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  • Oct, 2021

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    Views towards temporary work visas

    Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about temporary work visas in Australia?

      TOTAL:

    Agree

    		 TOTAL:

    Disagree

    		 Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree
    Temporary work visas should be used to cover genuine skills shortages, not to provide cheap labour 72% 8% 41% 31% 20% 5% 3%
    Everyone who works in Australia should be entitled to the same pay and working conditions regardless of their visa status 67% 10% 34% 33% 24% 7% 3%
    Temporary work visas are essential for Australian businesses to fill skills shortages 59% 14% 19% 40% 26% 8% 6%
    Temporary work visas have been used to drive down wages and working conditions in Australia 47% 16% 17% 30% 37% 12% 4%
    • There is high agreement with the need to provide equivalent pay and conditions to migrant workers. 72% of people agree temporary work visas should be used to cover genuine skills shortages, not to provide cheap labour and 67% agree that all workers in Australia should be entitled to the same pay and working conditions.
    • There is less consensus as to whether temporary work visas have been used to drive down wages and working conditions in Australia. Just 47% agree with this statement, and a further 37% neither agree nor disagree.
    TOTAL: Agree Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Temporary work visas should be used to cover genuine skills shortages, not to provide cheap labour 72% 71% 73% 60% 70% 85% 74% 77% 74% 64%
    Everyone who works in Australia should be entitled to the same pay and working conditions regardless of their visa status 67% 67% 66% 57% 66% 75% 71% 70% 75% 55%
    Temporary work visas are essential for Australian businesses to fill skills shortages 59% 61% 58% 55% 57% 66% 63% 66% 63% 46%
    Temporary work visas have been used to drive down wages and working conditions in Australia 47% 50% 44% 49% 50% 43% 53% 44% 51% 46%
    Base (n) 1,781 875 906 533 601 647 636 610 157 220
    • Those aged over 55 are more likely than younger cohorts to agree that temporary work visas should be used to cover genuine skills shortages, not to provide cheap labour (85% to 65% younger cohorts), everyone who works in Australia should be entitled to the same pay and working conditions regardless of their visa status (75% to 62%), and temporary work visas are essential for Australian businesses to fill skills shortages (66% to 56%).
    • Minor/independent party voters are less likely than other voters to agree that temporary work visas should be used to cover genuine skills shortages, not to provide cheap labour (64% to 75% all other voters), everyone who works in Australia should be entitled to the same pay and working conditions regardless of their visa status (55% to 71%), and temporary work visas are essential for Australian businesses to fill skills shortages (46% to 64%).
    TOTAL: Agree People who say the levels of immigration have been

    too low

    		 People who say the levels of immigration have been

    about right

    		 People who say the levels of immigration have been

    too high
    Temporary work visas should be used to cover genuine skills shortages, not to provide cheap labour 71% 73% 75%
    Everyone who works in Australia should be entitled to the same pay and working conditions regardless of their visa status 78% 67% 64%
    Temporary work visas are essential for Australian businesses to fill skills shortages 71% 66% 52%
    Temporary work visas have been used to drive down wages and working conditions in Australia 49% 44% 56%
    Base (n) 277 645 694
    • Irrespective of views towards immigration, the majority agree temporary work visas should be used to cover genuine skills shortages, not to provide cheap labour.
    • While overall there is majority agreement that everyone who works in Australia should be entitled to the same pay and working conditions regardless of their visa status, those who say the levels of immigration have been too low are more likely to agree with this than those who think the levels have been about right or too high (78% to 67% and 64% respectively).
    • Those who say the levels of immigration have been too low are also more likely to agree that temporary work visas are essential for Australian businesses to fill skills shortages (71% to 66% and 52%).
    • Those who say immigration levels have been too high are more likely to agree temporary work visas have been used to drive down wages and working conditions in Australia (56% to 44% ‘about right’ and 49% ‘too low’).
  • Oct, 2021

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    Federal government’s role in increasing employment and jobs

    Q. Which of the following is closer to your view of the federal government’s role in relation to employment and jobs?

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    The federal government’s role is to reduce taxes and red tape so businesses can employ more workers 35% 42% 29% 34% 35% 36% 30% 44% 31% 38%
    The federal government’s role is to invest behind local industries to create more jobs 44% 44% 43% 40% 43% 47% 49% 42% 48% 46%
    Unsure 21% 14% 28% 26% 22% 18% 21% 14% 21% 16%
    Base (n) 1,781 875 906 533 601 647 636 610 157 220
    • More people think the federal government’s role is to invest behind local industries to create more jobs than to reduce taxes and red tape so businesses can employ more workers (44% to 35%). 21% are unsure on their preferred role.
    • Men are more likely than women to think the federal government’s role is to reduce taxes and red tape so businesses can employ more workers (42% to 29%).
    • Coalition voters are also more likely to agree with this viewpoint than all other voters combined (44% to 32% respectively).
  • Oct, 2021

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    Best net zero target for jobs

    Q. Which of the following approaches to acting on climate change and reducing emissions do you think will have the most positive long-term effect on jobs?

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Set a more ambitious target for 2030 35% 36% 34% 34% 35% 36% 43% 27% 55% 32%
    Set a net zero target for 2050 29% 32% 26% 37% 29% 23% 31% 32% 27% 26%
    Not set any targets for 2030 or 2050 14% 16% 12% 10% 10% 20% 6% 21% 2% 24%
    Unsure 22% 16% 28% 19% 26% 21% 20% 19% 15% 18%
    Column n 1,781 875 906 533 601 647 636 610 157 220
    • About a third (35%) think setting a more ambitious emissions reduction target for 2030 will have the most positive long-term effect on jobs, while a further 29% think setting a net zero target for 2050 would be best for jobs.
    • 14% think not setting any targets for 2030 or 2050 is best for jobs, and 22% are unsure.
    • Labor voters (43%) and Greens voters (55%) are most likely to think a more ambitious 2030 target will have the most positive long-term effect on jobs.
    • Minor/independent party voters (24%) and Coalition voters (21%) are most likely to think not setting any targets would be best for jobs.
    • Those aged 18-34 are more likely than older cohorts to think setting a net zero target for 2050 is best (37% to 29% of those aged 35-54 and 23% of those over 55).
  • Oct, 2021

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    View of Australia’s manufacturing industry

    Q. Thinking about the Australian manufacturing industry, which of the following statements is closest to your view?

      Oct’21 Oct’13 Jun’13 Aug’12
     
    With government support, Australia can have a successful manufacturing industry 69% 65% 61% 63%
    There is no future for manufacturing in Australia and government support would be a waste of money 15% 19% 22% 17%
    Unsure 16% 16% 17% 21%
    • 69% of people think with government support, Australia can have a successful manufacturing industry. 15% think there is no future for manufacturing in Australia and government support would be a waste of money. 16% are unsure.
    • Results in 2021 are similar to 2013 and 2012 levels.
      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    With government support, Australia can have a successful manufacturing industry 69% 69% 68% 57% 64% 83% 69% 73% 61% 70%
    There is no future for manufacturing in Australia and government support would be a waste of money 15% 19% 12% 22% 16% 8% 16% 16% 18% 17%
    Unsure 16% 12% 20% 20% 21% 9% 15% 11% 21% 13%
    Column n 1,781 875 906 533 601 647 636 610 157 220
    • Those aged over 55 (83%) are most likely to think Australia can have a successful manufacturing industry with government support.
    • Among voters, Coalition voters (73%) are most likely to have this view, with minor/independent party voters (70%) and Labor voters following closely behind (69%).
    • Men (19%) and those aged 18-34 (22%) are most likely to think there is no future for manufacturing in Australia and government support would be a waste of money.
  • Oct, 2021

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    Performance of Scott Morrison 

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

    Oct’21 Sep’21 Aug’21 Jul’21 Jun’21 May’21 Apr’21 End Mar’21 Mid Mar’21 Feb’21 Jan’21 Dec’20 Nov’20
    TOTAL: Approve 54% 50% 50% 51% 57% 58% 54% 57% 62% 65% 61% 62% 66%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 37% 41% 40% 40% 36% 32% 37% 35% 29% 28% 30% 28% 25%
    Don’t know 9% 9% 10% 9% 8% 10% 9% 8% 8% 7% 9% 11% 9%
    Base (n) 1,097 1,100 1,098 1,099 1,104 1,092 1,368 1,100 1,124 1,109 1,084 1,071 1,010

     

    TOTAL: Approve Oct’21 Sep’21 Aug’21 Jul’21 Jun’21 May’21 Apr’21
    NSW 54% 48% 50% 53% 59% 64% 55%
    VIC 52% 47% 45% 49% 52% 51% 51%
    QLD 60% 56% 54% 49% 60% 60% 57%
    SA 43% 47% 53% 50% 56% 52% 50%
    WA 51% 58% 53% 50% 50% 63% 56%
    • The Prime Minister’s approval rating is now at 54% (from 50% last month), with disapproval at 37% (41% in September).
    • While approval has increased in NSW (48% to 54%), Victoria (47% to 52%) and Queensland (56% to 60%), these have been drops in SA (47% to 43%) and WA (58% to 51%).
  • Oct, 2021

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    Performance of Anthony Albanese

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

    Oct’21 Sep’21 Aug’21 Jul’21 Jun’21 May’21 Apr’21 Mar’21 Feb’21 Jan’21 Dec’20 Nov’20
    TOTAL: Approve 41% 37% 34% 41% 39% 39% 39% 41% 40% 42% 43% 40%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 34% 36% 38% 35% 36% 35% 34% 32% 33% 33% 29% 33%
    Don’t know 25% 27% 28% 24% 24% 25% 27% 27% 27% 25% 28% 27%
    Base (n) 1,097 1,100 1,098 1,099 1,104 1,092 1,368 1,124 1,109 1,084 1,071 1,010
    • The Opposition Leader’s approval rating is now at 41% (37% last month).
    • The proportion of people disapproving of Albanese is now at 34% (36% last month) with a further 25% who say they are unsure of his performance.
  • Oct, 2021

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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?

      Oct’21 Sep’21 Aug’21 Jul’21 Jun’21 May’21 Apr’21 Mar’21 Feb’21 Jan’21 Dec’20 Nov’20
    Scott Morrison 45% 47% 45% 46% 48% 50% 47% 52% 52% 51% 50% 53%
    Anthony Albanese 29% 26% 26% 28% 28% 24% 28% 26% 24% 25% 24% 24%
    Don’t know 26% 27% 29% 26% 24% 26% 25% 22% 24% 25% 26% 24%
    Base (n) 1.097 1,100 1,098 1,099 1,104 1,092 1,368 1,124 1,109 1,084 1,071 1,010
    • 45% of Australians continue to think that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (47% last month).
    • 29% think the opposition leader would make the better Prime Minister (26% last month). 27% of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
  • Oct, 2021

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    Federal government response to Covid-19

    Q. Overall, how would you rate the federal government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?

      11/10 27/09 13/09 30/08 16/08 02/08 19/07 05/07 07/06 24/05 12/04 15/03 01/03
    Very poor 12% 12% 16% 16% 13% 16% 13% 12% 10% 6% 7% 5% 6%
    Quite poor 18% 18% 20% 20% 22% 19% 19% 17% 14% 12% 10% 7% 8%
    Neither good nor poor 25% 25% 21% 24% 24% 28% 23% 26% 22% 25% 21% 18% 24%
    Quite good 32% 34% 28% 29% 32% 28% 32% 33% 38% 40% 40% 39% 39%
    Very good 13% 11% 15% 10% 9% 10% 14% 11% 15% 18% 22% 31% 23%
    TOTAL: Poor 30% 30% 35% 36% 35% 35% 31% 30% 24% 18% 17% 12% 14%
    TOTAL: Good 45% 45% 43% 39% 41% 38% 46% 44% 53% 58% 62% 70% 62%
    Base (n) 1,097 1,094 1,100 1,100 1,100 1,098 1,100 1,099 1,104 1,100 1,368 1,124 1,074

     

    TOTAL: Good 11/10 27/09 13/09 30/08 16/08 02/08 19/07 05/07 07/06 24/05 12/04 15/03 01/03
    NSW 48% 48% 41% 34% 34% 39% 49% 44% 62% 56% 66% 69% 64%
    VIC 37% 39% 39% 35% 37% 33% 39% 40% 42% 57% 55% 65% 51%
    QLD 50% 44% 43% 45% 44% 40% 46% 48% 54% 56% 63% 69% 66%
    SA 46% 42% 54% 48% 45% 48% 51% 48% 58% 66% 62% 78% 68%
    WA 49% 48% 51% 51% 53% 37% 51% 42% 49% 56% 65% 75% 66%
    • 45% of people rate the federal government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak as quite good or very good (same as last month), with 30% rating it as quite poor or very poor.
    • Positive rating of the federal government’s handling of Covid-19 has stayed the same in NSW (48%), but increased in Queensland (44% to 50%) and SA (42% to 46%).
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