Q. Australia’s population has now reached 23 million and is growing by more than 300,000 a year. Do you think Australia’s population growth rate is too fast, too slow or about right?

45% think Australia’s population growth rate is too fast, 5% think it is too slow and 37% about right.

Those most likely to think it is too fast were Liberal/National voters (50%), aged 45-64 (51%) and incomes under $1,000pw (55%).

Q. The Liberal Party was reported to be considering a plan to increase the population of the northern regions of Australia by relocating public service jobs, increasing industry and food production and funding new projects in the north. Do you approve or disapprove of this idea?

56% said they approved on a plan to increase the population of the northern regions of Australia by relocating public service jobs, increasing industry and food production and funding new projects in the north and 22% disapproved.

73% of Liberal/National voters approved compared to 46% of Labor voters and 42% of Greens voters.

Q. Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election?

*Not asked in May 2010 poll

The most important election issues were management of the economy, the quality of the health system, jobs and local industry and a quality education for all children.

Since this issue was last polled in May, health and education have increased in importance (both +5%) and Australian jobs and protection of local industry declined 5%. Comments »

Q. And which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?

 Labor have a substantial lead over the Liberal Party as the best party to handle a fair industrial relations system (+21%), quality education for all (+16%), Australian jobs and protection of industries (+14%) and ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system (+11%).

 The Liberal Party’s main strengths were controlling interest rates (+7%), treatment of asylum seekers (+6%) and management of the economy  (+6%).

The Greens were thought to be the best party for protecting the environment (47%) and addressing climate change (36%). Comments »

Q. It has been estimated that Australia will have a population of 36 million by 2050. Do you think this will be good or bad for Australia?

55% believe that having a population of 36 million by 2050 will be bad for Australia – 16% think it will be good for Australia.

The concern about this level of population is fairly similar across voter groups – although Liberal/National voters (63%) are more likely to think it is bad than Labor voters (50%). Comments »

Q. On average, Australia’s population increases by about 300,000 per year (less than 2%). Do you think this is too high, too low or about right?

Nearly half (48%) believe that the current rate of population growth is too high and only 4% think it is too low – 35% think it is about right.

Labor voters are split (44% too high compared to 42% about right or too low), but a majority of Liberal/National voters (52%) and Greens voters (59%) think it is too high.

Q8. Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election? (Number from 1 to 3 where 1 is the most important, 2 the second most important, etc)

*Not asked in January 2010 poll

 62% of people surveyed rate management of the economy is one of their three most important issues, followed by 50% that rate ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system and 29% that rate Australian jobs and protection of local industries as one of their three most important issues.

 Only 9% rate a fair industrial relations system as one of their three most important issues and 7% rate security and the war on terrorism and ensuring a quality water supply. 

 The major change since the previous survey in January, was a drop in the importance of political leadership from 23% to 12%. Ensuring a fairer tax system has risen slightly from 18% to 22%. Comments »

Q. Do you think Australia needs a larger population, a smaller population or about the same population in the following areas?

There was strong support for increased population in the less populated areas of Australia.

Only 7% supported larger populations in the major capitals cities, while 36% supported larger populations in Adelaide, Perth and Hobart.

More than half supported larger populations in major regional centres (56%) and smaller regional towns (64%).

Opinions about the populations of the major capitals were similar across states, but respondents from SA/WA/Tasmania were less likely to want larger populations in their capitals cities (22% want larger population and 61% the same population).

Liberal voters and Greens voters were more likely to favour larger populations in regional areas. 61% of Liberal voters favoured larger populations in regional centres and 70% in smaller towns. 70% of Greens voters favoured larger populations in regional centres and 79% in smaller towns.