The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Oct, 2011

    , , , , , , , , , , ,

    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 = 1909  respondents

    First preference/leaning to Election

    21 Aug 10

    4 weeks ago 2 weeks ago Last week This week
    Liberal 46% 46% 45% 45%
    National 3% 3% 3% 3%
    Total Lib/Nat 43.6% 49% 49% 48% 48%
    Labor 38.0% 32% 32% 33% 33%
    Greens 11.8% 10% 12% 11% 10%
    Other/Independent 6.6% 10% 8% 9% 9%
    2PP Election

    21 Aug 10

    4 weeks ago 2 weeks ago Last week This week
    Total Lib/Nat 49.9% 56% 56% 55% 55%
    Labor 50.1% 44% 44% 45% 45%

    NB.  The data in the above tables comprise 2-week averages derived from 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.

    Comments »

  • Oct, 2011

    , , , , , ,

    Independents and Greens holding Balance of Power

    Q. Do you think the independents and Greens holding the balance of power in Parliament has been good or bad for Australia?

    7 Mar 11 6 Jun 2011 Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Total good 27% 28% 22% 32% 9% 72%
    Total bad 41% 39% 50% 30% 76% 7%
    Very good 7% 9% 5% 8% 1% 30%
    Good 20% 19% 17% 24% 8% 42%
    Neither good nor bad 33% 33% 28% 38% 15% 21%
    Bad 22% 21% 23% 22% 27% 5%
    Very bad 19% 18% 27% 8% 49% 2%

    The majority of respondents seem to regard the independents and the Greens holding the balance of power in Parliament as bad for Australia (50% bad), whilst 22% regard it is good for the country.

    Enthusiasm for the independents and the Greens in federal Parliament fell 6 points since last polled in June 2011, from 28% to 22% of respondents regarding it as good for the country.

    At the same time, disdain for the situation has risen considerably since June 2011: from 39% to 50% this time around.

    Labor voters are almost equally split on the issue of the independents and Greens holding the balance of power, with 32% regarding it to be a good thing, and 30% viewing it as bad.

    Lib/Nat voters are the most likely to regard the situation as bad (76%), whereas Greens voters are by far the most likely to regard it as good (72%).

    Respondents aged 18-24 (38%) and 25-34 (33%) were significantly more likely to regard the situation as good.

    Comments »

  • Oct, 2011

    , , , , , , , ,

    Politicians Lying

    Q. Which statement best reflects your view:

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    When a politician makes a statement or commitment they should stick to it no matter what 17% 12% 21% 16%
    As situations change, it is reasonable that politicians change their positions 47% 65% 36% 61%
    Politicians almost always lie – it’s naive to think otherwise 36% 23% 43% 23%

    The most common position taken by respondents is that ‘as situations change, it is reasonable that politicians change their positions’ (47%).   Labor voters are the most likely to adopt this position.

    Thirty six (36%) of respondents took the view that ‘politicians almost always like – it’s naïve to think otherwise’, and Coalition voters are the most likely to take this view.

    Only 17% of respondents felt that ‘when a politician make a statement or commitment they should stick to it not matter what’, with Coalition voters the most likely to adopt this view.

    Comments »

  • Oct, 2011

    , , , , , , , ,

    Circumstances in which Politicians Lie

    Q. In which of the following situations do you think it is acceptable for a politician to lie:

    The most acceptable situation in which respondents condoned lying is ‘where an individual’s safety is concerned’ (43%) and ‘when the information impacts on national security’ (42%). Twenty four (24%) regard it as acceptable to lie ‘when the information impacts on the nation’s economic interests’ and 20% see it as acceptable to lie ‘when new information about a situation comes to hand’.

    The most unacceptable circumstance in which a politician can lie is ‘where a change of position is required for political considerations’ (81% not acceptable).

    Comments »

  • Oct, 2011

    , , , , , , , , , , ,

    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 = 1909  respondents

    First preference/leaning to Election

    21 Aug 10

    4 weeks ago 2 weeks ago Last week This week
    Liberal 46% 46% 46% 45%
    National 3% 3% 3% 3%
    Total Lib/Nat 43.6% 49% 49% 49% 48%
    Labor 38.0% 30% 32% 32% 33%
    Greens 11.8% 11% 10% 12% 11%
    Other/Independent 6.6% 10% 9% 8% 9%
    2PP Election

    21 Aug 10

    4 weeks ago 2 weeks ago Last week This week
    Total Lib/Nat 49.9% 57% 56% 56% 55%
    Labor 50.1% 43% 44% 44% 45%

    NB.  The data in the above tables comprise 2-week averages derived from 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.

    Comments »

  • Sep, 2011

    , , , , , , , ,

    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 =  1891  respondents

    First preference/leaning to Election

    21 Aug 10

    4 weeks ago 2 weeks ago Last week This week
    Liberal 46% 46% 46% 46%
    National 3% 3% 3% 3%
    Total Lib/Nat 43.6% 49% 49% 49% 49%
    Labor 38.0% 32% 32% 32% 32%
    Greens 11.8% 10% 10% 10% 12%
    Other/Independent 6.6% 8% 10% 9% 8%
    2PP Election

    21 Aug 10

    4 weeks ago 2 weeks ago Last  week This week
    Total Lib/Nat 49.9% 56% 56% 56% 56%
    Labor 50.1% 44% 44% 44% 44%

    NB.  The data in the above tables comprise 2-week averages derived from 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.

    Comments »

  • Sep, 2011

    , , , , , , , , , ,

    Composition of Parliament

    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%).

    Comments »

  • Sep, 2011

    , , , , , , , ,

    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 = 1,847

    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.

    Comments »

Error: