Q. Thinking about the last 12 months, has it been a good or bad year for each of the following?
| TOTAL: Good | TOTAL:
Bad |
NET | Very good | Good | Neither good nor bad | Bad | Very bad | Don’t know | |||
| The Australian economy | 15% | 62% | -47 | 6% | 9% | 18% | 39% | 23% | 3% | ||
| Australian politics in general | 24% | 31% | -7 | 7% | 17% | 35% | 23% | 10% | 7% | ||
| The Australian Government | 27% | 34% | -7 | 8% | 19% | 31% | 23% | 10% | 8% | ||
| Large companies and corporations | 27% | 32% | -5 | 9% | 18% | 32% | 26% | 6% | 9% | ||
| Small business | 17% | 60% | -43 | 7% | 10% | 18% | 34% | 27% | 5% | ||
| Trade unions | 17% | 26% | -9 | 6% | 11% | 37% | 19% | 7% | 20% | ||
| The average Australian | 18% | 50% | -32 | 7% | 11% | 27% | 38% | 11% | 6% | ||
| Your personal financial situation | 26% | 30% | -4 | 7% | 18% | 40% | 20% | 9% | 4% | ||
| Your workplace | 21% | 17% | +4 | 7% | 14% | 33% | 12% | 5% | 29% | ||
| You and your family overall | 29% | 25% | +4 | 8% | 21% | 42% | 18% | 7% | 4% | ||
| The planet | 32% | 36% | -4 | 9% | 23% | 25% | 20% | 16% | 7% |
| 2020 NET | 2019 NET | 2018 NET | 2017 NET | 2016 NET | 2015 NET | 2014 NET | 2013 NET | |
| The Australian economy | -47 | -13 | +6 | +11 | -19 | -11 | -13 | -13 |
| The Australian Government | -7 | -7 | -41 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Australian politics in general | -7 | -20 | -50 | -36 | -53 | -41 | -53 | -62 |
| Large companies and corporations | -5 | +23 | +9 | +22 | +5 | +5 | +14 | -9 |
| Small business | -43 | -12 | +6 | -2 | -22 | -12 | -28 | -45 |
| Trade unions | -9 | -11 | -1 | -7 | -18 | -27 | -18 | -25 |
| The average Australian | -32 | -4 | -1 | -6 | -18 | -14 | -23 | -22 |
| Your personal financial situation | -4 | -2 | 0 | +1 | -8 | -6 | -11 | -8 |
| Your workplace (workers) | +4 | +14 | +28 | +34 | +12 | +14 | -5 | +8 |
| You and your family overall | +4 | +19 | +28 | +27 | +12 | +21 | +3 | +18 |
| The planet | -4 | -29 | -19 | -22 | -32 | – | – | – |
2020, budget, covid-19, economy, Federal Budget
Q. Which of the following options is closest to your view on the best way for Australia to recover economically following the Covid-19 pandemic?
| Total | Gender | Age Group | ||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | ||
| Now is not the time to experiment with new ideas, we should return to the way the economy was being run | 22% | 23% | 22% | 30% | 23% | 15% |
| The pandemic has exposed flaws in the economy and there is an opportunity to explore new ways to run the economy | 78% | 77% | 78% | 70% | 77% | 85% |
| Base (n) | 1,066 | 531 | 535 | 340 | 341 | 385 |
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Liberal + National | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Now is not the time to experiment with new ideas, we should return to the way the economy was being run | 22% | 21% | 24% | 23% | 22% |
| The pandemic has exposed flaws in the economy and there is an opportunity to explore new ways to run the economy | 78% | 79% | 76% | 77% | 78% |
| Base (n) | 1,066 | 332 | 433 | 91 | 111 |
economy, State of the Economy, Voting intention
Q. How do you think the economy will look in the next six months?
| Total | Gender | Age | ||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | ||
| The economy will improve in the next six months | 25% | 29% | 21% | 27% | 29% | 20% |
| The economy will stay the same in the next six months | 39% | 37% | 40% | 43% | 37% | 37% |
| The economy will get worse in the next six months | 36% | 33% | 39% | 30% | 35% | 43% |
| Base (n) | 1,081 | 539 | 542 | 338 | 374 | 369 |
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | Independent / Other | ||
| The economy will improve in the next six months | 25% | 24% | 31% | 19% | 19% |
| The economy will stay the same in the next six months | 39% | 35% | 41% | 38% | 35% |
| The economy will get worse in the next six months | 36% | 40% | 28% | 43% | 46% |
| Base (n) | 1,081 | 298 | 460 | 115 | 104 |
economy, Education, environment, Health, party trust
Q: Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
| Liberal | Labor | Greens | Don’t know | Difference | Difference
Sep 2015 |
|||
| Management of the economy | 41% | 23% | 4% | 32% | +18 | +16 | ||
| Ensuring a quality education for all children | 28% | 35% | 7% | 30% | -7 | -4 | ||
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 28% | 33% | 8% | 30% | -5 | -2 | ||
| Protecting the environment | 18% | 16% | 39% | 26% | -21 | -20 | ||
| A fair industrial relations system | 27% | 38% | 5% | 30% | -11 | -8 | ||
| Political leadership | 38% | 20% | 7% | 36% | +18 | +9 | ||
| Addressing climate change | 19% | 23% | 31% | 27% | -12 | -12 | ||
| Controlling interest rates | 36% | 22% | 4% | 37% | +14 | +16 | ||
| Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 28% | 35% | 6% | 31% | -7 | -5 | ||
| Ensuring a quality water supply | 25% | 20% | 24% | 31% | +5 | +7 | ||
| Housing affordability | 24% | 31% | 7% | 38% | -7 | – | ||
| Ensuring a fair taxation system | 31% | 31% | 6% | 32% | – | +4 | ||
| Security and the war on terrorism | 41% | 19% | 5% | 36% | +22 | +20 | ||
| Treatment of asylum seekers | 28% | 21% | 17% | 34% | +7 | +12 | ||
| Managing population growth | 32% | 19% | 9% | 40% | +13 | +11 |
Note – Differences are calculated by subtracting Labor % from Liberal % – except for the two issues on which the Greens lead in which case it is Liberal minus Greens.
The Liberal Party is trusted more to handle security and the war on terrorism (+22), management of the economy (+18), political leadership (+18) and controlling interest rates (+14). The Labor Party is trusted more to handle a fair industrial relations system (-11) and Australian jobs, protection of local industries (-7), ensuring a quality education (-7) and housing affordability (-7).
Main changes since this question was asked last month have been an improvement for the Liberal Party on political leadership (up net 9 points), and improvement for the Labor Party on housing affordability (up 7) and treatment of asylum seekers (up 5).
Q. Do you think Australia’s economy is heading in the right or wrong direction?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
May 2010 |
May 2011 |
Jun 2012 |
Apr 2013 |
Apr 2014 |
Aug 2014 |
May 2015 |
|||
|
The right direction |
35% |
22% |
62% |
21% |
26% |
51% |
45% |
43% |
36% |
39% |
35% |
35% |
||
|
The wrong direction |
41% |
52% |
21% |
61% |
52% |
25% |
29% |
32% |
39% |
34% |
41% |
40% |
||
|
Don’t know |
24% |
26% |
16% |
189% |
21% |
24% |
25% |
25% |
25% |
26% |
24% |
25% |
35% of respondents think that Australia’s economy is heading in the right direction and 41% think it is heading in the wrong direction. This represents no significant change since this question was asked in May.
22% (up 3%) of Labor voters, 62% (down 5%) of Liberal/National voters and 21% (up 12%) of Greens voters think the economy is heading in the right direction. 52% (down 6%) of Labor voters, 61% (down 4%) of Greens voters and 47% of those earning less than $600pw think the economy is heading in the wrong direction.
Q. How concerned are you personally about the following economic issues?
|
Very concerned |
Somewhat concerned |
Not so concerned |
Not at all concerned |
Don’t know |
Very concerned Feb 2015 |
Change |
||
|
Cost of electricity and gas |
52% |
33% |
10% |
3% |
3% |
47% |
+5 |
|
|
Housing affordability |
46% |
33% |
14% |
4% |
4% |
39% |
+7 |
|
|
Cost of food and groceries |
42% |
39% |
13% |
3% |
3% |
35% |
+7 |
|
|
Cost of petrol |
42% |
36% |
14% |
4% |
3% |
24% |
+18 |
|
|
Job security |
35% |
39% |
15% |
6% |
5% |
29% |
+6 |
|
|
Wealth disparity |
35% |
33% |
19% |
7% |
6% |
30% |
+5 |
|
|
Unemployment |
34% |
42% |
15% |
6% |
3% |
30% |
+4 |
|
|
Value of the Australian dollar |
32% |
39% |
21% |
4% |
4% |
24% |
+8 |
|
|
Tax levels |
32% |
37% |
21% |
6% |
5% |
24% |
+8 |
|
|
Interest rates |
28% |
34% |
24% |
10% |
5% |
19% |
+9 |
|
|
The current budget deficit |
25% |
39% |
24% |
7% |
6% |
27% |
-2 |
|
|
National debt |
24% |
37% |
27% |
7% |
5% |
27% |
-3 |
Economic issues of most concern were cost of electricity/gas (52% very concerned), housing affordability (46%), cost of food and groceries (42%) and the cost of petrol (42%). Since February there have been increases in concern about almost all issues – especially cost of petrol (up 18%, although concern was unusually low in February), interest rates (up 9%), tax levels (up 8%), value of the dollar (up 8%), housing affordability (up 7%) and cost of food and groceries (up 7%).
Q. Who would you trust most to handle Australia’s economy – The Treasurer Joe Hockey or the Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other/ Indep- endent |
Aug 2014 |
Mar 2015 |
May 2015 Pre- budget |
|||
|
Joe Hockey |
29% |
6% |
65% |
5% |
22% |
34% |
26% |
30% |
||
|
Chris Bowen |
23% |
47% |
7% |
28% |
18% |
23% |
25% |
22% |
||
|
Don’t know |
47% |
47% |
28% |
67% |
61% |
43% |
49% |
48% |
29% have more trust in Joe Hockey to handle Australia’s economy and 23% have more trust in Chris Bowen. 47% don’t know who they would trust more.
These results are little changed since this question was asked in the week prior to the Federal Budget.
Q. Do you think Australia’s economy is heading in the right or wrong direction?
|
|
Total
|
Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Vote other | May 2010 | May 2011 | Jun 2012 | Apr 2013 | Apr 2014 | Aug 2014 | ||
| The right direction | 35% | 19% | 67% | 9% | 23% | 51% | 45% | 43% | 36% | 39% | 35% | ||
| The wrong direction | 40% | 58% | 14% | 65% | 58% | 25% | 29% | 32% | 39% | 34% | 41% | ||
| Don’t know | 25% | 23% | 19% | 27% | 19% | 24% | 25% | 25% | 25% | 26% | 24% |
35% of respondents think that Australia’s economy is heading in the right direction and 40% think it is heading in the wrong direction. This represents no significant change since this question was asked last August.
19% (down 5%) of Labor voters, 67% (up 11%) of Liberal/National voters and 9% (down 17%) of Greens voters think the economy is heading in the right direction. 58% (up 4%) of Labor voters, 65% (up 11%) of Greens voters and 48% of those earning less than $1,000pw think the economy is heading in the wrong direction.