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  • Apr, 2011

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    Tony Abbott’s Welfare Proposal

    Q. Tony Abbott has proposed changes to Australia’s welfare system – including cutting back the pension for people whose disabilities can be treated, suspending the dole for young people in areas where job vacancies have not been filled and making work-for-the-dole mandatory for those under 50 receiving unemployment benefits for more than six months.

    Do you think Tony Abbott’s proposal will significantly reduce unemployment in Australia or will it just make things more difficult for the unemployed and people on disability benefits?

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Will reduce unemployment 36% 18% 61% 20%
    Will just make things difficult for the unemployed and people on disability benefits 47% 67% 24% 74%
    Don’t know 17% 15% 16% 6%

    36% believe that Tony Abbott’s changes to the welfare system will reduce unemployment and 47% think they will just make things difficult for the unemployed and people on disability benefits.

    The only groups more likely to think it would reduce unemployment were Liberal/National voters (61%/21%), full-time workers (43%/39%)and those on income over $1,600 pw (48%/36%). 59% of those on incomes under $1,000 pw agreed that it will just make things difficult for the unemployed and people on disability benefits.

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  • Apr, 2011

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    Party Trust to Handle Benefits/pensions

    Q. Which party would you trust more to handle welfare issues like unemployment benefits and disability pensions?

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Labor Party 34% 75% 6% 53%
    Liberal Party 31% 4% 66% 8%
    No difference 25% 16% 21% 26%
    Don’t know 10% 55 6% 13%

    34% trust the Labor Party more to handle welfare issues and 31% trust the Liberal Party more. 25% think there is no difference.

    The Liberal Party is trusted more by people earning $1,600+ pw (40% to 29%) while those on incomes under $1,000 pw favor the Labor Party 39% to 22%.

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  • Apr, 2011

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    Difference between Labor and Greens Policies

    Q. How much difference do you think there is between the policies of the Labor Party and the Greens?

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    They are completely different 8% 10% 10% 12%
    Different on most issues 15% 15% 16% 26%
    Different of some and similar on some 41% 54% 33% 47%
    Similar on most issues 14% 7% 22% 8%
    They are exactly the same 5% 2% 7% 1%
    Don’t know 17% 13% 13% 5%

    19% think the Labor and Greens policies are similar or exactly the same, 23% think they are mostly or completely different and 41% think they are different on some and the similar on some issues.

    Labor voters are more likely to think they are different on some and similar on some (54%), Liberal/National voters more likely to think they are similar or the same (29%) and Greens voters more likely to think they are different (38%).

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  • Apr, 2011

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    Federal Budget

    Q. Do you support or oppose the Australian Government’s proposal to establish a regional processing centre for asylum seekers in East Timor?

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens Men Women Age

    18-34

    Aged

    35-54

    Aged 55+
    Total support 37% 47% 33% 38% 42% 32% 40% 37% 35%
    Total oppose 38% 27% 46% 38% 39% 36% 29% 39% 46%
    Strongly support 11% 13% 9% 5% 12% 9% 8% 11% 13%
    Support 26% 34% 24% 33% 30% 23% 32% 26% 22%
    Oppose 18% 16% 20% 22% 18% 18% 17% 20% 18%
    Strongly oppose 20% 11% 26% 16% 21% 18% 12% 19% 28%
    Don’t know 25% 25% 21% 25% 19% 32% 31% 24% 20%

    Opinions on the Australian Government’s proposal to establish a regional processing centre for asylum seekers in East Timor are evenly divided – 37% support the proposal and 38% oppose.

    Strongest support comes from Labor voters (47%) and those aged 18-34 (40%). Strongest opposition comes form Liberal/National voters (46%) and those aged 55+ (46%).

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  • Apr, 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 =1,860

    First preference/leaning to Election

    21 Aug 10

    4 weeks ago 2 weeks ago Last week This week
    Liberal 44% 44% 43% 43%
    National 3% 3% 3% 3%
    Total Lib/Nat 43.6 47% 46% 46% 46%
    Labor 38.0 36% 36% 37% 36%
    Greens 11.8 10% 10% 10% 10%
    Other/Independent 6.6 7% 8% 7% 8%
    2PP Election

    21 Aug 10

    4 weeks ago 2 weeks ago Last week This week
    Total Lib/Nat 49.9% 53% 53% 52% 53%
    Labor 50.1% 47% 47% 48% 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.

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  • Apr, 2011

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    State of the Economy

    Q. Compared to other developed countries (e.g. USA, UK, Japan, European nations) how would you rate the current state of the Australian economy?

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Total good 69% 82% 66% 75%
    Total poor 7% 2% 9% 1%
    Very good 24% 37% 15% 38%
    Good 45% 45% 51% 37%
    Average 21% 14% 24% 21%
    Poor 4% 2% 5% 1%
    Very poor 3% 4%
    Don’t know 3% 2% 1% 2%

    69% believe that, compared to other developed countries, the current state of the Australian economy is good and 7% think it is poor. 82% of Labor voters think it is good compared to 75% of Greens voters and 66% of Liberal/National voters.

    Those on higher incomes are more likely to think it is good – 75% of those on $1,600+ per week compared to 66% of those under $600 per week.

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  • Apr, 2011

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    Federal Budget

    Q. Thinking about the next Federal Budget, overall do you think the Government should increase, maintain or cut spending on services and programs?

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Increase spending 15% 16% 13% 20%
    Maintain spending 49% 58% 46% 54%
    Cut spending 22% 14% 31% 15%
    Don’t know 14% 12% 10% 11%

    49% think the Government should maintain spending in the next Federal Budget, 22% think spending should be cut and 15% think it should be increased.

    By voting intention, 74% of Labor voters and Greens voters think spending should be maintained or increased compared to 59% of Liberal/National voters. 31% of Liberal/National voters think spending should be cut.

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  • Apr, 2011

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    Federal Budget Surplus

    Q. Do you think it is more important for the Government to return the budget to surplus by 2012/13 as planned – which may mean cutting services and raising taxes – OR should they delay the return to surplus and maintain services and invest in infrastructure?

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Return to surplus by 2012/13 14% 16% 16% 9%
    Delay return to surplus 69% 72% 70% 72%
    Don’t know 17% 12% 13% 19%

    69% support delaying the return to surplus if it means cutting services and raising taxes – while 14% think it is more important to return to surplus by 2012/13.

    78% of those aged 45+ support delaying the return to surplus.

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