Reason for Australia’s national debt
Q. What do you think is the main reason for Australia’s national debt?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| The world economy |
26% |
44% |
10% |
49% |
| The high Australian dollar |
17% |
31% |
9% |
19% |
| Government are poor economic managers |
46% |
12% |
76% |
19% |
| Don’t know |
11% |
14% |
5% |
14% |
46% think the main reason for Australia’s national debt is that the Government are poor economic managers. 26% think it is due to the world economy and 17% blame the high Australian dollar.
Labor (44%) and Greens (49%) voters are more likely to blame the world economy, while 76% of Liberal/National voters say it is because the Government are poor economic managers.
Impact of Dollar on Industry
Q. The Australian dollar is now at $1.05 US and has been historically higher than the normal range of 60c-80c US. Is the high Australian dollar good or bad for the following industries?
|
Total good |
Total bad |
Very good |
Good |
Neither good nor bad |
Bad |
Very bad |
Don’t know |
|
| Mining industry |
29% |
29% |
10% |
19% |
20% |
24% |
5% |
22% |
| Farming & Grazing Industry |
16% |
49% |
4% |
12% |
16% |
36% |
13% |
19% |
| Finance Industry |
38% |
15% |
9% |
29% |
25% |
12% |
3% |
21% |
| Construction Industry |
24% |
26% |
4% |
20% |
28% |
22% |
4% |
23% |
| Manufacturing industry |
15% |
50% |
3% |
12% |
14% |
29% |
21% |
20% |
| Retail Industry |
23% |
47% |
6% |
17% |
14% |
30% |
17% |
16% |
| Australian Tourism Industry |
20% |
56% |
8% |
12% |
10% |
31% |
25% |
14% |
Overall, respondents think that the high Australian dollar has only been good for the finance industry (38% good/15% bad).
They believe that it has been particularly bad for the tourism industry (20% good/56% bad), the manufacturing industry (15%/50%), the farming and grazing industry (16%/49%) and the retail industry (23%/47%)
On the mining industry, they were split 29% good/29% bad.
Impact of Mining Boom and Dollar
Q. Has the mining boom and the high dollar been good or bad for –
|
Total good |
Total bad |
Very good |
Good |
Neither good nor bad |
Bad |
Very bad |
Don’t know |
|
| The economy generally |
52% |
12% |
11% |
41% |
22% |
10% |
2% |
15% |
| Jobs generally |
42% |
18% |
8% |
34% |
26% |
15% |
3% |
14% |
| You personally |
23% |
10% |
5% |
18% |
55% |
8% |
2% |
10% |
A majority (52%) think that the mining boom and the high dollar has been good for the economy and are more likely to think it has been good for jobs (42% good/18% bad).
61% of Labor voters, 53% of Greens voters and 51% of Coalition voters think it has been good for the economy.
55% think it has been neither good nor bad for them personally. For those on incomes over $1,600pw, 32% think it has been good for them personally and 9% bad.
Support for Other Manufacturing Sectors
Q. Do you think other manufacturing sectors that are under pressure from the high Australian dollar should receive similar assistance from Governments, or do you think the car industry needs special assistance?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Other manufacturing industries should receive similar assistance | 62% | 61% | 66% | 68% |
| The car industry needs special assistance | 12% | 15% | 15% | 9% |
| Don’t know | 26% | 24% | 19% | 23% |
62% thought that other manufacturing industries should receive similar assistance and only 12% thought the car industry needs special assistance. There were no major differences across demographic and voter groups – although strongest support for similar assistance for other industries came from Greens voters (68%), aged 45+ (69%) and Victorian residents (68%).
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