The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Dec, 2019

    , , , ,

    Last 12 months

    Q. Thinking about the last 12 months, has it been a good or bad year for each of the following?

      Total good Total bad NET   Very good Good Neither good nor bad Bad Very bad Don’t know   2018 NET
    The Australian cricket team 44% 10% +34   13% 32% 26% 6% 4% 12%   +2
    Large companies and corporations 41% 18% +23   10% 31% 31% 13% 5% 10%   +9
    You and your family overall 41% 22% +19   9% 32% 35% 15% 7% 3%   +28
    Your workplace 30% 16% +14   7% 23% 29% 10% 6% 23%   +28
    Your personal financial situation 30% 32% -2   6% 24% 35% 19% 13% 3%  
    The average Australian 27% 31% -4   7% 21% 37% 22% 9% 4%   -1
    The Australian Government 29% 36% -7   7% 22% 31% 22% 14% 5%   -41
    Trade unions 19% 30% -11   5% 14% 35% 21% 9% 10%   -2
    Small business 24% 36% -12   4% 20% 31% 27% 9% 9%   +6
    The Australian economy 25% 38% -13   5% 20% 31% 26% 12% 5%   +6
    Australian politics in general 21% 41% -20   5% 16% 32% 24% 18% 4%   -50
    The planet 20% 49% -29   6% 14% 27% 28% 21% 4%   -19
    • Participants believe that 2019 has been a good year for the Australian cricket team (+34, up from +2 in 2018), large companies and corporations (+23, up from +9 in 2018) and them and their families.
    • This year has been bad for the planet (-29, down 10pts from 2018) and Australian politics in general (-20).
    • Australian politics in general and the Australian Government have the greatest swing compared to 2018 with Australian politics in general up from -50 to -20 and the Australian Government up from -41 to -7.
    • The Australian economy also saw a large swing from 2018, dropping from +6 in 2018 to -13 in 2019; which is mirrored by small businesses (from +6 in 2018 to -12 in 2019).
    • Trade unions are similarly seen as having a bad year, falling from -2 in 2018 to -11 in 2019.
  • May, 2014

    , , , ,

    Level of tax continued (historical data)

    Q.  Do you think the following pay too much tax, not enough tax or about the right amount?

     

    Total

    May 2013

    Pay too much

    Don’t pay enough

    Pay about right amount

    Don’t know

    Pay too much

    Don’t pay enough

    Pay about right amount

    Don’t know

    Large businesses

    5%

    61%

    19%

    15%

    7%

    63%

    17%

    13%

    Small businesses

    40%

    6%

    39%

    15%

    43%

    7%

    37%

    14%

    People on low incomes

    43%

    6%

    41%

    10%

    41%

    8%

    41%

    10%

    People on average incomes

    38%

    6%

    47%

    9%

    37%

    7%

    49%

    8%

    People on high incomes

    12%

    59%

    19%

    10%

    12%

    60%

    19%

    8%

    Mining companies

    5%

    61%

    19%

    15%

    7%

    62%

    16%

    15%

    Please note: ‘retirees on large incomes’, ‘large carbon emitters’, ‘large international companies’ and ‘religious organisations’ were not included in May 2013.

    The results have not changed significantly since the last time this question was asked in May 2013.

  • Dec, 2013

    , , ,

    Next 12 months

    Q. Thinking about the next 12 months, do you think 2014 will be a good or bad year for each of the following?

     

    Total good

    Total

    bad

     

    Very good

    Good

    Neither good nor bad

    Bad

    Very bad

    Don’t know

    The Australian economy

    27%

    37%

    2%

    25%

    31%

    27%

    10%

    6%

    Australian politics in general

    21%

    45%

    2%

    19%

    29%

    25%

    20%

    6%

    Large companies and corporations

    30%

    30%

    4%

    26%

    32%

    22%

    8%

    8%

    Small business

    17%

    41%

    1%

    16%

    34%

    30%

    11%

    8%

    Trade unions

    11%

    37%

    2%

    9%

    38%

    24%

    13%

    14%

    The average Australian

    23%

    34%

    1%

    22%

    38%

    26%

    8%

    5%

    Your personal financial situation

    31%

    25%

    3%

    28%

    39%

    18%

    7%

    4%

    Your workplace*

    36%

    21%

    4%

    32%

    39%

    16%

    5%

    3%

    You and your family overall

    41%

    16%

    7%

    34%

    38%

    11%

    5%

    5%

    * working people

    Respondents are more likely to be positive about 2014 for “you and your family” (41% good/16% bad), “your workplace” (36%/21%) and “your personal financial situation” (31%/25%).

    Compared to their opinions of 2013, they expect improvements for “Australian politics in general” (up 11% to 21% good), “large companies and corporations” (up 5% to 30%) and “small business” (up 7% to 17%) – although all of these are off low base figures.

  • May, 2013

    , , , , , , ,

    Paying tax

    Q. Do you think the following pay too much tax, not enough tax or about the right amount?

     

    Total

    Labor voters

    Lib/Nat voters

     

    Pay too much

    Don’t pay eno
    -ugh

    Pay about right
    amnt.

    Don’t know

    Pay too much

    Don’t pay eno
    -ugh

    Pay about right

    Don’t know

    Pay too much

    Don’t pay eno
    -ugh

    Pay about right
    amnt.

    Don’t know

    Large
    bus.

    7%

    63%

    17%

    13%

    4%

    75%

    12%

    9%

    9%

    52%

    25%

    14%

    Small
    bus.

    43%

    7%

    37%

    14%

    37%

    8%

    43%

    11%

    49%

    5%

    34%

    11%

    People on
    low incomes

    41%

    8%

    41%

    10%

    49%

    3%

    41%

    7%

    33%

    11%

    46%

    10%

    People on average
    incomes

    37%

    7%

    49%

    8%

    32%

    8%

    54%

    6%

    38%

    6%

    50%

    6%

    People on
    high incomes

    12%

    60%

    19%

    8%

    5%

    77%

    13%

    6%

    18%

    47%

    27%

    7%

    Mining
    co.

    7%

    62%

    16%

    15%

    4%

    78%

    8%

    11%

    11%

    49%

    24%

    16%

    A majority think that large businesses (63%), mining companies (62%) and people on high incomes do not pay enough tax.

    They are more likely to think that small businesses pay too much tax (43%) and that people on average incomes pay about the right amount (49%).

    They were split over whether people on low incomes pay too much or about the right amount.

    At least three quarters of Labor voters think mining companies, people on upper incomes and big businesses do not pay enough tax.

  • Dec, 2011

    , , , , , , , , , , , ,

    The Past Year – The Economy and Industries

    Q. Thinking about the last 12 months, has it been a good or bad year for each of the following?

    Total good

    (Dec 10

    Total bad

    (Dec 10)

    Total good Total bad Very good Good Neither good nor bad Bad Very bad Don’t know
    The banks 69% 13% 71% 8% 35% 36% 16% 6% 2% 4%
    The mining industry 57% 14% 68% 11% 34% 34% 15% 8% 3% 6%
    Large companies and corporations 44% 15% 40% 22% 8% 32% 32% 18% 4% 6%
    The Australian economy 41% 20% 33% 31% 4% 29% 32% 24% 7% 3%
    The media 30% 14% 25% 27% 6% 19% 37% 19% 8% 10%
    Farming and agriculture 14% 50% 23% 40% 2% 21% 30% 28% 12% 7%
    The environment 14% 37% 20% 33% 3% 17% 41% 24% 9% 6%
    Small business 14% 45% 10% 61% 1% 9% 24% 42% 19% 6%

    A majority of respondents think it has been a good year for the banks (71%) and the mining industry (68%). They are also more likely to think it has been a good year for large companies and corporations (40% good/22% bad) and the economy (33%/31%). However, they are more likely to think the year has been bad for small business (61%), farming and agriculture (40%) and the environment (33%).

    In terms of the economy, Labor voters (50% good/18% bad) and Greens voters (47%/15%) were more likely to think it has been a good year – while 45% of Liberal/National voters considered it poor and 23% good.

    Compared to last years’ results, respondents considered 2011 a better year than 2010 for the mining industry (up 11% to 68% good), farming and agriculture (up 9% to 23%) and the environment (up 6% to 20%). Perceptions of the economy dropped from a net +21% to +2%.

    Comments »

  • May, 2011

    , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

    Interests Represented by Parties

    Q. Which political party do you think best represents the interests of –

    Labor Liberal Greens Don’t know
    Families with young children 34% 31% 5% 29%
    Students 30% 28% 10% 33%
    Working people on average incomes 40% 32% 5% 23%
    Working people on low incomes 43% 27% 6% 24%
    Working people on high incomes 13% 63% 2% 22%
    People on welfare 38% 23% 8% 30%
    Pensioners 33% 28% 5% 34%
    Small businesses and self-employed 20% 47% 4% 29%
    Big business 13% 62% 2% 23%
    The next generation of Australians 19% 31% 17% 33%
    Indigenous people 23% 21% 16% 40%
    Ethnic communities 22% 21% 15% 42%
    Rural and regional Australians 18% 34% 11% 36%

    The Labor Party is considered the party which best represents the interests of working people on low and average incomes, people on welfare and pensioners. The Liberal Party is considered best at representing the interests of people on high incomes, big business, small business and self-employed, rural and regional Australians and the next generation. The Greens’ main strengths are in representing the next generation, indigenous people and ethnic communities.

    There was little difference between the major parties in terms of representing the interests of families with young children, students, indigenous people and ethnic communities.

    Comments »

  • Dec, 2010

    , , , , , , , ,

    The Past Year – The Economy and Industries

      Q. Thinking about the last 12 months, has it been a good or bad year for each of the following?

      Total good Total bad Very good Good Neither good nor bad Bad Very bad Don’t know
    The banks 69% 13% 42% 27% 14% 9% 4% 4%
    The mining industry 57% 14% 27% 30% 24% 11% 3% 6%
    Large companies and corporations 44% 15% 10% 34% 35% 13% 2% 7%
    The Australian economy 41% 20% 5% 36% 36% 17% 3% 4%
    The media 30% 14% 8% 22% 45% 10% 4% 10%
    The environment 14% 37% 2% 12% 43% 28% 9% 5%
    Small business 14% 45% 2% 12% 35% 34% 11% 6%
    Farming and agriculture 14% 50% 2% 12% 31% 35% 15% 5%

     A majority of respondents think it has been a good year for the banks (69%) and the mining industry (57%). They are also more likely to think it has been a good year for large companies and corporations (44% good/15% bad), the economy (41%/20%), and the media (30%/14%).

     However, they are more likely to think the year has been bad for farming and agriculture (50%), small business (45%) and the environment (37%).

    In terms of the economy, all voter groups were more likely to think it has been a good year – Labor 55% good/11% bad, Liberal/National 33%/29% and Greens 53%/12%. Comments »

  • Apr, 2010

    , , , , , , ,

    Government Support

    Q7. During their term in office, do you think the Rudd Government has given too much support, not enough support or just about the right amount of support to the following –

      Given too much support Given enough support Not given enough support Don’t know
    Pensioners 3% 27% 57% 12%
    Poor families 3% 28% 54% 16%
    Country Australia 2% 31% 46% 21%
    Small businesses 2% 37% 39% 22%
    Working people 2% 47% 37% 13%
    Unemployed workers 10% 37% 34% 19%
    Recent immigrants 41% 26% 17% 17%
    Large businesses 26% 37% 14% 23%
    Unions 19% 42% 13% 26%
    The banks and other large financial institutions 43% 33% 5% 19%

    About half the respondents think that the Rudd Government has not given enough support to pensioners (57%), poor families (54%) and country Australia (46%). A sizable proportion think that too much support has been given to the banks and other large financial institutions (43%) and recent immigrants (41%). 47% think the Rudd Government has given enough support to working people and 42% think they have given enough support to unions.

    Among Labor voters, 50% think the Government has not given enough support to pensioners and 54% think they have not given enough support to poor families. Comments »

Error: