approval of PM, Essential Report, Federal Government, federal politics, Gillard, Greens, healthcare system, Julia Gillard, Labor, Labor Party policies, Liberal, management of the economy, Nationals, pension, Polling, superannuation
Q. Thinking about what the Labor Government has done over the last few years, do you approve or disapprove of the following Government actions?
| Total approve | Total disapprove | Strongly approve | Approve | Disapprove | Strongly disapprove | Don’t know | |
| Increased funding of health services | 89% | 5% | 42% | 47% | 3% | 2% | 6% |
| Increasing the age pension | 78% | 14% | 34% | 44% | 8% | 6% | 8% |
| Increasing superannuation to 12% | 75% | 13% | 28% | 47% | 9% | 4% | 12% |
| Managing the economy to keep unemployment and interest rates low | 70% | 21% | 21% | 49% | 12% | 9% | 10% |
| Spending on new school buildings | 68% | 24% | 19% | 49% | 15% | 9% | 8% |
| Introducing a national disability insurance scheme | 63% | 13% | 18% | 45% | 9% | 4% | 24% |
| Stimulus spending to tackle the GFC | 61% | 28% | 21% | 40% | 15% | 13% | 11% |
| Paid parental leave | 60% | 30% | 19% | 41% | 17% | 13% | 10% |
| Introducing a tax on large profits of mining companies | 58% | 29% | 27% | 31% | 16% | 13% | 13% |
| Building the NBN (National Broadband Network) | 54% | 34% | 19% | 35% | 17% | 17% | 12% |
| Stopping live cattle exports until welfare concerns were addressed | 53% | 34% | 24% | 29% | 17% | 17% | 12% |
| Abolished WorkChoices | 51% | 33% | 23% | 28% | 21% | 12% | 16% |
| Sending asylum seekers to Malaysia | 39% | 45% | 17% | 22% | 20% | 25% | 16% |
| Introducing a carbon tax to tackle climate change | 33% | 53% | 15% | 18% | 14% | 39% | 14% |
Government decisions and policies with highest approval were increased funding of health services (89% approve), increasing the age pension (78%) and increasing superannuation to 12% (75%).
Only two of the actions listed received less than majority approval – sending asylum seekers to Malaysia was 39% approve/45% disapprove and introducing a carbon tax to tackle climate change was 33% approve/53% disapprove.
Labor voters showed majority approval of all decisions and policies, Greens voters showed majority approval for all except sending asylum seekers to Malaysia (21% approve/63% disapprove).
Liberal/National voters approved of half the items listed – increased funding of health services (89% approve), increasing the age pension (79%), increasing superannuation to 12% (71%), managing the economy to keep unemployment and interest rates low (54%), spending on new school buildings (54%), introducing a national disability insurance scheme (60%) and paid parental leave (52%).
Approval of opposition leader, Carbon Tax, economy, Essential Report, federal politics, Labor, Liberal, Polling, tax, tony abbott
Q. Do you think the Opposition Leader’s proposal to ditch the carbon tax but keep the personal tax cuts will –
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Help Australia’s economy | 44% | 19% | 73% | 11% |
| Hurt Australia’s economy | 30% | 58% | 8% | 67% |
| Don’t know | 26% | 24% | 19% | 22% |
44% think Tony Abbott’s proposal to ditch the carbon tax but keep the tax cuts will help Australia’s economy and 30% think it will hurt the economy. Opinions were closely associated with voting intention – 73% of Liberal/National voters think it will help the economy while 58% of Labor voters and 67% of Greens voters think it will hurt the economy.
Those on higher incomes are more likely to think it will help the economy – 50% of those on $1,600+pw compared to only 39% of those earning less than $1,000pw.
2PP, Essential Report, federal politics, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, polls, two party preferred, voting, 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 = 1,846
| First preference/leaning to | Election
21 Aug 10 |
4 weeks ago | 2 weeks ago | Last week | This week |
| Liberal | 45% | 47% | 46% | 46% | |
| National | 3% | 3% | 4% | 4% | |
| Total Lib/Nat | 43.6 | 48% | 50% | 50% | 50% |
| Labor | 38.0 | 32% | 30% | 31% | 32% |
| Greens | 11.8 | 11% | 10% | 10% | 10% |
| Other/Independent | 6.6 | 9% | 10% | 9% | 8% |
| 2PP | Election
21 Aug 10 |
4 weeks ago | 2 weeks ago | Last week | This week |
| Total Lib/Nat | 49.9% | 55% | 57% | 57% | 56% |
| Labor | 50.1% | 45% | 43% | 43% | 44% |
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.
Australia’s health system, Essential Report, Greens, Health, healthcare system, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, polls
Q. Overall, which party do you think would be best at handling Australia’s health system?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| The Labor Party | 26% | 69% | 3% | 39% |
| The Liberal Party | 33% | 2% | 71% | 3% |
| No difference | 27% | 18% | 18% | 39% |
| Don’t know | 14% | 10% | 8% | 19% |
Opinions of party best to handle Australia’s health system very much follow voting preferences. Overall the Liberal Party is favoured over labor by 33% to 26%. 41% either don’t know or think there is no difference. 69% of Labor voters favour the Labor Party and 71% of Liberal/National voters favor the Liberals.
Men favour the Liberals 40% to 27% while women are more evenly divided – 25% Labor, 26% Liberal and 49% no difference/don’t know.
Those on incomes under $600pw favour Labor over the Liberals by 34% to 22% – all other income groups favour the Liberal Party.
2PP, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, polls, two party preferred, voting, 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 = 2,023
| First preference/leaning to | Election
21 Aug 10 |
4 weeks ago | 2 weeks ago | Last week | This week |
| Liberal | 46% | 46% | 47% | 46% | |
| National | 3% | 3% | 3% | 4% | |
| Total Lib/Nat | 43.6 | 49% | 49% | 50% | 50% |
| Labor | 38.0 | 31% | 31% | 30% | 31% |
| Greens | 11.8 | 11% | 11% | 10% | 10% |
| Other/Independent | 6.6 | 9% | 9% | 10% | 9% |
| 2PP | Election
21 Aug 10 |
4 weeks ago | 2 weeks ago | Last week | This week |
| Total Lib/Nat | 49.9% | 56% | 56% | 57% | 57% |
| Labor | 50.1% | 44% | 44% | 43% | 43% |
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.
approval of PM, Essential Report, federal politics, Julia Gillard, Julia Gillard approval, Labor, Liberal, Polling, polls
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Julia Gillard is doing as Prime Minister?
| 19 Jul | 20 Sep | 20 Dec | 17 Jan 2011 | 14 Feb | 14 Mar | 11 Apr | 9 May | 14 June | 11 July | 15 Aug | |
| Total approve | 52% | 45% | 43% | 51% | 48% | 41% | 37% | 41% | 34% | 29% | 35% |
| Total disapprove | 30% | 37% | 40% | 36% | 41% | 46% | 50% | 48% | 54% | 62% | 55% |
| Strongly approve | 11% | 12% | 10% | 8% | 9% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 6% | 5% | 6% |
| Approve | 41% | 33% | 33% | 43% | 39% | 34% | 30% | 34% | 28% | 24% | 29% |
| Disapprove | 17% | 21% | 24% | 24% | 25% | 22% | 25% | 26% | 29% | 30% | 24% |
| Strongly disapprove | 13% | 16% | 16% | 12% | 16% | 24% | 25% | 22% | 25% | 32% | 31% |
| Don’t know | 18% | 19% | 17% | 14% | 11% | 13% | 13% | 11% | 13% | 9% | 11% |
35% (up 6%) approve of the job Julia Gillard is doing as Prime Minister and 55% (down 7%) disapprove – a change in net rating from -33 to -20 over the last 4 weeks.
77% of Labor voters approve (up 5%) and 13% disapprove (down 7%).
By gender – men 35% approve/57% disapprove, women 34% approve/52% disapprove.
Essential Report, Julia Gillard, Labor, Liberal, Polling, polls, preferred PM, tony abbott
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott?
| 5 Jul 2010 | 17 Jan 2011 | 14 Feb | 14 Mar | 11 Apr | 9 May | 14 June | 11 July | 15 Aug | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Julia Gillard | 53% | 47% | 48% | 44% | 42% | 43% | 41% | 37% | 38% | 82% | 7% | 73% |
| Tony Abbott | 26% | 32% | 31% | 33% | 33% | 35% | 36% | 39% | 36% | 1% | 73% | 7% |
| Don’t know | 21% | 21% | 20% | 23% | 24% | 22% | 24% | 24% | 26% | 17% | 20% | 20% |
38% believe Julia Gillard would make the better Prime Minister and 36% prefer Tony Abbott – a net improvement for Julia Gillard of 4% on last month’s figures (from -2% to +2%).
Men prefer Tony Abbott 41%/35% and women favour Julia Gillard 40%/32%.
Australian economy, Essential Report, GFC, Labor, Liberal, Polling, polls, the economy
Q. If there is another Global Financial Crisis, which party would you trust most to deal with it?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| The Labor Party | 31% | 75% | 4% | 61% |
| The Liberal Party | 40% | 4% | 82% | 5% |
| No difference | 20% | 13% | 11% | 27% |
| Don’t know | 9% | 8% | 4% | 8% |
If there was another GFC, 40% would trust the Liberal Party more to handle it and 31% would trust the Labor Party more. When a similar question was asked last week, the results were 27% Labor/43% Liberal.
The only demographic groups trusting the Labor Party more were aged 18-24 (Labor 37%/Liberals 29%) and those earning less than $600pw (Labor 41%/Liberals 32%).