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  • Feb, 2014

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    Importance of industries

    Q. How important are the following industries for providing jobs for Australians into the future?

     

    Very important

    Quite important

    Somewhat important

    Not very important

    Don’t know

     

    Very important Feb 2012

    Construction

    58%

    30%

    9%

    1%

    3%

    58%

    Agriculture

    57%

    27%

    12%

    2%

    3%

    Manufacturing

    55%

    26%

    12%

    4%

    3%

    55%

    Tourism

    53%

    31%

    11%

    3%

    2%

    53%

    Mining

    52%

    29%

    13%

    4%

    2%

    64%

    Retail

    46%

    35%

    14%

    2%

    2%

    47%

    Hospitality

    45%

    37%

    14%

    2%

    2%

    46%

    Finance

    40%

    34%

    19%

    3%

    4%

    39%

    Telecommunications

    37%

    37%

    19%

    4%

    3%

    39%

    Respondents regard the construction (58%), agriculture (57%) and manufacturing (55%) industries to be the most important for providing jobs for Australians in the future. These were followed closely by the tourism (53%) and mining (52%) industries.

    Since this question was last asked in February 2012, those think mining is very important for future jobs has dropped from 64% to 52%.

  • Jan, 2013

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    Trust in industries

    Q. How much trust do you have in the following industries to act in the public interest

     

    Total a lot/some trust

    A lot of trust

    Some trust

    Not much trust

    No trust at all

    Don’t know

    Agriculture

    72%

    20%

    52%

    18%

    4%

    5%

    Tourism

    68%

    12%

    56%

    22%

    6%

    5%

    Manufacturing

    56%

    8%

    48%

    30%

    8%

    7%

    Construction and development

    48%

    5%

    43%

    33%

    12%

    6%

    Retail

    47%

    3%

    44%

    38%

    12%

    3%

    Telecommunications

    37%

    3%

    34%

    41%

    18%

    3%

    Banking

    33%

    5%

    28%

    36%

    29%

    3%

    Mining

    32%

    3%

    29%

    35%

    25%

    8%

    Media

    30%

    2%

    28%

    40%

    27%

    2%

    Power companies

    18%

    1%

    17%

    37%

    41%

    4%

    The industries most trusted to act in the public interest were agriculture (72% some/a lot of trust), tourism (68%) and manufacturing (56%).

    The industries least trusted to act in the public interest were power companies (18%), the media (30%), mining (32%) and banking (33%).

    The only industry on which there were major differences was mining where 43% of Liberal/National voters had a lot/some trust compared to only 25% of Labor voters and 17% of Greens voters.

  • Sep, 2012

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    Attitudes to public sector cuts

    Q. There have recently been a significant number of public service jobs cut in various states around the country.

    How do you think each of the following will fare as are result of public sector job cuts?

     

    Get better

    Get worse

    Stay much the same

    Don’t know

    The rate of unemployment

    4%

    61%

    25%

    10%

    Delivery of public services

    5%

    54%

    29%

    11%

    The welfare of disadvantaged Australians

    5%

    53%

    30%

    12%

    Retail and spending

    4%

    50%

    35%

    11%

    The welfare of all Australians

    6%

    49%

    34%

    11%

    State budgets

    18%

    42%

    27%

    13%

    The economy in general

    11%

    41%

    37%

    11%

    Governments’ ability to respond to natural disasters

    7%

    32%

    45%

    16%

    The majority of respondents believe that the following things will get worse as a result of public sector cuts: the rate of unemployment (61%), delivery of public services (54%) and the welfare of disadvantaged Australians (53%).

    The larger portion of respondents also think that retail and spending will get worse (50%), as well as the welfare of all Australians (49%), state budgets (42%) and the economy in general (41%).

    A larger portion of respondents believe that the governments’’ ability to respond to natural disasters will stay much the same (45%) than those that believe it will get worse (32%).

  • May, 2012

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    Australian Industries

    Q. How much do average Australians benefit from having strong industries in each of the following sectors?

    Benefit a lot

    Some benefit

    A little benefit

    No benefit

    Don’t know

    Tourism

    45%

    30%

    11%

    4%

    10%

    Agriculture

    45%

    29%

    12%

    4%

    11%

    Construction

    44%

    32%

    11%

    3%

    10%

    Mining

    44%

    31%

    10%

    4%

    11%

    Manufacturing

    44%

    30%

    11%

    4%

    10%

    Retail

    40%

    34%

    11%

    5%

    10%

    Hospitality

    36%

    36%

    13%

    4%

    10%

    Finance

    34%

    34%

    15%

    5%

    11%

    Telecommunications

    31%

    36%

    17%

    5%

    11%

     Over 40% of respondents think the average Australian benefits a lot from having strong industries in tourism (45%), agriculture (45%), construction (44%), mining (44%) and manufacturing (44%).

    Major demographic differences were –

    60% of aged 55+ think there is a lot of benefit from manufacturing

    62% of aged 55+ and 50% of Labor voters think there is a lot of benefit from construction

    53% of aged 45-64 think there is a lot of benefit from retail

    60% of aged 55+ and 52% of Labor voters think there is a lot of benefit from tourism

    58% of aged 55+ and 48% of Coalition voters think there is a lot of benefit from mining

    57% of aged 55+ think there is a lot of benefit from agriculture

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  • Mar, 2012

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    Impact of Dollar on Industry

    Q. The Australian dollar is now at $1.05 US and has been historically higher than the normal range of 60c-80c US. Is the high Australian dollar good or bad for the following industries?

     

    Total good

    Total bad

    Very good

    Good

    Neither good nor bad

    Bad

    Very bad

    Don’t know

    Mining industry

    29%

    29%

    10%

    19%

    20%

    24%

    5%

    22%

    Farming & Grazing Industry

    16%

    49%

    4%

    12%

    16%

    36%

    13%

    19%

    Finance Industry

    38%

    15%

    9%

    29%

    25%

    12%

    3%

    21%

    Construction Industry

    24%

    26%

    4%

    20%

    28%

    22%

    4%

    23%

    Manufacturing industry

    15%

    50%

    3%

    12%

    14%

    29%

    21%

    20%

    Retail Industry

    23%

    47%

    6%

    17%

    14%

    30%

    17%

    16%

    Australian Tourism Industry

    20%

    56%

    8%

    12%

    10%

    31%

    25%

    14%

    Overall, respondents think that the high Australian dollar has only been good for the finance industry (38% good/15% bad).

    They believe that it has been particularly bad for the tourism industry (20% good/56% bad), the manufacturing industry (15%/50%), the farming and grazing industry (16%/49%) and the retail industry (23%/47%)

    On the mining industry, they were split 29% good/29% bad.

    Comments »

  • Feb, 2012

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    Importance of Industries for Providing Jobs

    Q. How important are the following industries for providing jobs for Australians into the future?

    Very important Quite important Somewhat important Not very important Don’t know
    Mining 64% 24% 7% 2% 3%
    Construction 58% 30% 9% 0% 2%
    Manufacturing 55% 29% 12% 2% 2%
    Tourism 53% 33% 11% 1% 2%
    Retail 47% 35% 13% 2% 2%
    Hospitality 46% 38% 12% 1% 3%
    Finance 39% 38% 18% 3% 3%
    Telecommunications 39% 37% 18% 3% 3%

    Respondents regard the mining (64%), construction (58%) and manufacturing (55%) industries to be the most important for providing jobs for Australians in the future.

    This was followed closely by the tourism (53%), retail (47%) and hospitality (46%) industries.

    The finance (39%) and telecommunications (39%) industries are the most likely to be seen as only ‘somewhat important’ (18%) for providing jobs.

    Comments »

  • Jan, 2012

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    Spending

    Q. Compared to 12 months ago, are you spending more or less on the following –

    Total spending more Total spending less Spending a lot more Spending a little more Spending about the same Spending a little less Spending a lot less Don’t know
    Food and groceries 60% 10% 20% 40% 30% 7% 3% 1%
    Gas and electricity 70% 9% 36% 34% 20% 5% 4% 1%
    Telephone and internet services 38% 11% 11% 27% 49% 9% 2% 1%
    Entertainment such as cinemas and restaurants 20% 39% 5% 15% 38% 20% 19% 3%
    Retail products such as clothing and electrical goods 20% 38% 5% 15% 41% 22% 16% 1%

    70% say they are spending more on gas and electricity and 60% say they are spending more on food and groceries. But they were more likely to be spending less on entertainment (20% more/39% less) and other retail products (20% more/38% less).

    Perceptions of spending on food and groceries is similar across demographic groups. However, older respondents are more likely to say they are spending more on gas and electricity (80% of those aged 55+) and less on entertainment (46% of those aged 55+). For those aged under 35, 28% are spending more on entertainment and 34% less.

    There is a similar pattern for spending on retail products – for those aged under 35, 27% are spending more and 32% less while for those aged 55+, 15% are spending more and 44% less.

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  • Jan, 2012

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    Shopping

    Q. Compared to 12 months ago are you shopping more or less at –

    Total shopping more Total shopping less Shopping a lot more Shopping a little more Shopping about the same Shopping a little less Shopping a lot less Don’t know
    Major retail stores 10% 36% 3% 7% 53% 21% 15% 1%
    Major shopping centres 11% 32% 3% 8% 56% 20% 12% 1%
    Local shopping centres 18% 20% 4% 14% 61% 14% 6% 1%
    On the internet 42% 18% 10% 32% 37% 8% 10% 3%

    Overall, respondents say they are shopping less at major retail stores and major shopping centres. Shopping at local centres  remains about the same.

    47% of those aged 55+ say they are shopping less at major retail stores. Among those aged under 35, 22% are shopping more at major retail stores and 29% less.

    Although 42% say they are shopping more on the internet, 18% say they are shopping less. Among those aged under 35, 56% are shopping more on the internet and 11% less. Those on higher incomes are more likely to be increasing their internet shopping –  50% of those earning $1,000 pw are spending more and only 11% less.

    Comments »

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