Importance of car manufacturing
Q. How important is it that Australia has a car manufacturing industry, even if it costs hundreds of millions of dollars each year in Government support and subsidies?
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
Jun 2013 |
|
Total important |
58% |
63% |
59% |
45% |
52% |
||
Total not important |
30% |
26% |
33% |
33% |
35% |
||
Very important |
24% |
31% |
22% |
12% |
19% |
||
Somewhat important |
34% |
32% |
37% |
33% |
33% |
||
Not very important |
18% |
16% |
19% |
21% |
24% |
||
Not at all important |
12% |
10% |
14% |
11% |
11% |
||
Don’t know |
12% |
12% |
8% |
24% |
12% |
58% think that it is very or somewhat important that Australia has a car manufacturing industry, even if it costs hundreds of millions of dollars each year in Government support and subsidies. 30% think it is not very or not at all important. This represents a significant increase in “importance” since this question was previously asked in June.
Those most likely to think it was important were Labor voters (63%) and people on incomes under $1,000pw (65%).
33% of Liberal/National voters, 33% of Greens voters and 38% of people with university degrees thought it not important.
Importance of car manufacturing
Q. How important is it that Australia has a car manufacturing industry, even if it costs hundreds of millions of dollars each year in Government support and subsidies?
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
Total important |
52% |
58% |
51% |
36% |
|
Total not important |
35% |
31% |
40% |
46% |
|
Very important |
19% |
23% |
17% |
6% |
|
Somewhat important |
33% |
35% |
34% |
30% |
|
Not very important |
24% |
20% |
29% |
30% |
|
Not at all important |
11% |
11% |
11% |
16% |
|
Don’t know |
12% |
11% |
9% |
17% |
52% think that it is very or somewhat important that Australia has a car manufacturing industry, even if it costs hundreds of millions of dollars each year in Government support and subsidies. 35% think it is not very or not at all important.
Those most likely to think it was important were Labor voters (58%) and people on incomes under $600pw (59%).
40% of Liberal/National voters, 46% of Greens voters and 42% of people on incomes over $1,600pw thought it not important.
Government Support for Industries
Q. Thinking about Australian industries and the ways in which the Government can give them assistance and support – which forms of assistance and support do you think the Government should give to the following industries? (multi-response)
Lower tax rates | Direct subsidies and grants | Protection from overseas competition | Total should give assistance | Should not give any assistance | Don’t know | |
Agriculture | 34% | 44% | 45% | 79% | 7% | 14% |
Renewable energy e.g. solar panels, wind farms | 34% | 56% | 19% | 79% | 7% | 14% |
Other manufacturing e.g. clothing, whitegoods | 24% | 16% | 43% | 69% | 14% | 17% |
Car manufacturing | 22% | 18% | 39% | 66% | 16% | 18% |
Mining | 13% | 9% | 19% | 37% | 42% | 21% |
Banking and finance | 13% | 3% | 12% | 25% | 57% | 18% |
Media e.g. newspapers, TV stations | 5% | 5% | 12% | 21% | 58% | 21% |
More than three-quarters of respondents are in favour of Government assistance and support for agriculture and renewable energy industries. 45% believe that agriculture should receive protection from overseas competition and 56% support direct grants and subsidies for renewable energy.
About two-thirds are in favour of Government support for car and other manufacturing industries – especially protection from overseas competition.
Media (21%) and banking and finance (25%) are thought to be least deserving of Government support.
By voting intention Liberal/National voters were a little more likely to favour Government support for agriculture (87%) and mining (44%). Comments »

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