EMC, ER, essential report, Greens, Interest rates, Labor, Liberal, rate increases, rate rises, rates competition, Reserve Bank
Q. If there was more competition between Australian banks, do you think this would stop the banks increasing interest rates by more than the Reserve Bank rate increases?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Yes | 47% | 48% | 50% | 55% |
| No | 31% | 31% | 34% | 18% |
| Don’t know | 22% | 22% | 16% | 27% |
47% think that if there was more competition between Australian banks, this would stop the banks increasing interest rates by more than the Reserve Bank rate increases while 31% disagree.
Older people and those on lower incomes were split in their opinions – for those aged 55+, 41% agreed and 38% disagreed while 41% of those on incomes under $600pw disagreed and 38% agreed.
Australian banking industry, banking, banking issues, EMC, ER, essential report, Greens, Joe Hockey, Labor, Liberal, Wayne Swan
Q. Who would you trust most to deal with issues affecting the Australian banking industry – the Treasurer Wayne Swan and the Labor Party or the shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey and the Liberal Party?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Wayne Swan and the Labor Party | 33% | 69% | 5% | 52% |
| Joe Hockey and the Liberal Party | 38% | 5% | 80% | 13% |
| Don’t know | 29% | 26% | 14% | 35% |
38% have most trust in Joe Hockey and the Liberal Party to handle issues affecting the banking industry and 33% trust Wayne Swan and the Labor Party.
Those aged 55+ trust Joe Hockey more (47% to 35%) while those on incomes under $600pw trust Wayne Swan more (42% to 38%)
China, EMC, ER, essential report, Germany, India, Indonesia, International relationships, International ties, Japan, NZ, South Africa, UK, US
Q. How important is it for Australia to have a close relationship with the following nations?
| Very important | Quite important | Not very important | Don’t know | Very Important April 10 | Change | ||
| United States | 56% | 34% | 5% | 4% | 59% | -3 | |
| New Zealand | 54% | 36% | 6% | 5% | 56% | -2 | |
| China | 45% | 44% | 5% | 6% | 51% | -6 | |
| United Kingdom | 44% | 43% | 9% | 4% | 46% | -2 | |
| Japan | 30% | 53% | 10% | 7% | 40% | -10 | |
| Indonesia | 30% | 48% | 15% | 7% | 39% | -9 | |
| India | 24% | 45% | 23% | 8% | 27% | -3 | |
| Germany | 15% | 43% | 34% | 9% | 18% | -3 | |
| South Africa | 12% | 35% | 43% | 10% | 12% | – |
More than half the respondents think it is very important to have close relationships with the United States (56%) and New Zealand (54%) and just under half think it is very important to have a close relationship with China (45%) and United Kingdom (44%).
A close relationship with the United Sates is considered very important by 65% of Liberal/National voters and 62% of Labor voters but only 37% of Greens voters. Greens voters consider relations with New Zealand (58%) and China (47%) more important.
Since this question was asked in April, the overall rating of the importance of relations with other countries has dropped – especially for Japan (-10%) and Indonesia (-9%).
China, EMC, ER, essential report, Germany, India, Indonesia, International relationships, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, UK, US
Q. Would you like to see Australia’s relationship with these countries get closer, stay the same or become less close?
| Get closer | Stay the same | Become less close | Don’t know | Get closer April 10 | Change | ||
| China | 30% | 50% | 9% | 11% | 33% | -3 | |
| New Zealand | 29% | 58% | 3% | 11% | 33% | -4 | |
| Indonesia | 23% | 49% | 15% | 13% | 30% | -7 | |
| India | 22% | 50% | 14% | 14% | 24% | -2 | |
| Japan | 21% | 58% | 8% | 13% | 24% | -3 | |
| United States | 20% | 60% | 11% | 10% | 24% | -4 | |
| United Kingdom | 20% | 63% | 7% | 10% | 24% | -4 | |
| Germany | 14% | 62% | 9% | 15% | 16% | -2 | |
| South Africa | 11% | 59% | 14% | 16% | 13% | -2 |
30% think that Australia’s relationship with China should get closer and 29% think our relationship with New Zealand should get closer.
Labor voters are most likely to favour closer relationships with China (32%) and New Zealand (29%).
Liberal/National voters are most likely to favour closer relationships with New Zealand (29%) and China (28%).
Greens voters are most likely to favour closer relationships with China (38%), Indonesia (36%) and New Zealand (36%).
Since this question was asked in April, the percentage wanting a closer relationship with Indonesia has dropped from 30% to 23%.
EMC, ER, essential report, United States, USA, USA influence
Q. Do you think the influence of the United States in the world is becoming stronger or weaker?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total stronger | 20% | 23% | 17% | 20% |
| Total weaker | 60% | 56% | 63% | 73% |
| Much stronger | 7% | 8% | 5% | 4% |
| A little stronger | 13% | 15% | 12% | 16% |
| A little weaker | 50% | 49% | 54% | 52% |
| Much weaker | 10% | 7% | 9% | 21% |
| No change | 14% | 14% | 16% | 6% |
| Don’t know | 7% | 5% | 5% | 1% |
The majority (60%) think that the influence of the United States in the world is becoming weaker – only 20% think it is becoming stronger.
72% of those aged 55+ think it is becoming weaker (and 15% stronger) while 27% of those aged under 35 think it is becoming stronger (and 46% weaker).
EMC, ER, essential report, Greens, Labor, Liberal, same sex marriage
Q. Do you think people of the same sex should or should not be allowed to marry?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Should be allowed to marry | 53% | 57% | 45% | 80% |
| Should not be allowed to marry | 36% | 32% | 45% | 12% |
| Don’t know | 11% | 10% | 10% | 8% |
Same-sex marriage is supported by just over half (53%) of respondents and 36% are opposed.
Those most likely to think people of the same sex should be allowed to marry are female (59%), aged under 55 (60%) and Greens voters (80%).
Those most likely to think people of the same sex should not be allowed to marry are male (42%), aged 55+ (57%) and Liberal/National voters (45%).
EMC, ER, essential report, Queensland Government, tony abbott, Wild Rivers, Wild Rivers laws, Wild Rivers Legislation
Q. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has said he will introduce a Private Members Bill into Federal Parliament to overturn the Queensland Government’s Wild Rivers laws, which seek to prevent over development such as dams and mines from damaging unspoilt river systems. Mr Abbot claims the Wild Rivers laws deny Aboriginal landowners the opportunity to benefit economically from the land. Do you agree or disagree with the Wild Rivers laws?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total agree | 43% | 44% | 48% | 55% |
| Total disagree | 21% | 23% | 22% | 18% |
| Strongly agree | 16% | 17% | 17% | 30% |
| Agree | 27% | 27% | 31% | 25% |
| Disagree | 13% | 13% | 16% | 8% |
| Strongly disagree | 8% | 10% | 6% | 10% |
| Don’t know | 36% | 33% | 31% | 26% |
43% agree with the Queensland Government’s Wild Rivers laws and 21% disagree – and 36% don’t know.
Those most likely to agree are Greens voters (55%) and people on incomes over $1,000pw (48%).
EMC, Essential Media, Essential Report, Hockey, Howard, IR agenda, Labor, Liberal, peter lewis, The Drum
First Published on The Drum 09/11/2010
Nations may rise and fall by the sweep of history but governments are decided at the kitchen table, where all politics becomes not just local, but personal.
This is the place where bills and mortgage payments are pored over, family budgets are scrutinised, jobs and school are discussed. It is the space in family life where things have to add up.
Anyone trying to dig Labor out of its current hole could start by turning their attention to the kitchen table, because if this week’s Essential Report is anything to go by, Labor is in the middle of an increasingly messy food-fight.
Comments »