Reintroduction of WorkChoices under an Abbott Liberal Government
Q. How likely do you think it is that Tony Abbott and the Liberals will reintroduce at least some parts of WorkChoices if they win the next election?
Total | Labor | Coalition | Green | |
Very likely | 22% | 41% | 7% | 26% |
Quite likely | 35% | 36% | 43% | 39% |
Not very likely | 18% | 8% | 29% | 15% |
Not at all likely | 5% | 4% | 7% | 4% |
Don’t know | 20% | 11% | 14% | 16% |
Total likely | 57% | 77% | 50% | 65% |
Total not likely | 23% | 12% | 36% | 19% |
Over half (57%) of Australians surveyed think that if Tony Abbott and the Liberals win the next election it is likely that they will introduce at least some parts of WorkChoices, 23% think it is unlikely and 20% don’t know.
77% of Labor voters, 65% of Green voters and 50% of Coalition voters think that it is likely that at least some parts of WorkChoices will be introduced if Abbott and the Liberals win the next election.
People aged 45 – 55 were more likely to think that if the Liberal party wins the next election, at least some parts of WorkChoices will be introduced (68%), while people aged 65 years and over were more inclined to think it is unlikely some parts of WorkChoices will be introduced if the Liberals win the next election (32%). Comments »
Future of WorkChoices
Q. Do you believe Tony Abbott when he says that WorkChoices is dead and would not be reintroduced by a future Liberal Government?
% | |
Yes | 22% |
No | 50% |
Don’t know | 28% |
Half (50%) of those surveyed do not believe Tony Abbott when he says that WorkChoices is dead and would not be reintroduced by a future Liberal Government, 22% believe Abbott and 28% don’t know.
Results followed party lines – Labor (75%) and Green (80%) voters were more likely to not believe Abbott, while Coalition voters were more likely to believe Abbott when he says WorkChoices is dead and won’t be reintroduced (50%).
People aged 65 years and over were more likely to believe Abbott (39%) while those aged 18 – 24 were more likely to indicate they don’t know (36%). Comments »
Federal politics – voting intention
Q. If there was a Federal election held today, to which party would you probably give your first preference?
Q. If you ‘don’t know’ on the above question, which party are you currently leaning to?
*1830 sample size
2 week average | % | 2PP | 2PP shift from last week |
Liberal | 36% | ||
National | 2% | ||
Total Lib/Nat | 38% | 45% | – |
Labor | 44% | 55% | – |
Greens | 10% | ||
Family First | 2% | ||
Other/Independent | 6% |
NB. The data in the above table is derived from our weekly first preference voting question. Respondents who select ‘don’t know’ as their first preference are not included in the results.
* Sample is the culmination of two week’s polling data.
Approve of Lindsay Tanner, Finance Minister
Q Do you approve or disapprove of the job Lindsay Tanner is doing as Finance Minister?
% | |
Total approve | 31% |
Total disapprove | 24% |
Net rating | +7% |
Strongly approve | 5% |
Approve | 26% |
Disapprove | 18% |
Strongly disapprove | 6% |
Don’t know | 45% |
31% approve of the job Lindsay Tanner is doing as Finance Minister, 24% disapprove and 45% don’t know.
Results followed party lines – Labor voters were more likely to approve (56%), while Coalition voters were more likely to disapprove (49%). 43% of Green voters approve of the job Tanner is doing as Finance Minister.
Males were more likely to approve of the job Tanner is doing (39%), while females were more likely to indicate they don’t know (55%).
People aged 55 years and over were more likely that those in other age groups to disapprove (36%). Comments »
Approval of Barnaby Joyce, Opposition Shadow Finance Minister
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Barnaby Joyce is doing as opposition shadow Finance Minister?
% | |
Total approve | 25% |
Total disapprove | 36% |
Net rating | -11% |
Strongly approve | 4% |
Approve | 21% |
Disapprove | 22% |
Strongly disapprove | 14% |
Don’t know | 39% |
One quarter (25%) of those surveyed approve of the job Barnaby Joyce is doing as opposition shadow Finance Minister, 36% disapprove and 39% don’t know.
Results followed party lines – Coalition voters were more likely to approve of the job Joyce is doing (47%), while Labor voters were more likely to disapprove (53%).
56% of Green voters and 23% of Coalition voters disapprove of the job Joyce is doing as opposition shadow Finance Minister.
Males were more likely to disapprove of the job Joyce is doing (43%), while females were more likely to indicate they don’t know (47%). Comments »
Better Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd or Julia Gillard?
Total | Male | Female | Labor | Coalition | Greens | |
Kevin Rudd | 45% | 50% | 40% | 69% | 31% | 39% |
Julia Gillard | 26% | 23% | 29% | 22% | 27% | 42% |
Don’t know | 29% | 27% | 31% | 9% | 41% | 19% |
When it comes to who people think would make a better Prime Minister – 45% support Kevin Rudd, 26% support Julia Gillard and 29% don’t know.
Labor voters were more likely to support Rudd (69%), Green voters were more likely to support Gillard (42%) and Coalition voters were more likely to indicate they don’t know who would make a better Prime Minister (41%).
Males were more likely to think Rudd would make a better Prime Minister (50%), while females were more likely to prefer Gillard (29%).
In terms of age differences, support was strongest for Rudd amongst the 18 – 24 year olds (55%). Rudd’s support decreases as age increases with 40% of people aged 55 years and over favouring Rudd as Prime Minister. Comments »
Federal takeover of hospitals from the State Government
Q. Would you support or oppose the Federal Government taking over the responsibility for hospitals from the State Governments?
% | |
Total support | 58% |
Total oppose | 10% |
Strongly support | 26% |
Support | 32% |
Neither support nor oppose | 19% |
Oppose | 7% |
Strongly oppose | 3% |
Don’t know | 13% |
Over half (58%) of those surveyed support the Federal Government taking over responsibility for hospitals from the State Governments, 10% disapprove, 19% neither support nor oppose and 13% don’t know.
People aged 55 years and over were more likely that those in other age groups to support a Federal Government takeover of hospitals (79%).
People in NSW were more likely than those in any other states to support a hospitals takeover (67%), while people in Western Australia (18%) and South Australia (17%) were more likely to oppose such a move.
Males were more likely than females to support a hospital takeover by the Federal Government (65% v 52%).
Support for a Federal Government takeover of hospitals from the State Government was highest amongst Labor voters (70%), followed by Coalition voters (63%) and then Green voters (54%). Comments »
Australia’s population
Q. It has been estimated that Australia will have a population of 36 million by 2050. Do you think this will be good or bad for Australia?
|
% |
Total good |
24% |
Total bad |
48% |
Very good |
5% |
Good |
19% |
Neither good nor bad |
23% |
Bad |
30% |
Very bad |
18% |
Don’t know |
5% |
24% of people surveyed think that Australia’s population increasing to 36 million by 2050 will be good for Australia, 48% think it will be bad for Australia, 23% think it is neither good nor bad and 5% don’t know.
Labor voters were more likely than Coalition and Green voters to think it is a good thing (32% Labor v 24% Coalition, 17% Green).
People aged 55 years and over were more likely to think it is a bad thing (51%), while people aged 18 – 24 were more likely to think it is a good thing (34%).
Males were more likely than females to think it is a good thing (29% v 20%). Comments »

COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
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Two Party Preferred:
In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Federal government response to Covid-19
- State government response to Covid-19
- Better leadership during Covid-19 – PM vs state leader
- Attitudes towards Craig Kelly controversy and Scott Morrison’s leadership
- Views towards federal vs state government responsibility to manage Covid-19 hotel quarantine system
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