broadband, EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, Greens, Internet, Labor, Liberal, National Broadband Network, Nationals, NBN, Polling, polls
Q. From what you’ve heard, do you favour or oppose the planned national broadband network (NBN)?
| 27 Sep 2010 | 14 Feb 2011 | Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total favour | 56% | 48% | 54% | 76% | 36% | 81% |
| Total oppose | 18% | 31% | 28% | 8% | 49% | 8% |
| Strongly favour | 27% | 19% | 22% | 40% | 8% | 43% |
| Favour | 29% | 29% | 32% | 36% | 28% | 38% |
| Oppose | 12% | 16% | 13% | 6% | 19% | 3% |
| Strongly oppose | 6% | 15% | 15% | 2% | 30% | 5% |
| Don’t know | 26% | 22% | 18% | 15% | 14% | 12% |
Support for the NBN has increased a little since this question was last asked in February.
54% (+6%) favour the NBN and 28% (-3%) oppose it. There is overwhelming majority support from Labor and Greens voters but Liberal/National voters were split 36% favour and 49% oppose.
By age group, those aged under 35 were 55% favour/26% oppose and those aged 55+ were 49% favour/34% oppose.
EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Network 10, Network Ten, Polling, polls, The Greens
Do you agree or disagree that – the Greens are an extreme political party that does not share the values of average Australians? (Question commissioned by Network Ten)
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Men | Women | Age
18-34 |
Aged
35-54 |
Aged 55+ | |
| Total agree | 52% | 44% | 74% | 7% | 60% | 44% | 41% | 51% | 65% |
| Total disagree | 30% | 41% | 14% | 87% | 30% | 30% | 34% | 31% | 24% |
| Strongly agree | 23% | 12% | 39% | – | 29% | 17% | 16% | 21% | 34% |
| Agree | 29% | 32% | 35% | 7% | 31% | 27% | 25% | 31% | 31% |
| Disagree | 21% | 32% | 13% | 29% | 22% | 20% | 21% | 23% | 18% |
| Strongly disagree | 9% | 7% | 1% | 58% | 8% | 10% | 13% | 8% | 6% |
| Don’t know | 18% | 17% | 12% | 7% | 9% | 27% | 25% | 18% | 11% |
Just over half the respondents (52%) agreed that the Greens are an extreme political party that does not share the values of average Australians and 30% disagree.
Those most likely to agree were Liberal/National voters (74%), men (60%) and those aged 65+ (65%). Labor voters were split with 44% agree and 41% disagree.
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 =1,925
| First preference/leaning to | Election
21 Aug 10 |
4 weeks ago | 2 weeks ago | Last week | This week |
| Liberal | 45% | 43% | 43% | 43% | |
| National | 2% | 3% | 3% | 3% | |
| Total Lib/Nat | 43.6 | 47% | 46% | 46% | 46% |
| Labor | 38.0 | 35% | 37% | 36% | 35% |
| Greens | 11.8 | 10% | 10% | 10% | 11% |
| Other/Independent | 6.6 | 8% | 7% | 8% | 8% |
| 2PP | Election
21 Aug 10 |
4 weeks ago | 2 weeks ago | Last week | This week |
| Total Lib/Nat | 49.9% | 54% | 52% | 53% | 53% |
| Labor | 50.1% | 46% | 48% | 47% | 47% |
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 Julia Gillard, Approval ratings, EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, Greens, Julia Gillard, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, polls
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Julia Gillard is doing as Prime Minister?
| Kevin Rudd | Julia Gillard | |||||||||||
| 31 May
2010 |
5 Jul | 19 Jul | 16 Aug | 20 Sep | 18 Oct | 22 Nov | 20 Dec | 17 Jan 2011 | 14 Feb | 14 Mar | 11 Apr | |
| Total approve | 41% | 48% | 52% | 46% | 45% | 45% | 43% | 43% | 51% | 48% | 41% | 37% |
| Total disapprove | 47% | 27% | 30% | 40% | 37% | 37% | 38% | 40% | 36% | 41% | 46% | 50% |
| Strongly approve | 7% | 14% | 11% | 13% | 12% | 10% | 7% | 10% | 8% | 9% | 7% | 7% |
| Approve | 34% | 34% | 41% | 33% | 33% | 36% | 36% | 33% | 43% | 39% | 34% | 30% |
| Disapprove | 25% | 13% | 17% | 24% | 21% | 20% | 23% | 24% | 24% | 25% | 22% | 25% |
| Strongly disapprove | 22% | 14% | 13% | 16% | 16% | 17% | 15% | 16% | 12% | 16% | 24% | 25% |
| Don’t know | 12% | 26% | 18% | 13% | 19% | 18% | 18% | 17% | 14% | 11% | 13% | 13% |
37% (down 4%) approve of the job Julia Gillard is doing as Prime Minister and 50% (up 4%) disapprove – a change in net rating from -5 to -13 over the last 4 weeks.
78% of Labor voters approve (down 9%) and 12% disapprove (up 5%).
By gender – men 37% approve/53% disapprove, women 36% approve/47% disapprove.
Approval of Tony Abbott, Approval rating, EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, polls, tony abbott
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Tony Abbott is doing as Opposition Leader?
| 18 Jan
2010 |
29 Mar | 5 Jul | 16 Aug | 20 Sep | 18 Oct | 22 Nov | 20 Dec | 17 Jan 2011 | 14 Feb | 14 Mar | 11 Apr | |
| Total approve | 37% | 33% | 37% | 41% | 43% | 39% | 40% | 39% | 42% | 38% | 38% | 36% |
| Total disapprove | 37% | 50% | 47% | 44% | 37% | 45% | 40% | 39% | 37% | 46% | 47% | 48% |
| Strongly approve | 5% | 8% | 8% | 9% | 12% | 8% | 6% | 9% | 7% | 8% | 7% | 7% |
| Approve | 32% | 25% | 29% | 32% | 31% | 31% | 34% | 30% | 35% | 30% | 31% | 29% |
| Disapprove | 20% | 28% | 23% | 22% | 21% | 22% | 22% | 21% | 22% | 24% | 24% | 25% |
| Strongly disapprove | 17% | 22% | 24% | 22% | 16% | 23% | 18% | 18% | 15% | 22% | 23% | 23% |
| Don’t know | 26% | 16% | 16% | 15% | 19% | 17% | 19% | 22% | 20% | 16% | 16% | 17% |
36% (down 2%) approve of the job Tony Abbott is doing as Opposition Leader and 48% (up 1%) disapprove.
69% of Coalition voters approve and 17% disapprove.
By gender – men 40% approve/46% disapprove, women 31% approve/48% disapprove.
Better Prime Minister, EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, Greens, Julia Gillard, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, PM, Polling, polls, Prime Minister, tony abbott
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott?
| 5 Jul 2010 | 20 Sep | 20 Dec | 17 Jan 2011 | 14 Feb 2011 | 14 Mar 2011 | 11 Apr 2011 | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Kevin Rudd v Tony Abbott
21 Jun 10 |
||
| Julia Gillard | 53% | 47% | 45% | 47% | 48% | 44% | 42% | 86% | 8% | 75% | 47% | |
| Tony Abbott | 26% | 35% | 34% | 32% | 31% | 33% | 33% | 2% | 72% | 5% | 30% | |
| Don’t know | 21% | 18% | 21% | 21% | 20% | 23% | 24% | 12% | 20% | 20% | 23% |
42% believe Julia Gillard would make the better Prime Minister and 33% prefer Tony Abbott – a net decrease for Julia Gillard of 2% on last month’s figures (from +11% to +9%).
Men favour Julia Gillard over Tony Abbott 42%/38% and women 42%/29%.
Budget Deficit, Budget Surplus, EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, Federal Budget, Federal Government, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, polls
Q. The Federal Government is currently running a budget deficit, but intends to return to surplus in 2012-13. Which of the following do you think is most responsible for the deficit?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Poor economic management by the Government | 23% | 5% | 43% | 8% |
| The cost of the Government’s GFC stimulus packages | 19% | 19% | 20% | 21% |
| Big companies not paying their fair share of taxes | 17% | 29% | 6% | 30% |
| Spending on big projects like the National Broadband Network | 14% | 8% | 18% | 10% |
| Lower tax revenues because of the Global Financial Crisis | 13% | 25% | 4% | 19% |
| Don’t know | 15% | 14% | 9% | 11% |
Overall, respondents believe the main reasons for the budget deficit are poor economic management by the Government (23%), the cost of the Government’s GFC stimulus (19%) and big companies not paying their fair share of taxes (17%).
Labor voters were most likely to blame big companies not paying their fair share of taxes (29%) and lower tax revenues because of the GFC (25%) while Liberal/National voters blame poor economic management by the Government (43%). Greens voters tended to blame big companies not paying their fair share of taxes (30%).
Budget Surplus, EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, Federal Budget, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, polls, surplus
Q. In order to meet their commitment to return to surplus in 2012-13, which measures should the Government take?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Increase taxes for big corporations | 63% | 79% | 51% | 77% |
| Reduce tax breaks for high income earners | 51% | 57% | 46% | 67% |
| Cut “middle class welfare” such as the Baby Bonus, first home buyers grant and Family Tax Benefit payments | 36% | 33% | 41% | 39% |
| Reduce defence spending | 32% | 36% | 26% | 51% |
| Cut spending on unemployment and disability benefits | 21% | 15% | 31% | 11% |
| It does not need to return to surplus so quickly | 38% | 39% | 36% | 57% |
Overall, the most favoured means of returning the budget to surplus were increasing taxes for big corporations (63%) and reducing tax breaks for high income earners (51%). Both these measures were strongly favoured by Labor and Greens voters.
Although support was less strong, these two measures were also the most preferred among Liberal/National voters.
Note, although 38% thought that the budget does not need to return to surplus so quickly, some of these respondents also agreed with some of the measures listed.