carbon pollution, carbon pricing scheme, Carbon Tax, climate change, Essential Report, Polling
Q. Do you support or oppose the Government’s proposal to introduce a carbon pricing scheme from 1 July 2012, which will require industries to pay a tax based on the amount of carbon pollution they emit?
| 7 March | 14 March | 28 March | 18 April | 23 May | 30 May | 14 June | 11 July | 18 July | 1 Aug | Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total support | 35% | 38% | 34% | 39% | 41% | 38% | 38% | 35% | 39% | 39% | 37% | 67% | 13% | 76% |
| Total oppose | 48% | 49% | 51% | 49% | 44% | 48% | 49% | 53% | 49% | 51% | 52% | 22% | 80% | 14% |
| Strongly support | 9% | 12% | 12% | 13% | 14% | 14% | 13% | 11% | 15% | 15% | 14% | 31% | 2% | 34% |
| Support | 26% | 26% | 22% | 26% | 27% | 24% | 25% | 24% | 24% | 24% | 23% | 36% | 11% | 42% |
| Oppose | 19% | 17% | 19% | 15% | 15% | 19% | 19% | 19% | 16% | 19% | 17% | 13% | 23% | 8% |
| Strongly oppose | 29% | 32% | 32% | 34% | 29% | 29% | 30% | 34% | 33% | 32% | 35% | 9% | 57% | 6% |
| Don’t know | 18% | 13% | 15% | 12% | 15% | 15% | 13% | 12% | 12% | 10% | 12% | 12% | 7% | 10% |
The majority of respondents are opposed to the Government’s carbon pricing scheme, with 52% either opposed or strongly opposed to its introduction. Opposition to the scheme has moved up 1% since the last time the question was polled on 1 August 2011. Total opposition has moved up by 4% since the Government announced the scheme six months ago, from 48% total oppose to 52% total opposed.
Total support for the scheme is 37%, down 2% from 39% since the last time the question was asked on 1 August 2011. However, overall, support has risen by 2% in the six months since the Government’s announcement, from 35% to 37% total support.
Twelve per cent (12%) of respondents ‘don’t know’, up 2% from 1 August 2011, but down 6% since the announcement six months ago.
Those aged 18-24 years old are the most likely to support the scheme (46% total support). Those aged 55-64% are the most likely to oppose it (59% total oppose).
carbon pollution, carbon pricing scheme, Carbon Tax, climate change, Essential Report, Polling, renewable energy
Q. Would you support or oppose this carbon pricing scheme if the money paid by big polluting industries was used to compensate low and middle income earners for increased prices and to invest in renewable energy?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total support | 50% | 77% | 27% | 84% |
| Total oppose | 37% | 12% | 61% | 9% |
| Strongly support | 20% | 41% | 4% | 40% |
| Support | 30% | 36% | 23% | 44% |
| Oppose | 15% | 8% | 23% | 4% |
| Strongly oppose | 22% | 4% | 38% | 5% |
| Don’t know | 13% | 10% | 11% | 7% |
Total support for the carbon pricing scheme rose sharply by 13 points to 50% when respondents were asked whether they supported the scheme if the money paid by big polluting industries was used to compensate low and middle income earners and to invest in renewable energy.
Conversely, total opposition for the scheme fell by 13% to 37% total opposed.
The reference to compensation and investment in renewables has the effect of shifting total support up by 10% amongst Labor voters (77%), up 14% amongst Lib/Nat voters and up 8% amongst Green voters.
carbon pricing scheme, Carbon Tax, climate change, Essential Report, Polling
Q. Do you think the introduction of the carbon pricing scheme has been rushed and needs more time to consider or do you think it has been discussed enough and it is now time to make a decision?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Has been rushed and needs more time to consider | 52% | 28% | 72% | 20% |
| Has been discussed enough and it is now time to make a decision | 38% | 60% | 21% | 73% |
| Don’t know | 10% | 11% | 6% | 8% |
The majority of respondents think that the carbon pricing scheme had been rushed and more time is needed to consider it (52%). Thirty eight per cent (38%) think that it has been discussed enough and it is now time to make a decision. Ten percent (10%) of respondents don’t know.
Lib/Nat voters are the most likely to think that the scheme has been rushed (72%) and Greens voters are the least likely to think so (20%).
Greens voters (73%), followed by Labor voters (60%) are more likely to think that the scheme has been discussed enough and it is now time to make a decision.
Respondents aged 65+ are far more likely to regard the scheme has having been rushed (62%). Those aged 18-14 years old (43%) and 55-64 (44%) are the most likely to think that the scheme has been discussed enough and it is now time to make a decision.
balance of power, Essential Report, Federal Government, federal politics, Greens, house of representatives, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, Senate
Q. Thinking about the Federal Government, which of the following scenarios would you prefer –
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Green | |
| One of the major parties having a majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate | 36% | 36% | 49% | 7% |
| One of the major parties having a majority in the House of Representatives and the other having a majority in the Senate | 21% | 16% | 27% | 10% |
| One of the major parties having a majority in the House of Representatives and the Greens having the balance of power in the Senate | 16% | 22% | 4% | 63% |
| Don’t know | 28% | 26% | 21% | 19% |
Most respondents think that ‘one of the major parties having a majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate’ is preferable (36%). Lib/Nat voters are the most likely to prefer this scenario (49%) and Greens voters the least likely to do so (7%). Male respondents were also more likely to prefer this scenario (40%) than female respondents (32%).
Respondents then selected ‘one of the major parties having a majority in the House of Representatives and the other having a majority in the Senate’ as their next preferred scenario (21%). Lib/Nat voters are the most likely to regard this scenario as preferable (27%).
The least favoured option amongst respondents is ‘one of the major parties having a majority in the House of Representatives and the Greens having the balance of power in the Senate’, with 16% selecting this option. Greens voters are the most likely to regard this option as the most preferable (63%).
Essential Report, federal politics, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, Senate
Q. If the Liberal and National Parties win the next election, do you think it would be good or bad if they also won a majority in the Senate?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total Good | 38% | 10% | 73% | 6% |
| Total Bad | 31% | 63% | 3% | 72% |
| Very good | 17% | 3% | 35% | 0% |
| Good | 21% | 7% | 38% | 6% |
| Neither good nor bad | 18% | 18% | 16% | 15% |
| Bad | 12% | 23% | 3% | 18% |
| Very bad | 19% | 40% | 0% | 54% |
| Don’t know | 13% | 8% | 8% | 7% |
Most respondents think that having the Liberal and National Parties holding a majority in the Senate is a good outcome (38%), than those that think it is a bad outcome (31%).
Greens voters are the most likely to regard the outcome as bad (72%), followed by Labor voters (63%).
Male respondents are more likely to regard this outcome as good (45% total good) compared to female respondents (33% total good).
2PP, Essential Report, federal politics, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, two party preferred, 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 = 1,847
| First preference/leaning to | Election
21 Aug 10 |
4 weeks ago | 2 weeks ago | Last week | This week |
| Liberal | 46% | 46% | 46% | 46% | |
| National | 4% | 3% | 3% | 3% | |
| Total Lib/Nat | 43.6 | 50% | 49% | 49% | 49% |
| Labor | 38.0 | 31% | 32% | 30% | 32% |
| Greens | 11.8 | 10% | 10% | 11% | 10% |
| Other/Independent | 6.6 | 9% | 8% | 10% | 10% |
| 2PP | Election
21 Aug 10 |
4 weeks ago | 2 weeks ago | Last week | This week |
| Total Lib/Nat | 49.9% | 57% | 56% | 57% | 56% |
| Labor | 50.1% | 43% | 44% | 43% | 44% |
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.
Approval of Julia Gillard, Essential Report, Gillard, Labor, Polling, Prime Minister
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Julia Gillard is doing as Prime Minister?
| 19 Jul | 20 Dec | 17 Jan 2011 | 14 Feb | 14 Mar | 11 Apr | 9 May | 14 June | 11 July | 15 Aug | 12 Sept | |
| Total approve | 52% | 43% | 51% | 48% | 41% | 37% | 41% | 34% | 29% | 35% | 28% |
| Total disapprove | 30% | 40% | 36% | 41% | 46% | 50% | 48% | 54% | 62% | 55% | 64% |
| Strongly approve | 11% | 10% | 8% | 9% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 6% | 5% | 6% | 5% |
| Approve | 41% | 33% | 43% | 39% | 34% | 30% | 34% | 28% | 24% | 29% | 23% |
| Disapprove | 17% | 24% | 24% | 25% | 22% | 25% | 26% | 29% | 30% | 24% | 28% |
| Strongly disapprove | 13% | 16% | 12% | 16% | 24% | 25% | 22% | 25% | 32% | 31% | 36% |
| Don’t know | 18% | 17% | 14% | 11% | 13% | 13% | 11% | 13% | 9% | 11% | 8% |
After improving last month Julia Gillard’s approval rating has dropped back to a level similar to the July result. 28% (down 7%) approve of the job Julia Gillard is doing as Prime Minister and 64% (up 9%) disapprove – a change in net rating from -20 to -36 over the last 4 weeks.
66% of Labor voters approve (down 11%) and 26% disapprove (up 13%).
By gender – men 29% approve/65% disapprove, women 27% approve/62% disapprove.
Approval of opposition leader, Approval of Tony Abbott, Essential Report, federal politics, Liberal, Polling, tony abbott
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Tony Abbott is doing as Opposition Leader?
| 18 Jan
2010 |
5 Jul | 20 Dec | 17 Jan 2011 | 14 Feb | 14 Mar | 11 Apr | 9 May | 14 June | 11 July | 15 Aug | 12 Sept | |
| Total approve | 37% | 37% | 39% | 42% | 38% | 38% | 36% | 42% | 38% | 39% | 37% | 39% |
| Total disapprove | 37% | 47% | 39% | 37% | 46% | 47% | 48% | 44% | 48% | 49% | 50% | 50% |
| Strongly approve | 5% | 8% | 9% | 7% | 8% | 7% | 7% | 8% | 6% | 6% | 8% | 8% |
| Approve | 32% | 29% | 30% | 35% | 30% | 31% | 29% | 34% | 32% | 33% | 29% | 31% |
| Disapprove | 20% | 23% | 21% | 22% | 24% | 24% | 25% | 25% | 25% | 24% | 25% | 23% |
| Strongly disapprove | 17% | 24% | 18% | 15% | 22% | 23% | 23% | 19% | 23% | 25% | 25% | 27% |
| Don’t know | 26% | 16% | 22% | 20% | 16% | 16% | 17% | 14% | 15% | 11% | 13% | 11% |
Tony Abbott’s approval rating has been at a similar level for the past 4 months. 39% (up 2%) approve of the job Tony Abbott is doing as Opposition Leader and 50% (no change) disapprove – a change in net rating from -13 to -11 over the last 4 weeks.
74% (up 2%) of Coalition voters approve and 18% (down 2%) disapprove.
By gender – men 42% approve/52% disapprove, women 36% approve/48% disapprove.