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  • Jul, 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 = 1,883

    First preference/leaning to Election

    21 Aug 10

    4 weeks ago 2 weeks ago Last week This week
    Liberal 44% 45% 45% 46%
    National 2% 3% 3% 3%
    Total Lib/Nat 43.6 46% 47% 48% 49%
    Labor 38.0 34% 32% 32% 32%
    Greens 11.8 12% 12% 11% 11%
    Other/Independent 6.6 8% 9% 9% 9%
    2PP Election

    21 Aug 10

    4 weeks ago 2 weeks ago Last week This week
    Total Lib/Nat 49.9% 53% 55% 55% 56%
    Labor 50.1% 47% 45% 45% 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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  • Jul, 2011

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    The Economy – Heading in the Right/Wrong Direction

    Q. Overall, from what you have read and heard, do you think the Australian economy is heading in the right direction or the wrong direction?

    17 May 10

    (Post 2010 budget)

    9 May 11

    (Post 2011 budget)

    4 Jul 11 Vote Labor Vote Liberal/ National Vote Greens
    The right direction 51% 45% 37% 66% 21% 49%
    The wrong direction 25% 29% 43% 15% 65% 20%
    Don’t know 24% 25% 20% 19% 14% 31%

    37% of respondents think that Australia’s economy is heading in the right direction – 43% think it is heading in the wrong direction. Since this question was asked just after the 2011 budget, “right direction” has dropped 8% and “wrong direction” increased 14%.

    66% of Labor voters, 21% of Liberal/National voters and 49% of Greens voters think the economy is heading in the right direction.

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  • Jul, 2011

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    Party Best at Handling Economy

    Q. Which party do you think would be best at handling the Australian economy in the interests of you and people like you?

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    The Labor Party 26% 75% 2% 35%
    The Liberal Party 43% 1% 86% 11%
    No difference 23% 19% 9% 43%
    Don’t know 8% 4% 3% 10%

    43% think the Liberal Party would be best at handling the Australian economy in their interests and 26% nominated the Labor Party. 23% think there is no difference.

    The Liberal Party is considered better by all income groups , although more by those on higher incomes. Those earning less than $600 per week favour the Liberal Party 37%/29%, while those earning $1,600+ per week favour the Liberal Party 51%/21%.

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  • Jul, 2011

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    The economy

    Q. Over the next 12 months do you think economic conditions in Australia will get better, get worse or stay much the same?

    1 Dec 08 15 Jun 09 5 Oct 09 18 Jan 10 29 Mar 10 28 Jun 10 18 Oct 10 4 April 11 4 Jul 11 Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Total better 21% 43% 66% 53% 54% 33% 40% 27% 22% 37% 15% 34%
    Total worse 61% 37% 15% 19% 19% 31% 30% 37% 49% 28% 65% 34%
    Get a lot better 2% 5% 8% 9% 9% 5% 6% 4% 3% 8% 1% 1%
    Get a little better 19% 38% 58% 44% 45% 28% 34% 23% 19% 29% 14% 33%
    Get a little worse 45% 28% 11% 14% 13% 23% 20% 27% 31% 22% 37% 26%
    Get a lot worse 16% 9% 4% 5% 6% 8% 10% 10% 18% 6% 28% 8%
    Stay much the same 13% 17% 15% 24% 22% 30% 24% 27% 25% 33% 18% 29%
    No opinion 5% 3% 4% 4% 6% 7% 6% 8% 4% 3% 2% 3%

    Optimism about Australia’s economic outlook has declined again in the last 3 months. 22% think economic conditions in Australia will get better over the next 12 months and 49% think they will get worse – a net decline of 17% since this question was last asked in April. This is the most negative result recorded since December 2008.

    Younger people are more optimistic than older people – of those aged under 35, 29% think conditions will get better and 42% worse – for those aged 55+, only 15% think it will get better and 58% worse.

    37% of Labor voters think conditions will get better and 28% worse while 15% of Coalition voters think conditions will get better and 65% worse.

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  • Jul, 2011

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    Personal financial situation

    Q. Over the next 12 months do you think your personal financial situation will get better, get worse or stay much the same?

    29 Mar 10 28 Jun 10 18 Oct 10 4 April 11 4 Jul 11 Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Total better 40% 29% 33% 32% 28% 34% 25% 41%
    Total worse 23% 31% 29% 31% 36% 27% 45% 22%
    Get a lot better 8% 5% 6% 7% 5% 9% 3% 7%
    Get a little better 32% 24% 27% 25% 23% 25% 22% 34%
    Get a little worse 17% 21% 21% 22% 23% 18% 28% 18%
    Get a lot worse 6% 10% 8% 9% 13% 9% 17% 4%
    Stay much the same 33% 37% 32% 32% 32% 37% 29% 32%
    No opinion 4% 4% 5% 5% 3% 1% 1% 5%

    28% think their own personal financial situation will get better over the next 12 months and 36% worse – 32% think they will stay much the same.

    This is somewaht less optimistic than the April result – a decrease from net +1% to -8%.

    Among full-time workers, 32% think their situation will get better and 34% worse while those who are not working are more pessimistic – 23% better/40% worse.

    For those aged 55+, 12% expect their financial situation to get better and 50% worse while for those aged under 35, 43% expect it to get better and 25% worse.

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  • Jul, 2011

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    Job security

    Q. How concerned are you that you or some member of your immediate family will lose their job in the next year or so: very concerned, somewhat concerned, or not at all concerned?

    16 Feb 09 27 Apr 09 8 Jun 09 5 Oct 09 18 Jan 10 29 Mar 10 28 Jun 10 18 Oct 10 4 April 11 4 Jul 11 Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Total concerned 62% 67% 52% 49% 45% 39% 43% 40% 43% 45% 45% 50% 37%
    Very concerned 22% 24% 13% 14% 12% 10% 9% 11% 11% 13% 13% 13% 11%
    Somewhat concerned 40% 43% 39% 35% 33% 29% 34% 29% 32% 32% 32% 37% 26%
    Not at all concerned 29% 23% 35% 40% 40% 45% 38% 42% 43% 39% 37% 39% 47%
    Don’t know 4% 5% 6% 6% 8% 7% 12% 10% 8% 8% 11% 5% 7%
    No employees in the immediate family 5% 5% 8% 5% 8% 9% 7% 7% 7% 7% 7% 6% 9%

    45% are very or somewhat concerned that they or someone in their family may lose their job in the next year. This is only a slight change (+2%) since this question was last asked in April.

    45% of those in full-time employment and 56% of those in part-time employment said they were very/somewhat concerned.

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  • Jul, 2011

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    Party Interests – Labor Party

    Q. Do you think the Labor Party is more concerned about the interests of big business or voters – or do they balance the interests of both?

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    More concerned about big business 33% 18% 41% 30%
    More concerned about voters 22% 18% 29% 20%
    Balance interests of both 23% 50% 10% 27%
    Don’t know 22% 14% 20% 23%

    33% think the Labor Party are more concerned about the interests of big business and 22% think they are more concerned about voters’ interests. 23% think they balance the interests of both.

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  • Jul, 2011

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    Party Interests – Liberal Party

    Q. Do you think the Liberal Party is more concerned about the interests of big business or voters – or do they balance the interests of both?

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    More concerned about big business 41% 68% 18% 67%
    More concerned about voters 13% 8% 20% 3%
    Balance interests of both 30% 8% 56% 11%
    Don’t know 15% 16% 7% 19%

    41% think the Liberal Party are more concerned about the interests of big business and 13% think they are more concerned about voters’ interests. 30% think they balance the interests of both.

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