Q. What should be the most important factor Governments consider in relation to regulating each of these issues – protecting rights and freedom, protecting people’s health and safety or managing the cost to taxpayers (e.g. health costs of drug/alcohol/tobacco use)?

For most of the areas listed above, the majority of respondents thought the most important factor for Governments to consider was ‘protecting people’s health and safety’.

The three areas where respondents thought that is was more important to consider ‘protecting rights and freedoms’ were ‘the internet’ (62%), ‘films’ (59%) and ‘shopping hours’ (55%).

‘Managing the cost to tax payers’ was not considered to be an important factor by most respondents.

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Q. The Federal Government recently announced changes to aged care which included extra funding, better access to aged care services, capping costs of aged care accommodation and in-home care and means testing aged care accommodation costs. How much have you read or heard about those aged care changes?

Just 7% of respondents claim to have read or heard ‘a lot’ about the recent Federal Government changes to aged care. A further 26% have read or heard ‘some’.

32% of respondents have read or heard ‘a little’ while 30% have read or heard ‘nothing’.

Labor voters were more likely to have read or heard ‘a lot’ (11%) or ‘some’ (31%).

There were no significant differences based on gender.

Older respondents were more likely to state that they had read or heard ‘some’ about the aged care changes (33% of those aged 55-64 and 39% of those aged 65+).

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Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the Government’s changes to aged care?

61% of respondents approve of the Government’s changes to aged care. Just 7% disapprove.

Labor voters were more likely to approve (71%); however approval rates were still high for Lib/Nat voters (54%).

Females (65%) were more likely than males (56%) to approve of the changes.

Older respondents were also more likely to approve of the changes (78% of those aged 55-64 and 71% of those aged 65+).

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Q. Which party would you trust most to provide aged care services?

There was very little difference between the parties as to who respondents would trust more to provide aged care services – 31% selected Labor, 27% selected the Liberal Party and 30% said there was no difference.

Respondents tended to follow party lines in terms of which party they would trust most to deliver aged care services. However a large proportion of Labor (17%), Liberal (26%) and Green (43%) voters said there was no difference between the parties.

Males (32%) were more likely than females (22%) to most trust the Liberal party.

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Q. The Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey recently said people in Western countries have an attitude of “entitlement” and expect the Government to provide assistance and subsidies for things like education, health, income support, retirement benefits, unemployment benefits. Do you agree or disagree that people in Australia receive too much Government assistance?

Respondents were somewhat evenly split on their response to this question – 39% agree that people in Australia receive too much Government assistance while 33% disagree.

23% neither agree nor disagree and 5% don’t know.

Lib/Nat voters were significantly more likely to agree that people in Australia receive too much Government assistance (54%). Labor (55%) and Green (58%) voters were more likely to disagree.

Males (44%) were far more likely than females (32%) to agree that people in Australia receive too much Government assistance.

Those aged 65+ were also more likely to agree with this statement (48%), however those aged 55-64 were less likely (34%).

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Q.  In 2000 John Howard signed the Millennium Declaration committing Australia to spend 0.7% of Gross National Income on aid (the equivalent of 70 cents in every $100 earned in the economy). How much do you think Australia spent on aid in 2011?

When asked home much of Australia’s Gross National Income is spent on aid, the largest proportion of respondents stated ‘don’t know’ (44%).

The next largest proportion (24%) said that it was more than the 0.7 committed in the Millennium Declaration.

13% said that Australia spent 0.35 on aid, and 12% said 0.5. Just 7% said 0.7.

There was little difference across voting intention.

Females (48%) were more likely than males (39%) to select ‘don’t know’.

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Q. The bipartisan commitment on aid says Australia will allocate 0.5% of Gross National Income (50 cents of every $100 earned in Australia) by 2015. Considering Australia gave 0.35% in 2011, do you think Australia should meet this commitment?

The respondents were quite evenly split in their response to this question – 37% think Australia should commit 0.5% by 2015, 35% think that Australia should not commit to 0.5% by 2015 and 29% don’t know.

Lib/Nat voters were more likely to state that Australia should not commit to 0.5% (46%). Green voters were more likely to state that Australia should commit to 0.5% (62%).

Males (40%) were more likely than females (29%) to think that Australia should not commit to 0.5%. Females (33%) were more likely than males (24%) to select ‘don’t know’.

Those aged 18-24 were more likely to think that Australia should commit to 0.5% (48%).

Those in QLD were more likely to think Australia should not commit to 0.5% (43%).

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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 = 1,892 respondents

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.

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