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  • Dec, 2020

    Attitudes towards the amount Australia spends on foreign aid

    Q. Do you think Australia spends too much or too little on foreign aid?

      Nov’20 Jun’17 Jun’15 Jul’11
     
    Spends too much 37% 41% 44% 42%
    Spends too little 16% 16% 16% 16%
    Spends about the right amount 23% 19% 21% 21%
    Don’t know 24% 24% 19% 21%
    • Over a third (37%) of people think Australia spends too much on foreign aid. This is lower than previous years (41% in 2017 and 44% in 2015). 16% think too little is spent and 23% think about the right amount is spent. 24% aren’t sure.
      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Spends too much 37% 37% 37% 27% 42% 39% 30% 43% 17% 52%
    Spends too little 16% 20% 13% 24% 14% 13% 22% 11% 29% 15%
    Spends about the right amount 23% 27% 18% 23% 19% 26% 23% 27% 27% 15%
    Don’t know 24% 16% 32% 26% 25% 22% 25% 19% 26% 18%
    Base (n) 1,034 528 506 329 320 385 322 430 88 107
    • Those voting for minor parties are the most likely to think too much is being spent on foreign aid (52%), followed by Coalition voters (43%).
    • Conversely, Greens voters are the most likely to think too little is being spent (29%).
      Total        
      Less than 1% 1% to 5% Over 5% Don’t know
    Spends too much 37% 23% 31% 68% 31%
    Spends too little 16% 48% 28% 5% 5%
    Spends about the right amount 23% 25% 33% 21% 14%
    Don’t know 24% 4% 9% 6% 50%
    Base (n) 1,034 70 408 169 387
    • Of those who incorrectly think over 5% of government expenditure is spent on foreign aid, 68% think too much is spent.
    • Of those who correctly know that less than 1% is being spent on foreign aid, about half (48%) think too little is spent. A quarter (25%) think the right amount is spent and 4% don’t know. 23% still think too much is spent on foreign aid.
  • Dec, 2020

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    Attitudes towards nationalism and Covid-19

    Q. Thinking now about how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the world, which of the following statements is closest to your views?

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    The pandemic has shown that the world is interconnected. The best way to respond to global threats in the future is to cooperate and provide assistance to other countries 48% 50% 45% 51% 48% 44% 48% 46% 60% 38%
    The pandemic has shown that in times of crisis, it is every country for itself. Australia needs to be economically strong and maintain strict border protections to deal with global threats in the future 52% 50% 55% 49% 52% 56% 52% 54% 40% 62%
    Base (n) 1,034 528 506 329 320 385 322 430 88 107
    • Australians are split on their views towards the lessons from Covid-19. 52% think the pandemic has shown that in times of crisis, it is every country for itself, whereas 48% think the pandemic has shown that the world is inter-connected, and countries need to cooperate to respond to global threats.
  • Dec, 2020

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    Support for government action on climate change

    Q. To what extent would you support or oppose the following policy proposals if they were adopted by the Federal Government?

    TOTAL: Support Nov’20 Jan’20
    Requiring mining companies to fund bushfire hazard reduction 80% 68%
    Setting a zero-carbon pollution target for 2030 75% 64%
    Setting a zero-carbon pollution target for 2050 81% 71%
    Ban all political donations from fossil fuel companies 72% 62%
    Accelerate development of new industries and jobs that are powered by renewable energy 87% 81%
    New coal mines opening in Australia 49% –
    The fossil fuel industry receiving taxpayer funded subsidies 42% –
    • Support for government action on climate change has increased since earlier this year across the policy proposals put forward.
      TOTAL: Support TOTAL: Oppose Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose
    Requiring mining companies to fund bushfire hazard reduction 80% 20% 31% 49% 15% 5%
    Setting a zero-carbon pollution target for 2030 75% 25% 35% 40% 16% 8%
    Setting a zero-carbon pollution target for 2050 81% 19% 36% 44% 13% 7%
    Ban all political donations from fossil fuel companies 72% 28% 30% 42% 21% 7%
    Accelerate development of new industries and jobs that are powered by renewable energy 87% 13% 44% 43% 9% 4%
    New coal mines opening in Australia 49% 51% 15% 34% 27% 24%
    The fossil fuel industry receiving taxpayer funded subsidies 42% 58% 11% 31% 34% 24%
    • 87% would support accelerating development of new industries and jobs that are powered by renewable energy and 80% would support requiring mining companies to fund bushfire hazard reduction.
    • 81% would support setting a zero-carbon pollution target for 2050 and 75% would support setting this target for 2030.
    • The most contentious issues are new coal mines opening in Australia (49% support vs 51% oppose) and the fossil fuel industry receiving taxpayer funded subsidies (42% support vs 58% oppose), where we see more of a divide between support and opposition compared to other policy proposals.
    TOTAL: Support Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Requiring mining companies to fund bushfire hazard reduction 80% 75% 85% 76% 83% 80% 82% 79% 88% 77%
    Setting a zero-carbon pollution target for 2030 75% 69% 81% 74% 81% 72% 82% 67% 93% 74%
    Setting a zero-carbon pollution target for 2050 81% 78% 83% 81% 84% 77% 88% 75% 88% 72%
    Ban all political donations from fossil fuel companies 72% 71% 73% 71% 78% 67% 74% 65% 87% 75%
    Accelerate development of new industries and jobs that are powered by renewable energy 87% 84% 89% 81% 88% 91% 88% 87% 92% 82%
    New coal mines opening in Australia 49% 56% 42% 53% 54% 41% 43% 57% 23% 52%
    The fossil fuel industry receiving taxpayer funded subsidies 42% 43% 40% 48% 48% 29% 41% 44% 23% 40%
    Base (n) 1,034 528 506 329 320 385 322 430 88 107
    • Support for government action on climate change is higher among women compared to men, especially regarding setting a zero-carbon pollution target for 2030 (81% to 69%) and requiring mining companies to fund bushfire hazard reduction (85% to 75%). Women are less likely than men to support the opening of new coal mines (49% to 56%).
    • Coalition voters have the highest support for opening new coal mines (57% compared to 52% minor party voters, 43% Labor voters and 23% Greens voters).
  • Dec, 2020

    Views towards government action regarding coal-fired power plants

    Q. Which of the following statements regarding the future of coal is closest to your view?

      Nov’20 Feb’20
    The government should be working to shut down mines and coal-fired power plants as soon as possible 31% 32%
    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 52% 47%
    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 17% 21%
    Base (n) 1,034 1,090
    • Compared to earlier this year, fewer people think 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 (17% in November, compared to 21% in February).
    • Consequently, more people now think 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% to 52%).
    • The proportion of those preferring the immediate closure of coal-fired power plants has remained constant.
  • Dec, 2020

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    Attitudes towards the importance of how electricity is generated in relation to price and supply

    Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement?

    It doesn’t matter how electricity is generated, as long as prices don’t go up, and the supply is secure

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Strongly agree 24% 30% 18% 21% 28% 23% 18% 29% 13% 33%
    Somewhat agree 23% 23% 23% 23% 27% 19% 26% 26% 11% 15%
    Neither agree nor disagree 24% 22% 27% 27% 23% 23% 23% 22% 26% 25%
    Somewhat disagree 18% 16% 19% 18% 14% 21% 19% 17% 23% 17%
    Strongly disagree 11% 10% 13% 12% 8% 14% 14% 6% 27% 10%
    TOTAL: Agree 47% 53% 41% 44% 55% 42% 43% 55% 23% 48%
    TOTAL: Disagree 29% 26% 32% 30% 22% 35% 33% 23% 51% 28%
    Base (n) 1,034 528 506 329 320 385 322 430 88 107
    • Nearly half of Australians (47%) agree that it doesn’t matter how electricity is generated, as long as prices don’t go up, and the supply is secure. About a third (29%) disagree.
    • Men are more likely to strongly agree with this statement than women (30% to 18% respectively).
    • Coalition voters are also more likely to agree with this statement compared to other voters (55% to 43% Labor, 23% Greens and 48% minor party voters).
  • Nov, 2020

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    Performance of Scott Morrison

    Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Scott Morrison is doing as Prime Minister?

    Nov’20 Oct’20 Sep’20 Aug’20 Jul’20 Jun’20 May’20 Apr’20 Mar’20 Feb’20 Jan’20 Dec’19
    TOTAL: Approve 66% 63% 64% 66% 63% 65% 64% 59% 41% 39% 40% 45%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 25% 27% 28% 23% 27% 26% 27% 31% 49% 52% 52% 43%
    Don’t know 9% 10% 8% 11% 10% 8% 9% 10% 10% 9% 8% 13%
    Base (n) 1,010 1,082 1,076 1,010 1,054 1,059 1,093 1,069 1,096 1,056 1,081 1,035

     

    Total Federal Voting Intention
    Labor Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Strongly approve 24% 11% 48% 8% 13%
    Approve 41% 39% 46% 37% 41%
    Disapprove 15% 21% 4% 26% 22%
    Strongly disapprove 11% 19% 1% 21% 15%
    Don’t know 9% 9% 1% 8% 8%
    TOTAL: Approve 66% 50% 94% 45% 55%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 25% 40% 5% 47% 37%
    Base (n) 1,010 323 404 80 122
    • The Prime Minister’s approval rating is now at 66%, equivalent of the score in August.
    • Approval of the Prime Minister among is at 94% among Coalition supporters (89% last month) and 50% among Labor voters (45% last month).
  • Nov, 2020

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    Performance of Anthony Albanese

    Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Anthony Albanese is doing as Opposition Leader?

    Nov’20 Oct’20 Sep’20 Aug’20 Jul’20 Jun’20 May’20 Apr’20 Mar’20 Feb’20 Jan’20 Dec’19
    TOTAL: Approve 40% 44% 44% 44% 44% 43% 42% 44% 41% 41% 43% 39%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 33% 29% 29% 30% 28% 30% 27% 29% 33% 31% 30% 28%
    Don’t know 27% 27% 27% 25% 28% 26% 31% 27% 26% 28% 27% 33%
    Base (n) 1,010 1,082 1,076 1,010 1,054 1,059 1,093 1,069 1,096 1,056 1,081 1,035

     

      Total Federal Voting Intention
    Labor Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Strongly approve 8% 11% 7% 8% 4%
    Approve 33% 48% 23% 41% 27%
    Disapprove 22% 14% 29% 15% 34%
    Strongly disapprove 11% 5% 20% 5% 16%
    Don’t know 27% 23% 21% 31% 20%
    TOTAL: Approve 40% 59% 30% 49% 31%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 33% 19% 48% 19% 50%
    Base (n) 1,010 323 404 80 122
    • The Opposition Leader’s approval rating has decreased from 44% in October to 40% this month.
    • Albanese’s approval rating has decreased among men (51% to 46%), people in regional areas (44% to 39%) and among Labor voters (65% to 59%).
  • Nov, 2020

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    Preferred Prime Minister

    Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?

      Nov’20 Oct’20 Sep’20 Aug’20 Jul’20 Jun’20 May’20 Apr’20 Mar’20 Feb’20 Jan’20 Nov’19
    Scott Morrison 53% 50% 49% 52% 50% 53% 50% 46% 40% 36% 36% 44%
    Anthony Albanese 24% 25% 26% 22% 27% 23% 25% 27% 35% 36% 39% 28%
    Don’t know 24% 25% 25% 26% 23% 24% 25% 27% 25% 28% 25% 29%
    Base (n) 1,010 1,082 1,076 1,010 1,054 1,059 1,093 1,069 1,096 1,056 1,081 1,075

     

        Federal Voting Intention
    Total Labor Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Scott Morrison 53% 31% 87% 28% 48%
    Anthony Albanese 24% 48% 6% 37% 20%
    Don’t know 24% 22% 7% 35% 31%
    Base (n) 1,010 323 404 80 122
    • Just over half of participants believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (53%), while a quarter would prefer the opposition leader (24%). A further quarter (24%) of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
    • Morrison is strongly favoured by Coalition voters, with 87% believing Morrison makes the better PM, compared to Albanese (6%).
    • Half of Labor voters believe Albanese would make the better PM (48%). 22% of Labor voters said they didn’t know who would make the better leader.
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