The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Nov, 2014

    Free trade agreement with China

    Q. Do you approve or disapprove of Australia signing a Free Trade Agreement with China? 

     

    Total

     

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Vote Other

    Total approve

    44%

    44%

    58%

    31%

    34%

    Total disapprove

    18%

    21%

    9%

    27%

    35%

    Strongly approve

    10%

    10%

    16%

    2%

    5%

    Approve

    34%

    34%

    42%

    29%

    29%

    Disapprove

    12%

    11%

    7%

    22%

    24%

    Strongly disapprove

    6%

    10%

    2%

    5%

    11%

    Don’t know

    39%

    36%

    34%

    42%

    31%

    44% approve of Australia signing a Free Trade Agreement with China and 18% disapprove. 39% could not give an opinion.

    Those most likely to approve were Liberal/National voters (58%), aged 55+ (58%) and men (54%).

    Those most likely to disapprove were Greens (27%) and other voters (35%).

  • Nov, 2014

    Country that benefits most from free trade agreement

    Q. Which country do you think will benefit most from a Free Trade Agreement with China?

     

    Total

     

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Vote Other

    Australia

    12%

    13%

    17%

    4%

    7%

    China

    35%

    39%

    22%

    53%

    54%

    Both equally

    24%

    22%

    34%

    16%

    16%

    Neither

    2%

    2%

    1%

    1%

    4%

    Don’t know

    28%

    23%

    26%

    26%

    20%

    35% think that China would benefit most from a Fee Trade Agreement, 24% think both countries would benefit equally and 12% think Australia would benefit most.

    Those most likely to think China would benefit most were Greens (53%) and other voters (54%) and aged 55% (43%),

  • Nov, 2014

    Groups that benefit from free trade agreement

    Q. How much do you think the following would benefit from a Free Trade Agreement with China? 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Lot/some benefit

     

    Total a lot/
    some benefit

     

    A lot of benefit

    Some benefit

    Little benefit

    No benefit

    Don’t know

    Vote ALP

    Vote Lib/
    Nat

    Vote Green

    Vote Other

    Australian
    Government

    52%

    17%

    35%

    13%

    5%

    30%

    51%

    65%

    49%

    47%

    Mining companies

    48%

    22%

    26%

    14%

    7%

    31%

    49%

    57%

    44%

    43%

    Australian businesses overall

    44%

    11%

    33%

    20%

    5%

    31%

    44%

    58%

    39%

    32%

    Tourism operators

    41%

    12%

    29%

    17%

    10%

    32%

    44%

    53%

    37%

    32%

    Farmers

    37%

    12%

    25%

    18%

    15%

    30%

    35%

    50%

    29%

    28%

    The Australian economy in general

    37%

    9%

    28%

    23%

    9%

    31%

    34%

    53%

    29%

    22%

    Manufactur-ing firms

    34%

    10%

    24%

    18%

    18%

    31%

    37%

    43%

    22%

    26%

    Working people

    25%

    6%

    19%

    25%

    22%

    29%

    22%

    39%

    15%

    13%

    Respondents thought those most likely to benefit from a Free Trade Agreement with China were the Australian Government (52%), mining companies (48%) and Australian business overall (44%).

    Only 25% thought that there would be a lot or some benefit for working people. 47% though there would be little or no benefit for working people.

  • Nov, 2014

    Support for free trade measures

    Q. Would you support or oppose the following measures in a Free Trade Agreement with China? 

     

    Total support

    Total oppose

     

    Strongly support

    Support

    Oppose

    Strongly oppose

    Don’t know

    Fewer restrictions on Chinese workers coming to Australia

    20%

    57%

    6%

    14%

    25%

    32%

    24%

    Greater access to Chinese markets for Australian businesses

    61%

    12%

    20%

    41%

    8%

    4%

    26%

    Reduced tariffs on imported manufactured goods from China

    43%

    28%

    11%

    32%

    16%

    12%

    28%

    Fewer restrictions on Chinese investment in Australia

    23%

    52%

    7%

    16%

    22%

    30%

    26%

    A majority (61%) support a free trade agreement that gives greater access to Chinese markets for Australian businesses and respondents were also more likely to support reduced tariffs on imported manufactured goods from China (43%).

    A majority oppose fewer restrictions on Chinese workers coming to Australia (57%) and fewer restrictions on Chinese investment in Australia (52%).

    There were few significant differences between Labor and Liberal/National voters – except that 51% of Liberal/National voters supported reduced tariffs on imported manufactured goods from China.

Error: