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  • Aug, 2014

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    Parties and 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%.

  • Jul, 2014

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    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%).

  • Oct, 2012

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    Trust in organisations and institutions

    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%).

  • Jul, 2012

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    Party Most Concerned about Finding Fair and Reasonable Solution

    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.

  • Jun, 2012

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    Trust in Institutions

    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%).

  • Dec, 2011

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    2012 Outlook – Political Parties

    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).

    Comments »

  • Dec, 2011

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    The Past Year – Political Parties

    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%.

    Comments »

  • Dec, 2011

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    Party trust to handle important election issues

    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.

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