On-line Purchasing – Frequency
Q. About how often have you purchased items and products on-line in the last 12 months (for example – books, clothing, computers, electrical appliances)?
| Once | 6% |
| 2 or 3 times | 25% |
| 4-6 times | 21% |
| 7-12 times | 15% |
| More than 12 times | 20% |
| Total purchased online in last 12 months | 88% |
| Not in last 12 months | 12% |
88% of respondents said they had purchased items and products online in the last 12 months. 35% had purchased online more than six times in the last 12 months.
44% of those aged 25-34 and 43% of those aged 35-44 said they had purchased online more than six times.
On-line Purchasing – Products
If bought online in last 12 months –
Q. Which of the following products have you purchased on-line from Australian or overseas companies in last 12 months?
| Purchased from Australian companies | Purchased from overseas companies | Not purchased | |
| Books | 34% | 25% | 50% |
| Music and video | 36% | 19% | 52% |
| Clothing and shoes | 37% | 18% | 54% |
| Computers and computer accessories | 35% | 19% | 55% |
| Cameras | 11% | 6% | 85% |
| Electrical appliances | 25% | 8% | 69% |
| Furniture | 12% | 2% | 86% |
| Wine and food | 27% | 4% | 70% |
| Other products | 52% | 28% | 37% |
* Note – percentages are based on the respondents who said they bought online in the last 12 months.
Of those who had bought online, the most common purchases were books (50%), music and video (48%) clothing and shoes (46%) and computers and accessories (45%).
Respondents were more likely to buy products online from Australian companies – for most products, they were about twice as likely to buy from Australian companies as from overseas companies.
GST on On-line Purchasing
Q. Currently GST is not charged on on-line purchases of less than $1,000 from overseas companies. Would you approve or disapprove GST being applied to on-line purchases of less than $1,000 from overseas companies?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total approve | 18% | 17% | 22% | 19% |
| Total disapprove | 71% | 74% | 67% | 73% |
| Strongly approve | 6% | 8% | 6% | 5% |
| Approve | 12% | 9% | 16% | 14% |
| Disapprove | 23% | 22% | 25% | 19% |
| Strongly disapprove | 48% | 52% | 42% | 54% |
| Don’t know | 11% | 9% | 11% | 8% |
71% disapprove of GST being applied to on-line purchases of less than $1,000 from overseas companies and 18% approve.
Strongest disapproval is shown by women (74%), Labor voters (74%), Greens voters (73%) and age groups 35-44 (77%) and 25-34 (74%).
74% of online shoppers disapprove and 17% approve – while for those who buy online more often (more than six times a year) 80% disapprove and 12% approve.
Essential Report
Two Party Preferred: 14 May 2019
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