| Total approve |
35% |
63% |
17% |
34% |
27% |
31% |
39% |
35% |
32% |
34% |
| Total disapprove |
37% |
11% |
64% |
35% |
44% |
27% |
31% |
32% |
39% |
38% |
| Strongly approve |
6% |
14% |
1% |
2% |
3% |
5% |
7% |
5% |
4% |
6% |
| Approve |
29% |
49% |
16% |
32% |
24% |
26% |
32% |
30% |
28% |
28% |
| Disapprove |
19% |
10% |
26% |
29% |
23% |
17% |
19% |
20% |
24% |
22% |
| Strongly disapprove |
18% |
1% |
38% |
6% |
21% |
10% |
12% |
12% |
15% |
16% |
| Don’t know |
28% |
27% |
19% |
32% |
29% |
43% |
31% |
32% |
29% |
28% |
37% of Australians disapprove of the job Bill Shorten is doing as opposition leader. 35% approve.
These figures are not significantly different from the last time this question was asked, in April 2014.
63% of Labor voters approve of the job Bill Shorten is doing. Just 11% disapprove. Lib/Nat voters were less likely to approve (17%) and more likely to disapprove (64%). Greens voters were split with 34% approving and 35% disapproving.
35% of both males and females approve of Bill Shorten. 48% of males and 46% of females disapprove.
Those aged 30-55 were the most likely to approve (37%), with those aged under 30 (31%) and those aged 55+ (32%) less likely. Those aged under 30 were also far more likely to select ‘don’t know’ (45%). 55% of those aged 55+ disapprove.
Better PM, Better Prime Minister, Bill Shorten, tony abbott
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Tony Abbott and Bill Shorten?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote Other |
22 Oct 2013 |
12 Nov |
14 Jan 2014 |
11 Feb |
8 April |
|
| Tony Abbott |
36% |
4% |
81% |
4% |
23% |
41% |
42% |
42% |
40% |
42% |
| Bill Shorten |
37% |
74% |
3% |
60% |
35% |
22% |
27% |
31% |
30% |
32% |
| Don’t know |
28% |
22% |
16% |
36% |
42% |
37% |
31% |
27% |
31% |
26% |
37% of Australians believe Bill Shorten would make a better Prime Minister than Tony Abbott. This is just 1% more than selected Tony Abbott (36%).
28% don’t know who would make a better Prime Minister.
Since this question was last asked in April 2014, Tony Abbott has dropped -6% as preferred Prime Minister (down from 42%) and Bill Shorten has gained +5% (up from 32%).
Males (38%) were slightly more likely than females (34%) to select Tony Abbott. There was no difference between the genders in their preference from Bill Shorten, with 37% of males and 36% of females selecting him. Females (30%) were more likely than males (25%) to select ‘don’t know’.
Those aged 55+ (51%) were more likely than those aged under 30 (26%) or 30-55 (32%) to select Tony Abbott.
Those aged 30-55 (42%) were more likely than those aged under 30 (31%) or 55+ 30%) to select Bill Shorten. A very large number of those aged under 30 selected don’t know (44%).
Those in NSW (42%) were far more likely than those in QLD (28%) or VIC (34%) to select Tony Abbott.
Those in QLD (44%) were more likely to select Bill Shorten (just 34% of those in NSW and 35% of those in VIC selected Bill Shorten).
Australia, National Debt Level
Q. Compared to other developed countries, do you think Australia’s national debt is higher, lower or about the same?
|
Total
|
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote Other |
|
May 2013 |
August 2013 |
|
| Total higher |
22% |
18% |
30% |
16% |
13% |
25% |
25% |
||
| Total lower |
45% |
52% |
39% |
61% |
46% |
48% |
46% |
||
| A lot higher |
7% |
5% |
11% |
5% |
3% |
9% |
10% |
||
| A little higher |
15% |
13% |
19% |
11% |
10% |
16% |
15% |
||
| About the same |
20% |
19% |
22% |
11% |
23% |
18% |
19% |
||
| A little lower |
24% |
23% |
28% |
23% |
23% |
29% |
24% |
||
| A lot lower |
21% |
29% |
11% |
38% |
23% |
19% |
22% |
||
| Don’t know |
13% |
11% |
8% |
11% |
17% |
10% |
10% |
Just 22% of Australians believe that Australia’s national debt is higher than other developed countries. 45% think it is lower, and just 20% believe it is about the same.
These results are not significantly different from when the question was asked in May or August 2013.
Lib/Nat voters were more likely to think that Australia’s national debt is higher than other developed countries (30%). Labor (52%) and Green (62%) voters were more likely to think that it is lower.
There were no significant differences by age.
Q. Do you think the following pay too much tax, not enough tax or about the right amount?
|
Total |
||||
|
Pay too much |
Don’t pay enough |
Pay about right amount |
Don’t know |
|
| Large businesses |
5% |
61% |
19% |
15% |
| Small businesses |
40% |
6% |
39% |
15% |
| People on low incomes |
43% |
6% |
41% |
10% |
| People on average incomes |
38% |
6% |
47% |
9% |
| People on high incomes |
12% |
59% |
19% |
10% |
| Mining companies |
5% |
61% |
19% |
15% |
| Retirees on large incomes |
15% |
29% |
35% |
20% |
| Large carbon emitters |
6% |
59% |
17% |
18% |
| Large international companies (such as Google and Apple) |
3% |
68% |
11% |
18% |
| Religious organisations |
4% |
56% |
18% |
22% |
From the groups listed, people on low income (43%), small businesses (40%) and people on average incomes (38%) were the group Australians were most likely to think pay too much tax.
More than half of Australians believe that ‘large international companies’ (68%), ‘large businesses’ (61%), ‘mining companies’ (61%), ‘large carbon emitters’ (59%) and ‘religious organisations’ (56%) do not pay enough tax.
The table demonstrates that the results were not remarkably different across the two voting groups analysed.
For more details on this question, download the Essential Report.
large business, Level of tax, people on average incomes, people on low incomes, small business
Q. Do you think the following pay too much tax, not enough tax or about the right amount?
|
Total |
May 2013 |
|||||||
|
|
Pay too much |
Don’t pay enough |
Pay about right amount |
Don’t know |
Pay too much |
Don’t pay enough |
Pay about right amount |
Don’t know |
| Large businesses |
5% |
61% |
19% |
15% |
7% |
63% |
17% |
13% |
| Small businesses |
40% |
6% |
39% |
15% |
43% |
7% |
37% |
14% |
| People on low incomes |
43% |
6% |
41% |
10% |
41% |
8% |
41% |
10% |
| People on average incomes |
38% |
6% |
47% |
9% |
37% |
7% |
49% |
8% |
| People on high incomes |
12% |
59% |
19% |
10% |
12% |
60% |
19% |
8% |
| Mining companies |
5% |
61% |
19% |
15% |
7% |
62% |
16% |
15% |
Please note: ‘retirees on large incomes’, ‘large carbon emitters’, ‘large international companies’ and ‘religious organisations’ were not included in May 2013.
The results have not changed significantly since the last time this question was asked in May 2013.
Q. Do you support or oppose the following possible policies that could be announced in the budget, as set out in the recently released ‘Commission of Audit’ report:
|
Total Support |
Total Oppose |
Strongly support |
Support |
Neither support nor oppose |
Oppose |
Strongly oppose |
Don’t know |
|
| Privatise Australia Post |
18% |
54% |
6% |
12% |
18% |
23% |
31% |
9% |
| Privatise Snowy Hydro |
16% |
39% |
5% |
11% |
23% |
19% |
20% |
21% |
| Introduce co-payments for all Medicare services: $15 per service for general patients and $5 per service for concession holders with payments reduced after 15 visits |
25% |
55% |
7% |
18% |
14% |
19% |
36% |
6% |
| Partial or full deregulation of university fees |
17% |
43% |
5% |
12% |
24% |
20% |
23% |
17% |
| Increase interest rates on student (HELP) debt |
13% |
63% |
5% |
8% |
17% |
33% |
30% |
7% |
| University graduates to repay HELP debt once they earn the minimum wage ($32,354). |
50% |
24% |
15% |
35% |
17% |
13% |
11% |
9% |
| Include the value of family home in an assets test for new pensioners, but with a high threshold |
22% |
50% |
7% |
15% |
16% |
21% |
29% |
11% |
| Scrap the national minimum wage in favour of a new Minimum Wage benchmark of 44 per cent of Average Weekly Earnings. |
18% |
35% |
5% |
13% |
25% |
17% |
18% |
22% |
| Single people aged 22-30 without dependents must relocate to high employment areas or lose access to unemployment benefits after 12 months |
44% |
31% |
18% |
26% |
19% |
15% |
16% |
7% |
| Privatise the Royal Australian Mint |
15% |
49% |
5% |
10% |
20% |
24% |
25% |
16% |
| Raise pension age to 70 by 2053 |
18% |
62% |
5% |
13% |
15% |
24% |
38% |
5% |
| Make those under 25 apply for Youth Allowance, instead of Newstart (Youth Allowance is around $100 less per fortnight) |
39% |
31% |
13% |
26% |
19% |
18% |
13% |
11% |
More people opposed than supported each of the policies listed, except for:
The highest levels of opposition were registered for:
Overall, Lib/Nat voters were more likely than the other voting groups to support each of the policies. The only areas (in addition to those listed above) where they were more likely to support than oppose were ‘Introduce co-payments for all Medicare services: $15 per service for general patients and $5 per service for concession holders with payments reduced after 15 visits’ (43% support and 35% oppose) and ‘Partial or full deregulation of university fees’ (28% support, 26% oppose).
The areas of highest opposition for Lib/Nat voters were:
Key differences by gender included:
Females (67%) were more likely than males (56%) to oppose the raising of the pension age to 70 by 2053
Q. Do you support or oppose the following possible policies that could be announced in the budget, as set out in the recently released ‘Commission of Audit’ report:
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Green |
Vote Other |
|||||
|
Total Support |
Total Oppose |
Total Support |
Total Oppose |
Total Support |
Total Oppose |
Total Support |
Total Oppose |
|
| Privatise Australia Post |
6% |
69% |
30% |
40% |
9% |
62% |
15% |
60% |
| Privatise Snowy Hydro |
11% |
50% |
27% |
28% |
8% |
52% |
11% |
50% |
| Introduce co-payments for all Medicare services: $15 per service for general patients and $5 per service for concession holders with payments reduced after 15 visits |
15% |
69% |
43% |
35% |
12% |
78% |
23% |
61% |
| Partial or full deregulation of university fees |
11% |
55% |
28% |
26% |
5% |
71% |
11% |
49% |
| Increase interest rates on student (HELP) debt |
9% |
53% |
20% |
50% |
3% |
84% |
11% |
36% |
| University graduates to repay HELP debt once they earn the minimum wage ($32,354). |
44% |
31% |
64% |
15% |
44% |
39% |
42% |
27% |
| Include the value of family home in an assets test for new pensioners, but with a high threshold |
18% |
54% |
27% |
50% |
24% |
45% |
21% |
59% |
| Scrap the national minimum wage in favour of a new Minimum Wage benchmark of 44 per cent of Average Weekly Earnings. |
11% |
55% |
29% |
19% |
8% |
43% |
16% |
30% |
| Single people aged 22-30 without dependents must relocate to high employment areas or lose access to unemployment benefits after 12 months |
30% |
43% |
61% |
16% |
32% |
40% |
40% |
40% |
| Privatise the Royal Australian Mint |
9% |
59% |
24% |
40% |
2% |
61% |
12% |
56% |
| Raise pension age to 70 by 2053 |
13% |
72% |
28% |
51% |
8% |
74% |
15% |
68% |
| Make those under 25 apply for Youth Allowance, instead of Newstart (Youth Allowance is around $100 less per fortnight) |
29% |
43% |
59% |
14% |
25% |
52% |
33% |
32% |
More people opposed than supported each of the policies listed, except for:
The highest levels of opposition were registered for:
Overall, Lib/Nat voters were more likely than the other voting groups to support each of the policies. The only areas (in addition to those listed above) where they were more likely to support than oppose were ‘Introduce co-payments for all Medicare services: $15 per service for general patients and $5 per service for concession holders with payments reduced after 15 visits’ (43% support and 35% oppose) and ‘Partial or full deregulation of university fees’ (28% support, 26% oppose).
The areas of highest opposition for Lib/Nat voters were:
Key differences by gender included:
Females (67%) were more likely than males (56%) to oppose the raising of the pension age to 70 by 2053