The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report
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economy, inflation, Interest rates, profits, unemployment
Australia’s economy
Q. How important are each of the following for Australia to have a strong economy?
Very important Somewhat important Not so important Don’t know Low inflation 43% 42% 5% 10% Low unemployment rate 57% 33% 3% 6% Increased company profits 17% 46% 26% 11% Low interest rates 38% 43% 10% 9% A reduction in Government spending 35% 38% 19% 9% Higher GDP 27% 41% 6% 26% Increasing share prices 20% 40% 23% 16% Increased wages for workers 30% 48% 15% 7% Over half (57%) of those surveyed think that low unemployment rates is a very important for Australia to have a strong economy, 43% think low inflation is very important and 38% think low interest rates are very important.
Labor voters were more likely to think that increased wages for workers are very important for Australia to have a strong economy (36%).
Coalition voters were more likely to think that increased company profits (22%), a reduction in Government spending (48%) and an increasing in share prices (23%) are very important for Australia to have a strong economy.
There were no substantial differences amongst the various demographic groups. Comments »
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Australian jobs, budget, economy, Industrial Relations, inflation, Interest rates, Labor, Liberal, party best at
Party best at looking after Australia’s interests
Q. Which party – Labor or Liberal – would by best at the following –
Labor Liberal No difference Don’t know Being on the side of Australian working people when it comes to issues affecting them at the workplace 48% 18% 24% 10% Handling the economy in a way that best protects ordinary working people in Australia 39% 30% 20% 11% Creating jobs for Australian workers 36% 27% 26% 11% Representing you and people like you 35% 30% 24% 11% Handling the economy 30% 37% 23% 10% Controlling inflation 24% 35% 31% 11% Keeping interest rates low 23% 29% 35% 13% Dealing with the budget and keeping government spending down in general 22% 42% 26% 10% Just under half (48%) of those surveyed think that Labor is the best party at being on the side of Australian working people when it comes to issues affecting them at the workplace, 39% think Labor is best at handling the economy in a way that protects ordinary working people in Australia.
The Liberal Party score highest in terms of dealing with the budget and keeping government spending down in general (42%) and handling the economy (37%).
In terms of being on the side of Australian working people when it comes to issues affecting them at the workplace, under half (46%) of Coalition voters surveyed think the Liberal Party is best at handling this, 33% of these voters think there is no difference and 16% of Coalition voters think Labor is best at being on the side of Australian working people when it comes to workplace issues. Comments »
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Australian jobs, climate change, economy, Education, environment, Health, Housing, Housing affordability, Interest rates, issues of importance, political leadership, tax, Terrorism, Water
Issues of importance
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 Management of the economy 36% 17% 10% 63% Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system 14% 17% 17% 48% Australian jobs and protection of local industries 8% 13% 12% 33% Political leadership 10% 7% 6% 23% Ensuring a quality education for all children 5% 8% 10% 23% Ensuring a fair taxation system 4% 5% 9% 18% Protecting the environment 4% 7% 5% 16% Addressing climate change 6% 5% 5% 16% Controlling interest rates 3% 6% 6% 15% Housing affordability 3% 4% 7% 14% Ensuring a quality water supply 3% 4% 5% 12% A fair industrial relations system 3% 4% 3% 10% Security and the war on terrorism 2% 4% 3% 9% 63% of people surveyed rate management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 48% that rate ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system and 33% that rate Australian jobs and protection of local industries as one of their three most important issues.
10% rate a fair industrial relations system as one of their three most important issues that would decide how they vote in a Federal election and 9% rate security and the war on terrorism. Comments »
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Australian jobs, climate change, economy, Education, environment, Health, Industrial Relations, Interest rates, Labor, Liberal, party best at, tax, Terrorism, Water
Party best at
Q. Which party do you think is best at handling each of the following issues?
Labor Liberal Labor margin No difference Don’t know Labor margin Oct 09 A fair industrial relations system 42% 23% +19% 19% 16% +27% Addressing climate change 35% 16% +19% 29% 19% +18% Protecting the environment 32% 15% +17% 34% 19% +21% Australian jobs and protection of local industries 35% 22% +13% 26% 17% +17% Ensuring a quality education for all children 32% 20% +12% 32% 17% +17% Political leadership 36% 25% +11% 23% 16% +20% Ensuring a quality water supply 24% 17% +7% 38% 20% +13% Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system 27% 21% +6% 34% 19% +10% Ensuring a fair taxation system 30% 24% +6% 28% 18% +8% Housing affordability 23% 19% +4% 38% 20% +9% Management of the economy 28% 35% -7% 20% 16% – Security and the war on terrorism 18% 25% -7% 38% 19% +2% Controlling interest rates 20% 28% -8% 34% 18% – Labor has its strongest lead over the Liberal Party when it comes to a fair industrial relations system (+19%), addressing climate change (+19%) and protecting the environment (+17%). Labor trails the Liberal Party in terms of controlling interest rates (-8%), security and the war on terrorism (-7%) and management of the economy (-7%).
Since October 2009, Labor has lost the margin it had over the Liberal Party in some areas, most significantly in the areas of political leadership (-9%), a fair industrial relations system (-8%), ensuring a quality water supply (-6%).
Results followed party lines with Labor voters tending to favour the Labor Party and Liberal voters favouring the Liberal Party. Comments »
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economic issues, economy, inflation, Interest rates, pension, petrol prices, superannuation, taxation, unemployment
Concern Regarding National Economic Issues
Q. How concerned are you personally about each of the following economic issues facing Australia today?
The issues that most people are very concerned about include food prices and inflation generally (55%), jobs going overseas (49%) and executive salaries (48%). A significant number of people are very concerned about petrol and energy prices (45%) and affordability of housing (41%).
Coalition voters were more likely to be very concerned about food prices and inflation generally (60%), jobs going overseas (57%) and Government debt (54%). Labor voters were more likely to be very concerned about executive wages (54%) and improving wages for low income earners (32%).
Females were more likely than males to be very concerned on most issues, in particular food prices and inflation generally (66% v 45%), improving wages for low income earners (34% v 22%) and unemployment (33% v 25%).
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debt, economic issues, economy, Housing affordability, inflation, Interest rates, Labor, Labor Party, Liberal, Liberal Party, Liberals, pension, superannuation, taxation system
Management of Economic Issues
Q. Between Liberal and Labor, which party do you think would be best at managing each of the following issues?
When it comes to which party is best at handling economic issues, Labor leads the Liberal party on managing the improvement of wages for low income earners (+17%), executive salaries (+9%) and the age pension (+9%).
Labor trails the Liberals in terms of managing government debt (-24%), followed by managing interest rates (-9%) and superannuation (-9%).
Perception of which party is best at managing the economic issues listed followed party lines.
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economy, EMC, ER, essential report, finances, Interest rates, Personal financial situation
Interest Rate Rises – Personal Impact
Q. Will the recent increase in official interest rates make you personally better or worse off financially?
% Total better off 15% Total worse off 41% Much better off 2% A little better off 13% A little worse off 31% Much worse off 10% Make no difference 40% Don’t know 4% 41% of people think that the recent increase in official interest rates make them worse off personally, 15% think the interest rate increase will make them better off and 40% think it will make no difference to their personal financial situation.
People aged 55 years and over were more likely to indicate that the increase in official interest rates will make them better off (36%) while middle aged people were more likely to indicate that it will make them worse off (53% of 25 – 34 year olds, 54% of 35 – 44 year olds).
People in full-time work were more likely to indicate that the interest rate increase will make them worse off (55%).
Perception that the rise in interest rates will make people worse off increased with salary – 46% of people earning $600 – $1000 per week/46% of those earning $1000 – $1600 per week and 49% of those earning $1600+ per week think it will make them worse off. 55% of those earning $600 per week or less think the interest rate increase will make no difference to their personal financial situation.
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Australian economy, economic conditions, economy, EMC, ER, essential report, Interest rates
Interest Rate Rises and the Economy
Q. Do you think the recent increase in official interest rates indicates that Australia’s economy is getting better or getting worse?
% Economy is getting better 53% Economy is getting worse 12% Neither 28% Don’t know 7% Just over half (53%) think the recent increase in official interest rates indicates that Australia’s economy is getting better, 12% think it is an indication that the economy is getting worse and 28% think it is not a sign that the economy is getting better or worse.
Labor voters were more likely to think the interest rate rise is a sign that the economy is getting better (61%), while Coalition voters were a little more likely than the average to think that it is a sign that the economy is getting worse (18%). 48% of Coalition voters think that the recent interest rate increase is a sign that the economy is getting better.