active governement, Role of Government
Q. Which of the following statements is closest to your view?
|
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
|
April 2012 |
|
| An active Government is necessary to provide important public services, and to protect ordinary Australians from unfair policies and practices on the part of large financial and/or industrial groups. |
65% |
68% |
66% |
77% |
61% |
67% |
||
| We don’t need big government and extensive regulation of business and finance to take care of these matters: the market itself can deal with many of these issues on their own. |
17% |
12% |
24% |
6% |
19% |
20% |
||
| Don’t know |
18% |
19% |
10% |
18% |
19% |
13% |
The majority (65%) of Australians believe that an active government is necessary to provide important public services, and to protect ordinary Australians from unfair policies and practices on the part of large financial and/or industrial groups.
Just 17% agree with the counter point, that ‘We don’t need big government and extensive regulation of business and finance to take care of these matters: the market itself can deal with many of these issues on their own’.
There has been no significant shift in attitudes since the last time this question was asked in April 2012.
Although Green voters were more likely to select the first statement (77%), the majority of Labor (68%) and Lib/Nat voters did so also.
02 April 2012, 020412, Federal Government, government, Polling, polls, Role of Government, Size of Government
Q. Overall, do you think Government in Australia is too large and tries to do too much?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| Government is too large |
44% |
32% |
55% |
32% |
| Government is not too large |
28% |
44% |
20% |
31% |
| Don’t know |
28% |
24% |
25% |
37% |
44% think that Government in Australia is too large and tries to do too much and 28% think it is not too large.
Those most likely to think Government is too large were men (55%), aged 55+ (58%), and Liberal/National voters (55%).
Those most likely to think Government is not too large were aged under 35 (36%) and Labor voters (44%).
02 April 2012, 020412, crime, education system, financial institutions, financial services, government, health care services, industrial pollution, infrastructure, Polling, polls, Pollution, public transport, Role of Government, Terrorism
Q. For each of the following issues, do you think the Government does too much, too little or just about the right amount:
|
Too much |
Too little |
About right |
Don’t know |
|
| Providing quality health care services |
2% |
74% |
19% |
5% |
| Protecting citizens from industrial and other kinds of pollution. |
10% |
43% |
36% |
11% |
| Making sure the banks and other large financial institutions operate honestly and treat their clients fairly |
3% |
62% |
28% |
6% |
| Making sure that the roads, bridges and other public transportation facilities are in good repair and safe. |
1% |
63% |
30% |
5% |
| Ensuring that there is adequate, affordable and accessible public transport. |
2% |
67% |
25% |
6% |
| Ensuring that our population is protected from crime, terrorism and other threats. |
5% |
47% |
41% |
7% |
| Providing a quality education system |
2% |
54% |
37% |
7% |
Respondents were more likely to think the Government does too little on each of the issues measured.
In particular, they think the Government does too little in terms of health care services (74%), adequate, affordable and accessible public transport (67%), roads, bridges and other public transportation (63%) and making sure the banks and other large financial institutions operate honestly and treat their clients fairly (62%).
Issues over which they were more divided were protecting citizens from industrial and other kinds of pollution (46% about right/too much) and ensuring that our population is protected from crime, terrorism and other threats (46% about right/too much).