08 July 2013, 080713, asylum seekers, Carbon Tax, Gonski, Labor Party policies, Mining tax, NBN, ndis
Q. Under Kevin Rudd’s leadership, do you think the Labor Party should dump, change or keep their policies on the following issues?
|
Dump |
Keep |
Change |
Don’t know |
|
| Handling of asylum seekers |
21% |
10% |
51% |
17% |
| Building the NBN |
14% |
50% |
15% |
15% |
| The mining tax |
29% |
30% |
24% |
18% |
| The carbon tax |
39% |
25% |
23% |
13% |
| The Gonski education reforms |
15% |
44% |
16% |
25% |
| The NDIS |
7% |
59% |
9% |
25% |
Respondents were most likely to think the Labor Party under Kevin Rudd should keep the NDIS (59%), building the NBN (50%) and the Gonski reforms (44%).
51% think it should change the policies around handling asylum seekers and 39% think it should dump the carbon tax. Opinions were divided over the mining tax – 30% keep, 29% dump and 24% change.
Labor voters were most in favour of keeping the NBN (78%), the mining tax (47%), the carbon tax (39%), the Gonski reforms (67%) and the NDIS (74%) but favoured changing the policy on asylum seekers (56%).
17 June 2013, 170613, asylum seekers, federal election issues
Q. How important is the asylum seeker issue of in deciding which party you will vote for in the Federal election?
|
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| The most important issue |
6% |
5% |
7% |
– |
|
| One of the most important issues |
28% |
16% |
39% |
27% |
|
| Quite important but not as important as other issues |
37% |
43% |
35% |
31% |
|
| Not very important |
14% |
16% |
11% |
18% |
|
| Not at all important |
10% |
14% |
6% |
20% |
|
| Don’t know |
5% |
5% |
2% |
5% |
34% of respondents think the asylum seeker issue is the most important or one of the most important election issues.
46% of Liberal/National voters think it is one of or the most important issues.
11 march 2013, 110313, asylum seekers, immigration issues
Q. Which of the following issues are you most concerned about?
(two versions of responses were presented – each to approximately half the sample)
|
The arrival of asylum seekers by boat |
38% |
33% |
The arrival of approximately 15,000 asylum seekers by boat each year |
|
The use of foreign workers under short term (457) visas |
20% |
31% |
The use of about 150,000 foreign workers under short term (457) visas each year |
|
The overall increase in Australia’s total population |
18% |
17% |
The overall increase in Australia’s total population of about 300,000 people each year |
|
None of them |
19% |
15% |
None of them |
|
Don’t know |
4% |
4% |
Don’t know |
As general issues (without specific figures), 38% of respondents said they were most concerned about the arrival of asylum seekers by boat compared to 20% most concerned about use of workers on 457 visas and 18% most concerned about the overall population increase.
When approximate figures were specified for each option, most concern about asylum seekers dropped to 33% and most concern about 457 visas increased to 31%.
Based on the options which included figures – 36% of Labor voters are most concerned about 457 visas compared to 32% of Liberal/National voters. Liberal/National voters were more concerned about asylum seekers (42% – compared to 23% for Labor voters).
There were few differences by age or gender – except that older respondents were somewhat more likely to be most concerned about asylum seekers (42% of aged 55+).
11 February 2013, 110213, asylum seekers, climate change, Education, environment, Housing affordability, management of the economy, war on terrorism
Q. Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election?
|
Total 11 Feb 13 |
19 Nov 12 |
30 Jul 12 |
5 Dec 11 |
6 June 11 |
25 Jan 10 |
|
| Management of the economy |
62% |
66% |
64% |
62% |
61% |
63% |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children |
29% |
35% |
26% |
22% |
26% |
23% |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system |
52% |
57% |
47% |
47% |
49% |
48% |
| Protecting the environment |
14% |
14% |
11% |
13% |
15% |
16% |
| A fair industrial relations system |
12% |
8% |
12% |
11% |
8% |
na |
| Political leadership |
14% |
15% |
25% |
18% |
17% |
23% |
| Addressing climate change |
9% |
9% |
9% |
10% |
15% |
16% |
| Controlling interest rates |
9% |
11% |
9% |
11% |
13% |
15% |
| Australian jobs and protection of local industries |
40% |
32% |
41% |
36% |
32% |
33% |
| Ensuring a quality water supply |
4% |
5% |
3% |
4% |
5% |
12% |
| Housing affordability |
11% |
14% |
13% |
13% |
16% |
14% |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system |
21% |
17% |
18% |
16% |
17% |
14% |
| Security and the war on terrorism |
6% |
5% |
5% |
4% |
8% |
9% |
| Treatment of asylum seekers |
6% |
6% |
10% |
8% |
5% |
na |
| Managing population growth |
9% |
7% |
8% |
8% |
12% |
na |
*Not asked
62% of people surveyed rated management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 52% ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system, 40% Australian jobs and protection of local industries and 29% ensuring a quality education for all children.
Since November, there has been an increase in the importance of Australian jobs and protection of local industries (+8%) and a decline in the importance of ensuring a quality education for all children (-6%) and ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system (-5%).
11 February 2013, 110213, asylum seekers, controlling interest rates, Education, eleciton issues, management of the economy, party trust, war on terrorism
Q. Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
|
Labor |
Liberal |
Greens |
Don’t know |
Diff |
Diff |
Diff |
|
| Management of the economy |
31% |
46% |
3% |
21% |
-15 |
-14 |
-18 |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children |
37% |
35% |
6% |
22% |
+2 |
+5 |
-2 |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system |
33% |
36% |
6% |
25% |
-3 |
-3 |
-6 |
| Protecting the environment |
20% |
21% |
39% |
20% |
+18 |
+16 |
+17 |
| A fair industrial relations system |
39% |
33% |
4% |
23% |
+6 |
+9 |
+6 |
| Political leadership |
29% |
37% |
6% |
29% |
-8 |
-12 |
-16 |
| Addressing climate change |
21% |
24% |
29% |
26% |
+5 |
+9 |
+7 |
| Controlling interest rates |
27% |
41% |
3% |
30% |
-14 |
-11 |
-18 |
| Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries |
33% |
36% |
4% |
27% |
-3 |
-2 |
-6 |
| Ensuring a quality water supply |
21% |
27% |
23% |
29% |
-6 |
-7 |
-12 |
| Housing affordability |
27% |
33% |
5% |
35% |
-6 |
-5 |
-11 |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system |
31% |
37% |
4% |
28% |
-6 |
-9 |
-10 |
| Security and the war on terrorism |
25% |
38% |
4% |
33% |
-13 |
-15 |
-22 |
| Treatment of asylum seekers |
20% |
37% |
14% |
30% |
-17 |
-18 |
-20 |
| Managing population growth |
21% |
33% |
7% |
39% |
-12 |
-15 |
-19 |
Note – Differences are calculated by subtracting Liberal % from Labor % – except for the two issues on which the Greens lead in which case it is Greens minus Liberal.
Labor has a significant lead over the Liberal Party only on ensuring a fair industrial relations system. The Liberal Party has maintained strong leads on management of the economy, controlling interest rates, political leadership, security and the war on terrorism, treatment of asylum seekers and managing population growth.
There is little difference between Labor and the Liberals on ensuring a quality education for all children, ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system and protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries. Since November, there has been very little shift on any issue.
03 December 2012, 031212, asylum seekers, Julia Gillard, tony abbott
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.
19 November 2012, 191112, asylum seekers, climate change, economy, Education, Election Issues, environment, fair taxation, health system, Housing affordability, Interest rates, IR system
Q. Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election?
|
First |
Second |
Third |
Total 19 Nov 12 |
Total 30 Jul 12 |
5 Dec 11 |
6 June 11 |
25 Jan 10 |
|
| Management of the economy |
47% |
11% |
9% |
66% |
64% |
62% |
61% |
63% |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children |
7% |
16% |
11% |
35% |
26% |
22% |
26% |
23% |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system |
15% |
22% |
20% |
57% |
47% |
47% |
49% |
48% |
| Protecting the environment |
3% |
6% |
5% |
14% |
11% |
13% |
15% |
16% |
| A fair industrial relations system |
2% |
3% |
3% |
8% |
12% |
11% |
8% |
na |
| Political leadership |
6% |
5% |
4% |
15% |
25% |
18% |
17% |
23% |
| Addressing climate change |
2% |
2% |
5% |
9% |
9% |
10% |
15% |
16% |
| Controlling interest rates |
2% |
5% |
4% |
11% |
9% |
11% |
13% |
15% |
| Australian jobs and protection of local industries |
8% |
11% |
13% |
32% |
41% |
36% |
32% |
33% |
| Ensuring a quality water supply |
1% |
2% |
2% |
5% |
3% |
4% |
5% |
12% |
| Housing affordability |
3% |
6% |
5% |
14% |
13% |
13% |
16% |
14% |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system |
2% |
5% |
9% |
17% |
18% |
16% |
17% |
14% |
| Security and the war on terrorism |
* |
1% |
3% |
5% |
5% |
4% |
8% |
9% |
| Treatment of asylum seekers |
1% |
1% |
3% |
6% |
10% |
8% |
5% |
na |
| Managing population growth |
1% |
2% |
4% |
7% |
8% |
8% |
12% |
na |
*Not asked
66% of people surveyed rated management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 57% ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system, 35% ensuring a quality education for all children and 32% Australian jobs and protection of local industries.
Since July, there has been an increase in the importance of ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system (+10%) and ensuring a quality education for all children (+9%) and a decline in the importance of political leadership (-10%) and Australian jobs and protection of local industries (-9%).
20 August 2012, 200812, asylum seekers, detention centre facilities, federal government recommendations, humanitarian program, manu, nauru, refugees
Q. An expert panel appointed by the Federal Government has made a number of recommendations for handling asylum seekers arriving in Australia by boat. Do you approve or disapprove of the following recommendations?
|
Total approve |
Total disapprove |
Strongly approve |
Approve |
Dis-approve |
Strongly disapprove |
Don’t know |
|
| Expanding Australia’s humanitarian program immediately from 13,500 places per year to 20,000 |
42% |
46% |
13% |
29% |
20% |
26% |
12% |
| Limiting the ways refugees who have arrived by boat can bring their families to Australia |
72% |
18% |
40% |
32% |
11% |
7% |
11% |
| Reopening detention facilities in Nauru and Manus Islands |
67% |
18% |
36% |
31% |
11% |
7% |
14% |
| Detaining offshore refugees who have arrived by boat for several years |
47% |
39% |
26% |
21% |
22% |
17% |
13% |
| Pursuing a people swap deal with Malaysia as the basis for a regional solution |
30% |
47% |
11% |
19% |
22% |
25% |
23% |
| Consider turning back boats in the future but only if special conditions are met |
66% |
21% |
35% |
31% |
11% |
10% |
13% |
There was strong majority approval of the recommendations to limit the ways refugees who have arrived by boat can bring their families to Australia (72%), reopen detention facilities in Nauru and Manus Islands (67%) and consider turning back boats (66%). Respondents were a little more in favour of detaining offshore refugees for several years (47% approve/39% disapprove) and divided over expanding Australia’s humanitarian program (42%/46%). 47% disapproved of pursuing a people swap deal with Malaysia as the basis for a regional solution.
48% of Labor voters and 81% of Greens voters approved expanding Australia’s humanitarian aid but 54% of Liberal/National voters disapproved.
48% of Labor voters approved pursuing a people swap deal with Malaysia but 59% of Liberal/National voters disapproved.
45% of Labor voters and 81% of Liberal/National voters approved turning back boats but 56% of Greens voters disapproved.
Men favoured detaining refugees for several years (58% approve/31% disapprove while women were more likely to be opposed (38% approve/46% disapprove).