The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • May, 2016

    , , ,

    Party trust to handle issues

    Q: Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues? 

      Liberal Labor Don’t know   Difference
    Security and the war on terrorism 42% 19% 39%   +23
    Management of the economy 42% 22% 36%   +20
    Controlling interest rates 34% 22% 44%   +12
    Political leadership 36% 25% 40%   +11
    Managing population growth 33% 22% 45%   +11
    Treatment of asylum seekers 33% 25% 41%   +8
    Ensuring a quality water supply 26% 26% 47%  
    Ensuring a fair taxation system 27% 35% 38%   -8
    Housing affordability 25% 35% 40%   -10
    Ensuring a quality education for all children 28% 39% 34%   -11
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system 26% 37% 37%   -11
    Addressing climate change 22% 33% 45%   -11
    Protecting the environment 22% 34% 43%   -12
    A fair industrial relations system 27% 39% 34%   -12
    Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries 26% 39% 35%   -13

    The Liberal Party is trusted more to handle security and the war of terrorism (+23), management of the economy (+20) and controlling interest rates (+12).

    The Labor Party is trusted more to handle protecting jobs and local industries (+13), a fair industrial relations system (+12) and protecting the environment (+12).

  • May, 2016

    , , ,

    Leader trust to handle issues

    Q: Which leader – Malcolm Turnbull or Bill Shorten – would you trust most to handle the following issues? 

      Malcolm Turnbull Bill Shorten Don’t know   Difference
    Regulating the banking and finance sector 33% 27% 39%   +6
    Supporting Australia’s manufacturing industries 30% 31% 39%   -1
    Ensuring big companies pay their share of tax 28% 34% 38%   -6
    Protecting the Great Barrier Reef 21% 27% 52%   -6
    Funding hospitals 27% 35% 38%   -8
    Addressing climate change 21% 29% 50%   -8
    Making housing more affordable for first home buyers 23% 32% 44%   -9
    Looking after the needs of pensioners 21% 35% 44%   -14
    Funding public schools 24% 40% 36%   -16
    Maintaining workers’ wages and conditions 21% 43% 35%   -22

    Bill Shorten is trusted more for maintaining workers’ wages and conditions (+22), funding public schools (+16) and looking after the needs of pensioners (+14).

  • Apr, 2014

    , , , , , , , , , , , ,

    Most important election issues

    Q.  Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election?

     

    Total

    22 Apr 14

     

    Vote ALP

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Grn

    Vote other

     

    23 Jul 13

    30 Jul 12

    6 June 11

    25 Jan 10

    Management of the economy

    54%

    43%

    75%

    22%

    44%

    45%

    64%

    61%

    63%

    Ensuring a quality education for all children

    27%

    35%

    18%

    38%

    20%

    25%

    26%

    26%

    23%

    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system

    50%

    54%

    43%

    62%

    52%

    42%

    47%

    49%

    48%

    Protecting the environment

    13%

    12%

    7%

    42%

    14%

    12%

    11%

    15%

    16%

    A fair industrial relations system

    12%

    17%

    11%

    8%

    12%

    10%

    12%

    8%

    na

    Political leadership

    15%

    11%

    24%

    6%

    13%

    21%

    25%

    17%

    23%

    Addressing climate change

    10%

    13%

    4%

    28%

    9%

    11%

    9%

    15%

    16%

    Controlling interest rates

    9%

    9%

    11%

    2%

    7%

    13%

    9%

    13%

    15%

    Australian jobs and protection of local industries

    37%

    39%

    37%

    18%

    37%

    39%

    41%

    32%

    33%

    Ensuring a quality water supply

    4%

    5%

    3%

    3%

    5%

    3%

    3%

    5%

    12%

    Housing affordability

    17%

    18%

    16%

    13%

    19%

    17%

    13%

    16%

    14%

    Ensuring a fair taxation system

    20%

    19%

    20%

    9%

    23%

    20%

    18%

    17%

    14%

    Security and the war on terrorism

    5%

    3%

    8%

    3%

    5%

    8%

    5%

    8%

    9%

    Treatment of asylum seekers

    8%

    5%

    5%

    32%

    9%

    14%

    10%

    5%

    na

    Managing population growth

    9%

    6%

    10%

    8%

    16%

    9%

    8%

    12%

    na

    54% of people surveyed rated management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 50% ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system, 37% Australian jobs and protection of local industries and 27% ensuring a quality education for all children.

    Main changes since this question was asked last July – management of the economy up 9%, ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system up 8%, political leadership down 6% and treatment of asylum seekers down 6%.

  • Nov, 2012

    , , , , , , , , , , , ,

    Important election issues

    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%).

  • Nov, 2012

    , , , , ,

    Party trust to handle important election issues

    Q.  Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?

     

    ALP

    Libs

    Greens

    Don’t know

    Difference
    19
    Nov 12

    Difference
    18
    Jun 12

    Management of the economy

    31%

    45%

    2%

    22%

    -14

    -18

    Ensuring a quality education for all children

    38%

    33%

    4%

    24%

    +5

    -2

    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system

    32%

    35%

    7%

    25%

    -3

    -6

    Protecting the environment

    19%

    22%

    38%

    21%

    +16

    +17

    A fair industrial relations system

    41%

    32%

    4%

    23%

    +9

    +6

    Political leadership

    26%

    38%

    6%

    30%

    -12

    -16

    Addressing climate change

    22%

    23%

    32%

    24%

    +9

    +7

    Controlling interest rates

    28%

    39%

    3%

    30%

    -11

    -18

    Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries

    34%

    36%

    4%

    27%

    -2

    -6

    Ensuring a quality water supply

    21%

    28%

    23%

    27%

    -7

    -12

    Housing affordability

    28%

    33%

    5%

    33%

    -5

    -11

    Ensuring a fair taxation system

    30%

    39%

    4%

    27%

    -9

    -10

    Security and the war on terrorism

    25%

    40%

    4%

    31%

    -15

    -22

    Treatment of asylum seekers

    20%

    38%

    13%

    29%

    -18

    -20

    Managing population growth

    22%

    37%

    6%

    35%

    -15

    -19

    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 leads the Liberal Party on ensuring a quality education for all children and a fair industrial relations system. The Liberal Party has maintained strong leads on management of the economy, controlling interest rates, political leadership, security and the war on terrorism, treatment of asylum seekers and managing population growth.

    There is little difference between Labor and the Liberals on ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system and protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries. Since June, there has been a shift in Labor’s favour on most issues – especially, ensuring a quality education for all children, controlling interest rates, housing affordability and security and the war on terrorism.

  • Jul, 2012

    , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

    Important election issues

    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%).

  • Dec, 2011

    , , , , , , ,

    Important election issues

    Q. Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election?

    First Second Third Total 6 June 11 24 Jan 11 11 Oct 10 25 Jan 10
    Management of the economy 39% 16% 7% 62% 61% 65% 62% 63%
    Ensuring a quality education for all children 4% 8% 10% 22% 26% 26% 32% 23%
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system 12% 18% 17% 47% 49% 49% 48% 48%
    Protecting the environment 4% 5% 4% 13% 15% 13% 12% 16%
    A fair industrial relations system 3% 4% 4% 11% 8% 10% 11% *
    Political leadership 7% 6% 5% 18% 17% 16% 16% 23%
    Addressing climate change 3% 4% 3% 10% 15% 10% 11% 16%
    Controlling interest rates 2% 4% 5% 11% 13% 21% 17% 15%
    Australian jobs and protection of local industries 11% 12% 13% 36% 32% 30% 30% 33%
    Ensuring a quality water supply * 2% 2% 4% 5% 6% 6% 12%
    Housing affordability 3% 4% 6% 13% 16% 16% 17% 14%
    Ensuring a fair taxation system 3% 5% 8% 16% 17% 18% 16% 14%
    Security and the war on terrorism 1% 1% 2% 4% 8% 5% 6% 9%
    Treatment of asylum seekers 2% 3% 3% 8% 5% 5% 5% *
    Managing population growth 1% 3% 4% 8% 12% 11% 10% *

    *Not asked

    62% 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 36% Australian jobs and protection of local industries.

    Since June, there have been only minor changes in these figures – there has been an increase in the importance of Australian jobs and protection of local industries (+4%) and declines in the importance of addressing climate change (-5%), ensuring a quality education for all children (-4%), managing population growth (-4%) and security and the war on terrorism (-4%).

    Comments »

  • Dec, 2011

    , , , , , , , , , ,

    Party trust to handle important election issues

    Q. And which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?

    Labor Liberal Greens Don’t know
    Management of the economy 27% 45% 2% 25%
    Ensuring a quality education for all children 34% 36% 5% 25%
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system 31% 34% 6% 29%
    Protecting the environment 16% 23% 37% 24%
    A fair industrial relations system 38% 34% 5% 23%
    Political leadership 23% 40% 5% 33%
    Addressing climate change 19% 25% 31% 25%
    Controlling interest rates 24% 42% 2% 32%
    Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries 32% 35% 4% 29%
    Ensuring a quality water supply 18% 30% 24% 29%
    Housing affordability 23% 33% 5% 38%
    Ensuring a fair taxation system 28% 37% 4% 31%
    Security and the war on terrorism 21% 40% 3% 35%
    Treatment of asylum seekers 17% 36% 12% 35%
    Managing population growth 18% 35% 9% 39%

    Labor does not have a substantial lead over the Liberal Party on any item measured.  The 9% lead it had in June on “a fair industrial relations system” has been reduced to 4%. There is also little difference between Labor and the Liberals for ensuring a quality education for all children, ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system and protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries.

    The Liberal Party has maintained strong leads on management of the economy, controlling interest rates, political leadership and security and the war on terrorism.

    Overall, there has been a slight weakening of Labor’s position since June.

    Comments »

Error: