China, diplomacy, EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Polling, polls, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States
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
15 Nov |
Change | ||
| New Zealand | 37% | 55% | 3% | 5% | 29% | +8 | |
| China | 32% | 52% | 9% | 7% | 30% | +2 | |
| Japan | 26% | 59% | 8% | 7% | 21% | +5 | |
| United Kingdom | 25% | 62% | 7% | 5% | 20% | +5 | |
| United States | 24% | 61% | 11% | 5% | 20% | +4 | |
| Indonesia | 21% | 51% | 20% | 8% | 23% | -2 | |
| India | 19% | 53% | 18% | 9% | 22% | -3 | |
| Germany | 18% | 62% | 10% | 10% | 14% | +4 | |
| South Africa | 13% | 59% | 17% | 11% | 11% | +2 |
37% think that Australia’s relationship with New Zealand should get closer and 32% think our relationship with China should get closer.
Labor voters are most likely to favour closer relationships with China (31%) and New Zealand (31%).
Liberal/National voters are most likely to favour closer relationships with New Zealand (42%) and United States (34%).
Greens voters are most likely to favour closer relationships with New Zealand (43%), China (38%) and Japan (34%).
Since this question was asked in November, the percentage wanting a closer relationship with New Zealand has increased 8%, and increased 5% for Japan and the United Kingdom.
2PP, EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, Greens, Independent, Labor, Liberal, NSW, NSW 2PP, NSW Election, NSW vote, NSW voting intention, Polling, polls, Voting intention
Q. If a State Election was held today to which party will you probably give your first preference vote? If not sure, which party are you currently leaning toward?
Q. If don’t know -Well which party are you currently leaning to?
| First preference /leaning to | Total | Men | Women | Sydney | Other NSW | Aged 18-34 | Aged 35-54 | Aged 55+ |
| Sample | 971 | 481 | 490 | 622 | 349 | 309 | 391 | 271 |
| Labor | 23% | 23% | 24% | 20% | 29% | 21% | 24% | 25% |
| Liberal/National | 55% | 56% | 53% | 60% | 46% | 55% | 54% | 55% |
| Greens | 11% | 11% | 11% | 11% | 10% | 14% | 9% | 9% |
| Independent/Other | 11% | 10% | 12% | 10% | 15% | 10% | 13% | 11% |
| 2PP | ||||||||
| Labor | 34% | 33% | 35% | 29% | 42% | 32% | 35% | 34% |
| Liberal/National | 66% | 67% | 65% | 71% | 58% | 68% | 65% | 66% |
NB. The data in the above tables comprise 3-week averages derived the first preference/leaning to voting questions. Respondents who select ‘don’t know’ are not included in the results. The two-party preferred estimate is calculated by separately distributing the votes of the Greens and the Independents/other parties according to their preferences at the previous election. This calculation excludes exhausted votes.
economic catastrophe, EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, Japan, Japanese tsunami, Nuclear, Nuclear Power, nuclear power plants, nuclear reactors, peter lewis, Polling, polls, The Drum
First published on The Drum: 22/03/2011
Beyond its gob-smacking human tragedy and the looming economic catastrophe, the Japanese tsunami has thrown a radioactive wildcard into the global debate over climate change.
The fallout from the meltdown of Japanese nuclear reactors will undermine the until-now successful attempts by the nuclear industry to reposition itself as part of the global warming solution.
As this week’s Essential Report shows, the public had been coming around to the idea that developing nuclear power in Australia was acceptable. This has changed dramatically over the past seven days with one quarter of all Australians changing their position.
Q. Do you support or oppose Australia developing nuclear power plants for the generation of electricity?
| 27 Jan 09 | 20 Dec 10 | Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | ||
| Total support | 43% | 43% | 35% | 29% | 46% | 18% | |
| Total oppose | 35% | 37% | 53% | 58% | 43% | 78% | |
| Strongly support | 14% | 16% | 12% | 10% | 17% | 7% | |
| Support | 29% | 27% | 23% | 19% | 29% | 11% | |
| Oppose | 21% | 21% | 21% | 23% | 22% | 15% | |
| Strongly oppose | 14% | 16% | 32% | 35% | 21% | 63% | |
| Don’t know | 22% | 19% | 13% | 13% | 11% | 5% |
carbon emitions, carbon pollution, carbon pricing scheme, Carbon Tax, EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberal, peter lewis, Polling, polls, polluters, The Drum
First published on The Drum: 15/03/2011
Context is everything. All of a sudden Labor’s political predicament does not seem as dire; no-one is dead or missing; nuclear reactors aren’t melting down; the only after-shocks are electoral.
The enormity of the Japan catastrophe wipes everything else from public consciousness, allowing a wounded prime minister and her team to step back from the limelight, reflect and regroup.
As this week’s Essential Report shows, there is a path to repairing the damage the government has suffered and a way of setting up a debate that could, in the long-term, see it regain the political initiative.
Like so much in politics, the secret lies in the questions you ask. Ask whether people support a price on carbon and the answer is a decisive ‘no’.
2PP, Election, EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, federal politics, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, polls, two party preferred, voting, Voting intention
Q. If a Federal Election was held today to which party will you probably give your first preference vote? If not sure, which party are you currently leaning toward?
Q. If don’t know -Well which party are you currently leaning to?
sample size = 1,947
| First preference/leaning to | Election
21 Aug 10 |
4 weeks ago | 2 weeks ago | Last week | This week |
| Liberal | 40% | 44% | 45% | 44% | |
| National | 3% | 3% | 2% | 3% | |
| Total Lib/Nat | 43.6 | 43% | 47% | 47% | 46% |
| Labor | 38.0 | 39% | 36% | 35% | 36% |
| Greens | 11.8 | 11% | 10% | 10% | 10% |
| Other/Independent | 6.6 | 7% | 7% | 8% | 8% |
| 2PP | Election
21 Aug 10 |
4 weeks ago | 2 weeks ago | Last week | This week |
| Total Lib/Nat | 49.9% | 49% | 53% | 54% | 53% |
| Labor | 50.1% | 51% | 47% | 46% | 47% |
NB. The data in the above tables comprise 2-week averages derived the first preference/leaning to voting questions. Respondents who select ‘don’t know’ are not included in the results. The two-party preferred estimate is calculated by distributing the votes of the other parties according to their preferences at the 2010 election.
Carbon emissions, carbon pollution, Carbon Tax, electricity, electricity costs, EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, Polling, polls, renewable energy
Q. Thinking about the proposed carbon tax, do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
| Total agree | Total disagree | Strongly agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly disagree | Don’t know | |
| A carbon tax will substantially increase the cost of electricity | 79% | 8% | 47% | 32% | 6% | 2% | 13% |
| The cost of electricity will increase substantially even without a carbon tax | 78% | 11% | 26% | 52% | 10% | 1% | 11% |
| A carbon tax is an effective way to force large polluting companies to reduce their carbon pollution | 42% | 43% | 13% | 29% | 21% | 22% | 14% |
| A carbon tax will increase investment in renewable energy | 41% | 38% | 14% | 27% | 20% | 18% | 22% |
79% agree that a carbon tax will substantially increase the cost of electricity but 78% agree that the cost of electricity will increase substantially even without a carbon tax.
Respondents were evenly divided over whether a carbon tax is an effective way to force large polluting companies to reduce their carbon pollution (42% agreer/43% disagree) and whether a carbon tax will increase investment in renewable energy (41% agree/38% disagree).
Males (84%) were more likely than females (74%) to agree or strongly agree that ‘a carbon tax will substantially increase the costs of electricity.’
Females (53%) were more likely than males (41%) to agree or strongly agree that ‘a carbon tax is an effective way to force large polluting companies to reduce their carbon pollution.’
climate change, Coalition, EMC, environment, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Polling, polls, tony abbott
Q. As far as you know, do Tony Abbott and the Coalition support action to address climate change or are they opposed to taking any action?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Support action to address climate change | 36% | 27% | 59% | 31% |
| Are opposed to any action to address climate change | 33% | 47% | 17% | 48% |
| Don’t know | 29% | 26% | 24% | 21% |
Overall, respondents were divided over the position of Tony Abbott and the Coalition on climate change – 36% believe they support action to address climate change and 33% think are they opposed to taking any action.
Those that intend to vote Lib/Nat were far more likely to believe that Tony Abbott and the Coalition support action to address climate change (59%).
Those that intend to vote for Labor (47%) or the Green (48%) were more likely to state that Tony Abbott and the Coalition are opposed to any action to address climate change.
Males (42%) were more likely than females (34%) to state that Tony Abbott and the Coalition support action to address climate change.
Females (39%) were more likely than males (19%) to state ‘Don’t know.’
afghanistan, Afghanistan War, EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Polling, polls, troops, Troops in Afghanistan
Q. Thinking about the Australian troops in Afghanistan, do you think Australia should –
| 25 Oct 2010 | Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Increase the number of troops in Afghanistan | 10% | 5% | 7% | 6% | 1% |
| Keep the same number of troops in Afghanistan | 30% | 30% | 26% | 39% | 16% |
| Withdraw our troops from Afghanistan | 47% | 56% | 62% | 48% | 74% |
| Don’t know | 14% | 9% | 5% | 7% | 9% |
35% think that the Australian troops in Afghanistan should be increased or maintained and 56% think Australia should withdraw its troops. This is a significant shift (+9%) in favour of withdrawal since this question was last asked in October 2010.
62% of Labor voters and 74% of Greens voters support withdrawal. Liberal/National voters are split – 48% support withdrawal and 45 support increasing/maintaining troop numbers.
Males were more likely than females to state that Australia should increase the number of troops in Afghanistan (9% compared to 2% of females) or keep the same number of troops in Afghanistan (36% compared to 24% of females).
However, the majority of both males (49%) and females (63%) think Australia should withdraw troops from Afghanistan.