25 February 2013, 250213, cost of living, economy, environment, Health, Interest rates, political leadership, tony abbott, trust in government, unemployment
Q. If the Labor Party lost the next election, do you think the following would be better or worse under a Liberal/National Government led by Tony Abbott?
|
A lot better |
A little better |
Stay much the same |
A little worse |
A lot worse |
Don’t use |
NET (Better-Worse) |
|
| Political leadership |
16% |
19% |
27% |
10% |
24% |
4% |
+1 |
| Trust in Government |
13% |
19% |
29% |
12% |
22% |
4% |
-2 |
| Unemployment |
7% |
18% |
39% |
13% |
19% |
5% |
-7 |
| The economy overall |
16% |
22% |
31% |
12% |
16% |
4% |
+10 |
| The cost of living |
6% |
19% |
36% |
14% |
21% |
4% |
-10 |
| Interest rates |
5% |
13% |
48% |
14% |
16% |
5% |
-12 |
| Health services |
6% |
19% |
36% |
16% |
20% |
4% |
-11 |
| Job security |
7% |
17% |
36% |
14% |
22% |
4% |
-12 |
| Workers rights and conditions |
5% |
13% |
37% |
15% |
25% |
5% |
-22 |
| Company profits |
13% |
28% |
37% |
6% |
10% |
6% |
+25 |
| The environment |
5% |
13% |
47% |
11% |
21% |
4% |
-14 |
| Job creation |
8% |
20% |
39% |
13% |
16% |
4% |
-1 |
| Public services |
6% |
15% |
42% |
13% |
20% |
4% |
-12 |
| Benefits for people on Government support – such as pensioners and the unemployed |
5% |
13% |
39% |
16% |
23% |
5% |
-21 |
| Your personal financial situation |
6% |
16% |
42% |
15% |
16% |
4% |
-9 |
Under a Liberal Government, respondents though that the economy overall (+10) and company profits (+25) would be better.
However they were more likely to think that workers rights and conditions (-22), benefits for people on Government support (-21), the environment (-14), interest rates (-12), job security (-12), public services, health services (-11) and the cost of living (-10) would all be worse. 22% think their own financial situation will be better, 31% think it will be worse and 42% much the same.
13 June 2012, 130612, 2012 budget, CSIRO, energy, Health, Nadine Flood, public sector, Public service, tax evasion, wifi technology
Nadine Flood questions whether governments take our science and other publicly funded breakthroughs for granted.
The CSIRO is one of Australia’s most respected institutions. The Bureau of Meteorology is crucial in times of impending climate crisis. They are also part of the public service. And though their specialty is science, other areas of the public sector are also responsible for innovation — from agricultural land use to new ways of fighting tax evasion.
See a brief history of CSIRO achievements from wi-fi to dollar notes.
It’s a concept that is often lost at Budget time when governments keen to trim down costs often take a knife to the public sector. It’s easy pickings if the millions of dollars saved or made by innovations in technology, energy and health fail to be counted as assets.
The CPSU’s Nadine Flood tells 3Q how the CSIRO’s development of wi-fi technology transformed the world and brought $500 million into Australia through patent fees. Yet if the Opposition has its way, crucial funding of the sciences and other public sector innovation would be lost.
Further cuts on the grounds of “efficiency” will have long term effects on our ability to innovate.
01 May 2012, 010512, 3q, 3Q Ep 10, AIDS, Choose Wisely, Dr Brian Owler, Ep 10, Health, public health, RTA
Dr Brian Owler gives his reasons for fronting a road safety campaign and the next issues in his sights.
The AIDS awareness campaign was the first graphic public health campaign of its kind — the Grim Reaper playing ten pin bowling with children, parents and old people.
Since then there’s been dozens more, targeting everything from anti-smoking to domestic violence. Associate professor Brian Owler is the face of the RTA’s “Choose Wisely” campaign.
He rejects the suggestion that these ads constitute a “nanny state” agenda and tells 3Q why more needs to be done on issues like building and pool safety in order to protect children.
26 March 2012, 260312, annual leave, employment, Health, Polling, polls, Sick Day, Sick Days, Sick leave, sickie
Q. Which of the following apply to you over the last 12 months?
|
Total |
Men |
Women |
Aged 18-34 |
Aged 35-54 |
Aged 55+ |
|
| I have taken a sickie (that is, a day off work when you weren’t really sick) |
23% |
23% |
22% |
30% |
21% |
8% |
| I have taken a day off sick without a doctor’s certificate |
51% |
49% |
52% |
55% |
53% |
34% |
| I have taken a day off sick with a doctor’s certificate |
47% |
49% |
44% |
49% |
49% |
33% |
| I have gone to work when I was sick |
81% |
83% |
78% |
83% |
82% |
70% |
* based of those who worked in paid employment over the last 12 months
More than three times as many respondents said that, over the last 12 months, they had worked when they were sick than had taken a “sickie”. 81% said they had gone to work when they were sick and 23% said they had taken a day off work when they weren’t really sick.
Men (83%) were a little more likely than women (78%) to go to work when they were sick.
Those aged under 35 were a little more likely to take a “sickie” (30%) but were also more likely to go to work when they were sick (83%).
Older respondents seem to be less likely to get sick at all – 70% said they had worked when sick – and only 34% had taken a day off with a doctor’s certificate and 33% without a doctor’s certificate.
Health, Health Insurance, Healthcare, Polling, polls, Private Health Insurance Rebate, Private Healthcare
Q. The Government proposes to means test the private health insurance rebate, with reductions beginning for a single person earning more than $80,000 or families on $160,000. Singles earning more than $124,000 and families on more than $248,000 will not receive any of the rebate. Do you support or oppose means testing the heath insurance rebate for people on higher incomes?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Income less than $31,200 | Income $31,200-$51,999 | Income $52,000-$83,199 | Income $83,200+ | |||
| Total support | 53% | 76% | 38% | 65% | 67% | 63% | 59% | 45% | ||
| Total oppose | 33% | 13% | 51% | 19% | 17% | 23% | 28% | 46% | ||
| Strongly support | 22% | 46% | 8% | 22% | 33% | 23% | 23% | 21% | ||
| Support | 31% | 30% | 30% | 43% | 34% | 40% | 36% | 24% | ||
| Oppose | 15% | 9% | 21% | 13% | 10% | 12% | 14% | 19% | ||
| Strongly oppose | 18% | 4% | 30% | 6% | 7% | 11% | 14% | 27% | ||
| Don’t know | 14% | 11% | 11% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 12% | 10% |
The majority of respondents support the means test on the private health insurance rebate for people on higher incomes (53%), with 33% opposed to the reform.
Those on low incomes of less than $31,200 per annum are the most likely to be in favour of the reform, with 67% supporting the means test. Conversely, those on higher incomes (earning $83,200+ per annum) are the most likely to oppose the means test, with 46% against it and 45% in favour of it.
Looking at the results by voting intention, those most likely to be against the reform are Coalition voters with the majority opposing the means test (51%), whilst Labor voters are the most likely to be in favour of it (76%). Greens voters trail 11 points behind Labor in favour of the reform at 65%.
Essential Report, Federal Government, federal politics, Health, healthcare system, Polling, polls
Q. How much have you read and heard about the recent Federal Government changes concerning funding and delivery of health services?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| A lot | 8% | 10% | 8% | 16% |
| Something | 21% | 22% | 24% | 19% |
| A little | 36% | 38% | 37% | 32% |
| Nothing | 28% | 25% | 28% | 30% |
| Don’t know | 7% | 5% | 4% | 3% |
Only 29% say they have heard a lot or something about the recent Federal Government changes concerning funding and delivery of health services, 36% say they have heard a little and 28% have heard nothing.
Those most likely to have heard a lot/something were aged 55+ (39%).
Essential Report, Health, healthcare system, Polling, polls
Q. What impact do you think these changes will have on the delivery of health services in Australia?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Heard a lot / something | Heard a little | |
| A big impact | 15% | 17% | 12% | 21% | 24% | 7% |
| A moderate impact | 35% | 46% | 28% | 42% | 42% | 29% |
| A small impact | 27% | 22% | 32% | 15% | 19% | 34% |
| No impact | 10% | 3% | 15% | 6% | 11% | 10% |
| Don’t know | 13% | 11% | 12% | 16% | 4% | 20% |
* based on those who have heard a lot/something/a little.
Of those who had heard a lot/something/a little, 50% think the health system changes will have a big or moderate impact on the delivery of health services in Australia, 27% think they will have small impact and 10% think they will have no impact.
Those who have heard more about the changes are more likely to think they will have an impact – 66% of those who have heard a lot/something think they will have a big/moderate impact compared to 36% of those who have only heard a little.
Essential Report, Health, healthcare system, Polling, polls
Q. What impact do you think these changes will have on you and your family?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Heard a lot / something | Heard a little | |
| A big impact | 8% | 6% | 9% | 13% | 13% | 5% |
| A moderate impact | 23% | 32% | 19% | 20% | 30% | 18% |
| A small impact | 30% | 33% | 25% | 40% | 27% | 33% |
| No impact | 26% | 18% | 35% | 16% | 24% | 27% |
| Don’t know | 12% | 12% | 12% | 11% | 5% | 18% |
* based on those who have heard a lot/something/a little.
Respondents were less likely to think the changes will have an impact on their family. Of those who had heard a lot/something/a little, 31% think the health system changes will have a big or moderate impact on them, 30% think they will have small impact and 26% think they will have no impact.
43% of those who have heard a lot/something think they will have a big/moderate impact compared to 23% of those who have only heard a little.