Most significant political event
Q. What do you think was the most significant political event of 2012?
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
Implementation of the carbon tax |
41% |
40% |
44% |
52% |
Rudd leadership challenge |
14% |
16% |
14% |
12% |
Reopening asylum seeker detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru |
9% |
7% |
11% |
8% |
AWU slush fund allegations against the Prime Minister |
7% |
1% |
14% |
– |
Julia Gillard’s sexism speech in Parliament |
6% |
11% |
2% |
3% |
Bipartisan support for National Disability Insurance Scheme |
5% |
9% |
3% |
4% |
Australia winning a seat on the UN Security Council |
5% |
8% |
3% |
4% |
Don’t know |
13% |
8% |
8% |
16% |
41% think the most significant political event of the year was the implementation of the carbon tax and 14% think it was the Rudd leadership challenge.
All voter groups thought the implementation of the carbon tax was the most significant event.
Liberal/National voters were more likely to think the AWU slush fund allegations against the Prime Minister was most significant (14%) while Labor voters were more likely to think Julia Gillard’s sexism speech in Parliament was most significant (11%).
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.
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%)
What’s Up With Woolies?
Thinking about spending your dollars for groceries?
Know this about Woolies…
Letter to Mr Grant O’Brien re Woolworths-Caltex service stations
Dear Mr O’Brien,
While your company is advertising its commitment to Australian suppliers, your service station partner Caltex is set to close down one of its two Australian refineries, putting 700 Australians out of work.
If you were serious about supporting Australian jobs, you would make sure that Woolworths/Caltex service stations sold Aussie-refined fuel.
But as long as Woolworths sells fuel from overseas refineries, your claims of being “proud to be Aussie, through and through” will ring hollow.
I urge you to fill up on Aussie fuel, and save the jobs of Australian fuel workers.

COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Download this week's ReportEssential Report
Two Party Preferred:
In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Federal government response to Covid-19
- State government response to Covid-19
- Better leadership during Covid-19 – PM vs state leader
- Attitudes towards Craig Kelly controversy and Scott Morrison’s leadership
- Views towards federal vs state government responsibility to manage Covid-19 hotel quarantine system
Essential Tags
Recent Comments
