Australian involvement in Afghanistan, Essential Report, Polling, Troops in Afghanistan
Q. Thinking about the Australian troops in Afghanistan, do you think Australia should –
| 25 Oct 2010 | 21 Mar 2011 | Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Increase the number of troops in Afghanistan | 10% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 3% | 3% |
| Keep the same number of troops in Afghanistan | 30% | 30% | 26% | 26% | 32% | 15% |
| Withdraw our troops from Afghanistan | 47% | 56% | 64% | 61% | 60% | 75% |
| Don’t know | 14% | 9% | 7% | 7% | 5% | 6% |
64% (up 8%) think Australia should withdraw our troops from Afghanistan, 26% (down 4%) think we should maintain troop numbers and 4% (down 1%) think we should increase them.
Since October last year, support for withdrawal of Australian troops has increased from 47% to 64%. There was majority support for withdrawal by all voting groups – 60% of Lib/Nat voters, 61% labor and 75% Greens. Support for withdrawal was also similar across age, gender and income.
air travel, Network Ten, Polling, polls, Qantas
Q. Qantas recently announced plans to reduce their workforce by 1,000 and to launch new airlines in Asia. Do these plans make you more likely or less likely to choose to fly with Qantas or does it make no difference?
(This question was commissioned by Network Ten)
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Men | Women | Age
18-34 |
Aged
35-54 |
Aged 55+ | |
| Total more likely | 5% | 6% | 3% | 2% | 5% | 3% | 5% | 5% | 2% |
| Total less likely | 47% | 50% | 46% | 51% | 46% | 48% | 49% | 45% | 49% |
| Much more likely | 2% | 2% | 1% | – | 2% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 2% |
| A little more likely | 3% | 4% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 4% | * |
| A little less likely | 21% | 20% | 21% | 23% | 20% | 22% | 30% | 17% | 18% |
| Much less likely | 26% | 30% | 25% | 28% | 26% | 26% | 19% | 28% | 31% |
| Makes no difference | 44% | 40% | 47% | 44% | 44% | 44% | 41% | 45% | 46% |
| Don’t know | 5% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 3% |
47% said that Qantas’ recent announcement to reduce their workforce by 1,000 and to launch new airlines in Asia will make them less likely to choose to fly with Qantas, 44% said it makes no difference and 5% said they would be more likely to fly Qantas.
There were no substantial differences across demographic and voter groups. However, those aged 55+ were a little more likely have a stronger negative opinion (31% much less likely).
2PP, Essential Report, federal politics, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, polls, 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 = 1,846
| First preference/leaning to | Election
21 Aug 10 |
4 weeks ago | 2 weeks ago | Last week | This week |
| Liberal | 45% | 47% | 46% | 46% | |
| National | 3% | 3% | 4% | 4% | |
| Total Lib/Nat | 43.6 | 48% | 50% | 50% | 50% |
| Labor | 38.0 | 32% | 30% | 31% | 32% |
| Greens | 11.8 | 11% | 10% | 10% | 10% |
| Other/Independent | 6.6 | 9% | 10% | 9% | 8% |
| 2PP | Election
21 Aug 10 |
4 weeks ago | 2 weeks ago | Last week | This week |
| Total Lib/Nat | 49.9% | 55% | 57% | 57% | 56% |
| Labor | 50.1% | 45% | 43% | 43% | 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.
Essential Report, Federal Government, federal politics, Health, healthcare system, Polling, polls
Q. How much have you read and heard about the recent Federal Government changes concerning funding and delivery of health services?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| A lot | 8% | 10% | 8% | 16% |
| Something | 21% | 22% | 24% | 19% |
| A little | 36% | 38% | 37% | 32% |
| Nothing | 28% | 25% | 28% | 30% |
| Don’t know | 7% | 5% | 4% | 3% |
Only 29% say they have heard a lot or something about the recent Federal Government changes concerning funding and delivery of health services, 36% say they have heard a little and 28% have heard nothing.
Those most likely to have heard a lot/something were aged 55+ (39%).
Essential Report, Health, healthcare system, Polling, polls
Q. What impact do you think these changes will have on the delivery of health services in Australia?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Heard a lot / something | Heard a little | |
| A big impact | 15% | 17% | 12% | 21% | 24% | 7% |
| A moderate impact | 35% | 46% | 28% | 42% | 42% | 29% |
| A small impact | 27% | 22% | 32% | 15% | 19% | 34% |
| No impact | 10% | 3% | 15% | 6% | 11% | 10% |
| Don’t know | 13% | 11% | 12% | 16% | 4% | 20% |
* based on those who have heard a lot/something/a little.
Of those who had heard a lot/something/a little, 50% think the health system changes will have a big or moderate impact on the delivery of health services in Australia, 27% think they will have small impact and 10% think they will have no impact.
Those who have heard more about the changes are more likely to think they will have an impact – 66% of those who have heard a lot/something think they will have a big/moderate impact compared to 36% of those who have only heard a little.
Essential Report, Health, healthcare system, Polling, polls
Q. What impact do you think these changes will have on you and your family?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Heard a lot / something | Heard a little | |
| A big impact | 8% | 6% | 9% | 13% | 13% | 5% |
| A moderate impact | 23% | 32% | 19% | 20% | 30% | 18% |
| A small impact | 30% | 33% | 25% | 40% | 27% | 33% |
| No impact | 26% | 18% | 35% | 16% | 24% | 27% |
| Don’t know | 12% | 12% | 12% | 11% | 5% | 18% |
* based on those who have heard a lot/something/a little.
Respondents were less likely to think the changes will have an impact on their family. Of those who had heard a lot/something/a little, 31% think the health system changes will have a big or moderate impact on them, 30% think they will have small impact and 26% think they will have no impact.
43% of those who have heard a lot/something think they will have a big/moderate impact compared to 23% of those who have only heard a little.
Essential Report, Federal Government, federal politics, Health, healthcare system, Polling, polls
Q. And from what you’ve read or heard, do you support or oppose these changes in the health care system proposed by the Federal Government?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Heard a lot / something | Heard a little | |
| Total support | 36% | 59% | 21% | 46% | 50% | 24% |
| Total oppose | 13% | 1% | 22% | 6% | 17% | 9% |
| Strongly support | 8% | 20% | * | 8% | 13% | 3% |
| Support | 28% | 39% | 21% | 38% | 37% | 21% |
| Neither support nor oppose | 36% | 28% | 41% | 27% | 27% | 44% |
| Oppose | 8% | 1% | 13% | 5% | 9% | 7% |
| Strongly oppose | 5% | – | 9% | 1% | 8% | 2% |
| Don’t know | 16% | 11% | 16% | 20% | 7% | 23% |
* based on those who have heard a lot/something/a little.
Of those who had heard a lot/something/a little, 36% support the changes and 13% oppose. Labor voters support the changes 50% to 1% oppose and Greens voters support them 46%/6%. 41% of Liberal/National voters neither support nor oppose, while 21% support and 22% oppose.
Those who have heard a lot/something are more likely to support the changes – 50% compared to 24% of those who have only heard a little.
Australia’s health system, Essential Report, Health, Polling, polls
Q. What are the three most important issues in Australia’s health system for you personally? (Number from 1 to 3)
| Total 3 most important
|
First | Second | Third | |
| Cost of health insurance | 44% | 19% | 11% | 14% |
| Quality of care in hospitals | 39% | 15% | 13% | 11% |
| Cost of primary care i.e. GP, specialists | 34% | 10% | 13% | 11% |
| Access to a GP | 32% | 14% | 11% | 7% |
| Cost of dental services | 32% | 9% | 11% | 12% |
| Access to emergency departments | 30% | 9% | 11% | 10% |
| Elective surgery waiting lists | 26% | 9% | 8% | 9% |
| Cost of hospital care | 19% | 4% | 8% | 7% |
| Availability of mental health services | 12% | 4% | 3% | 5% |
| Support for aged care | 12% | 3% | 4% | 5% |
| Don’t know | 5% | 5% | 1% | 1% |
The most important health issues were thought to be cost of health insurance (44%), quality of care in hospitals (39%) and cost of primary care (34%). Access to a GP (32%), cost of dental services (32%) and access to emergency departments were also important.
Those on lower incomes tended to give greater importance to access to a GP (37% of those earning under $1,000pw) and cost of dental services (42% of those earning under $1,000pw). 24% of those aged 55+ nominated support for aged care as important.