25 June 2012, 250612, Carbon Tax, cost of living, energy prices, fresh fruit and vegetable prices, Fuel Prices, grocery prices, Interest rates, unemployment
Q. And what impact do you expect the carbon tax to have on each of the following?
|
Increase a lot |
Increase a little |
Stay much the same |
Decrease a little |
Decrease a lot |
Don’t know |
|
| Energy prices |
67% |
26% |
4% |
* |
– |
3% |
| Fuel prices |
53% |
31% |
11% |
1% |
* |
4% |
| Grocery prices |
41% |
41% |
14% |
1% |
– |
4% |
| Fresh fruit and vegetable prices |
39% |
39% |
18% |
* |
* |
4% |
| Unemployment |
31% |
27% |
32% |
2% |
1% |
8% |
| Interest rates |
22% |
18% |
38% |
8% |
1% |
13% |
A majority expect that energy prices (67%) and fuel prices (53%) will increase a lot due to the carbon tax. 41% expect grocery prices to increase a lot and 39% expect fresh fruit and vegetable prices to increase a lot.
A majority of all demographic groups expect energy prices to increase a lot – even 48% of Labor voters agree.
Those most likely to think fuel prices will increase a lot were women (57%), aged 45-54 (60%) and Liberal/National voters (68%).
Those most likely to think grocery prices will increase a lot were aged 45+ (50%), Liberal/National voters (55%) and those on incomes under $600pw (47%). Opinions about fresh fruit and vegetable prices were similar.
58% also think that unemployment will increase and 40% think interest rates will increase because of the carbon tax.
18 June 2012, 180612, asylum seekers, climate change, economy, Education, environment, Housing affordability, Industrial Relations, Interest rates, political leadership, taxation system, trust, trust government, war on terrorism, Water
Q. Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
|
Labor |
Liberal |
Greens |
Don’t know |
Difference 18 Jun 12 |
Difference 5 Dec 11 |
|
| Management of the economy |
26% |
44% |
3% |
27% |
-18 |
-18 |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children |
33% |
35% |
5% |
26% |
-2 |
-2 |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system |
30% |
36% |
7% |
27% |
-6 |
-3 |
| Protecting the environment |
17% |
21% |
38% |
24% |
+17 |
+14 |
| A fair industrial relations system |
36% |
30% |
6% |
28% |
+6 |
+4 |
| Political leadership |
21% |
37% |
7% |
36% |
-16 |
-17 |
| Addressing climate change |
18% |
24% |
31% |
27% |
+7 |
+6 |
| Controlling interest rates |
22% |
40% |
3% |
35% |
-18 |
-18 |
| Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries |
29% |
35% |
6% |
31% |
-6 |
-3 |
| Ensuring a quality water supply |
16% |
28% |
23% |
33% |
-12 |
-12 |
| Housing affordability |
22% |
33% |
5% |
39% |
-11 |
-10 |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system |
26% |
36% |
5% |
32% |
-10 |
-9 |
| Security and the war on terrorism |
18% |
40% |
4% |
38% |
-22 |
-19 |
| Treatment of asylum seekers |
16% |
36% |
13% |
36% |
-20 |
-19 |
| Managing population growth |
17% |
36% |
7% |
40% |
-19 |
-17 |
Note – Differences are calculated by subtracting Liberal % from Labor % – except for the two issues on which the Greens lead in which case it is Greens minus Liberal.
Labor does not have a substantial lead over the Liberal Party on any item measured. The Liberal Party has maintained strong leads on management of the economy, controlling interest rates, political leadership and security and the war on terrorism.
There is little difference between Labor and the Liberals for ensuring a quality education for all children, ensuring the quality of Australia’s health systerm and protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries. Overall, there has been very little change in these results since December.
04 June 2012, 040612, 3Q Ep 14, Australian economy, Coalition, Financial Assistance, inflation, Interest rates, Labor Party, peter lewis, public opinion, unemployment
Labor takes pride in being there for those up against hard luck. Targeted financial assistance comes in many forms, whether co-investment to an auto industry being hammered by the two-speed economy, childcare rebates to hard-up families, or the straight cash injection into middle Australian wallets.
It appears there is a new victim of the Australian economy in need of a rescue package: the Coalition voter.
With interest rates, inflation and unemployment all under the 5 per cent threshold, Australia is bucking the global trend in maintaining stability in the face of global unrest. But our polling this week shows only around one third of Australians are prepared to say the economy is performing well.
And while many are unimpressed with Australia’s performance, Coalition voters – and that’s a lot of people these days – are feeling the economic pain more intensely.
Read more on this at the Drum
28 May 2012, 280512, Australian economy, inflation, Interest rates, unemployement
Q. Some say that official figures show Australia’s economy is doing very well, especially compared to the rest of the world. The interest rate, the unemployment rate and the inflation rate are all less than 5%. Do you agree or disagree that this shows the state of the economy is good?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| Total agree |
52% |
75% |
39% |
70% |
| Total disagree |
37% |
17% |
54% |
23% |
| Strongly agree |
9% |
20% |
3% |
16% |
| Agree |
43% |
55% |
36% |
54% |
| Disagree |
27% |
12% |
39% |
17% |
| Strongly disagree |
10% |
5% |
15% |
6% |
| Don’t know |
10% |
7% |
7% |
8 |
When told that official figures show Australia’s economy is doing well, 52% agreed and 37% disagreed.
Those most likely to disagree were Liberal/National voters (54%), aged 45+ (45%) and people with incomes of $600-$1,000pw (43%).
21 May 12, 210512, Interest rates, Labor Government
Q. As far as you know, are interest rates currently higher or lower than when the Labor Government was elected in 2007?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| Total higher |
20% |
17% |
24% |
14% |
| Total lower |
35% |
44% |
36% |
42% |
| A lot higher |
4% |
3% |
6% |
1% |
| A little higher |
16% |
14% |
18% |
13% |
| About the same |
18% |
17% |
22% |
12% |
| A little lower |
25% |
31% |
26% |
31% |
| A lot lower |
10% |
13% |
10% |
11% |
| Don’t know |
26% |
21% |
19% |
33% |
20% of respondents think interest rates are currently higher than when the Labor Government was elected in 2007 and 35% think they are lower. 18% think they are about the same.
Respondents most likely to think interest rates are lower were men (44%) and those aged 55+ (51%). 39% of respondents aged under 35 didn’t know.
21 May 12, 210512, Interest rates, Labor Government, Opinion of interest rates
Q. In fact, the official interest rate is a lot lower – it is now 3.75% compared to 6.75% when the Labor Government was elected in 2007. Do you think it is good or bad that interest rates have fallen?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| Total good |
54% |
66% |
47% |
57% |
| Total bad |
14% |
8% |
20% |
4% |
| Very good |
19% |
29% |
13% |
21% |
| Good |
35% |
37% |
34% |
36% |
| Neither good nor bad |
24% |
21% |
26% |
28% |
| Bad |
10% |
4% |
15% |
4% |
| Very bad |
4% |
4% |
5% |
– |
| Don’t know |
9% |
4% |
6% |
11% |
54% think that it is good that interest rates have fallen – 14% think it is bad.
61% of respondents aged 35-54 think the fall in rates is good compared to 37% of those aged 65+. There were not major differences across income groups.
08 May 2012, 080512, 3q, 3Q Ep11, Ep 11, Interest rates, Michael O’Connor, Reserve Bank
Michael O’Connor questions why the national bank took so long to cut rates.
Our economy has had 20 years of growth thanks to our resources boom. But the casualty has been other sectors of the economy, including manufacturing. The CFMEU’s national secretary Michael O’Connor tells 3Q the Reserve Bank waited too long to cut rates and should be cutting more. And he’s not alone in his criticism.
According to him, the Reserve Bank has forgotten its obligation under its Act to maintain full employment in our two-speed economy. And he says mining companies should be more accountable in their engagement with local industry by ensuring access to the huge market for mining services and infrastructure.
asylum seekers, Australia’s health system, Australian jobs, climate change, economy, Election Issues, EMC, environment, Essential Media, Essential Report, Greens, industrial relations system, Interest rates, Labor, Liberal, party trust, population growth, quality education, taxation system, Terrorism, water supply, working families
Q. Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election? (Number from 1 to 3 where 1 is the most important, 2 the second most important, etc)
| One | Two | Three | Total | Total 11th Oct 10 | Total 25th Jan 10 | |
| Management of the economy | 37% | 18% | 10% | 65% | 62% | 63% |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children | 5% | 10% | 11% | 26% | 32% | 23% |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 13% | 20% | 16% | 49% | 48% | 48% |
| Protecting the environment | 4% | 3% | 6% | 13% | 12% | 16% |
| A fair industrial relations system | 2% | 4% | 4% | 10% | 11% | * |
| Political leadership | 6% | 5% | 5% | 16% | 16% | 23% |
| Addressing climate change | 3% | 3% | 4% | 10% | 11% | 16% |
| Controlling interest rates | 5% | 8% | 8% | 21% | 17% | 15% |
| Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 10% | 8% | 12% | 30% | 30% | 33% |
| Ensuring a quality water supply | 1% | 2% | 3% | 6% | 6% | 12% |
| Housing affordability | 5% | 5% | 6% | 16% | 17% | 14% |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system | 4% | 6% | 8% | 18% | 16% | 14% |
| Security and the war on terrorism | 1% | 2% | 2% | 5% | 6% | 9% |
| Treatment of asylum seekers | 1% | 2% | 2% | 5% | 5% | * |
| Managing population growth | 2% | 5% | 4% | 11% | 10% | * |
*Not asked
65% 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 30% Australian jobs and protection of local industries.
Only 10% rate addressing climate change as one of their three most important issues and 6% rate ensuring a quality water supply.
Over the past 12 months there has been an increase in the importance of controlling interest rates (from 15% to 21%) and a decrease in the importance of addressing climate change (from 16% to 10%).