171213, economy, small business, Trade Unions
Q. Thinking about the next 12 months, do you think 2014 will be a good or bad year for each of the following?
|
Total good |
Total bad |
|
Very good |
Good |
Neither good nor bad |
Bad |
Very bad |
Don’t know |
|
| The Australian economy |
27% |
37% |
2% |
25% |
31% |
27% |
10% |
6% |
|
| Australian politics in general |
21% |
45% |
2% |
19% |
29% |
25% |
20% |
6% |
|
| Large companies and corporations |
30% |
30% |
4% |
26% |
32% |
22% |
8% |
8% |
|
| Small business |
17% |
41% |
1% |
16% |
34% |
30% |
11% |
8% |
|
| Trade unions |
11% |
37% |
2% |
9% |
38% |
24% |
13% |
14% |
|
| The average Australian |
23% |
34% |
1% |
22% |
38% |
26% |
8% |
5% |
|
| Your personal financial situation |
31% |
25% |
3% |
28% |
39% |
18% |
7% |
4% |
|
| Your workplace* |
36% |
21% |
4% |
32% |
39% |
16% |
5% |
3% |
|
| You and your family overall |
41% |
16% |
7% |
34% |
38% |
11% |
5% |
5% |
* working people
Respondents are more likely to be positive about 2014 for “you and your family” (41% good/16% bad), “your workplace” (36%/21%) and “your personal financial situation” (31%/25%).
Compared to their opinions of 2013, they expect improvements for “Australian politics in general” (up 11% to 21% good), “large companies and corporations” (up 5% to 30%) and “small business” (up 7% to 17%) – although all of these are off low base figures.
16 September 2013, 160913, economy
Q. Overall, how would you describe the current state of the Australian economy?
|
|
28 May 12 |
8 Apr 13 |
15 Jul 13 |
|
Total 16 Sep 13 |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
| Total good |
35% |
45% |
36% |
40% |
50% |
32% |
56% |
||
| Total poor |
29% |
26% |
30% |
25% |
18% |
35% |
18% |
||
| Very good |
6% |
8% |
6% |
6% |
11% |
3% |
11% |
||
| Good |
29% |
37% |
30% |
34% |
39% |
29% |
45% |
||
| Neither good nor poor |
33% |
28% |
30% |
32% |
29% |
32% |
24% |
||
| Poor |
20% |
17% |
22% |
20% |
15% |
28% |
15% |
||
| Very poor |
9% |
9% |
8% |
5% |
3% |
7% |
3% |
||
| Don’t know |
2% |
2% |
3% |
3% |
3% |
2% |
2% |
40% described the economy as good or very good and 25% poor/very poor – 32% said it was neither. This represents a net improvement from +6 to +15 since July.
This improvement was mainly due to a shift in the opinions of Liberal/National – from 18% good/45% poor (net -27) in July to 32% good/35% poor (net -3). Labor voters have also shifted – from net +45 to net +32.
Those most likely to think the economy was good/very good were people with incomes over $1,600pw (48%).
050913, 5 September 2013, better leader, change of government, economy, evironment policies, reason for vote, united party
Q. Which of the following are the main reasons why you will vote for that party? (up to 3 responses)
|
Total
|
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Other party/ Independent |
|
| Better at handling Australia’s economy |
42% |
29% |
69% |
7% |
13% |
|
| Better at looking after the interests people like me |
28% |
37% |
19% |
25% |
35% |
|
| They are more likely to represent the interests of all Australians |
33% |
37% |
24% |
33% |
51% |
|
| I always vote for the same party |
10% |
13% |
10% |
9% |
1% |
|
| They have a better leader |
20% |
35% |
14% |
5% |
13% |
|
| More trustworthy than the other parties |
22% |
21% |
15% |
45% |
33% |
|
| They are more united |
12% |
2% |
21% |
15% |
5% |
|
| They are more capable of governing effectively than the other parties |
15% |
10% |
26% |
6% |
3% |
|
| They have better policies on things like education and health |
15% |
29% |
4% |
21% |
9% |
|
| They have better policies on things like environment and climate change |
11% |
13% |
1% |
55% |
6% |
|
| They have better policies on things like industrial relations and supporting Australian workers |
8% |
16% |
3% |
8% |
8% |
|
| They have better policies on things like national security and immigration |
9% |
3% |
12% |
15% |
6% |
|
| We need a change of Government |
18% |
1% |
28% |
10% |
36% |
|
| No reason |
4% |
5% |
3% |
1% |
4% |
|
| Don’t know |
2% |
2% |
2% |
3% |
4% |
Main reasons for voting Labor were better at looking after the interests of people like me (37%), more likely to represent the interests of all Australians (37%) and have a better leader (35%).
Main reasons for voting Liberal or National were better at handling the economy (69%), need a change of Government (28%) and more capable of governing effectively (26%).
020913, 2 September 2013, Coalition, economy, environment, Greens, Interest rates, Labor, party trust, quality education
Q. Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
|
Labor |
Liberal |
Greens |
Don’t know |
|
Difference 2 Sep 13 |
Difference 23 Jul 13 |
|
| Management of the economy |
32% |
47% |
4% |
18% |
-15 |
-15 |
|
| Ensuring a quality education for all children |
42% |
32% |
8% |
19% |
+10 |
+9 |
|
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system |
37% |
34% |
8% |
21% |
+3 |
+1 |
|
| Protecting the environment |
19% |
21% |
43% |
17% |
+22 |
+18 |
|
| A fair industrial relations system |
41% |
31% |
7% |
21% |
+10 |
+11 |
|
| Political leadership |
31% |
40% |
6% |
23% |
-9 |
-7 |
|
| Addressing climate change |
24% |
23% |
32% |
21% |
+9 |
+7 |
|
| Controlling interest rates |
29% |
41% |
4% |
26% |
-12 |
-14 |
|
| Australian jobs and protection of local industries |
38% |
36% |
5% |
21% |
-2 |
-1 |
|
| Ensuring a quality water supply |
22% |
30% |
22% |
26% |
-8 |
-7 |
|
| Housing affordability |
30% |
32% |
7% |
31% |
-2 |
-2 |
|
| Ensuring a fair taxation system |
32% |
37% |
6% |
26% |
-5 |
-2 |
|
| Security and the war on terrorism |
27% |
38% |
5% |
30% |
-11 |
-15 |
|
| Treatment of asylum seekers |
23% |
36% |
16% |
26% |
-13 |
-11 |
|
| Managing population growth |
24% |
33% |
9% |
34% |
-9 |
-13 |
Note – Differences are calculated by subtracting Liberal % from Labor % – except for the two issues on which the Greens lead in which case it is Greens minus Liberal.
The Labor Party is trusted more to handle a quality education for all children (+10) and a fair industrial relations system (+10).
The Liberal Party is trusted more to handle management of the economy (-15), treatment of asylum seekers (-13), controlling interest rates (-12) and security and the war on terrorism (-11).
There have been no major changes since this question was last asked in July.
27 May 2013, 270513, economy, Joe Hockey, trust to handle economy, Wayne Swan
Q. Who would you trust most to handle Australia’s economy – The Treasurer Wayne Swan or the Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey?
|
6 May 2013 |
Total 27 May |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| Wayne Swan |
32% |
28% |
64% |
7% |
39% |
| Joe Hockey |
35% |
37% |
7% |
70% |
14% |
| Don’t know |
32% |
34% |
29% |
23% |
47% |
Trust in Joe Hockey to handle the economy has increased since the Federal Budget and trust in Wayne Swan has fallen. 28% (down 4%) trust Wayne Swan more to handle Australia’s economy and 37% (up 2%) trust Joe Hockey more.
Those on incomes under $1,000pw trust Joe Hockey 34%/31% while those earning over $1,000pw trust Joe Hockey 42%/29%.
20 May 2013, 200513, Australian businesses, economy, Federal Budget, Impact of Budget, working people
Q. Do you think the Federal Budget was good or bad for you personally?
Q. Do you think the Federal Budget was good or bad for average working people?
Q. Do you think the Federal Budget was good or bad for Australian businesses?
Q. Do you think the Federal Budget was good or bad for the Australian economy overall?
|
You |
Working people |
Australian |
Economy |
|||||||||||
|
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
12 |
13 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
|
| Total good |
22% |
11% |
17% |
13% |
31% |
17% |
27% |
20% |
10% |
15% |
36% |
27% |
26% |
26% |
| Total bad |
26% |
29% |
26% |
36% |
24% |
40% |
32% |
25% |
43% |
33% |
28% |
29% |
32% |
34% |
| Very good |
3% |
2% |
2% |
2% |
4% |
2% |
3% |
3% |
1% |
2% |
6% |
4% |
4% |
5% |
| Good |
19% |
9% |
15% |
11% |
27% |
15% |
24% |
17% |
9% |
13% |
30% |
23% |
22% |
21% |
| Neither good nor bad |
33% |
44% |
44% |
38% |
33% |
30% |
9% |
31% |
29% |
32% |
10% |
25% |
25% |
24% |
| Bad |
18% |
21% |
17% |
22% |
19% |
27% |
22% |
19% |
28% |
20% |
18% |
21% |
21% |
21% |
| Very bad |
8% |
8% |
9% |
14% |
5% |
13% |
10% |
6% |
15% |
13% |
10% |
8% |
11% |
13% |
| Don’t know |
20% |
16% |
12% |
12% |
12% |
12% |
31% |
23% |
18% |
19% |
26% |
20% |
17% |
15% |
In terms of the economy overall, there was a similar response to the 2013 budget as to the last two year’s budgets. 26% (no change from last year) thought the budget was good for the economy and 34% (up 2%) thought it was bad. 56% of Labor voters thought the budget was good for the economy and 8% bad while only 8% of Liberal/national voters thought it was good and 56% bad.
38% of respondents thought the Federal budget was neither good nor bad for them personally – 13% (down 4% on last year) said it was good and 36% (up 10%) bad. 51% of those aged 55+ thought it was neither.
17% (down 14%) thought it was good for working people and 40% (up 16%) thought it was bad.
15% (up 5%) thought the budget was good for businesses, 33% (down 10%) bad and 32% said it was neither.
040813, 8 April 2013, economy, state of economy
Q. Some say that official figures show Australia’s economy is doing very well, especially compared to the rest of the world. The interest rate, the unemployment rate and the inflation rate are all at relatively low levels. Do you agree or disagree that this shows the state of the economy is good?
|
28 May 12 |
Total 8 Apr 13 |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| Total agree |
52% |
56% |
76% |
42% |
77% |
| Total disagree |
37% |
37% |
20% |
54% |
20% |
| Strongly agree |
9% |
12% |
25% |
5% |
23% |
| Agree |
43% |
44% |
51% |
37% |
54% |
| Disagree |
27% |
29% |
17% |
42% |
17% |
| Strongly disagree |
10% |
8% |
3% |
12% |
3% |
| Don’t know |
10% |
7% |
4% |
5% |
3% |
When told that official figures show Australia’s economy is doing well, 56% agreed and 37% disagreed.
Those most likely to disagree were Liberal/National voters (54%), aged 55+ (45%) and people with incomes under $600pw (49%).
080413, 8 April 2013, cost of living, economy, GFC, government, State of the Economy
Q. What is the main reason you don’t think the state of the economy is good? *
|
28 May 12 |
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
|
| Poor economic management by Government |
27% |
40% |
17% |
52% |
| Increasing cost of living |
34% |
27% |
41% |
22% |
| Businesses are struggling |
13% |
11% |
7% |
13% |
| Increasing gap between rich and poor |
9% |
7% |
15% |
3% |
| Incomes aren’t increasing fast enough to keep up |
7% |
6% |
7% |
5% |
| Global financial problems |
7% |
5% |
7% |
4% |
| Other reason |
2% |
3% |
6% |
2% |
| Don’t know |
1% |
1% |
– |
– |
* Based on those who disagree that economy is good.
Those who disagreed that the economy was good said the main reasons were poor economic management by Government (40%) and the increasing cost of living (27%). Those who blame poor economic management by the Government has increased 13% and cost of living has decreased 7% since May last year.
62% of respondents aged 55+ blamed poor economic management by Government while the increasing cost of living was the major factor for 41% of respondents aged 25-44.