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  • Jun, 2011

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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 = 1,929

    First preference/leaning to Election

    21 Aug 10

    4 weeks ago 2 weeks ago Last week This week
    Liberal 44% 44% 44% 44%
    National 3% 3% 3% 2%
    Total Lib/Nat 43.6 47% 46% 47% 46%
    Labor 38.0 35% 34% 34% 34%
    Greens 11.8 10% 12% 12% 12%
    Other/Independent 6.6 8% 8% 8% 8%
    2PP Election

    21 Aug 10

    4 weeks ago 2 weeks ago Last week This week
    Total Lib/Nat 49.9% 54% 53% 54% 53%
    Labor 50.1% 46% 47% 46% 47%

    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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  • Jun, 2011

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    Important election issues

    Q. Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election?

    One Two Three Total 24 Jan 11 11 Oct 10 25 Jan 10
    Management of the economy 34% 18% 9% 61% 65% 62% 63%
    Ensuring a quality education for all children 6% 10% 10% 26% 26% 32% 23%
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system 15% 15% 19% 49% 49% 48% 48%
    Protecting the environment 4% 6% 5% 15% 13% 12% 16%
    A fair industrial relations system 2% 3% 3% 8% 10% 11% *
    Political leadership 6% 6% 5% 17% 16% 16% 23%
    Addressing climate change 6% 4% 5% 15% 10% 11% 16%
    Controlling interest rates 3% 5% 5% 13% 21% 17% 15%
    Australian jobs and protection of local industries 9% 11% 12% 32% 30% 30% 33%
    Ensuring a quality water supply 1% 1% 3% 5% 6% 6% 12%
    Housing affordability 4% 6% 6% 16% 16% 17% 14%
    Ensuring a fair taxation system 3% 6% 8% 17% 18% 16% 14%
    Security and the war on terrorism 2% 2% 4% 8% 5% 6% 9%
    Treatment of asylum seekers 1% 2% 2% 5% 5% 5% *
    Managing population growth 2% 4% 6% 12% 11% 10% *

    *Not asked

    61% of people surveyed rated management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 49% ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system and 32% Australian jobs and protection of local industries.

    Since January, there has been an increase in the importance of addressing climate change (from 10% to 15%) and a decrease in the importance of controlling interest rates (from 21% to 13%).

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  • Jun, 2011

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    Important election issues

    Q. Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election?

    Total Labor Liberal/ National Green
    Management of the economy 61% 60% 76% 28%
    Ensuring a quality education for all children 26% 29% 24% 27%
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system 49% 50% 50% 51%
    Protecting the environment 15% 17% 10% 52%
    A fair industrial relations system 8% 12% 4% 4%
    Political leadership 17% 16% 20% 16%
    Addressing climate change 15% 23% 6% 45%
    Controlling interest rates 13% 15% 13% 6%
    Australian jobs and protection of local industries 32% 28% 36% 12%
    Ensuring a quality water supply 5% 5% 3% 7%
    Housing affordability 16% 16% 13% 16%
    Ensuring a fair taxation system 17% 14% 19% 16%
    Security and the war on terrorism 8% 4% 13% 1%
    Treatment of asylum seekers 5% 3% 5% 12%
    Managing population growth 12% 12% 12% 9%

    There were few substantial differences between voters on issues they considered important. Compared to the average, Labor voters are more likely to rate addressing climate change (23%) as important.

    Liberal/National voters attach more importance to management of the economy (76%) and security and the war on terrorism (13%) while Greens voters are more likely to nominate protecting the environment (52%), addressing climate change (45%) and treatment of asylum seekers (12%).

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  • Jun, 2011

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    Party trusted 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 29% 47% 3% 22%
    Ensuring a quality education for all children 38% 35% 5% 23%
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system 33% 35% 6% 25%
    Protecting the environment 18% 21% 39% 23%
    A fair industrial relations system 40% 31% 4% 24%
    Political leadership 26% 38% 5% 31%
    Addressing climate change 21% 24% 29% 26%
    Controlling interest rates 26% 44% 3% 28%
    Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries 35% 35% 4% 26%
    Ensuring a quality water supply 21% 28% 22% 29%
    Housing affordability 26% 34% 4% 35%
    Ensuring a fair taxation system 29% 37% 4% 30%
    Security and the war on terrorism 25% 40% 3% 32%
    Treatment of asylum seekers 19% 39% 11% 31%
    Managing population growth 21% 36% 7% 36%

    Labor is the most trusted party on only one issue – a fair industrial relations system. There is 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.

    This represents a weakening in Labor’s position over the last few months. In January Labor was trusted most to handle ensuring a quality education for all children and in October Labor also had a significant lead on protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries.

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  • Jun, 2011

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    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 Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Total good 27% 28% 40% 11% 77%
    Total bad 41% 39% 19% 68% 6%
    Very good 7% 9% 11% 3% 40%
    Good 20% 19% 29% 8% 37%
    Neither good nor bad 33% 33% 41% 21% 17%
    Bad 22% 21% 13% 33% 5%
    Very bad 19% 18% 6% 35% 1%

    28% of respondents think the independents and Greens holding the balance of power in Parliament has been good for Australia and 39% bad. This is very similar to the results obtained for this question in March. The only substantial change is that Labor voters are now more positive – in March they responded 33% good/25% bad.

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  • Jun, 2011

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    Cost of Living

    Q. What do you think is the main reason for the increasing cost of living?

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    The strong Australian dollar 17% 30% 9% 17%
    Excessive company profits 18% 24% 10% 27%
    Lack of competition 14% 18% 9% 24%
    Economic management of the Federal Government 28% 8% 51% 9%
    Economic management of State Governments 6% 3% 8% 6%
    Wage increases 4% 3% 4% 3%
    Don’t know 14% 14% 8% 14%

    28% believe that economic management of the Federal Government is the main reason for the increasing cost of living. 18% blame excessive company profits and 17% the strong Australian dollar. Only 4% said wage increases.

    Most of those blaming the Federal Government were Liberal/National voters. Labor voters nominated the strong Australian dollar and excessive company profits while Greens votes said excessive company profits and lack of competition.

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  • May, 2011

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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 = 1,893

    First preference/leaning to Election

    21 Aug 10

    4 weeks ago 2 weeks ago Last week This week
    Liberal 44% 43% 44% 44%
    National 3% 3% 3% 3%
    Total Lib/Nat 43.6 47% 46% 46% 47%
    Labor 38.0 35% 36% 34% 34%
    Greens 11.8 9% 11% 12% 12%
    Other/Independent 6.6 9% 7% 8% 8%
    2PP Election

    21 Aug 10

    4 weeks ago 2 weeks ago Last week This week
    Total Lib/Nat 49.9% 54% 52% 53% 54%
    Labor 50.1% 46% 48% 47% 46%

    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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  • May, 2011

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    Interests Represented by Parties

    Q. Which political party do you think best represents the interests of –

    Labor Liberal Greens Don’t know
    Families with young children 34% 31% 5% 29%
    Students 30% 28% 10% 33%
    Working people on average incomes 40% 32% 5% 23%
    Working people on low incomes 43% 27% 6% 24%
    Working people on high incomes 13% 63% 2% 22%
    People on welfare 38% 23% 8% 30%
    Pensioners 33% 28% 5% 34%
    Small businesses and self-employed 20% 47% 4% 29%
    Big business 13% 62% 2% 23%
    The next generation of Australians 19% 31% 17% 33%
    Indigenous people 23% 21% 16% 40%
    Ethnic communities 22% 21% 15% 42%
    Rural and regional Australians 18% 34% 11% 36%

    The Labor Party is considered the party which best represents the interests of working people on low and average incomes, people on welfare and pensioners. The Liberal Party is considered best at representing the interests of people on high incomes, big business, small business and self-employed, rural and regional Australians and the next generation. The Greens’ main strengths are in representing the next generation, indigenous people and ethnic communities.

    There was little difference between the major parties in terms of representing the interests of families with young children, students, indigenous people and ethnic communities.

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