Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the Government’s intention to allow majority foreign ownership of Qantas domestic operations?
|
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other/ indep-endent |
|
| Total approve |
36% |
29% |
52% |
27% |
25% |
|
| Total disapprove |
48% |
54% |
35% |
61% |
67% |
|
| Strongly approve |
9% |
6% |
15% |
6% |
4% |
|
| Approve |
27% |
23% |
37% |
21% |
21% |
|
| Disapprove |
25% |
23% |
23% |
33% |
33% |
|
| Strongly disapprove |
23% |
31% |
12% |
28% |
34% |
|
| Don’t know |
15% |
17% |
13% |
12% |
9% |
36% approve of the Government’s intention to allow majority foreign ownership of Qantas domestic operations and 48% disapprove.
Those most likely to approve were Liberal/National voters (52%), men (46%) and those with university education (45%).
Those most likely to disapprove were Labor voters (54%), Greens voters (61%), women (54%) and those on lower incomes (53% of people earning less than $1,000pw)
Q. Do you think allowing majority foreign ownership of Qantas domestic operations will be good or bad for –
|
Total good |
Total bad |
|
Very good |
Good |
Make no difference |
Bad |
Very bad |
Don’t know |
|
| Australian jobs |
16% |
59% |
4% |
12% |
19% |
28% |
31% |
6% |
|
| Air travellers |
30% |
25% |
8% |
22% |
36% |
15% |
10% |
10% |
|
| Qantas profits |
48% |
19% |
9% |
39% |
20% |
11% |
8% |
13% |
|
| The Australian economy |
24% |
46% |
6% |
18% |
20% |
26% |
19% |
10% |
Overall, respondents thought that majority foreign ownership of Qantas would be good for Qantas profits (48%) but bad for Australian jobs (59%) and the economy (46%). They were divided over the impact on air travellers (30% good/25% bad/36% no difference).
64% of Labor voters and 49% of Liberal/National voters thought it would be bad for jobs.
41% of those with university education and 44% of people aged 25-34 thought it would be good for air travellers.
56% of university educated, 59% of those aged 25-34 and 55% of Liberal/National voters thought it would be good for Qantas profits.
In terms of the economy, Labor voters split 18% good/52% bad compared to Liberal/National voters 37% good/33% bad.
air travel, Choice of airline, Qantas
Q. Which of the following best describes your airline preference when booking air travel?
|
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
Fly regularly |
Fly once or twice a year |
|
Total 29 Apr 13 |
|
| I usually try to fly Qantas |
35% |
33% |
44% |
18% |
23% |
39% |
32% |
34% |
||
| I usually try to avoid flying Qantas |
19% |
17% |
18% |
16% |
22% |
24% |
17% |
20% |
||
| I don’t care whether I fly Qantas or not |
44% |
47% |
37% |
66% |
45% |
35% |
48% |
43% |
||
| Can’t say |
3% |
3% |
2% |
– |
10% |
2% |
3% |
3% |
Based on respondents who travel by air at least once a year
35% of respondents who travel by air at least once a year said they usually try to fly Qantas, 19% try to avoid flying Qantas and 44% don’t care either way.
39% of regular flyers usually try to fly Qantas.
These figures are very similar to those obtained when this question was asked in April last year.
buy shares of qantas, Federal Government, Nationalise qantas, Qantas, qantas loans
Q. Would you approve or disapprove of the Federal Government taking any of the following actions on Qantas?
|
Total approve |
Total disapprove |
|
Strongly approve |
Approve |
Disapprove |
Strongly disapprove |
Don’t know |
|
| Buy a share of Qantas |
49% |
30% |
12% |
37% |
19% |
11% |
21% |
|
| Guarantee Qantas loans |
45% |
32% |
8% |
37% |
21% |
11% |
22% |
|
| Nationalise Qantas, i.e. the Government has full ownership and control |
36% |
42% |
11% |
25% |
24% |
18% |
22% |
|
| Provide direct funding and subsidies |
35% |
42% |
7% |
28% |
27% |
15% |
23% |
|
| Allow increased foreign ownership of Qantas |
31% |
52% |
6% |
25% |
25% |
27% |
16% |
Overall, respondents approved the Government buying a share of Qantas (49% approve/30% disapprove) and guaranteeing Qantas loans (45%/32%).
They tended to disapprove of allowing increased foreign ownership (31% approve/52% disapprove), providing direct funding (35%/42%) and nationalising Qantas (36%/42%).
Liberal/National voters were more likely to disapprove of all forms of assistance except allowing increased foreign ownership (40% approve/48% disapprove).
171213, Nationalise qantas, Qantas, shares in qantas
Q. Which of the following actions should the Federal Government take to help Qantas remain a competitive airline?
|
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
|
| Nationalise Qantas, i.e. the Government has full ownership and control |
26% |
27% |
24% |
24% |
37% |
|
| Buy shares in Qantas |
24% |
26% |
22% |
17% |
35% |
|
| Allow increased foreign ownership of Qantas |
20% |
19% |
26% |
12% |
14% |
|
| Provide direct funding and subsidies |
20% |
29% |
14% |
10% |
23% |
|
| None of them |
13% |
8% |
16% |
23% |
10% |
|
| Don’t know |
22% |
21% |
19% |
36% |
12% |
The most preferred options for the Government to help Qantas remain a competitive airline involve some form of Government ownership. 26% support nationalising Qantas and 24% think the Government should buy shares in Qantas. 20% support allowing increased foreign ownership and 20% providing direct funding and subsidies.
Labor voters are a little more likely to support direct funding and subsidies (29%) while Liberal/National voters are more likely to support increased foreign ownership (26%).
Class Warfare, Qantas, Ross Gittins, unions
Judging by the fear-mongering, anti-union rhetoric spilling out of the mouths of business and the Coalition, you would think that unions are a massive power, with a majority presence in every corner of the workforce. But, the intensity of the rhetoric only tell us one thing: how determined anti-union forces are to destroy the basic standard of living of every work.
What brings this to mind this morning is a column by Ross Gittins on the Fair Work Australia decision in the Qantas dispute. While I do not agree with Gittins’ conclusion that the Transport Workers Union’s actions were, in his words, “bloody-minded”, he does make a much more cogent point on the hysteria coming from the anti-union quarters:
Read too much of their stuff and you come away thinking the union movement has risen from its death bed to pose the greatest threat to our continued prosperity. Remember, union membership is down to 18 per cent of the workforce (from 50 per cent in 1982) and 14 per cent of private-sector workers.
Another figure to keep in mind when you read about the union monster poised to eat the economy’s lunch: more than 80 per cent of enterprises don’t have a union presence.
Two labour lawyers, Dr Anthony Forsyth, of Monash University, and Professor Andrew Stewart, of Adelaide University, note in their submission to the Fair Work review that ”the concerns about union activities that so animate certain employers in the resources, manufacturing and construction sectors are very far removed from the issues confronting businesses in other parts of the economy”.
Truth is, many more workers are covered by collective agreements than are union members—but employers overstate union power for political gain. The real issue is: bosses can’t have it both ways—either the unions are weak or an irresistible force. Make your choice, fellow.
So, when you hear the anti-union forces pontificating about the huge power of unions, remember that really this is a cover for a different agenda: business and the Coalition wants to destroy unions as a force and to extract every dollar possible from working people and put it in the pockets of the elite.
airline, airlines, Opinion of Qantas, Polling, polls, Qantas, Qantas workers, workers
Q. Compared to 12 months ago, how do you feel about Qantas – more positive, more negative or about the same?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Fly regularly |
Fly once or twice a year |
Fly less often |
|
| Total more positive |
11% |
14% |
13% |
6% |
27% |
11% |
5% |
| Total more negative |
41% |
47% |
33% |
53% |
38% |
42% |
41% |
| A lot more positive |
4% |
6% |
4% |
2% |
14% |
3% |
1% |
| A little more positive |
7% |
8% |
9% |
4% |
13% |
8% |
4% |
| About the same |
43% |
35% |
51% |
38% |
32% |
45% |
47% |
| A little more negative |
23% |
25% |
19% |
28% |
19% |
24% |
23% |
| A lot more negative |
18% |
22% |
14% |
25% |
19% |
18% |
18% |
| No opinion |
5% |
2% |
3% |
3% |
3% |
3% |
7% |
41% say that, compared to 12 months ago, they feel more negative about Qantas – 11% feel more positive and 43% feel about the same.
Regular flyers are somewhat more positive – 27% feel more positive and 38% more negative.
There were no substantial differences across demographics.
airline, airlines, Opinion of Qantas, Polling, polls, Qantas, Qantas workers, workers
Q. What is the main reason you feel more positive/negative about Qantas?
|
More positive |
More negative |
|
| Actions of management |
62% |
77% |
| Actions of workers |
26% |
9% |
| Other reason |
6% |
12% |
| Not sure |
5% |
3% |
Among those who feel more positive about Qantas, 62% say it is because of the actions of management and 26% say it is because of the actions of workers.
Among those who feel more negative about Qantas, 77% say it is because of the actions of management and only 9% say it is because of the actions of workers.