Election, Election Issues, Federal Election, Federal Government, government, Important election issues, Polling, polls
Q. Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election?
| First | Second | Third | Total | 6 June 11 | 24 Jan 11 | 11 Oct 10 | 25 Jan 10 | |
| Management of the economy | 39% | 16% | 7% | 62% | 61% | 65% | 62% | 63% |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children | 4% | 8% | 10% | 22% | 26% | 26% | 32% | 23% |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 12% | 18% | 17% | 47% | 49% | 49% | 48% | 48% |
| Protecting the environment | 4% | 5% | 4% | 13% | 15% | 13% | 12% | 16% |
| A fair industrial relations system | 3% | 4% | 4% | 11% | 8% | 10% | 11% | * |
| Political leadership | 7% | 6% | 5% | 18% | 17% | 16% | 16% | 23% |
| Addressing climate change | 3% | 4% | 3% | 10% | 15% | 10% | 11% | 16% |
| Controlling interest rates | 2% | 4% | 5% | 11% | 13% | 21% | 17% | 15% |
| Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 11% | 12% | 13% | 36% | 32% | 30% | 30% | 33% |
| Ensuring a quality water supply | * | 2% | 2% | 4% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 12% |
| Housing affordability | 3% | 4% | 6% | 13% | 16% | 16% | 17% | 14% |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system | 3% | 5% | 8% | 16% | 17% | 18% | 16% | 14% |
| Security and the war on terrorism | 1% | 1% | 2% | 4% | 8% | 5% | 6% | 9% |
| Treatment of asylum seekers | 2% | 3% | 3% | 8% | 5% | 5% | 5% | * |
| Managing population growth | 1% | 3% | 4% | 8% | 12% | 11% | 10% | * |
*Not asked
62% of people surveyed rated management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 47% ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system and 36% Australian jobs and protection of local industries.
Since June, there have been only minor changes in these figures – there has been an increase in the importance of Australian jobs and protection of local industries (+4%) and declines in the importance of addressing climate change (-5%), ensuring a quality education for all children (-4%), managing population growth (-4%) and security and the war on terrorism (-4%).
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.
member groups, Membership, organisational membership, Polling, polls, Religion, sports club, trade union, unions
Q. Which of the following types of organisations have you ever been a member of?
Q. Which of the following types of organisations are you currently a member of?
Q. And which of the following types of organisations have you joined in the last 12 months?
| Ever been a member | Currently a member | Joined in last 12 months | |
| Trade union | 34% | 9% | 2% |
| Professional organization | 28% | 13% | 3% |
| Environment group | 9% | 4% | 2% |
| Religion/church | 31% | 13% | 2% |
| Book club | 14% | 4% | 1% |
| Service organisation like Rotary, Lions, Apex, etc | 9% | 4% | 1% |
| School organisation e.g. parents club, school council | 22% | 4% | 2% |
| Sports club | 38% | 17% | 6% |
| Political party | 6% | 1% | * |
| Local community group | 21% | 11% | 3% |
| Special interest or hobby group e.g. gardening, birdwatching, chess, etc | 20% | 10% | 3% |
| Other organisation | 9% | 6% | 1% |
| Total members | 81% | 56% | 20% |
56% say they are currently members of an organisation and 20% say they have joined an organisation in the last 12 months. The most popular types of organisations are sports clubs (17% members) religions/churches (13%) and professional organisations (13%). Membership of organisations is slightly lower for those aged under 35 (53%) and a little higher for those aged 55+ (58%). 59% of men and 53% of women say they are members of an organisation.
2PP, ER, Essential Report, 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 = 1,898 respondents
| First preference/leaning to | Election
21 Aug 10 |
4 weeks ago | 2 weeks ago | Last week | This week |
| Liberal | 44% | 44% | 46% | 45% | |
| National | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% | |
| Total Lib/Nat | 43.6% | 47% | 47% | 48% | 48% |
| Labor | 38.0% | 34% | 35% | 34% | 34% |
| Greens | 11.8% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 11% |
| Other/Independent | 6.6% | 9% | 8% | 7% | 8% |
| 2PP | Election
21 Aug 10 |
4 weeks ago | 2 weeks ago | Last week | This week |
| Total Lib/Nat | 49.9% | 55% | 54% | 55% | 54% |
| Labor | 50.1% | 45% | 46% | 44% | 46% |
NB. The data in the above tables comprise 2-week averages derived from 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.
Barack Obama, ER, Essential Report, Julia Gillard, Obama, Obama Visit, PM, poll, Polling, Prime Minister, US President
Q. How would you rate the performance of the Prime Minister Julia Gillard during the recent visit by US President Barack Obama?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total good | 38% | 76% | 16% | 51% |
| Total poor | 23% | 2% | 42% | 10% |
| Very good | 12% | 36% | 2% | 6% |
| Good | 26% | 40% | 14% | 45% |
| Average | 31% | 18% | 37% | 32% |
| Poor | 8% | – | 15% | 5% |
| Very poor | 15% | 2% | 27% | 5% |
| Don’t know | 7% | 3% | 5% | 7% |
Overall, the Prime Minister’s performance during the recent visit by US President Barack Obama was rated positively.
38% rated her performance during the recent visit by US President Barack Obama as good and 23% rated it poor. 31% thought it was average.
76% of Labor voters and 51% of Greens voters rated it good, while 42% of Liberal/National voters rated it poor and 37% rated it as average.
43% of women rated her performance goods compared to 33% of men.
Barack Obama, ER, Essential Report, Obama, Obama Visit, Opposition leader, poll, Polling, tony abbott, US President
Q. How would you rate the performance of the Opposition Leader Tony Abbott during recent visit by US President Barack Obama?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total good | 18% | 9% | 31% | 2% |
| Total poor | 30% | 49% | 9% | 54% |
| Very good | 4% | 2% | 7% | – |
| Good | 14% | 7% | 24% | 2% |
| Average | 37% | 32% | 46% | 26% |
| Poor | 14% | 17% | 7% | 24% |
| Very poor | 16% | 32% | 2% | 30% |
| Don’t know | 15% | 10% | 13% | 17% |
Overall, the Opposition Leader’s performance during the recent visit by US President Barack Obama was rated negatively.
18% rated his performance during the recent visit by US President Barack Obama as good and 30% rated it poor. 37% thought it was average.
Liberal/National voters were more likely to rate it as average (46%) – only 31% rated it good.
There was little difference between the ratings of men and women.
ER, Essential Report, mineral exports, Mineral Resource Rent Tax, mineral resources, minerals exports, Mining Boom, mining profits, poll, Polling
Q. How much do the following groups benefit from the current boom in Australia’s mineral exports?
| Benefit a lot | Some benefit | A little benefit | No benefit | Don’t know | |
| Mining company executives | 68% | 10% | 5% | 3% | 14% |
| Mining company shareholders | 48% | 28% | 7% | 3% | 14% |
| Foreign companies | 42% | 25% | 8% | 3% | 23% |
| Federal government | 37% | 35% | 10% | 2% | 15% |
| State governments | 31% | 38% | 12% | 2% | 16% |
| Regional communities | 12% | 30% | 29% | 10% | 17% |
| All Australians | 11% | 29% | 32% | 13% | 16% |
The main beneficiaries of the current boom in Australia’s mineral exports were thought to be mining company executives (68% benefit a lot), mining company shareholders (48%) and foreign companies (42%). Only 11% thought that all Australians benefit a lot and 12% thought regional communities benefit a lot.
Views were mostly similar across demographics.
Labor voters were a little more likely to think that there was a lot of benefit to all Australians (18%) and mining company shareholders (53%).
Liberal/National voters were a little more likely to think that there was a lot of benefit to State Governments (37%) and the Federal Government (46%).
ER, Essential Report, Mineral Resource Rent Tax, mineral resources, minerals exports, Mining Boom, mining profits, poll, Polling
Q. And should the following groups receive more or less benefit from the current boom in minerals exports or is the current benefit they receive about right?
| Should benefit more | Should benefit less | Current benefit about right | Don’t know | |
| All Australians | 68% | 1% | 15% | 16% |
| Regional communities | 58% | 6% | 19% | 17% |
| State governments | 30% | 17% | 32% | 20% |
| Federal government | 27% | 23% | 30% | 20% |
| Mining company shareholders | 12% | 28% | 41% | 18% |
| Foreign companies | 4% | 56% | 18% | 22% |
| Mining company executives | 4% | 57% | 21% | 18% |
A majority of respondents think there should be more benefits to all Australians (68%) and regional communities (58%). A majority also believe there should be less benefit to mining company executives (57%) and foreign companies (56%).
75% of Labor voters, 65% of Liberal/National voters and 84% of Greens voters think all Australians should benefit more.