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  • Dec, 2010

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    Wikileaks – Australian Government Support for Julian Assange

    Q. The US Government is reportedly intending to lay charges against Julian Assange as head of Wikileaks. Should Julian Assange receive support and assistance from the Australian Government if he is charged with an offence by the US or another country?

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Should receive support and assistance 50% 52% 50% 76%
    Should not receive support and assistance 26% 29% 27% 14%
    Don’t know 24% 19% 23% 10%

    50% believe that Julian Assange should receive support and assistance from the Australian Government if he is charged with an offence by the US or another country and 26% think he should not – 24% have no opinion. A majority of voters for each of the major parties believed that Government support should be given.

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  • Dec, 2010

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    Nuclear Power

    Q. Do you support or oppose Australia developing nuclear power plants for the generation of electricity?

    27 Jan 09 20 Dec 10 Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Total support 43% 43% 41% 56% 25%
    Total oppose 35% 37% 41% 31% 65%
    Strongly support 14% 16% 16% 22% 5%
    Support 29% 27% 25% 34% 20%
    Oppose 21% 21% 23% 20% 33%
    Strongly oppose 14% 16% 18% 11% 32%
    Don’t know 22% 19% 17% 13% 10%

    43% support Australia developing nuclear power plants for the generation of electricity and 35% oppose. These figures are almost identical to the results obtained when this question was last asked in January 2009.

    Coalition voters show majority support (56%/31%), Greens voters are strongly opposed (25%/65%) and Labor voters split 41%/41%.

    There are substantial differences by gender – 63% of men support and 26% oppose but women oppose 48% to 25%.

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  • Dec, 2010

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    No names rule in media jungle

    First Published on The Drum 14/12/2010

    Here is the word cloud that will prick a thousand egos – and restore some reality to the debate about the future of the media.

    In an era of celebrity journos building Twitter empires and media business models inspired by the porn industry, the truth is that very few members of the public have any idea who is writing or reporting their daily news.

    That’s what Essential Research found while working with the Media Alliance’s Future of Journalism Project – when asked to name  a journalist, the vast majority of respondents could come up with only one name: ‘Don’t Know’.

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  • Dec, 2010

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    Climate change? Scepticism becomes mainstream

    First Published on The Drum 07/12/2010

    It was a year ago today that the hottest gig in global warming opened in Copenhagen, amidst expectations that the world’s leaders would rise above their geographical interests and make a stand for the future.

    Twelve months on and the hopes of Copenhagen seem as retro as a Midnight Oil album, the world has opted to sleep even when our beds are burning.

    While the lack of political action over the past year has been well documented, this week’s Essential Report picks up another dynamic that is both a response to and a driver for this inertia. For the first time, we have found less than 50 per cent of Australians think climate change is real.

    Dec 10 Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Climate change is happening and is caused by human activity 45% 53% 32% 76%
    We are just witnessing a normal fluctuation in the earth’s climate 36% 27% 53% 14%
    Don’t know 19% 20% 15% 10%

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  • Dec, 2010

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    Federal politics – 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 = 1,896

    First preference/leaning to 6 months ago 4 weeks ago 2 weeks ago Last week This week
    Liberal 38% 42% 42% 41% 42%
    National 3% 4% 3% 3% 3%
    Total Lib/Nat 40% 46% 45% 44% 45%
    Labor 37% 39% 38% 38% 38%
    Greens 12% 8% 10% 11% 11%
    Other/Independent 10% 7% 8% 7% 6%
    2PP 6 months ago 4 weeks ago 2 weeks ago Last week

    This week
    Total Lib/Nat 48% 51% 51% 51% 51%
    Labor 52% 49% 49% 49% 49%

    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.

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  • Dec, 2010

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    Party Attributes

    Q. Here is a list of things both favourable and unfavourable that have been said about Federal political parties.  Which statements do you feel fit the Labor Party/Liberal Party/Greens?

    Labor Liberal Greens
    Keeps its promises 10% 13% 9%
    Has a good team of leaders 16% 23% 12%
    Moderate 18% 23% 12%
    Understands the problems facing Australia 23% 30% 19%
    Looks after the interests of working people 22% 17% 8%
    Too close to the big corporate and financial interests 15% 29% 3%
    Extreme 6% 13% 39%
    Out of touch with ordinary people 38% 37% 31%
    Divided 30% 20% 10%
    Will promise to do anything to win votes 50% 36% 22%
    Clear about what they stand for 10% 21% 29%
    Have a vision for the future 20% 23% 23%

    Compared to the other two parties, Labor are thought more likely to promise to do anything to win votes (50%) and be divided (30%). Only 6% think they are extreme and 10% think they are clear about what they stand for. Key attributes among Labor voters are – understands the problems facing Australia (48%), looks after the interests of working people (44%) and have a vision for the future (41%).

    The Liberal Party is more likely to understand the problems facing Australia (30%), be too close to the big corporate and financial interests (29%) and have a good team of leaders (23%). 21% think they are clear about what they stand for. Key attributes among Coalition voters are – understands the problems facing Australia (63%), has a good team of leaders (47%), have a vision for the future (46%) and clear about what they stand for (45%).

    The Greens are more likely to bee seen as extreme (39%) and clear about what they stand for (29%). Key attributes among Greens voters are – understands the problems facing Australia (71%), clear about what they stand for (63%) and have a vision for the future (60%).

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  • Dec, 2010

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    Position on Climate Change

    Q. Do you agree that there is fairly conclusive evidence that climate change is happening and caused by human activity or do you believe that the evidence is still not in and we may just be witnessing a normal fluctuation in the Earth’s climate which happens from time to time?ear

    Dec 10 Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens Nov 09
    Climate change is happening and is caused by human activity 45% 53% 32% 76% 53%
    We are just witnessing a normal fluctuation in the Earth’s climate 36% 27% 53% 14% 34%
    Don’t know 19% 20% 15% 10% 13%

    45% believe that climate change is happening and is caused by human activity (down 8% since last surveyed in Nov 2009), 36% think we are just witnessing a normal fluctuation in the Earth’s climate (up 2%) and 19% don’t know (up 6%).

    Those most likely to think climate change is happening and is caused by human activity were Greens voters (76%), Labor voters (53%), women (49%) and aged 18-35 (50%).

    Those most likely to think it is a normal fluctuation in the Earth’s climate were Liberal/National voters (53%), aged 55+ (47%) and men (40%).

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