parties, political parties, Social Class
Q. Whose interests do you think the Liberal Party mainly represent?
|
Total
|
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
|
Working class |
Middle class |
|
April 2013 |
|
| Working class |
4% |
2% |
7% |
– |
3% |
7% |
3% |
5% |
|||
| Middle class |
17% |
7% |
31% |
12% |
11% |
13% |
22% |
20% |
|||
| Upper class |
47% |
74% |
20% |
65% |
55% |
54% |
49% |
40% |
|||
| All of them |
14% |
4% |
32% |
2% |
8% |
11% |
15% |
17% |
|||
| None of them |
8% |
6% |
6% |
6% |
10% |
7% |
5% |
8% |
|||
| Don’t know |
11% |
7% |
4% |
14% |
13% |
8% |
7% |
9% |
47% believe that the Liberal Party mainly represents upper class people and 17% think they represent the middle class. 74% of Labor voters and 65% of Greens voters think the Liberal Party mainly represent the upper class. 31% of Liberal/National voters think they represent the middle class and 32% think they represent all classes.
54% of respondents who describe themselves as working class and 49% of those who say they are middle class think the Liberal Party mainly represents the upper class.
Since this question was asked in April 2013, the proportion thinking that the Liberals represent the upper class has increased from 40% to 47%.
ABC, charitable organisations, high court, political parties, Reserve Bank, trust in institutions
Q. How much trust do you have in the following institutions and organisations?
|
Total trust |
|
A lot of trust |
Some trust |
A little trust |
No trust |
Don’t know |
% change |
|
Total trust 12 Jun 12 |
Total trust 18 Mar 13 |
|
| The High Court |
57% |
20% |
37% |
27% |
12% |
4% |
-17 |
60% |
74% |
||
| The ABC |
54% |
18% |
36% |
29% |
13% |
5% |
-16 |
54% |
70% |
||
| The Reserve Bank |
52% |
17% |
35% |
30% |
13% |
5% |
-12 |
49% |
64% |
||
| Charitable organisations |
45% |
6% |
39% |
36% |
14% |
4% |
-7 |
50% |
52% |
||
| Your local council |
33% |
5% |
28% |
38% |
24% |
4% |
-1 |
na |
34% |
||
| TV news media |
32% |
2% |
26% |
47% |
23% |
3% |
+2 |
21% |
30% |
||
| Environment groups |
31% |
5% |
26% |
38% |
25% |
5% |
-10 |
32% |
41% |
||
| The Commonwealth Public Service |
31% |
5% |
26% |
40% |
19% |
10% |
-5 |
30% |
36% |
||
| Newspapers |
30% |
3% |
27% |
46% |
21% |
3% |
– |
26% |
30% |
||
| Religious organisations |
26% |
5% |
21% |
28% |
41% |
4% |
-1 |
27% |
27% |
||
| Federal Parliament |
25% |
4% |
21% |
33% |
39% |
3% |
-9 |
22% |
34% |
||
| Online news media |
25% |
2% |
23% |
49% |
21% |
4% |
-2 |
23% |
27% |
||
| State Parliament |
24% |
3% |
21% |
35% |
37% |
4% |
-6 |
na |
30% |
||
| Trade unions |
22% |
4% |
18% |
33% |
39% |
7% |
-3 |
22% |
25% |
||
| Business groups |
22% |
1% |
21% |
44% |
27% |
6% |
-4 |
22% |
26% |
||
| Political parties |
13% |
2% |
11% |
33% |
50% |
3% |
+1 |
12% |
12% |
Note: ‘Total Trust’ is an aggregate figure achieved by adding ‘A lot of trust’ and ‘Some trust’
Since this question was last asked in March last year, there has been a significant decline in trust in the High Court (-17%), the ABC (-16%), the Reserve Bank (-12%), environment groups (-10) and the Federal Parliament (-9). Trust in the High Court, ABC and Reserve Bank is back to similar levels to that recorded in 2012.
Respondents had most trust in the High Court (57%), the ABC (54%), the Reserve Bank (52%) and charitable organisations (45%). They had least trust in political parties (13%), trade unions (22%) and business groups (22%).
Compared to the average, Labor voters had more trust in the ABC (62%), environment groups (41%) and trade unions (34%).
Liberal/National voters, compared to the average, had a little more trust in the Reserve Bank (62%), Federal Parliament (43%), State Parliament (36%) and business groups (32%).
22 October 2012, 221012, business groups, charitable organisations, Commonwealth public services, environment groups, Federal Parliament, high court, institutions, local council, Newspapers, Online news media, organisations, political parties, Religious organisations, Reserve Bank, the abc, Trade Unions, trust, tv news media
Q. How much trust do you have in the following institutions and organisations?
|
Total trust 26 Sep 11 |
Total trust 12 Jun 12 |
Total trust 22 Oct 12 |
A lot of trust |
Some trust |
A little trust |
No trust |
Don’t know |
% change |
|
| The High Court |
72% |
60% |
63% |
26% |
37% |
21% |
10% |
6% |
+3 |
| The ABC |
46% |
54% |
59% |
20% |
39% |
26% |
8% |
6% |
+5 |
| The Reserve Bank |
67% |
49% |
53% |
16% |
37% |
28% |
12% |
8% |
+4 |
| Charitable organisations |
61% |
50% |
53% |
9% |
44% |
33% |
10% |
5% |
+3 |
| Environment groups |
45% |
32% |
36% |
8% |
28% |
35% |
24% |
6% |
+4 |
| The Commonwealth Public Service |
49%* |
30% |
33% |
6% |
27% |
41% |
16% |
10% |
+3 |
| Your local council |
na |
na |
32% |
4% |
28% |
39% |
22% |
6% |
na |
| Religious organisations |
29% |
27% |
31% |
7% |
24% |
28% |
35% |
6% |
+4 |
| Newspapers |
na |
26% |
31% |
4% |
27% |
45% |
20% |
4% |
+5 |
| Online news media |
na |
23% |
28% |
4% |
24% |
45% |
20% |
6% |
+5 |
| TV news media |
na |
21% |
26% |
5% |
21% |
44% |
26% |
4% |
+5 |
| Federal Parliament |
55% |
22% |
26% |
4% |
22% |
37% |
32% |
5% |
+4 |
| State Parliament |
na |
na |
25% |
4% |
21% |
37% |
33% |
5% |
na |
| Business groups |
38% |
22% |
25% |
3% |
22% |
45% |
21% |
9% |
+3 |
| Trade unions |
39% |
22% |
23% |
5% |
18% |
32% |
36% |
9% |
+1 |
| Political parties |
na |
12% |
16% |
2% |
14% |
36% |
42% |
6% |
+4 |
Note: ‘Total Trust’ is an aggregate figure achieved by adding ‘A lot of trust’ and ‘Some trust’.
* This Commonwealth Public Service figure is from a question asked in 6 Feb 12.
Overall, there have been small increases in trust across all organisations since this question was last asked in June. However, there has been no significant change in the rankings.
Respondents had most trust in the High Court (63%), the ABC (59%), charitable organisations (53%) and the Reserve Bank (53%). They had least trust in political parties (16%), trade unions (23%), business groups (25%) State Parliaments (25%), Federal Parliament (26%) and TV news media (26%).
Compared to the average, Labor voters had more trust in Federal Parliament (40%), the High Court (67%), the ABC (68%), the Reserve Bank (61%), the Commonwealth Public Service (42%), trade unions (41%), environment groups (48%) and local councils (39%).
Liberal/National voters, compared to the average, had more trust in religious organisations (37%) and business groups (32%) but less trust in Federal Parliament (21%), Commonwealth Public Service (28%), trade unions (14%) and environment groups (27%).
09 July 2012, 090712, asylum seekers, fair solution, finding a solution, political parties
Q. Which party do you think is most concerned about finding a fair and reasonable solution to how Australia handles asylum seekers?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| The Labor Party |
14% |
46% |
1% |
4% |
| The Liberal Party |
28% |
2% |
59% |
2% |
| The Greens |
13% |
11% |
6% |
60% |
| None of them |
32% |
30% |
28% |
20% |
| Don’t know |
13% |
11% |
7% |
13% |
32% think no party is concerned about finding a fair and reasonable solution to how Australia handles asylum seekers. 28% think the Liberal Party is most concerned, 14% the Labor Party and 13% the Greens.
Labor voters were the least likely to think their preferred party was most concerned (46%) – while 60% of Greens voters and 59% of Liberal/National voters thought their party was most concerned.
12 June 2012, 120612, business groups, charitable organisations, environment groups, Federal Parliament, high court, Newspapers, Online news media, political parties, Public service, Religious organisations, the abc, the reserve bank, Trade Unions, tv news media
Q. How much trust do you have in the following institutions and organisations?
|
Total trust 26 Sep 11 |
Total trust 12 Jun 12 |
A lot of trust |
Some trust |
A little trust |
No trust |
Don’t know |
% change |
|
| The High Court |
72% |
60% |
20% |
40% |
24% |
9% |
7% |
-12 |
| The ABC |
46% |
54% |
15% |
39% |
31% |
10% |
6% |
+8 |
| Charitable organisations |
61% |
50% |
8% |
42% |
35% |
10% |
5% |
-9 |
| The Reserve Bank |
67% |
49% |
13% |
36% |
30% |
14% |
7% |
-18 |
| Environment groups |
45% |
32% |
6% |
26% |
35% |
25% |
7% |
-13 |
| The Commonwealth Public Service |
49%* |
30% |
4% |
26% |
42% |
18% |
9% |
-19 |
| Religious organisations |
29% |
27% |
5% |
22% |
30% |
37% |
6% |
-2 |
| Newspapers |
na |
26% |
3% |
23% |
46% |
23% |
5% |
na |
| Online news media |
na |
23% |
2% |
21% |
45% |
25% |
6% |
na |
| Federal Parliament |
55% |
22% |
3% |
19% |
37% |
36% |
6% |
-33 |
| Trade unions |
39% |
22% |
3% |
19% |
32% |
37% |
9% |
-17 |
| Business groups |
38% |
22% |
2% |
20% |
46% |
24% |
8% |
-16 |
| TV news media |
na |
21% |
3% |
18% |
43% |
30% |
5% |
na |
| Political parties |
na |
12% |
2% |
10% |
31% |
52% |
5% |
na |
Note: ‘Total Trust’ is an aggregate figure achieved by adding ‘A lot of trust’ and ‘Some trust’.
* This Commonwealth Public Service figure is from a question asked in 6 Feb 12.
Respondents had most trust in the High Court (60%), the ABC (54%), charitable organisations (50%) and the Reserve bank (49%). They had least trust in political parties (12%), TV news media (21%) Federal Parliament, trade unions and business groups (all 22%).
Trust in all institutions (except the ABC) declined since this question was asked last year. The major changes were a collapse in trust in Federal Parliament (-33%) and substantial declines in trust in the Commonwealth Public Service (-19%), the Reserve Bank (-18%), trade unions (-17%) and business groups (-16%).
Compared to the average, Labor voters had more trust in political parties (19%), Federal Parliament (34%), the High Court (67%), the Reserve Bank (57%), the Commonwealth Public Service (42%), trade unions (36%) and environment groups (43%).
Liberal/National voters, compared to the average, had more trust in religious organisations (33%) and business groups (27%) but less trust in Federal parliament (17%), the ABC (46%), trade unions (14%) and environment groups (21%).
2012, 2012 Outlook, ALP, Labor Party, Liberal Party, LNP, political parties, Polling, polls, The Greens
Q. Do you think 2012 will be a good or bad year for each of the following political parties?
| Total good
Dec 10 |
Total bad
Dec10 |
Total good | Total bad | Very good | Good | Neither good nor bad | Bad | Very bad | Don’t know | |
| The Liberal Party | 35% | 18% | 36% | 24% | 8% | 28% | 28% | 17% | 7% | 12% |
| The Labor Party | 19% | 40% | 16% | 49% | 3% | 13% | 23% | 29% | 20% | 11% |
| The Greens | 22% | 29% | 17% | 37% | 2% | 15% | 32% | 20% | 17% | 13% |
Respondents expect that 2012 is likely to be a relatively good year for the Liberal Party (36% good/24% bad) and a bad year for the Labor Party (16%/49%) and the Greens (17%/37%).
Among their own voters, 67% expect the Liberals to have a good year, 38% expect Labor to have a good year and 67% expect the Greens to have a good year.
Compared to expectations 12 months ago, respondents were somewhat less positive about all political parties – The Liberal Party has dropped form net +17% to net +12%, the Labor Party from -21% to -33% and the Greens from -7% to -20%.
Comparing these results with last week’s questions about 2011, respondents expect the Liberal Party to have a better year (net +12% next year this year compared to net -3% this year), the Labor Party to have a similar year (-33% next year, -37% this year) and the Greens to have a much worse year (-20% next year, +4% this year).
ALP, Greens, Labor Party, Liberal Party, LNP, Past Year, political parties, Polling, polls
Q. Has it been a good or bad year for each of the following political parties?
| Total good
(Dec 10) |
Total bad
(Dec 10) |
Total good | Total bad | Very good | Good | Neither good nor bad | Bad | Very bad | Don’t know | |
| The Greens | 42% | 21% | 33% | 29% | 7% | 26% | 28% | 15% | 14% | 11% |
| The Liberal Party | 33% | 27% | 27% | 30% | 4% | 23% | 34% | 22% | 8% | 9% |
| The Labor Party | 21% | 47% | 16% | 53% | 2% | 14% | 22% | 33% | 21% | 8% |
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |||||
| Total good | Total bad | Total good | Total bad | Total good | Total bad | Total good | Total bad | |
| The Greens | 33% | 29% | 41% | 16% | 23% | 45% | 70% | 3% |
| The Liberal Party | 27% | 30% | 13% | 45% | 45% | 16% | 17% | 45% |
| The Labor Party | 16% | 53% | 35% | 32% | 7% | 73% | 11% | 48% |
Respondents were more likely to think it has been a good year for the Greens (33%) than the Liberal Party (27%) or the Labor Party (16%).
Among their own voters 70% think it has been a good year for the Greens, 45% the Liberal Party and 35% the Labor Party.
Compared to last year’s results, all parties figures have declined – The Greens net +21% to +4%, Liberals from net +6% to -3% and Labor from net -26% to -37%.
Election, Election Issues, government, Greens, Labor, Liberals, Nationals, party trust, political parties, Polling, polls
Q. And which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
| Labor | Liberal | Greens | Don’t know | |
| Management of the economy | 27% | 45% | 2% | 25% |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children | 34% | 36% | 5% | 25% |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 31% | 34% | 6% | 29% |
| Protecting the environment | 16% | 23% | 37% | 24% |
| A fair industrial relations system | 38% | 34% | 5% | 23% |
| Political leadership | 23% | 40% | 5% | 33% |
| Addressing climate change | 19% | 25% | 31% | 25% |
| Controlling interest rates | 24% | 42% | 2% | 32% |
| Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 32% | 35% | 4% | 29% |
| Ensuring a quality water supply | 18% | 30% | 24% | 29% |
| Housing affordability | 23% | 33% | 5% | 38% |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system | 28% | 37% | 4% | 31% |
| Security and the war on terrorism | 21% | 40% | 3% | 35% |
| Treatment of asylum seekers | 17% | 36% | 12% | 35% |
| Managing population growth | 18% | 35% | 9% | 39% |
Labor does not have a substantial lead over the Liberal Party on any item measured. The 9% lead it had in June on “a fair industrial relations system” has been reduced to 4%. There is also little difference between Labor and the Liberals for ensuring a quality education for all children, ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system and protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries.
The Liberal Party has maintained strong leads on management of the economy, controlling interest rates, political leadership and security and the war on terrorism.
Overall, there has been a slight weakening of Labor’s position since June.