The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Dec, 2013

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    Watching downloaded TV programs and movies

    Q. How do you watch those TV programs and movies?

     

    Total

     

    Men

    Women

     

    Aged 18-34

    Aged 35-54

    Aged 55+

    On my TV

    63%

    65%

    60%

    62%

    62%

    63%

    On a PC or laptop computer

    49%

    52%

    47%

    57%

    43%

    44%

    On a mobile device (phone or tablet)

    12%

    13%

    11%

    16%

    10%

    7%

    Don’t know

    1%

    *

    2%

    2%

    * excludes those who never download

    63% watch downloaded programs and movies on their TV and 49% on a PC or laptop computer. Those aged 18-34 are more likely to watch on a PC or laptop (57%).

  • Dec, 2012

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    Federal politics – 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 = 1,799respondents

    First preference/leaning to

    Election

    21 Aug 10

    4 weeks ago

    7/11/12

    2 weeks ago

    19/11/12

    Last week

    26/11/12

    This week

    3/12/12

    Liberal

    43%

    43%

    44%

    44%

    National

    3%

    3%

    3%

    3%

    Total Lib/Nat

    43.6%

    46%

    46%

    47%

    47%

    Labor

    38.0%

    37%

    36%

    36%

    37%

    Greens

    11.8%

    9%

    10%

    10%

    9%

    Other/Independent

    6.6%

    8%

    9%

    8%

    7%

     

    2PP

    Election

    21 Aug 10

    4 weeks ago

    2 weeks ago

    Last week

    This week

    Total Lib/Nat

    49.9%

    53%

    53%

    53%

    53%

    Labor

    50.1%

    47%

    47%

    47%

    47%

    NB.  The data in the above tables comprise 2-week averages derived from 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. These estimates have a confidence interval of approx. plus or minus 2-3%.

  • Dec, 2012

    , , ,

    Awareness of Julia Gillard and AWU issue

    Q. How much have you read or heard about the Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s involvement with the AWU when she was working as a lawyer 20 years ago?

     

    Total

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    A lot

    31%

    37%

    35%

    12%

    Some

    29%

    30%

    33%

    30%

    A little

    25%

    23%

    22%

    35%

    Nothing

    12%

    7%

    8%

    22%

    Don’t know

    3%

    2%

    2%

    1%

    60% said they had read or heard a lot or some about the Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s involvement with the AWU when she was working as a lawyer 20 years ago, 25% said they had read/heard a little and 12% had read/heard nothing.

    Those most likely to have read/heard a lot/some were men (65%), aged 55+ (78%) and Liberal/National voters (67%).

    Those most likely to have read/heard a little/nothing were women (42%), aged 18-34 (53%) and Greens voters (57%).

  • Dec, 2012

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    Handling of Julia Gillard and AWU issue

    Q. How would you rate the way each of the following have handled this issue concerning Julia Gillard and the AWU? (based on respondents who have read or heard about the issue)

     

    Total good

    Total poor

     

    Very good

    Good

    Neither good nor poor

    Poor

    Very poor

    Don’t know

    Julia Gillard

    39%

    35%

    13%

    26%

    19%

    11%

    24%

    6%

    The Opposition

    20%

    49%

    5%

    15%

    23%

    21%

    28%

    7%

    The media

    20%

    37%

    5%

    15%

    36%

    20%

    17%

    7%

     

     

    Total

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Heard a lot

    Heard some

    Heard a little

    Julia Gillard – Good

    – Poor

    39%

    35%

    71%

    7%

    17%

    60%

    58%

    15%

    39%

    49%

    43%

    36%

    38%

    21%

    Opposition -Good

    – Poor

    20%

    49%

    4%

    79%

    41%

    21%

    5%

    75%

    26%

    58%

    25%

    47%

    11%

    45%

    Media – Good

    – Poor

    20%

    37%

    7%

    49%

    35%

    24%

    13%

    46%

    25%

    43%

    24%

    34%

    14%

    36%

    39% think Julia Gillard’s handling of the issue has been good and 35% think it has been poor. Among Labor voters, 71% think it has been good and 7% poor and among those who have read/heard a lot about the issue, 39% think it has been good and 49% poor.

    20% think the Opposition’s handling of the issue has been good and 49% think it has been poor. Among Liberal/National voters, 41% think it has been good and 21% poor and among those who have read/heard a lot about the issue, 26% think it has been good and 58% poor.

    20% think the media’s handling of the issue has been good and 37% think it has been poor. Among those who have read/heard a lot about the issue, 25% think it has been good and 43% poor.

  • Dec, 2012

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    Impact of AWU issue on views of Julia Gillard

    Q. How has the issue concerning Julia Gillard and the AWU affected your views on Julia Gillard as Prime Minister?

     

    Total

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Heard a lot

    Heard some

    Heard a little

    Total more negative

    38%

    9%

    64%

    20%

    51%

    37%

    23%

    Total more positive/no difference

    59%

    89%

    35%

    77%

    49%

    62%

    71%

    A lot more negative

    21%

    1%

    41%

    5%

    37%

    18%

    6%

    Somewhat more negative

    17%

    8%

    23%

    15%

    15%

    19%

    17%

    Made little or no difference

    48%

    67%

    31%

    57%

    30%

    54%

    66%

    Somewhat more positive

    6%

    11%

    2%

    8%

    9%

    5%

    3%

    A lot more positive

    5%

    11%

    2%

    12%

    10%

    3%

    2%

    Don’t know

    4%

    2%

    1%

    4%

    1%

    5%

    38% say the issue has made them feel more negative about Julia Gillard as prime Minister while 59% say it has made little or no difference or made them feel more positive.

    Among Labor voters 89% say it has made them feel more positive or made little or no difference.

    64% of Liberal/National voters say it has made them more negative while 35% say it has made little/no difference or made them more positive.

    Those most likely to feel more negative about Julia Gillard were aged 55+ (45%)

  • Dec, 2012

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    Leaders positions on asylum seekers

    Q. Regardless of how you vote, what words would you use to describe the positions taken by Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott on the issue of asylum seekers? Choose as many that you think apply.

     

    17 Oct 2011

    3 Dec 2012

     

    Julia Gillard

    Tony Abbott

    Julia Gillard

    Tony Abbott

    Difference

    Just playing politics

    46%

    47%

    39%

    42%

    -3

    Too soft

    21%

    7%

    32%

    9%

    +23

    Stubborn

    26%

    20%

    13%

    17%

    -4

    Populist

    13%

    14%

    13%

    11%

    +2

    Fair

    10%

    15%

    10%

    13%

    -3

    Responsible

    11%

    16%

    9%

    14%

    -5

    Unethical

    24%

    14%

    9%

    13%

    -4

    Balanced

    7%

    11%

    7%

    10%

    -3

    Too hard

    10%

    6%

    6%

    11%

    -5

    Cruel

    13%

    9%

    5%

    11%

    -6

    Principled

    6%

    11%

    5%

    8%

    -3

    Visionary

    6%

    5%

    2%

    4%

    -2

    The most common descriptor for both Julia Gillard (39%) and Tony Abbott (42%) was that they are “just playing politics” over the issue of asylum seekers.

    The main difference between the leaders positions on asylum seekers was that Julia Gillard was more likely to be considered “too soft” (32% to 9%).

    Since this question was asked in October last year, the proportion describe Julia Gillard’s position as too soft has increased by 11%, stubborn decreased by 13%, unethical decreased by 15% and cruel decreased by 8%. Opinions of Tony Abbott’s position have remained much the same.

  • Dec, 2012

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    Christmas spending

    Q. Thinking about Christmas spending – compared to last year, do you expect to be spending more on gifts at Christmas, less or much the same?

     

    Dec 08

    Dec 09

    Nov 10

    Dec 11

    Dec 12

    Will spend more

    3%

    11%

    10%

    13%

    14%

    Will be spending less

    38%

    38%

    38%

    40%

    24%

    Spend much the same

    55%

    47%

    48%

    44%

    58%

    Don’t know

    5%

    4%

    5%

    3%

    3%

    14% say they will spend more on gifts at Christmas this year, 24% will spend less and 58% much the same.

    Compared to last year, those spending less has declined by 16% and those spending about the same increased 14%.

    21% of those aged under 35 say they will spend more, 60% of those aged 35-54 will spend much the same and 69% of those aged 55+ will spend much the same. There is no significant relationship between changes in spending and income.

  • Dec, 2012

    , , , ,

    Christmas spending online

    Q. How much of your Christmas gift shopping do you expect you will be doing online?

    All or most of it

    4%

    A bit more than half

    9%

    About half

    12%

    A bit less than half

    13%

    Not much

    32%

    None of it

    20%

    Won’t be buying Christmas gifts

    5%

    Don’t know

    5%

    25% say they will be doing at least half their Christmas gift shopping online and 70% will be doing at least some online.

    35% of those aged under 45 say they will be doing at least half their shopping online compared to 16% of those aged 45+.

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