Q. If don’t know -Well which party are you currently leaning to?

Sample size = 1042 respondents

NB.  The data in the above tables comprise 2-week averages derived from the first preference/leaning to voting questions.  Respondents who select ‘don’t know’ are not included in the results.  The two-party preferred estimate is calculated by distributing the votes of the other parties according to their preferences at the 2010 election.

The majority of respondents support the means test on the private health insurance rebate for people on higher incomes (53%), with 33% opposed to the reform.

Those on low incomes of less than $31,200 per annum are the most likely to be in favour of the reform, with 67% supporting the means test.  Conversely, those on higher incomes (earning $83,200+ per annum) are the most likely to oppose the means test, with 46% against it and 45% in favour of it.

Looking at the results by voting intention, those most likely to be against the reform are Coalition voters with the majority opposing the means test (51%), whilst Labor voters are the most likely to be in favour of it (76%).  Greens voters trail 11 points behind Labor in favour of the reform at 65%.

The results of this week’s poll show that support for the NBN has increased over the course of the last 12 months, returning to 56% (the same level in September 2010).

Since the question was last polled, support for the NBN has risen 2 percentage points to 56% (+2%) and opposition has declined to 25% (-3%).

There is overwhelming majority support from Labor (80%) and Greens (77%) voters, whilst Coalition voters are almost equally divided on the issue: 42% in favour and 43% opposed.

Looking at the results by age, those respondents aged between 55-64 are the most likely to oppose the NBN, though the majority still favour the planned network: 52%/34%.

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.

Approval for the proposed mining tax has increased over the course of the last 6 months, rising 9 percentage points from 46% in September 2011 to 55% total approval in this week’s poll.

Labor voters are the most in favour of the proposed mining tax, with 80% in favour, followed by Greens voters (74% in favour).  The majority of Coalition voters remain opposed to the proposed tax, with 46% opposed and 39% in favour.

Q. If don’t know -Well which party are you currently leaning to?

Sample size = 1,906 respondents

NB.  The data in the above tables comprise 2-week averages derived from the first preference/leaning to voting questions.  Respondents who select ‘don’t know’ are not included in the results.  The two-party preferred estimate is calculated by distributing the votes of the other parties according to their preferences at the 2010 election.

Julia Gillard’s approval rating has remained much the same as last month. 36% (down 1%) approve of the job Julia Gillard is doing as Prime Minister and 53% (up 1%) disapprove – a change in net rating from -15 to -17 over the last 4 weeks.

79% of Labor voters approve (up 3%) and 14% disapprove (down 1%).

By gender – men 39% approve/53% disapprove, women 34% approve/52% disapprove.

Tony Abbott’s approval rating has also changed little over the last month. 35% (no change) approve of the job Tony Abbott is doing as Opposition Leader and 53% (up 2%) disapprove – a change in net rating from -16 to -18 over the last 4 weeks.

67% (down 1%) of Coalition voters approve and 21% (no change) disapprove.

By gender – men 40% approve/52% disapprove, women 31% approve/54% disapprove.

41% (up 2%) believe Julia Gillard would make the better Prime Minister and 34% (down 2%) prefer Tony Abbott – a net change from +3% to +7% for Julia Gillard. This is Julia Gillard’s best result since May last year.

Men prefer Julia Gillard 42%/37% and women favour Julia Gillard 40%/32%.

Q. Do you think Tony Abbott will still be leading the Liberal Party at the election due next year?

31% think Julia Gillard will still be the leader of the Labor Party at the election due next year and 47% think she will not be the leader. Opinions are closely associated with party preference. 54% of Labor voters think she will still be the leader.

47% think Tony Abbott will still be the leader of the Liberal Party at the election due next year and 25% think he will not be the leader. Opinions are closely associated with party preference. 67% of Liberal/National voters think he will still be the leader.

Among non-major party voters, 36% think Julia Gillard will still be leading the Labor Party and 33% think Tony Abbott will still be leading the Liberal Party.