The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • May, 2010

    , , , , , ,

    View of Tony Abbott

    If a little more or much more favourable –

    Q. And which of the following would you say has been the main reason for your view of Tony Abbott and the Liberal Party becoming more favourable in recent weeks?

    Tony Abbott is more in touch with ordinary Australians 21%
    They would cut Government spending 20%
    They oppose the 40% tax on mining companies 15%
    They would be tough on asylum seekers 12%
    Liberal Party is more united under Tony Abbott 11%
    They oppose introduction of ETS to address climate change 9%
    Some other reason 4%
    No particular reason 8%

    Sample size = 269

    The main reasons for having a more favourable view of Tony Abbott and the Liberal Party were that Tony Abbott is more in touch with ordinary Australians (21%) and the Liberals would cut Government spending (20%). Opposing the 40% tax on mining companies rated third with 15%.

    For Coalition voters the main reasons were that Tony Abbott is more in touch with ordinary Australians (24%) and the Liberals would cut Government spending (24%).

    27% of those on higher incomes (over $1,000 pw) said Tony Abbott is more in touch with ordinary Australians compared to 12% of those on lower incomes (under $1,000 pw). Comments »

  • May, 2010

    , , , , ,

    Trustworthiness of Leaders

    Q. Do you think the Opposition leader Tony Abbott is more or less trustworthy than the average Australian political leader?Q. And do you think the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is more or less trustworthy than the average Australian political leader?

      Tony Abbott Kevin Rudd
    Total more trustworthy 20% 19%
    Total less trustworthy 32% 34%
    A lot more trustworthy 8% 4%
    A little more trustworthy 12% 15%
    About the same 40% 41%
    A little less trustworthy 10% 13%
    A lot less trustworthy 22% 21%
    Don’t know 9% 5%

    Perceptions of trustworthiness were similar for the two leaders  – both net negative.

    20% believe Tony Abbott to be more trustworthy than the average compared to 32% less trustworthy. For Kevin Rudd the results were 19% more trustworthy and 34% less trustworthy.

    47% of Coalition voters think Tony Abbott is more trustworthy and 56% of Labor voters think he is less trustworthy. For Kevin Rudd 40% of Labor voters think he is more trustworthy and 69% of Coalition voters think he is less trustworthy.

    Greens voters tend to think Tony Abbott is less trustworthy (55%) and are split on Kevin Rudd (24% more/25% less). Comments »

  • May, 2010

    , ,

    RSPT – Support

    Q. The Government has proposed a resources super profits tax- which is a 40% tax on the large profits of mining companies – in order to fund a reduction in company tax, assistance for small business and an increase in superannuation.  Do you support or oppose this tax?

    Total support 43%
    Total oppose 36%
    Strongly support 12%
    Support 31%
    Oppose 22%
    Strongly oppose 14%
    Don’t know 20%

     43% support and 36% oppose the resources super profits tax- which is a 40% tax on the large profits of mining companies – in order to fund a reduction in company tax, assistance for small business and an increase in superannuation.

    Labor voters support the tax 66%/15% and Coalition voters oppose the tax 66%/23%. 66% of Greens voters support the tax and 19% oppose.

    48% of higher income earners ($1,600+ pw) support the tax and 36% oppose.

    A differnt question about the RSPT was asked 2 weeks ago. It showed that 52% approved of higher taxes on the profits of large mining companies and 34% disapproved. Comments »

  • May, 2010

    , ,

    Polling to the People

    The Essential Report is fast becoming one of the nation’s most-quoted polls – after all it’s regular, it’s insightful and it’s free.

    The fact that EMC has been able to produce and promote the poll highlights much that is good with the capacity of new media to create and share information.

    So how do we get to give away so much polling every week?

    Well it starts with relationships. Your Source are one of the companies who pioneered the development of online panels. They have built up a panel of more than 70,000 participants, who receive incentives (redeemable credits to shop at Myer) and work a weekly national omnibus, mainly for commercial clients. Comments »

  • May, 2010

    , , , , , ,

    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?  

    1,851 sample size

    First preference/leaning to 6 months ago 4 weeks ago Last week This week

     

    Liberal 36% 37% 39% 41%
    National 3% 2% 3% 2%
    Total Lib/Nat 39% 39% 42% 43%
    Labor 45% 42% 37% 38%
    Greens 9% 11% 11% 10%
    Family First 2% 2% 2% 2%
    Other/Independent 5% 7% 8% 7%

     

    2PP 6 months ago 4 weeks ago Last week This week

     

    Total Lib/Nat 45% 46% 50% 50%
    Labor 55% 54% 50% 50%

    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. 

    * Sample is the aggregation of two weeks’ polling data.   Comments »

  • May, 2010

    ,

    Interest in Federal Budget

    Q. Thinking about the Federal Budget – how much attention did you pay to this week’s Federal Budget?

      Last year This year
    Total a lot/some 66% 53%
    Total a little/none 31% 44%
    A lot 29% 18%
    Some 37% 35%
    A little 25% 29%
    None 6% 15%
    Can’t say 3% 3%

     Just over half (53%) of respondents said they paid a lot or some attention to the Federal Budget. This is significantly lower than the corresponding figure of 66% for last year’s budget.

     Those most interested were men (60% a lot/some) and people aged 55+ (65%). Only 44% of respondents aged 18-34 paid a lot or some attention to the budget. Comments »

  • May, 2010

    , , , ,

    Reducing the Deficit

    Q. Do you think that with this Budget, the Government has done enough to reduce the deficit and return the budget to surplus in the next few years?

      Total Vote Labor Vote Liberal/ National
    Has done enough 31% 59% 12%
    Hasn’t done enough 39% 16% 69%
    Don’t know 31% 26% 20%

     31% think that the Government has done enough to reduce the deficit and 39% think they have not done enough. Responses mostly followed party preferences – 59% of Labor voters think they have done enough and 69% of Coalition voters think they have not done enough. Greens voters split 40% enough/31% not enough. Comments »

Error: