Essential Report, Federal Government, federal politics, inquiry, manufacturing industry, Polling
Q. Do you think the Government needs to hold an inquiry into the future of Australia’s manufacturing industry?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Yes | 49% | 45% | 55% | 48% |
| No | 19% | 22% | 17% | 27% |
| Don’t know | 32% | 33% | 28% | 25% |
49% agree that the Government needs to hold an inquiry into the future of Australia’s manufacturing industry. Support for an inquiry is highest among Liberal/National voters (55%) and people aged 55+ (57%).
2PP, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, two party preferred, voting, 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 = 1,865
| First preference/leaning to | Election
21 Aug 10 |
4 weeks ago | 2 weeks ago | Last week | This week |
| Liberal | 46% | 46% | 46% | 46% | |
| National | 3% | 4% | 4% | 3% | |
| Total Lib/Nat | 43.6 | 49% | 50% | 50% | 49% |
| Labor | 38.0 | 31% | 31% | 32% | 32% |
| Greens | 11.8 | 11% | 10% | 10% | 10% |
| Other/Independent | 6.6 | 9% | 9% | 8% | 8 |
| 2PP | Election
21 Aug 10 |
4 weeks ago | 2 weeks ago | Last week | This week |
| Total Lib/Nat | 49.9% | 56% | 57% | 56% | 56% |
| Labor | 50.1% | 44% | 43% | 44% | 44% |
NB. The data in the above tables comprise 2-week averages derived 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 2010 election.
approval of PM, Essential Report, Federal Government, federal politics, Gillard, Greens, healthcare system, Julia Gillard, Labor, Labor Party policies, Liberal, management of the economy, Nationals, pension, Polling, superannuation
Q. Thinking about what the Labor Government has done over the last few years, do you approve or disapprove of the following Government actions?
| Total approve | Total disapprove | Strongly approve | Approve | Disapprove | Strongly disapprove | Don’t know | |
| Increased funding of health services | 89% | 5% | 42% | 47% | 3% | 2% | 6% |
| Increasing the age pension | 78% | 14% | 34% | 44% | 8% | 6% | 8% |
| Increasing superannuation to 12% | 75% | 13% | 28% | 47% | 9% | 4% | 12% |
| Managing the economy to keep unemployment and interest rates low | 70% | 21% | 21% | 49% | 12% | 9% | 10% |
| Spending on new school buildings | 68% | 24% | 19% | 49% | 15% | 9% | 8% |
| Introducing a national disability insurance scheme | 63% | 13% | 18% | 45% | 9% | 4% | 24% |
| Stimulus spending to tackle the GFC | 61% | 28% | 21% | 40% | 15% | 13% | 11% |
| Paid parental leave | 60% | 30% | 19% | 41% | 17% | 13% | 10% |
| Introducing a tax on large profits of mining companies | 58% | 29% | 27% | 31% | 16% | 13% | 13% |
| Building the NBN (National Broadband Network) | 54% | 34% | 19% | 35% | 17% | 17% | 12% |
| Stopping live cattle exports until welfare concerns were addressed | 53% | 34% | 24% | 29% | 17% | 17% | 12% |
| Abolished WorkChoices | 51% | 33% | 23% | 28% | 21% | 12% | 16% |
| Sending asylum seekers to Malaysia | 39% | 45% | 17% | 22% | 20% | 25% | 16% |
| Introducing a carbon tax to tackle climate change | 33% | 53% | 15% | 18% | 14% | 39% | 14% |
Government decisions and policies with highest approval were increased funding of health services (89% approve), increasing the age pension (78%) and increasing superannuation to 12% (75%).
Only two of the actions listed received less than majority approval – sending asylum seekers to Malaysia was 39% approve/45% disapprove and introducing a carbon tax to tackle climate change was 33% approve/53% disapprove.
Labor voters showed majority approval of all decisions and policies, Greens voters showed majority approval for all except sending asylum seekers to Malaysia (21% approve/63% disapprove).
Liberal/National voters approved of half the items listed – increased funding of health services (89% approve), increasing the age pension (79%), increasing superannuation to 12% (71%), managing the economy to keep unemployment and interest rates low (54%), spending on new school buildings (54%), introducing a national disability insurance scheme (60%) and paid parental leave (52%).
Australian economy, economy, Essential Report, GFC, global financial crisis, Government spending
Q. If the world has another GFC (Global Financial Crisis) and the Australian economy worsens, which of the following actions would be more likely to protect jobs and help the economy?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Increase Government spending on new infrastructure and services | 48% | 62% | 42% | 53% |
| Cut spending on infrastructure and services | 22% | 13% | 31% | 19% |
| Don’t know | 30% | 24% | 28% | 28% |
Respondents were more likely to want the Government to increase spending if there was another GFC. Support for increased spending was strongest among Labor voters (62%), men (55%) full-time workers (53%) and people earning over $1,600pw (55%).
Approval of opposition leader, Carbon Tax, economy, Essential Report, federal politics, Labor, Liberal, Polling, tax, tony abbott
Q. Do you think the Opposition Leader’s proposal to ditch the carbon tax but keep the personal tax cuts will –
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Help Australia’s economy | 44% | 19% | 73% | 11% |
| Hurt Australia’s economy | 30% | 58% | 8% | 67% |
| Don’t know | 26% | 24% | 19% | 22% |
44% think Tony Abbott’s proposal to ditch the carbon tax but keep the tax cuts will help Australia’s economy and 30% think it will hurt the economy. Opinions were closely associated with voting intention – 73% of Liberal/National voters think it will help the economy while 58% of Labor voters and 67% of Greens voters think it will hurt the economy.
Those on higher incomes are more likely to think it will help the economy – 50% of those on $1,600+pw compared to only 39% of those earning less than $1,000pw.
Carbon Tax, Carbon Tax Compensation, economy, Essential Report, federal politics, GFC, global financial crisis, tax
Q. If the Australian economy weakens and unemployment goes up would you approve or disapprove of the Government taking the following actions?
| Total approve | Total disapprove | Strongly approve | Approve | Disapprove | Strongly disapprove | Don’t know | |
| Reduce interest rates | 79% | 11% | 32% | 47% | 8% | 3% | 11%$ |
| Cut taxes for both individuals and businesses | 61% | 25% | 16% | 45% | 21% | 4% | 14% |
| Cut taxes on low and middle income earners to help with cost of living while offsetting the revenue loss with a carbon tax on the 500 big polluters | 61% | 27% | 26% | 35% | 15% | 12% | 12% |
| Introduce a mining tax on the big miners and use the money for govt. investment in infrastructure and social spending to stimulate the economy | 58% | 26% | 24% | 34% | 16% | 10% | 16% |
| Cut taxes on lower and middle income earners to help with cost of living with no offsetting carbon tax on the 500 big polluters | 51% | 33% | 15% | 36% | 24% | 9% | 16% |
| Cut taxes and cut Government investment in infrastructure and social spending | 39% | 43% | 12% | 27% | 30% | 13% | 18% |
Actions most approved were reduce interest rates (79% approve), cut taxes for both individuals and businesses (61%) and cut taxes on low and middle income earners to help with cost of living while offsetting the revenue loss with a carbon tax on the 500 big polluters (61%).
Cutting taxes while offsetting the revenue loss with a carbon tax was more popular than not offsetting the tax cuts with a carbon tax (61% to 51%).
The only action not approved by a majority was cutting taxes and investment in infrastructure and social spending (39% approve/43% disapprove). This was approved by 48% of Liberal/National voters but only 33% of Labor voters and 27% of Greens voters.
anti-government rallies, Carbon Tax, Essential Report, federal politics, Polling
Q. Do the recent rallies in Canberra – the no carbon tax rally and the trucking convoy – represent your views about the Government?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Yes | 40% | 14% | 66% | 10% |
| No | 38% | 73% | 13% | 75% |
| Don’t know | 22% | 13% | 22% | 15% |
40% say the recent rallies in Canberra represent their views about the Government, 38% say they do not represent their views.
Those most likely to say the rallies represent their views were Liberal/National voters (66%), aged 65+ (60%) and full-time workers (46%).
Those most likely to say the rallies do not represent their views were Labor voters (73%), Greens voters (75%) and those aged under 35 (45%).
anti-government rallies, Essential Report, federal politics, Liberal, Polling, tony abbott
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of Tony Abbott giving his support to these rallies?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total approve | 38% | 14% | 68% | 8% |
| Total disapprove | 36% | 65% | 9% | 75% |
| Strongly approve | 18% | 3% | 37% | 1% |
| Approve | 20% | 11% | 31% | 7% |
| Disapprove | 15% | 25% | 8% | 14% |
| Strongly disapprove | 21% | 40% | 1% | 61% |
| No opinion | 26% | 21% | 22% | 18% |
38% approve and 36% disapprove of Tony Abbott giving his support to the Canberra rallies. Views are closely associated with voting intention.
Groups most likely to approve were aged 65+ (54%) and full-time workers (45%).