EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, federal politics, Greens, Interest in Federal Politics, Interest in Politics, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Politics, Polling, polls
Q. When it comes to following Federal politics, which best describes you?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Aged 18-34 | Aged 35-54 | Aged 55+ | |
| I follow it closely | 10% | 12% | 13% | 8% | 7% | 10% | 17% |
| I follow it enough to know what’s happening | 45% | 46% | 49% | 45% | 30% | 49% | 57% |
| I follow it when something big is happening | 18% | 19% | 20% | 24% | 27% | 14% | 15% |
| I only pay attention when there’s an election | 8% | 7% | 9% | 6% | 13% | 8% | 3% |
| I have no interest in politics | 14% | 14% | 8% | 15% | 17% | 16% | 6% |
| Can’t say | 4% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 6% | 4% | 2% |
55% say they follow Federal politics closely or enough to know what’s happening, 26% follow it only at elections or when something big is happening and 14% have no interest in politics.
Older respondents tended to follow Federal politics more closely than younger respondents – 74% of those aged 55+ follow it closely or enough to know what’s happening compared to only 37% of those aged 18-34. Greens voters (53%) were a little less likely to follow politics than Labor (58%) or Liberal/National voters (62%).
EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, federal politics, Greens, Interest in Federal Politics, Interest in Politics, Labor, Liberals, Nationals, Polling, polls
Q. Over the last few years has your interest in following Federal politics increased or decreased?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Aged 18-34 | Aged 35-54 | Aged 55+ | |
| Total increased | 29% | 30% | 35% | 32% | 37% | 26% | 25% |
| Total decreased | 11% | 11% | 6% | 15% | 11% | 12% | 11% |
| Increased a lot | 8% | 10% | 10% | 7% | 11% | 7% | 8% |
| Increased a little | 21% | 20% | 25% | 25% | 26% | 19% | 17% |
| Stayed much the same | 56% | 56% | 59% | 54% | 47% | 60% | 62% |
| Decreased a little | 6% | 7% | 4% | 7% | 4% | 6% | 8% |
| Decreased a lot | 5% | 4% | 2% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 3% |
| Can’t say | 4% | 3% | * | – | 7% | 3% | 1% |
56% say their interest in following Federal politics has stayed much the same, 29% have more interest and 11% less interest.
Respondents aged 18-34 were more likely to have more interest in following Federal politics (37%) while older voters’ interest was more likely to have stayed much the same.
2PP, Election, EMC, ER, Essential Media, 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 =1,837
| First preference/leaning to | Election
21 Aug 10 |
4 weeks ago | 2 weeks ago | Last week | This week |
| Liberal | 43% | 43% | 43% | 43% | |
| National | 3% | 3% | 3% | 4% | |
| Total Lib/Nat | 43.6 | 46% | 46% | 47% | 47% |
| Labor | 38.0 | 37% | 35% | 35% | 35% |
| Greens | 11.8 | 10% | 11% | 11% | 10% |
| Other/Independent | 6.6 | 7% | 8% | 8% | 8% |
| 2PP | Election
21 Aug 10 |
4 weeks ago | 2 weeks ago | Last week | This week |
| Total Lib/Nat | 49.9% | 52% | 53% | 54% | 54% |
| Labor | 50.1% | 48% | 47% | 46% | 46% |
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.
2PP, Election, EMC, ER, Essential Media, 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 =1,908
| First preference/leaning to | Election
21 Aug 10 |
4 weeks ago | 2 weeks ago | Last week | This week |
| Liberal | 44% | 43% | 43% | 43% | |
| National | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% | |
| Total Lib/Nat | 43.6 | 46% | 46% | 46% | 47% |
| Labor | 38.0 | 36% | 36% | 35% | 35% |
| Greens | 11.8 | 10% | 10% | 11% | 11% |
| Other/Independent | 6.6 | 8% | 8% | 8% | 8% |
| 2PP | Election
21 Aug 10 |
4 weeks ago | 2 weeks ago | Last week | This week |
| Total Lib/Nat | 49.9% | 53% | 53% | 53% | 54% |
| Labor | 50.1% | 47% | 47% | 47% | 46% |
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.
EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, Greens, Israel, Labor, Liberal, Middle East, Middle East conflict, Nationals, Palestine, Peace in the Middle East, Polling, polls
Q. What, in your view, is the single biggest obstacle to peace in the Middle East?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Unwillingness of Israelis/ Palestinians to compromise | 33% | 38% | 31% | 37% |
| The Israeli (housing) settlements in areas which Palestinians claim for an independent Palestine | 6% | 6% | 7% | 14% |
| Israel’s oppression of Palestinians | 8% | 8% | 8% | 15% |
| Palestinian terror attacks on Israelis | 5% | 3% | 7% | 5% |
| Infighting between the various Palestinian organisations (e.g. Hamas and Fatah) | 6% | 5% | 7% | 4% |
| Inaction by the United Nations | 3% | 4% | 3% | 2% |
| Opposition to Israel from other Middle Eastern countries | 8% | 7% | 9% | – |
| Don’t know | 31% | 29% | 28% | 23% |
One third (33%) of respondents think that the unwillingness of Israelis and Palestinians to compromise is the single biggest obstacle to peace in the Middle East and a further one third (31%) do not know. The remaining 36% selected a range of reasons including Israel’s oppression of Palestinians (8%) and opposition to Israel from other Middle Eastern countries (8%).
There were few substantial differences across voter groups.
anti-Muslim, anti-Semitism, EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, Greens, Israel, Israel-Palestine Conflict, Judaism, Labor, Liberal, Muslim, Nationals, Palestine, Polling, polls
Q. To what extent, if at all, do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?
| Total agree | Total disagree | Total Neither/ Don’t know | Strongly agree | Agree | Neither agree nor disagree | Disagree | Strongly disagree | Don’t know | |
| Australia should support the Israelis rather than Palestinians | 14% | 23% | 62% | 6% | 8% | 33% | 12% | 11% | 29% |
| Being critical of Israel makes a person anti- Semitic | 10% | 46% | 45% | 4% | 6% | 23% | 24% | 22% | 22% |
| The Palestine- Israel conflict fuels anti- Semitism in Australia | 27% | 24% | 49% | 5% | 22% | 24% | 17% | 7% | 25% |
| The Palestine- Israel conflict fuels anti-Muslim feelings in Australia | 31% | 21% | 48% | 7% | 24% | 24% | 16% | 5% | 24% |
The most common answers to these statements on the Israel/Palestine conflict were ”neither agree nor disagree” and “don’t know”. These results indicate both a low level of awareness/interest and an inclination not to take a position one way or the other. The finding that only 14% agree that Australia should support the Israelis rather than Palestinians underlines this reluctance to take sides on this issue.
Views on most statements were split – except for 46% disagreement that “Being critical of Israel makes a person anti-Semitic”.
Respondents were slightly more likely to think the Israel/Palestine conflict fuels anti-Muslim feeling that anti-Semitism.
carbon pollution, Carbon Pricing Proposal, carbon pricing scheme, Carbon Tax, EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, polls
Q. Do you support or oppose the Government’s recent announcement 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 | 14 March | 28 March | Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total support | 35% | 38% | 34% | 39% | 63% | 21% | 75% |
| Total oppose | 48% | 49% | 51% | 49% | 25% | 72% | 17% |
| Strongly support | 9% | 12% | 12% | 13% | 25% | 4% | 37% |
| Support | 26% | 26% | 22% | 26% | 38% | 17% | 38% |
| Oppose | 19% | 17% | 19% | 15% | 10% | 18% | 10% |
| Strongly oppose | 29% | 32% | 32% | 34% | 15% | 54% | 7% |
| Don’t know | 18% | 13% | 15% | 12% | 12% | 7% | 8% |
Support for the Government’s carbon pricing scheme has recovered to similar levels recorded in mid-March.
Since this question was asked 3 weeks ago, support has increased to 39% (+5%) and opposition dropped to 49% (-2%).
Strongest support was shown by those aged under 35 (42%) and those on incomes over $1,600 pw (46%).
Those most strongly opposed were aged 55+ (58%).
carbon compensation, carbon pollution, Carbon Pricing Proposal, carbon pricing scheme, Carbon Tax, EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, polls
Q. Would you support or oppose this carbon pricing scheme if the money paid by big polluting industries was used to compensate low and middle income earners and small businesses for increased prices?
| 14 March | Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total support | 54% | 51% | 78% | 34% | 80% |
| Total oppose | 30% | 33% | 11% | 51% | 7% |
| Strongly support | 17% | 17% | 30% | 8% | 35% |
| Support | 37% | 34% | 43% | 25% | 44% |
| Oppose | 14% | 12% | 7% | 18% | 8% |
| Strongly oppose | 16% | 21% | 6% | 37% | 5% |
| Don’t know | 17% | 16% | 14% | 13% | 8% |
With compensation for low and middle income earners and small businesses, support for the Government’s carbon pricing scheme increased to 51% and opposition dropped to 33%. This is a slight fall in support since this question was last asked in mid-March.
With compensation, support among Labor voters increases 15% to 78% and for Liberal/National voters increases 13% to 34%.
Support among men increased from 39% to 47% and for women increases from 38% to 55%.