economic conditions, economy, job security
Q. How concerned are you that you or some member of your immediate family will lose their job in the next year or so: very concerned, somewhat concerned, or not at all concerned?
| 16 Feb 09 | 27 Apr 09 | 8 Jun 09 | 5 Oct 09 | 18 Jan 10 | 29 Mar 10 | 28 Jun 10 | 18 Oct 10 | |
| Total concerned | 62% | 67% | 52% | 49% | 45% | 39% | 43% | 40% |
| Very concerned | 22% | 24% | 13% | 14% | 12% | 10% | 9% | 11% |
| Somewhat concerned | 40% | 43% | 39% | 35% | 33% | 29% | 34% | 29% |
| Not at all concerned | 29% | 23% | 35% | 40% | 40% | 45% | 38% | 42% |
| Don’t know | 4% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 8% | 7% | 12% | 10% |
| No employees in the immediate family | 5% | 5% | 8% | 5% | 8% | 9% | 7% | 7% |
40% were concerned that they or some member of their immediate family will lose their job in the next year or so and 42% were not at all concerned – a net positive movement of 7% since the last survey in June.
Full-time workers (40% concerned/48% not concerned) were more optimistic than part-time workers (53% concerened/37% not concerned). Comments »
economy, Election, Voting intention
Q. Which one of the following is the main reason why you will vote for that party?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Better at handling Australia’s economy | 22% | 14% | 41% | 2% |
| They are more likely to represent the interests of all Australians | 14% | 16% | 11% | 17% |
| Better at looking after the interests people like me | 13% | 17% | 10% | 16% |
| More trustworthy than the other parties | 9% | 7% | 5% | 22% |
| They are more capable of governing effectively than the other parties | 9% | 5% | 17% | 2% |
| They have a better leader | 8% | 16% | 4% | 2% |
| I always vote for the same party | 6% | 9% | 5% | 2% |
| They have better policies on things like education and health | 5% | 9% | 3% | 3% |
| They have better policies on things like environment and climate change | 3% | * | – | 27% |
| They have better policies on things like industrial relations and supporting Australian workers | 2% | 4% | * | – |
| They have better policies on things like national security and immigration | 1% | 1% | 3% | 1% |
| No reason | 7% | 2% | 2% | 5% |
Main reasons for voting Labor are looking after interests of people like me, better leader and representing the interests of all Australians. Main reasons for voting for the Coalition are handling the economy and more capable of governing. Greens voters rate policies on the environment and climate change and trustworthiness most important. Comments »
climate change, economy, Education, Election, environment, Health, immigration, International Relations, Security, Voting intention
Q. How important are the following in deciding which party you will vote for?
| Top priority | Very important | Quite important | Not so important | Don’t know | |
| Better at handling Australia’s economy | 37% | 48% | 10% | 1% | 4% |
| They have better policies on things like education and health | 31% | 47% | 16% | 1% | 4% |
| They are more capable of governing effectively than the other parties | 30% | 47% | 16% | 1% | 6% |
| They are more likely to represent the interests of all Australians | 30% | 45% | 18% | 3% | 5% |
| They will do things that help me and my family | 28% | 42% | 21% | 4% | 5% |
| They have better policies on things like national security and immigration | 24% | 42% | 22% | 6% | 5% |
| Better at looking after the interests people like me | 23% | 47% | 22% | 4% | 4% |
| They have better policies on things like industrial relations and supporting Australian workers | 23% | 44% | 24% | 4% | 5% |
| More trustworthy than the other parties | 22% | 44% | 21% | 5% | 8% |
| They have better policies on things like environment and climate change | 21% | 41% | 23% | 9% | 5% |
| They have a better leader | 16% | 40% | 28% | 8% | 7% |
| I always vote for them | 9% | 15% | 24% | 42% | 10% |
Key factors in deciding which party to vote for are handling the economy (37% top priority), policies on education and health (31%), capable of governing effectively (30%) and representing the interests of all Australians (30%). Comments »
economy, Education, Election, Health, immigration, International Relations, Security, Voting intention
Q. How important are the following in deciding which party you will vote for?
| Top priority | Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens |
| Better at handling Australia’s economy | 37% | 33% | 51% | 19% |
| They have better policies on things like education and health | 31% | 41% | 25% | 35% |
| They are more capable of governing effectively than the other parties | 30% | 30% | 35% | 18% |
| They are more likely to represent the interests of all Australians | 30% | 36% | 25% | 25% |
| They will do things that help me and my family | 28% | 32% | 27% | 17% |
| They have better policies on things like national security and immigration | 24% | 24% | 29% | 20% |
| Better at looking after the interests people like me | 23% | 27% | 21% | 22% |
| They have better policies on things like industrial relations and supporting Australian workers | 23% | 36% | 17% | 20% |
| More trustworthy than the other parties | 22% | 23% | 23% | 21% |
| They have better policies on things like environment and climate change | 21% | 26% | 13% | 46% |
| They have a better leader | 16% | 24% | 14% | 13% |
| I always vote for them | 9% | 11% | 11% | 6% |
The most important issues for Labor voters are policies on education and health (41% top priority), representing the interests of all Australians (36%), policies on industrial relations and supporting workers (36%) and doing things to help me and my family (32%).
For Liberal/National voters the key issues are handling the economy (51% top priority), capable of governing effectively (35%) and policies on national security and immigration (29%).
The major issue for Greens voters is policies on the environment and climate change (46%). Comments »
Abbott, economy, GFC, Gillard, Labor, Liberal
Q. If another global financial crisis develops in the next few years, which leader and party do you think would be best to handle it?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Julia Gillard and the Labor Party | 42% | 88% | 5% | 66% |
| Tony Abbott and the Liberal Party | 35% | 2% | 80% | 6% |
| Don’t know | 23% | 11% | 15% | 27% |
42% think Julia Gillard and the Labor Party would be best at handling another global financial crisis if it was to develop and 35% think Tony Abbott and the Liberal Party would be best.
Those aged 25-54 prefer the Labor Party over the Liberals 46% to 30%, while those aged 55+ prefer the Liberal Party 48% to 36%. Comments »
asylum seekers, Australian jobs, climate change, economy, Education, Election, environment, Health, Housing, Interest rates, leadership, population, tax
Q. Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election?
| First | Second | Third | Total | Total
10 May 10 |
Difference | |
| Management of the economy | 38% | 18% | 7% | 63% | 62% | +1% |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 16% | 20% | 19% | 55% | 50% | +5% |
| Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 7% | 8% | 9% | 24% | 29% | -5% |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children | 4% | 11% | 9% | 24% | 19% | +5% |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system | 4% | 6% | 8% | 18% | 22% | -4% |
| Protecting the environment | 5% | 5% | 5% | 15% | 13% | +2% |
| Political leadership | 6% | 3% | 4% | 13% | 12% | +1% |
| Housing affordability | 4% | 4% | 5% | 13% | 17% | -4% |
| Addressing climate change | 4% | 4% | 4% | 12% | 12% | – |
| Controlling interest rates | 3% | 5% | 4% | 12% | 16% | -4% |
| Managing population growth | 1% | 4% | 7% | 12% | 14% | -2% |
| Treatment of asylum seekers | 4% | 3% | 4% | 11% | * | |
| A fair industrial relations system | 2% | 4% | 5% | 11% | 9% | +2% |
| Security and the war on terrorism | 1% | 2% | 5% | 8% | 7% | +1% |
| Ensuring a quality water supply | 1% | 1% | 4% | 6% | 7% | -1% |
*Not asked in May 2010 poll
The most important election issues were management of the economy, the quality of the health system, jobs and local industry and a quality education for all children.
Since this issue was last polled in May, health and education have increased in importance (both +5%) and Australian jobs and protection of local industry declined 5%. Comments »
asylum seekers, Australian jobs, climate change, economy, Education, Election Issues, environment, Health, Housing, Industrial Relations, Interest rates, leadership, population, Security, tax, Terrorism, Water
Q. And which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
| Labor | Liberal | Greens | Don’t know | |
| A fair industrial relations system | 45% | 24% | 5% | 26% |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children | 41% | 25% | 4% | 29% |
| Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 42% | 28% | 3% | 27% |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 38% | 27% | 4% | 31% |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system | 36% | 28% | 4% | 32% |
| Housing affordability | 30% | 24% | 4% | 41% |
| Political leadership | 33% | 30% | 5% | 33% |
| Ensuring a quality water supply | 23% | 23% | 22% | 32% |
| Managing population growth | 24% | 27% | 9% | 40% |
| Security and the war on terrorism | 25% | 30% | 3% | 42% |
| Management of the economy | 32% | 38% | 3% | 27% |
| Treatment of asylum seekers | 23% | 29% | 11% | 37% |
| Controlling interest rates | 28% | 35% | 2% | 35% |
| Addressing climate change | 18% | 16% | 36% | 29% |
| Protecting the environment | 17% | 13% | 47% | 23% |
Labor have a substantial lead over the Liberal Party as the best party to handle a fair industrial relations system (+21%), quality education for all (+16%), Australian jobs and protection of industries (+14%) and ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system (+11%).
The Liberal Party’s main strengths were controlling interest rates (+7%), treatment of asylum seekers (+6%) and management of the economy (+6%).
The Greens were thought to be the best party for protecting the environment (47%) and addressing climate change (36%). Comments »
Q. Over the next 12 months do you think economic conditions in Australia will get better, get worse or stay much the same?
| 1 Dec 08 | 15 Jun 09 | 5 Oct 09 | 18 Jan 10 | 29 Mar 10 | 28 Jun 10 | |
| Total better | 21% | 43% | 66% | 53% | 54% | 33% |
| Total worse | 61% | 37% | 15% | 19% | 19% | 31% |
| Get a lot better | 2% | 5% | 8% | 9% | 9% | 5% |
| Get a little better | 19% | 38% | 58% | 44% | 45% | 28% |
| Get a little worse | 45% | 28% | 11% | 14% | 13% | 23% |
| Get a lot worse | 16% | 9% | 4% | 5% | 6% | 8% |
| Stay much the same | 13% | 17% | 15% | 24% | 22% | 30% |
| No opinion | 5% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 6% | 7% |
Respondents were divided over whether the economy will get better or worse over the next 12 months – 33% (down 21%) think it will get better and 31% (up 12%) worse. 30% (up 8%) think it will stay much the same.
This is a considerable negative shift from the results over the last 12 months. Men (38% better/29% worse) were somewhat more optimistic than women (28%/32%) Comments »