Reasons economy is poor
Q. What is the main reason you don’t think the state of the economy is good? *
|
28 May 12 |
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
|
| Poor economic management by Government |
27% |
40% |
17% |
52% |
| Increasing cost of living |
34% |
27% |
41% |
22% |
| Businesses are struggling |
13% |
11% |
7% |
13% |
| Increasing gap between rich and poor |
9% |
7% |
15% |
3% |
| Incomes aren’t increasing fast enough to keep up |
7% |
6% |
7% |
5% |
| Global financial problems |
7% |
5% |
7% |
4% |
| Other reason |
2% |
3% |
6% |
2% |
| Don’t know |
1% |
1% |
– |
– |
* Based on those who disagree that economy is good.
Those who disagreed that the economy was good said the main reasons were poor economic management by Government (40%) and the increasing cost of living (27%). Those who blame poor economic management by the Government has increased 13% and cost of living has decreased 7% since May last year.
62% of respondents aged 55+ blamed poor economic management by Government while the increasing cost of living was the major factor for 41% of respondents aged 25-44.
Services better run by Government or Private Sector
Q. Which of the following are better run by the private sector and which are better run by Government?
|
11 Mar 2013 |
31 Jan 2011 |
|||||
|
Better run by private sector |
Better run by Government |
Don’t know |
Better run by private sector |
Better run by Government |
Don’t know |
|
| Electricity |
25% |
62% |
13% |
22% |
61% |
17% |
| Water |
19% |
69% |
12% |
15% |
70% |
16% |
| Trains, buses and ferries |
25% |
64% |
11% |
19% |
68% |
13% |
| Motorways |
23% |
66% |
11% |
17% |
70% |
13% |
| Community services such as child protection |
14% |
75% |
11% |
14% |
71% |
15% |
| Telecommunications (including broadband services) |
45% |
44% |
11% |
na |
na |
na |
| Hospitals and health services |
19% |
71% |
10% |
na |
na |
na |
| Schools |
21% |
69% |
10% |
na |
na |
na |
| Prisons |
17% |
73% |
11% |
10% |
76% |
15% |
| Universities |
27% |
61% |
12% |
20% |
64% |
16% |
| Ports |
22% |
60% |
19% |
na |
na |
na |
Most services listed were clearly thought to be better run by Government than the private sector.
The only exception was telecommunications where respondents were split 45% private sector, 44% Government.
The areas most preferred to be run by Government were – community services (75%), prisons (73%), hospitals and health services (71%), schools (69%) and water (69%).
Compared to the results when this question was asked in January 2011, preference for the private sector running services has increased a little – +6% for trains, buses and ferries and motorways and +7% for prisons and universities.
Government Response if Julian Assange is Charged by US
Q. Recently US government figures have indicated they want Julian Assange to be prosecuted. If he is charged by the US, what do you think the Australian Government should do?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| Support US attempts to prosecute him |
9% |
8% |
10% |
4% |
| Call for the US to observe due process and offer consular support |
34% |
40% |
33% |
30% |
| Offer him protection from extradition and prosecution. |
24% |
26% |
19% |
41% |
| Do nothing |
13% |
12% |
17% |
7% |
| Don’t know |
20% |
13% |
21% |
19% |
34% think that if Julian Assange is charged by the US, the Australian Government should call for the US to observe due process and offer consular support and 24% think the Government should offer him protection from extradition and prosecution. Only 9% think the Government should support US attempts to prosecute him and 13% think they should do nothing.
Support for offering Assange protection was highest among older respondents – 31% of respondents aged 55+ compared to 22% of those aged under 35.
Size of Government
Q. Overall, do you think Government in Australia is too large and tries to do too much?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| Government is too large |
44% |
32% |
55% |
32% |
| Government is not too large |
28% |
44% |
20% |
31% |
| Don’t know |
28% |
24% |
25% |
37% |
44% think that Government in Australia is too large and tries to do too much and 28% think it is not too large.
Those most likely to think Government is too large were men (55%), aged 55+ (58%), and Liberal/National voters (55%).
Those most likely to think Government is not too large were aged under 35 (36%) and Labor voters (44%).
Type of Government
Q. Which of the following statements is closest to your view?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| An active Government is necessary to provide important public services, and to protect ordinary Australians from unfair policies and practices on the part of large financial and/or industrial groups. |
67% |
82% |
59% |
82% |
| We don’t need big government and extensive regulation of business and finance to take care of these matters: the market itself can deal with many of these issues on their own. |
20% |
10% |
28% |
11% |
| Don’t know |
13% |
8% |
13% |
8% |
67% agree more that an active Government is necessary and 20% agree more with the view that the market can deal with many issues.
Strongest support for an active Government came from Labor and Greens voters (82%), women (70%) and aged under 25 (77%).
Role of Government
Q. For each of the following issues, do you think the Government does too much, too little or just about the right amount:
|
Too much |
Too little |
About right |
Don’t know |
|
| Providing quality health care services |
2% |
74% |
19% |
5% |
| Protecting citizens from industrial and other kinds of pollution. |
10% |
43% |
36% |
11% |
| Making sure the banks and other large financial institutions operate honestly and treat their clients fairly |
3% |
62% |
28% |
6% |
| Making sure that the roads, bridges and other public transportation facilities are in good repair and safe. |
1% |
63% |
30% |
5% |
| Ensuring that there is adequate, affordable and accessible public transport. |
2% |
67% |
25% |
6% |
| Ensuring that our population is protected from crime, terrorism and other threats. |
5% |
47% |
41% |
7% |
| Providing a quality education system |
2% |
54% |
37% |
7% |
Respondents were more likely to think the Government does too little on each of the issues measured.
In particular, they think the Government does too little in terms of health care services (74%), adequate, affordable and accessible public transport (67%), roads, bridges and other public transportation (63%) and making sure the banks and other large financial institutions operate honestly and treat their clients fairly (62%).
Issues over which they were more divided were protecting citizens from industrial and other kinds of pollution (46% about right/too much) and ensuring that our population is protected from crime, terrorism and other threats (46% about right/too much).
Important election issues
Q. Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election?
| First | Second | Third | Total | 6 June 11 | 24 Jan 11 | 11 Oct 10 | 25 Jan 10 | |
| Management of the economy | 39% | 16% | 7% | 62% | 61% | 65% | 62% | 63% |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children | 4% | 8% | 10% | 22% | 26% | 26% | 32% | 23% |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 12% | 18% | 17% | 47% | 49% | 49% | 48% | 48% |
| Protecting the environment | 4% | 5% | 4% | 13% | 15% | 13% | 12% | 16% |
| A fair industrial relations system | 3% | 4% | 4% | 11% | 8% | 10% | 11% | * |
| Political leadership | 7% | 6% | 5% | 18% | 17% | 16% | 16% | 23% |
| Addressing climate change | 3% | 4% | 3% | 10% | 15% | 10% | 11% | 16% |
| Controlling interest rates | 2% | 4% | 5% | 11% | 13% | 21% | 17% | 15% |
| Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 11% | 12% | 13% | 36% | 32% | 30% | 30% | 33% |
| Ensuring a quality water supply | * | 2% | 2% | 4% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 12% |
| Housing affordability | 3% | 4% | 6% | 13% | 16% | 16% | 17% | 14% |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system | 3% | 5% | 8% | 16% | 17% | 18% | 16% | 14% |
| Security and the war on terrorism | 1% | 1% | 2% | 4% | 8% | 5% | 6% | 9% |
| Treatment of asylum seekers | 2% | 3% | 3% | 8% | 5% | 5% | 5% | * |
| Managing population growth | 1% | 3% | 4% | 8% | 12% | 11% | 10% | * |
*Not asked
62% of people surveyed rated management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 47% ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system and 36% Australian jobs and protection of local industries.
Since June, there have been only minor changes in these figures – there has been an increase in the importance of Australian jobs and protection of local industries (+4%) and declines in the importance of addressing climate change (-5%), ensuring a quality education for all children (-4%), managing population growth (-4%) and security and the war on terrorism (-4%).
Party trust to handle important election issues
Q. And which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
| Labor | Liberal | Greens | Don’t know | |
| Management of the economy | 27% | 45% | 2% | 25% |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children | 34% | 36% | 5% | 25% |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 31% | 34% | 6% | 29% |
| Protecting the environment | 16% | 23% | 37% | 24% |
| A fair industrial relations system | 38% | 34% | 5% | 23% |
| Political leadership | 23% | 40% | 5% | 33% |
| Addressing climate change | 19% | 25% | 31% | 25% |
| Controlling interest rates | 24% | 42% | 2% | 32% |
| Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 32% | 35% | 4% | 29% |
| Ensuring a quality water supply | 18% | 30% | 24% | 29% |
| Housing affordability | 23% | 33% | 5% | 38% |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system | 28% | 37% | 4% | 31% |
| Security and the war on terrorism | 21% | 40% | 3% | 35% |
| Treatment of asylum seekers | 17% | 36% | 12% | 35% |
| Managing population growth | 18% | 35% | 9% | 39% |
Labor does not have a substantial lead over the Liberal Party on any item measured. The 9% lead it had in June on “a fair industrial relations system” has been reduced to 4%. There is also little difference between Labor and the Liberals for ensuring a quality education for all children, ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system and protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries.
The Liberal Party has maintained strong leads on management of the economy, controlling interest rates, political leadership and security and the war on terrorism.
Overall, there has been a slight weakening of Labor’s position since June.
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
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Two Party Preferred:
In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Federal government response to Covid-19
- State government response to Covid-19
- Better leadership during Covid-19 – PM vs state leader
- Attitudes towards Craig Kelly controversy and Scott Morrison’s leadership
- Views towards federal vs state government responsibility to manage Covid-19 hotel quarantine system
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