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  • Oct, 2011

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    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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  • Oct, 2011

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    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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  • Oct, 2011

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    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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  • Sep, 2011

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    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.

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  • Sep, 2011

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    Composition of Parliament

    Q. Thinking about the Federal Government, which of the following scenarios would you prefer –

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Green
    One of the major parties having a majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate 36% 36% 49% 7%
    One of the major parties having a majority in the House of Representatives and the other having a majority in the Senate 21% 16% 27% 10%
    One of the major parties having a majority in the House of Representatives and the Greens having the balance of power in the Senate 16% 22% 4% 63%
    Don’t know 28% 26% 21% 19%

    Most respondents think that ‘one of the major parties having a majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate’ is preferable (36%).  Lib/Nat voters are the most likely to prefer this scenario (49%) and Greens voters the least likely to do so (7%).  Male respondents were also more likely to prefer this scenario (40%) than female respondents (32%).

    Respondents then selected ‘one of the major parties having a majority in the House of Representatives and the other having a majority in the Senate’ as their next preferred scenario (21%).  Lib/Nat voters are the most likely to regard this scenario as preferable (27%).

    The least favoured option amongst respondents is ‘one of the major parties having a majority in the House of Representatives and the Greens having the balance of power in the Senate’, with 16% selecting this option.  Greens voters are the most likely to regard this option as the most preferable (63%).

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  • Sep, 2011

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    Lib/Nat majority in the Senate

    Q. If the Liberal and National Parties win the next election, do you think it would be good or bad if they also won a majority in the Senate?

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Total Good 38% 10% 73% 6%
    Total Bad 31% 63% 3% 72%
    Very good 17% 3% 35% 0%
    Good 21% 7% 38% 6%
    Neither good nor bad 18% 18% 16% 15%
    Bad 12% 23% 3% 18%
    Very bad 19% 40% 0% 54%
    Don’t know 13% 8% 8% 7%

    Most respondents think that having the Liberal and National Parties holding a majority in the Senate is a good outcome (38%), than those that think it is a bad outcome (31%).

    Greens voters are the most likely to regard the outcome as bad (72%), followed by Labor voters (63%).

    Male respondents are more likely to regard this outcome as good (45% total good) compared to female respondents (33% total good).

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  • Sep, 2011

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    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 = 1,847

    First preference/leaning to Election

    21 Aug 10

    4 weeks ago 2 weeks ago Last week This week
    Liberal 46% 46% 46% 46%
    National 4% 3% 3% 3%
    Total Lib/Nat 43.6 50% 49% 49% 49%
    Labor 38.0 31% 32% 30% 32%
    Greens 11.8 10% 10% 11% 10%
    Other/Independent 6.6 9% 8% 10% 10%
    2PP Election

    21 Aug 10

    4 weeks ago 2 weeks ago Last week This week
    Total Lib/Nat 49.9% 57% 56% 57% 56%
    Labor 50.1% 43% 44% 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.

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  • Sep, 2011

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    Approval of Tony Abbott

    Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Tony Abbott is doing as Opposition Leader?

    18 Jan

    2010

    5 Jul 20 Dec 17 Jan 2011 14 Feb 14 Mar 11 Apr 9 May 14 June 11 July 15 Aug 12 Sept
    Total approve 37% 37% 39% 42% 38% 38% 36% 42% 38% 39% 37% 39%
    Total disapprove 37% 47% 39% 37% 46% 47% 48% 44% 48% 49% 50% 50%
    Strongly approve 5% 8% 9% 7% 8% 7% 7% 8% 6% 6% 8% 8%
    Approve 32% 29% 30% 35% 30% 31% 29% 34% 32% 33% 29% 31%
    Disapprove 20% 23% 21% 22% 24% 24% 25% 25% 25% 24% 25% 23%
    Strongly disapprove 17% 24% 18% 15% 22% 23% 23% 19% 23% 25% 25% 27%
    Don’t know 26% 16% 22% 20% 16% 16% 17% 14% 15% 11% 13% 11%

    Tony Abbott’s approval rating has been at a similar level for the past 4 months. 39% (up 2%) approve of the job Tony Abbott is doing as Opposition Leader and 50% (no change) disapprove – a change in net rating from -13 to -11 over the last 4 weeks.

    74% (up 2%) of Coalition voters approve and 18% (down 2%) disapprove.

    By gender – men 42% approve/52% disapprove, women 36% approve/48% disapprove.

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