Work and automation
Q. Which statement best represents your current situation? (In these statements, “automation” means the use of machines and technology to replace human processes).
Total | Men | Women | Aged 18-34 | Aged 35-54 | Aged 55+ | ||
My job has already been replaced by automation | 3% | 5% | 2% | 5% | 3% | 2% | |
My job has been significantly changed my automation | 9% | 11% | 7% | 12% | 8% | 5% | |
I expect my job to be replaced by automation in the next five years | 11% | 12% | 10% | 17% | 9% | 4% | |
I don’t think my job will be replaced by automation in the foreseeable future | 59% | 56% | 61% | 53% | 64% | 58% | |
Don’t know | 18% | 16% | 20% | 14% | 16% | 30% |
(Based on those working)
59% of working respondents don’t think their job will be replaced by automation in the foreseeable future. 3% say that have already been replaced by automation, 9% say their job has significantly changed and 11% expect their job to be replaced by automation. 53% of those aged 18-34 don’t think their job will be replaced by automation compared to 64% of those aged 35-54.
Party with better policies
Q. Which party do you think has the better policies for the following groups of people?
Labor Party |
Liberal Party |
No difference |
Don’t know |
Net 11 Feb 13 |
Net 6 Aug 12 |
|
Pensioners |
32% |
23% |
31% |
15% |
+9 |
+11 |
Unemployed people |
34% |
21% |
30% |
15% |
+13 |
+18 |
People with disabilities |
35% |
20% |
29% |
17% |
+15 |
+16 |
Carers |
30% |
22% |
30% |
19% |
+8 |
+12 |
People on low incomes |
37% |
21% |
26% |
16% |
+16 |
+22 |
All working people |
32% |
31% |
23% |
14% |
+1 |
-1 |
The Labor Party was thought to have better policies than the Liberal Party on all issues except “all working people” where both parties had similar ratings. In particular the Labor Party was thought to have better policies for people on low incomes (37% Labor/21% Liberal), unemployed people (34%/21%) and people with disabilities (35%/20%).
Of those aged 55+, 31% thought Labor had better policies for pensioners and 30% thought the Liberals had better policies.
32% think Labor has better policies for all working people and 31% think the Liberals have better policies. Employed people are more likely to think the Liberals have the better policies (35% Liberal/31% Labor).

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- Preferred Prime Minister
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