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  • May, 2011

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    Approval of Tony Abbott

    Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Tony Abbott is doing as Opposition Leader?

    18 Jan

    2010

    29 Mar 5 Jul 16 Aug 20 Sep 18 Oct 22 Nov 20 Dec 17 Jan 2011 14 Feb 14 Mar 11 Apr 9 May
    Total approve 37% 33% 37% 41% 43% 39% 40% 39% 42% 38% 38% 36% 42%
    Total disapprove 37% 50% 47% 44% 37% 45% 40% 39% 37% 46% 47% 48% 44%
    Strongly approve 5% 8% 8% 9% 12% 8% 6% 9% 7% 8% 7% 7% 8%
    Approve 32% 25% 29% 32% 31% 31% 34% 30% 35% 30% 31% 29% 34%
    Disapprove 20% 28% 23% 22% 21% 22% 22% 21% 22% 24% 24% 25% 25%
    Strongly disapprove 17% 22% 24% 22% 16% 23% 18% 18% 15% 22% 23% 23% 19%
    Don’t know 26% 16% 16% 15% 19% 17% 19% 22% 20% 16% 16% 17% 14%

    42% (up 6%) approve of the job Tony Abbott is doing as Opposition Leader and 44% (down 4%) disapprove – a change in net rating from -12 to -2 over the last 4 weeks.

    77% of Coalition voters approve and 13% disapprove.

    By gender – men 47% approve/43% disapprove, women 37% approve/45% disapprove.

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  • May, 2011

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    Better Prime Minister

    Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott?

    5 Jul 2010 20 Sep 20 Dec 17 Jan 2011 14 Feb 14 Mar 11 Apr 9 May Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens Kevin Rudd v Tony Abbott

    21 Jun 10

    Julia Gillard 53% 47% 45% 47% 48% 44% 42% 43% 91% 7% 71% 47%
    Tony Abbott 26% 35% 34% 32% 31% 33% 33% 35% 4% 76% 2% 30%
    Don’t know 21% 18% 21% 21% 20% 23% 24% 22% 5% 17% 27% 23%

    43% believe Julia Gillard would make the better Prime Minister and 35% prefer Tony Abbott – a net decrease for Julia Gillard of 1% on last month’s figures (from +9% to +8%).

    Men are split 41%/41% and women favour Julia Gillard 45%/29%.

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  • May, 2011

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    Interest in Federal Budget

    Q. Thinking about the Federal Budget to be announced next week  – how interested are you in reading and hearing about the Federal Budget?

    2010 Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Very interested 30% 38% 41% 44% 32%
    Somewhat interested 37% 29% 32% 29% 30%
    A little interested 22% 21% 19% 20% 28%
    Not at all interested 8% 8% 5% 6% 9%
    Can’t say 4% 3% 2% *

    67% of respondents say they are very or somewhat interested in reading and hearing about the Federal Budget – the same as recorded prior to the 2010 budget. However, those who say they are “very interested” has increased from 30% to 38%.

    73% of both Labor and Liberal/National voters say they are interested.

    Younger people are less interested – 60% of those under 35 are interested compared to 78% of those aged 55+.

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  • May, 2011

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    The Economy – Heading in the Right/Wrong Direction

    Q. Overall, from what you have read and heard, do you think the Australian economy is heading in the right direction or the wrong direction?

    17 May 10

    (Post 2010 budget)

    Total Vote Labor Vote Liberal/ National Vote Greens
    The right direction 51% 45% 75% 27% 51%
    The wrong direction 25% 29% 7% 51% 17%
    Don’t know 24% 25% 17% 22% 33%

    45% of respondents think that Australia’s economy is heading in the right direction – 29% think it is heading in the wrong direction. Since this question was asked just after the 2010 budget, “right direction” has dropped 6% and “wrong direction” increased 4%.

    75% of Labor voters, 27% of Liberal/National voters and 51% of Greens voters think the economy is heading in the right direction.

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  • May, 2011

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    Osama bin Laden

    Q. Do you think the death of Osama bin Laden will make the world a safer or less safe place or will it make no difference?

    Total Vote Labor Vote Liberal/ National Vote Greens
    Make the world safer 12% 16% 12% 8%
    Make the world less safe 19% 17% 20% 28%
    Make no difference 63% 60% 65% 59%
    Don’t know 6% 7% 2% 5%

    The majority (63%) of respondents think that the death of Osama bin Laden will make no difference to making the world safer or less safe. 12% think it will make the world safer and 19% think it will make the world less safe.

    28% of Greens voters and 23% of those aged 55+ think it will make the world less safe.

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  • May, 2011

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    Osama bin Laden

    Q. Do you think the death of Osama bin Laden will result in less terrorism or more terrorism or will it make no difference?

    Total Vote Labor Vote Liberal/ National Vote Greens
    Result in more terrorism 37% 32% 40% 40%
    Result in less terrorism 7% 8% 7% 9%
    Make no difference 48% 51% 48% 45%
    Don’t know 8% 9% 5% 6%

    About half (48%) think that the death of Osama bin Laden will make no difference to terrorism. However, 37% think it will result in more terrorism and only 7% think it will result in less terrorism. Views are broadly similar across demographic groups.

    Greens and Liberal/National voters (40%) are a little more likely to think it will result in more terrorism than Labor voters (32%).

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  • May, 2011

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    Troops in Afghanistan

    Q.  Thinking about the Australian troops in Afghanistan, do you think Australia should –

    25 Oct 10 21 Mar 11 Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Increase the number of troops in Afghanistan 10% 5% 6% 4% 8% 1%
    Keep the same number of troops in Afghanistan 30% 30% 36% 37% 43% 25%
    Withdraw our troops from Afghanistan 47% 56% 48% 49% 41% 65%
    Don’t know 14% 9% 11% 10% 8% 9%

    42% think that the Australian troops in Afghanistan should be increased or maintained and 48% think Australia should withdraw its troops. This is a significant drop (-8%) in support for withdrawal since this question was last asked in March.

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  • May, 2011

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    Prince William as Head of State

    Q. Under the current arrangements, Prince William will be Australia’s Head of State when he becomes King. Would you approve or disapprove of Prince William as Australia’s Head of State?

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens Men Women Age

    18-34

    Aged

    35-54

    Aged 55+
    Total approve 60% 58% 68% 38% 56% 64% 56% 60% 65%
    Total disapprove 23% 26% 19% 49% 27% 19% 21% 25% 23%
    Strong approve 15% 12% 20% 6% 13% 18% 16% 13% 19%
    Approve 45% 46% 48% 32% 43% 46% 40% 47% 46%
    Disapprove 13% 13% 13% 30% 13% 14% 14% 14% 12%
    Strongly disapprove 10% 13% 6% 19% 14% 5% 7% 11% 11%
    Don’t know 17% 16% 13% 13% 18% 17% 24% 15% 12%

    60% approve of Prince William becoming Australia’s head of state and 23% disapprove.

    Those most likely to approve are Liberal/National voters (68%), women (64%) and aged 55+ (65%).

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