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  • Feb, 2015

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    Management of the economy

    Q. How would you rate the government’s management of the Australian economy compared to how governments in other countries around the world have managed their economies? 

     

    Total

     

     

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Vote other

     

    May 2013

    May 2014

    Oct 2014

    Total good

    34%

    20%

    59%

    26%

    22%

    39%

    40%

    39%

    Total poor

    30%

    46%

    9%

    45%

    39%

    32%

    31%

    28%

    Very good

    7%

    5%

    14%

    4%

    11%

    9%

    11%

    Good

    27%

    15%

    45%

    26%

    18%

    28%

    31%

    28%

    Neither good nor poor

    31%

    30%

    31%

    27%

    32%

    24%

    24%

    28%

    Poor

    16%

    24%

    7%

    25%

    22%

    17%

    14%

    15%

    Very poor

    14%

    22%

    2%

    20%

    17%

    15%

    17%

    13%

    Don’t know

    5%

    5%

    1%

    3%

    7%

    5%

    5%

    5%

    34% of Australians rate the government’s management of the economy, compared to other countries around the world, as good.

    30% rate their management of the economy as poor.

    This represents a net decline from +11 to +4 since October.

    Labor (20%), Greens (26%) and other (22%) voters were less likely to rate the government’s management of the economy as ‘good’. Liberal/National voters (59%) were more likely to rate the government’s management of the economy as ‘good’ – although this has dropped from 68% in October.

    40% of those earning $1,600+ pw rate the government’s management ‘good’ and 44% of those earning less than $600 pw rate it ‘poor’.

  • Feb, 2014

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    Government handling of issues

    Q. How would you rate the Federal Liberal-National Government for the way they have handled the following issues?

     

    Total good

    Total poor

    Net score

    Very good

    Good

    Average

    Poor

    Very poor

    Don’t know

    Managing the economy

    34%

    31%

    +3

    12%

    22%

    29%

    16%

    15%

    6%

    Treatment of asylum seekers

    37%

    36%

    +1

    18%

    19%

    18%

    11%

    25%

    9%

    Relations with other countries

    29%

    32%

    -3

    8%

    21%

    30%

    13%

    19%

    8%

    Education and schools

    28%

    35%

    -7

    6%

    22%

    28%

    19%

    16%

    8%

    Supporting Australian businesses

    27%

    34%

    -7

    8%

    19%

    31%

    18%

    16%

    8%

    Protecting the environment

    26%

    36%

    -10

    7%

    19%

    28%

    14%

    22%

    9%

    Social welfare

    27%

    39%

    -12

    8%

    19%

    26%

    17%

    22%

    8%

    Industrial relations

    26%

    38%

    -12

    9%

    17%

    27%

    18%

    20%

    9%

    Health services

    25%

    38%

    -13

    6%

    19%

    29%

    20%

    18%

    7%

    Climate change

    24%

    39%

    -15

    10%

    14%

    28%

    13%

    26%

    9%

    Supporting Australian jobs

    25%

    44%

    -19

    8%

    17%

    26%

    20%

    24%

    6%

    The Government received negative rating for all issues except managing the economy (34% good/31% poor) and treatment of asylum seekers (37%/36%).

    Highest negative ratings were given for supporting Australian jobs (25% good/44% poor), climate change (24%/39%), health services (25%/38%), industrial relations (26%/38%) and social welfare (27%/39%).

  • Aug, 2013

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    Party leader trust most on issues

    Q.  Which party leader – Kevin Rudd or Tony Abbott – would you trust most to handle the following issues?

     

    Kevin Rudd

    Tony Abbott

    No difference

    Don’t know

    Net difference

    Difference for parties

    23 Jul 13

    Management of the economy

    32%

    35%

    21%

    11%

    -3

    -15

    Ensuring a quality education for all children

    41%

    25%

    24%

    10%

    +16

    +9

    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system

    37%

    27%

    25%

    11%

    +10

    +1

    Protecting the environment

    33%

    22%

    31%

    14%

    +11

    na

    A fair industrial relations system

    41%

    28%

    19%

    12%

    +13

    +11

    Political leadership

    37%

    32%

    22%

    9%

    +5

    -7

    Addressing climate change

    35%

    21%

    31%

    13%

    +14

    na

    Controlling interest rates

    24%

    32%

    32%

    12%

    -8

    -14

    Australian jobs and protection of local industries

    32%

    30%

    25%

    13%

    +2

    -1

    Ensuring a quality water supply

    26%

    23%

    36%

    15%

    +3

    -7

    Housing affordability

    26%

    25%

    34%

    15%

    +1

    -2

    Ensuring a fair taxation system

    31%

    32%

    26%

    11%

    -1

    -2

    Security and the war on terrorism

    25%

    29%

    33%

    13%

    -4

    -15

    Treatment of asylum seekers

    26%

    31%

    32%

    11%

    -5

    -11

    Managing population growth

    21%

    28%

    37%

    15%

    -7

    -13

    Substantially more respondents said they would trust Kevin Rudd more than Tony Abbott to handle a quality education for all children, a fair industrial relations system, addressing climate change, protecting the environment and ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system. Tony Abbott is more trusted to control interest rates and manage population growth.

    When compared with a similar question about trust in the parties asked last month, Kevin Rudd rates considerably better that the Labor Party on management of the economy, political leadership and security and the war on terrorism.

  • Jul, 2013

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    Most important election issues

    Q.  Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election?

     

    Total

    23 Jul 13

     

    Total

    17 Jun 13

    11 Feb 13

    19 Nov 12

    30 Jul 12

    5 Dec 11

    6 June 11

    25 Jan 10

    Management of the economy

    45%

    47%

    62%

    66%

    64%

    62%

    61%

    63%

    Ensuring a quality education for all children

    25%

    25%

    29%

    35%

    26%

    22%

    26%

    23%

    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system

    42%

    45%

    52%

    57%

    47%

    47%

    49%

    48%

    Protecting the environment

    12%

    13%

    14%

    14%

    11%

    13%

    15%

    16%

    A fair industrial relations system

    10%

    10%

    12%

    8%

    12%

    11%

    8%

    na

    Political leadership

    21%

    22%

    14%

    15%

    25%

    18%

    17%

    23%

    Addressing climate change

    11%

    11%

    9%

    9%

    9%

    10%

    15%

    16%

    Controlling interest rates

    13%

    11%

    9%

    11%

    9%

    11%

    13%

    15%

    Australian jobs and protection of local industries

    39%

    34%

    40%

    32%

    41%

    36%

    32%

    33%

    Ensuring a quality water supply

    3%

    5%

    4%

    5%

    3%

    4%

    5%

    12%

    Housing affordability

    17%

    14%

    11%

    14%

    13%

    13%

    16%

    14%

    Ensuring a fair taxation system

    20%

    19%

    21%

    17%

    18%

    16%

    17%

    14%

    Security and the war on terrorism

    8%

    8%

    6%

    5%

    5%

    4%

    8%

    9%

    Treatment of asylum seekers

    14%

    11%

    6%

    6%

    10%

    8%

    5%

    na

    Managing population growth

    9%

    11%

    9%

    7%

    8%

    8%

    12%

    na

    45% of people surveyed rated management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 42% ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system, 39% Australian jobs and protection of local industries and 25% ensuring a quality education for all children.

    There has been little change since this question was asked last month – Australian jobs and protection of local industries is up 5 points to 39% and treatment of asylum seekers is up 3 points (and up 8 points since February) to 14%.

  • Feb, 2013

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    Important election issues

    Q.  Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election?

     

    Total

    11 Feb 13

    19 Nov 12

    30 Jul 12

    5 Dec 11

    6 June 11

    25 Jan 10

    Management of the economy

    62%

    66%

    64%

    62%

    61%

    63%

    Ensuring a quality education for all children

    29%

    35%

    26%

    22%

    26%

    23%

    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system

    52%

    57%

    47%

    47%

    49%

    48%

    Protecting the environment

    14%

    14%

    11%

    13%

    15%

    16%

    A fair industrial relations system

    12%

    8%

    12%

    11%

    8%

    na

    Political leadership

    14%

    15%

    25%

    18%

    17%

    23%

    Addressing climate change

    9%

    9%

    9%

    10%

    15%

    16%

    Controlling interest rates

    9%

    11%

    9%

    11%

    13%

    15%

    Australian jobs and protection of local industries

    40%

    32%

    41%

    36%

    32%

    33%

    Ensuring a quality water supply

    4%

    5%

    3%

    4%

    5%

    12%

    Housing affordability

    11%

    14%

    13%

    13%

    16%

    14%

    Ensuring a fair taxation system

    21%

    17%

    18%

    16%

    17%

    14%

    Security and the war on terrorism

    6%

    5%

    5%

    4%

    8%

    9%

    Treatment of asylum seekers

    6%

    6%

    10%

    8%

    5%

    na

    Managing population growth

    9%

    7%

    8%

    8%

    12%

    na

    *Not asked

    62% of people surveyed rated management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 52% ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system, 40% Australian jobs and protection of local industries and 29% ensuring a quality education for all children.

    Since November, there has been an increase in the importance of Australian jobs and protection of local industries (+8%) and a decline in the importance of ensuring a quality education for all children (-6%) and ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system (-5%).

  • Feb, 2013

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    Party trust to handle important election issues

    Q.  Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?

     

    Labor

    Liberal

    Greens

    Don’t know

    Diff
    11
    Feb
    13

    Diff
    19
    Nov
    12

    Diff
    18
    Jun
    12

    Management of the economy

    31%

    46%

    3%

    21%

    -15

    -14

    -18

    Ensuring a quality education for all children

    37%

    35%

    6%

    22%

    +2

    +5

    -2

    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system

    33%

    36%

    6%

    25%

    -3

    -3

    -6

    Protecting the environment

    20%

    21%

    39%

    20%

    +18

    +16

    +17

    A fair industrial relations system

    39%

    33%

    4%

    23%

    +6

    +9

    +6

    Political leadership

    29%

    37%

    6%

    29%

    -8

    -12

    -16

    Addressing climate change

    21%

    24%

    29%

    26%

    +5

    +9

    +7

    Controlling interest rates

    27%

    41%

    3%

    30%

    -14

    -11

    -18

    Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries

    33%

    36%

    4%

    27%

    -3

    -2

    -6

    Ensuring a quality water supply

    21%

    27%

    23%

    29%

    -6

    -7

    -12

    Housing affordability

    27%

    33%

    5%

    35%

    -6

    -5

    -11

    Ensuring a fair taxation system

    31%

    37%

    4%

    28%

    -6

    -9

    -10

    Security and the war on terrorism

    25%

    38%

    4%

    33%

    -13

    -15

    -22

    Treatment of asylum seekers

    20%

    37%

    14%

    30%

    -17

    -18

    -20

    Managing population growth

    21%

    33%

    7%

    39%

    -12

    -15

    -19

    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 has a significant lead over the  Liberal Party only on ensuring a fair industrial relations system. The Liberal Party has maintained strong leads on management of the economy, controlling interest rates, political leadership, security and the war on terrorism, treatment of asylum seekers and managing population growth.

    There is little difference between Labor and the Liberals on ensuring a quality education for all children, ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system and protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries. Since November, there has been very little shift on any issue.

  • Dec, 2012

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    The past year – the economy and industries

    Q. Thinking about the last 12 months, has it been a good or bad year for each of the following?

     

    Total good

    (Dec 10

    Total bad

    (Dec 10)

    Total good

    (Dec 11)

    Total bad (Dec 11)

    Total good

    (Dec 12)

    Total bad

    (Dec 12)

    Very good

    Good

    Neither good nor
    bad

    Bad

    Very bad

    Don’t know

    The banks

    69%

    13%

    71%

    8%

    68%

    11%

    30%

    38%

    17%

    8%

    3%

    5%

    The mining industry

    57%

    14%

    68%

    11%

    53%

    19%

    17%

    36%

    22%

    15%

    4%

    6%

    Large companies and corporations

    44%

    15%

    40%

    22%

    32%

    31%

    5%

    27%

    32%

    25%

    6%

    6%

    The Australian economy

    41%

    20%

    33%

    31%

    29%

    37%

    4%

    25%

    32%

    28%

    9%

    3%

    You and your family

    na

    na

    na

    na

    29%

    36%

    6%

    23%

    34%

    25%

    11%

    2%

    The media

    30%

    14%

    25%

    27%

    21%

    40%

    5%

    16%

    33%

    29%

    11%

    6%

    Farming and agriculture

    14%

    50%

    23%

    40%

    20%

    40%

    2%

    18%

    33%

    28%

    12%

    7%

    Trade unions

    na

    na

    na

    na

    18%

    30%

    4%

    14%

    37%

    22%

    8%

    15%

    The environment

    14%

    37%

    20%

    33%

    18%

    37%

    3%

    15%

    40%

    26%

    11%

    6%

    The average Australian

    na

    na

    na

    na

    17%

    45%

    2%

    15%

    36%

    34%

    11%

    3%

    Small business

    14%

    45%

    10%

    61%

    10%

    62%

    1%

    9%

    24%

    39%

    23%

    5%

    Australian politics in general

    na

    na

    na

    na

    9%

    61%

    2%

    7%

    26%

    29%

    32%

    4%

    A majority of respondents think it has been a good year for the banks (68%) and the mining industry (53%). They are split over whether it has been a good year for large companies and corporations (32% good/31% bad). However, they are much more likely to think the year has been bad for small business (62%), Australian politics in general (61%), the average Australian (45%), farming and agriculture (40%) and the media (40%).

    Compared to last year’s results, respondents considered 2012 a worse year than 2011 for the mining industry (“good” down 15% to 53%), large companies and corporations (“good” down 8% to 32%) and the media (“bad” up 13% to 40%).

  • Sep, 2011

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    Most Important Industries

    Q. And which of these industries are the three most important for Australia’s economic future?

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Mining 67% 77% 67% 61%
    Agriculture 58% 57% 59% 58%
    Tourism 46% 47% 43% 56%
    Manufacturing 37% 30% 40% 36%
    Construction 25% 26% 26% 31%
    Finance 21% 18% 23% 17%
    Retail 17% 18% 17% 12%
    Telecommunications 14% 16% 11% 20%
    Hospitality 10% 10% 9% 6%
    Media 1% 1% 1% 1%
    Don’t know 4% * 4% 3%

    Australia’s most important industries are thought to be mining (67%), agriculture (58%), tourism (46%) and manufacturing (37%). Opinions are consistent across voter groups in terms of order of importance.

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