19 November 2012, 191112, asylum seekers, climate change, economy, Education, Election Issues, environment, fair taxation, health system, Housing affordability, Interest rates, IR system
Q. Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election?
|
First |
Second |
Third |
Total 19 Nov 12 |
Total 30 Jul 12 |
5 Dec 11 |
6 June 11 |
25 Jan 10 |
|
| Management of the economy |
47% |
11% |
9% |
66% |
64% |
62% |
61% |
63% |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children |
7% |
16% |
11% |
35% |
26% |
22% |
26% |
23% |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system |
15% |
22% |
20% |
57% |
47% |
47% |
49% |
48% |
| Protecting the environment |
3% |
6% |
5% |
14% |
11% |
13% |
15% |
16% |
| A fair industrial relations system |
2% |
3% |
3% |
8% |
12% |
11% |
8% |
na |
| Political leadership |
6% |
5% |
4% |
15% |
25% |
18% |
17% |
23% |
| Addressing climate change |
2% |
2% |
5% |
9% |
9% |
10% |
15% |
16% |
| Controlling interest rates |
2% |
5% |
4% |
11% |
9% |
11% |
13% |
15% |
| Australian jobs and protection of local industries |
8% |
11% |
13% |
32% |
41% |
36% |
32% |
33% |
| Ensuring a quality water supply |
1% |
2% |
2% |
5% |
3% |
4% |
5% |
12% |
| Housing affordability |
3% |
6% |
5% |
14% |
13% |
13% |
16% |
14% |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system |
2% |
5% |
9% |
17% |
18% |
16% |
17% |
14% |
| Security and the war on terrorism |
* |
1% |
3% |
5% |
5% |
4% |
8% |
9% |
| Treatment of asylum seekers |
1% |
1% |
3% |
6% |
10% |
8% |
5% |
na |
| Managing population growth |
1% |
2% |
4% |
7% |
8% |
8% |
12% |
na |
*Not asked
66% of people surveyed rated management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 57% ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system, 35% ensuring a quality education for all children and 32% Australian jobs and protection of local industries.
Since July, there has been an increase in the importance of ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system (+10%) and ensuring a quality education for all children (+9%) and a decline in the importance of political leadership (-10%) and Australian jobs and protection of local industries (-9%).
07 November 2012, 071112, Asian languages, Education, education in Australia
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of making it a priority for Australian students to learn Asian languages?
|
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
| Total approve |
50% |
57% |
46% |
64% |
| Total disapprove |
38% |
29% |
46% |
26% |
| Strongly approve |
9% |
14% |
5% |
18% |
| Approve |
41% |
43% |
41% |
46% |
| Disapprove |
22% |
18% |
25% |
10% |
| Strongly disapprove |
16% |
11% |
21% |
16% |
| Don’t know |
13% |
15% |
8% |
10% |
50% approve of making it a priority for Australian students to learn Asian languages and 38% disapprove. A majority of Labor voters and Greens voters approve but Liberal/National voters are split with 46% approve and 46% disapprove.
There were no major differences across age groups. 57% of full-time workers approve and 33% dispapprove.
15 October 2012, 151012, access to jobs, Australia compared to US, business opportunities, Education, health care, human rights, safety, standard of living, work rights
Q. How do you think Australia compares to the United States on the following:
|
Total better in Australia |
Total better in USA |
A lot better in Australia |
A little better in Australia |
About the same |
A little better in USA |
A lot better in USA |
Don’t know |
|
| Access to health care |
82% |
5% |
61% |
21% |
8% |
3% |
2% |
5% |
| Standard of living for ordinary working people |
74% |
7% |
40% |
34% |
13% |
5% |
2% |
6% |
| Access to jobs |
70% |
5% |
34% |
36% |
17% |
4% |
1% |
7% |
| Public safety |
66% |
4% |
32% |
34% |
22% |
3% |
1% |
7% |
| Wages |
64% |
9% |
34% |
30% |
17% |
7% |
2% |
10% |
| Work rights |
63% |
7% |
34% |
29% |
18% |
5% |
2% |
13% |
| Education standards |
47% |
16% |
20% |
27% |
27% |
12% |
4% |
10% |
| Rights of individuals |
44% |
14% |
19% |
25% |
34% |
10% |
4% |
8% |
| Opportunities to succeed in business |
35% |
22% |
14% |
21% |
32% |
16% |
6% |
12% |
| International influence |
17% |
56% |
8% |
9% |
19% |
21% |
35% |
9% |
The vast majority of respondents think health care, standard of living, access to jobs, public safety, wages and work rights are better in Australia than in the US.
They are somewhat less certain about education standards, individual rights and opportunities to succeed in business – but still think these are better in Australia.
Only on international influence did respondents favour the US.
02 October 2012, 021012, ADF, defence reforms, dental health scheme, Education, Gonski, National Disability Insurance Scheme, ndis
Q. The federal government has recently announced a number of major spending initiatives on health, education and defence reforms that will involve substantial investment over the next few years. For each of the reforms as they are described below, please indicate whether you believe it should be implemented or not
|
Implement the reform if it means higher taxes (including corporate and mining taxes) and cuts in other areas |
Do not implement the reform if it means higher taxes (including corporate and mining taxes) or cuts in other areas |
No opinion |
|
| National Disability Insurance Scheme to improve care and support for all people in Australia with a significant and permanent disability |
58% |
22% |
20% |
| New dental health scheme to provide free dental care for low-income patients and children |
53% |
29% |
18% |
| Gonski reforms to education to increase funding for each primary and secondary school student across the country |
48% |
30% |
21% |
| Purchase of new advanced submarines for the Australian Defence Force |
24% |
50% |
26% |
The majority of respondents support implementing the NDIS (58%) and the new dental health scheme (53%) if it means higher taxes (including corporate and mining taxes) and cuts in other areas.
A large portion of respondents (48%) also agree with implementing the Gonski reforms if it means higher taxes and cuts in other areas, whereas 30% would prefer to see these reforms not implemented.
On the purchase of new submarines for the ADF, most respondents felt that this reform should not be implemented if it means higher taxes and cuts in other areas (50%), whilst 24% are in favour of implementing the reform.
30 July 2012, 300712, asylum seekers, climate change, economy, Education, Election Issues, environment, healthy system, Housing affordability, Industrial Relations, Interest rates, local industries, political leadership, population growth, taxation, Terrorism, water supply
Q. Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election?
|
First |
Second |
Third |
Total 30 Jul 12 |
5 Dec 11 |
6 June 11 |
25 Jan 10 |
|
| Management of the economy |
38% |
16% |
10% |
64% |
62% |
61% |
63% |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children |
5% |
10% |
11% |
26% |
22% |
26% |
23% |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system |
10% |
19% |
18% |
47% |
47% |
49% |
48% |
| Protecting the environment |
3% |
4% |
4% |
11% |
13% |
15% |
16% |
| A fair industrial relations system |
4% |
3% |
5% |
12% |
11% |
8% |
* |
| Political leadership |
11% |
7% |
7% |
25% |
18% |
17% |
23% |
| Addressing climate change |
3% |
3% |
3% |
9% |
10% |
15% |
16% |
| Controlling interest rates |
2% |
2% |
5% |
9% |
11% |
13% |
15% |
| Australian jobs and protection of local industries |
13% |
15% |
13% |
41% |
36% |
32% |
33% |
| Ensuring a quality water supply |
* |
1% |
2% |
3% |
4% |
5% |
12% |
| Housing affordability |
3% |
5% |
5% |
13% |
13% |
16% |
14% |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system |
4% |
7% |
7% |
18% |
16% |
17% |
14% |
| Security and the war on terrorism |
1% |
1% |
3% |
5% |
4% |
8% |
9% |
| Treatment of asylum seekers |
3% |
4% |
3% |
10% |
8% |
5% |
* |
| Managing population growth |
2% |
3% |
3% |
8% |
8% |
12% |
* |
*Not asked
64% of people surveyed rated management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 47% ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system and 41% Australian jobs and protection of local industries.
Since December, there has been an increase in the importance of political leadership (+7%), Australian jobs and protection of local industries (+5%) and ensuring a quality education for all children (+4%).
18 June 2012, 180612, asylum seekers, climate change, economy, Education, environment, Housing affordability, Industrial Relations, Interest rates, political leadership, taxation system, trust, trust government, war on terrorism, Water
Q. Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
|
Labor |
Liberal |
Greens |
Don’t know |
Difference 18 Jun 12 |
Difference 5 Dec 11 |
|
| Management of the economy |
26% |
44% |
3% |
27% |
-18 |
-18 |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children |
33% |
35% |
5% |
26% |
-2 |
-2 |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system |
30% |
36% |
7% |
27% |
-6 |
-3 |
| Protecting the environment |
17% |
21% |
38% |
24% |
+17 |
+14 |
| A fair industrial relations system |
36% |
30% |
6% |
28% |
+6 |
+4 |
| Political leadership |
21% |
37% |
7% |
36% |
-16 |
-17 |
| Addressing climate change |
18% |
24% |
31% |
27% |
+7 |
+6 |
| Controlling interest rates |
22% |
40% |
3% |
35% |
-18 |
-18 |
| Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries |
29% |
35% |
6% |
31% |
-6 |
-3 |
| Ensuring a quality water supply |
16% |
28% |
23% |
33% |
-12 |
-12 |
| Housing affordability |
22% |
33% |
5% |
39% |
-11 |
-10 |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system |
26% |
36% |
5% |
32% |
-10 |
-9 |
| Security and the war on terrorism |
18% |
40% |
4% |
38% |
-22 |
-19 |
| Treatment of asylum seekers |
16% |
36% |
13% |
36% |
-20 |
-19 |
| Managing population growth |
17% |
36% |
7% |
40% |
-19 |
-17 |
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.
Labor does not have a substantial lead over the Liberal Party on any item measured. The Liberal Party has maintained strong leads on management of the economy, controlling interest rates, political leadership and security and the war on terrorism.
There is little difference between Labor and the Liberals for ensuring a quality education for all children, ensuring the quality of Australia’s health systerm and protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries. Overall, there has been very little change in these results since December.
3q, Education, Matthew McGowan, National Tertiary Education Union, NTEU, university
Matthew McGowan came to the NTEU National Assistant Secretary’s position in October 2010 after eight years as Victorian Division Secretary.
He has worked in the sector for 20 years and been a union activist throughout his working life.
3q, Early Childhood Australia, ECA, Education, Pam Cahir
Pam Cahir is the Chief Executive Officer of Early Childhood Australia, a national organisation which advocates on behalf of young children.
Her interests are in supporting parents and other professionals who are responsible for the growth and development of young children to do that work well.