The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report
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carbon pollution, carbon pricing scheme, Carbon Tax, ER, Essential Report, Greens, industries, Labor, Liberals
Carbon Tax
Q. Do you support or oppose the Government’s proposal to introduce a carbon pricing scheme from 1 July 2012, which will require industries to pay a tax based on the amount of carbon pollution they emit?
7 March 18 April 23 May 14 June 18 July 1 Aug 19 Sep 17 Oct Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens Total support 35% 39% 41% 38% 39% 39% 37% 39% 66% 15% 80% Total oppose 48% 49% 44% 49% 49% 51% 52% 53% 24% 81% 16% Strongly support 9% 13% 14% 13% 15% 15% 14% 14% 25% 2% 45% Support 26% 26% 27% 25% 24% 24% 23% 25% 41% 13% 35% Oppose 19% 15% 15% 19% 16% 19% 17% 17% 14% 19% 10% Strongly oppose 29% 34% 29% 30% 33% 32% 35% 36% 10% 62% 6% Don’t know 18% 12% 15% 13% 12% 10% 12% 9% 10% 4% 3% Views on the carbon pricing scheme have changed very little since June. 39% support the scheme (up 2% since September) and 53% oppose (up 1%).
The only demographic group to support the scheme were aged under 35’s – 46% support/43% oppose. Among those aged 55+, 33% support and 63% oppose.
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Carbon Tax, Election, Greens, Labor, legislation, Liberals, tony abbott
Repeal Carbon Tax
Q. If the carbon tax is passed into legislation and Tony Abbott wins the next election, which of the following do you think should happen:
Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens The carbon tax should remain legislation to provide certainty for individuals and business 21% 42% 5% 43% The carbon tax should remain legislation only if it proves to be effective in reducing carbon pollution 33% 36% 29% 41% Tony Abbott should call a further special election (called a ‘double dissolution’) to get the numbers in the Senate to repeal the carbon tax. 34% 10% 57% 12% Don’t know 12% 12% 8% 4% 34% think that if the carbon tax is passed into legislation and Tony Abbott wins the next election, he should call a further election to get the numbers in the Senate to repeal the carbon tax. 21% think that carbon tax should remain legislation and 33% think it should remain only if it proves to be effective in reducing carbon pollution.
42% of Labor voters and 43% of Greens voters think it should remain legislation, while 57% of Coalition voters think Tony Abbott should call another election to get the numbers to repeal it.
38% of men and 39% of those aged 55+ think Tony Abbott should call another election, while 38% of women and 40% of those aged under 35 think it should remain only if it proves to be effective in reducing carbon pollution.
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Australian economy, Economic Prosperity, economy, ER, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberals, Prosperity
Economic Prosperity
Q. Which one of the following do you believe will be the most important factor in Australia’s economic prosperity over the next 20 years?
Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens A strong resources sector 29% 29% 35% 18% Continued growth in China and India 21% 23% 22% 24% Investment in skills 20% 22% 16% 23% Prioritising innovation and technology 18% 18% 13% 31% A strong banking and finance sector 12% 9% 13% 5% 29% believe that a strong resources sector will be the most important factor in Australia’s economic prosperity over the next 20 years and 21% nominate the continued growth in China and India. Labor and Coalition voters were more likely to niominate “a strong resources sector” while 31% of Greens voters nominated “prioritising innovation and technology”.
Those on higher incomes were more likely to nominate “a strong resources sector “ – 36% of those on income $1,600+ pw.
There were no major differences by age group.
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2PP, Essential Report, Federal Government, federal politics, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, two party preferred, voting, Voting intention
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.
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ER, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberal, political trust, political truth, politicians, Politicians Lying
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.
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ER, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberal, politicians, Politicians Lie, Politicians trust, truth
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).
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2PP, Essential Report, Federal Government, federal politics, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, two party preferred, voting, Voting intention
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.
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2PP, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, voting, Voting intention
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.