12 March 2012, 120312, government policy, influence, opinion, Policy, Polling, polls, public opinion, Treasurer, Wayne Swan, wealth, wealthy
QA. The Treasurer Wayne Swan has said some of Australia’s wealthiest individuals are using their wealth to try to influence public opinion and government policy to further their own commercial interests. Do you agree or disagree with the Treasurer’s statement? *
QB. Do you agree or disagree that some of Australia’s wealthiest individuals are using their wealth to try to influence public opinion and government policy to further their own commercial interests. *
|
A. Wayne Swan statement |
B. Unattributed statement |
|||||||
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| Total agree |
58% |
78% |
36% |
89% |
60% |
67% |
55% |
75% |
| Total disagree |
26% |
6% |
51% |
2% |
24% |
18% |
30% |
14% |
| Strongly agree |
24% |
38% |
9% |
54% |
27% |
36% |
15% |
50% |
| Agree |
34% |
40% |
27% |
35% |
33% |
31% |
40% |
25% |
| Disagree |
15% |
4% |
29% |
2% |
12% |
5% |
15% |
3% |
| Strongly disagree |
11% |
2% |
22% |
– |
12% |
13% |
15% |
11% |
| Don’t know |
16% |
16% |
14% |
9% |
15% |
15% |
16% |
11% |
* each question was asked of half the total sample.
There was similar majority agreement with this statement – that some of Australia’s wealthiest individuals are using their wealth to try to influence public opinion and government policy to further their own commercial interests – whether or not it was attributed to Wayne Swan. When attributed to Wayne Swan 58% agreed and 26% disagreed. When unattributed, 60% agreed and 24% disagreed.
When attributed to Wayne Swan, 78% of Labor voters and 89% of Greens voters agreed but 51% of Liberal/National voters disagreed.
When unattributed, a majority of voters of all parties agreed – although Labor and Greens voters not as strongly.
12 March 2012, 120312, annual income, class, income, Middle class, middle income, Polling, polls, Social Class, society, wealth
Q. What annual income level would you say was “middle income” for a single person?
What annual income level would you say was “middle income” for a family of 2 parents and 2 children?
|
Single Person |
Family |
|||||||
|
Total |
Income under $1,000pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600pw |
Income $1,600+ |
Total |
Income under $1,000pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600pw |
Income $1,600+ |
|
| Less than $40,000 |
6% |
13% |
4% |
1% |
1% |
3% |
– |
– |
| $40,000-$59,000 |
31% |
35% |
34% |
28% |
7% |
14% |
5% |
2% |
| $60,000-$79,000 |
38% |
32% |
41% |
47% |
21% |
27% |
25% |
15% |
| $80,000-$99,000 |
15% |
12% |
14% |
17% |
28% |
26% |
33% |
29% |
| $100,000-$119,000 |
3% |
2% |
4% |
3% |
20% |
14% |
21% |
26% |
| $120,000-$149,000 |
1% |
1% |
1% |
1% |
11% |
9% |
8% |
17% |
| $150,000-$199,000 |
* |
– |
– |
1% |
5% |
2% |
4% |
10% |
| $200,000 or more |
* |
– |
– |
– |
1% |
– |
– |
1% |
| Don’t know |
5% |
5% |
2% |
1% |
5% |
5% |
3% |
1% |
| median |
$66,000 |
$60,000 |
$65,000 |
$69,000 |
$94,000 |
$83,000 |
$92,000 |
$103,000 |
69% of respondents think that “middle income” for a single person is between $40,00 and $79,000 a year. 38% think it is $60,000-$79,000.
80% of those earning under $1,000 pw think “middle income” for a single person is less than $80,000, while those on more than $1,600 pw are most likely to think it is $60,000-$79,000 (47%). The median (average) income for “middle income” for a single person is $66,000.
Estimates are more broadly spread when it comes to “middle income” families – 69% think it would be between $60,000 and $119,000. 65% think it would be at least $80,000. The median (average) income for “middle income” for a family is $94,000.
12 March 2012, 120312, annual income, class, finances, income, Polling, polls, society, wealth, wealthy
Q. What annual income level would you say was the minimum to be “wealthy” for a single person?
What annual income level would you say was the minimum to be “wealthy” for a family of 2 parents and 2 children?
|
Single Person |
Family |
|||||||
|
Total |
Income under $1,000pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600pw |
Income $1,600+ |
Total |
Income under $1,000pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600pw |
Income $1,600+ |
|
| $40,000 |
2% |
3% |
1% |
– |
1% |
1% |
– |
– |
| $60,000 |
6% |
10% |
4% |
6% |
2% |
2% |
3% |
* |
| $80,000 |
15% |
17% |
20% |
10% |
4% |
7% |
3% |
2% |
| $100,000 |
21% |
19% |
25% |
23% |
9% |
13% |
10% |
5% |
| $120,000 |
14% |
11% |
15% |
17% |
9% |
10% |
13% |
6% |
| $150,000 |
17% |
18% |
13% |
22% |
19% |
17% |
22% |
20% |
| $200,000 |
10% |
8% |
10% |
11% |
22% |
20% |
16% |
32% |
| $300,000 |
4% |
3% |
4% |
4% |
15% |
10% |
15% |
19% |
| $500,000 |
4% |
3% |
6% |
3% |
9% |
9% |
11% |
7% |
| $1 million |
3% |
3% |
1% |
3% |
5% |
4% |
4% |
7% |
| Don’t know |
5% |
4% |
2% |
1% |
5% |
5% |
3% |
1% |
| median |
$106,000 |
$102,000 |
$98,000 |
$113,000 |
$159,000 |
$146,000 |
$147,000 |
$182,000 |
58% think that a single person earning $120,000 would be considered “wealthy”. The average (median) minimum income for a single person to be considered “wealthy” was $106,000.
66% think that a family earning $200,000 would be considered “wealthy”. The average (median) minimum income for a family to be considered “wealthy” was $159,000.
12 March 2012, 120312, class, class difference, income, Polling, polls, Social Class, society, wealth
Q. Do you believe social classes still exist in Australia?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Income under $600pw |
Income $600 – $1,000pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600pw |
Income $1,600+ |
|
| Yes |
86% |
87% |
83% |
90% |
84% |
86% |
84% |
87% |
| No |
8% |
8% |
11% |
3% |
5% |
7% |
10% |
8% |
| Don’t know |
7% |
5% |
6% |
7% |
10% |
7% |
7% |
5% |
86% agreed that social class still exists in Australia – only 8% disagreed. There was little difference across demographic groups – more than 80% of all major groups agreed.