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%.
Q. And from what you have seen and heard, how would you rate each of the following in terms of how they have responded to the floods?
| Total good | Total poor | Very good | Good | Average | Poor | Very poor | Don’t know | |
| The Federal Labor Government | 48% | 15% | 15% | 33% | 26% | 7% | 8% | 11% |
| The Federal Coalition Opposition | 29% | 19% | 6% | 23% | 37% | 12% | 7% | 15% |
| The Queensland State Government | 78% | 3% | 48% | 30% | 10% | 1% | 2% | 9% |
| The Queensland State Government (Qld only) | 79% | 3% | 51% | 28% | 11% | 1% | 2% | 7% |
| The Victorian State Government | 48% | 4% | 14% | 34% | 22% | 3% | 1% | 26% |
| The Victorian State Government (Vic only) | 53% | 8% | 13% | 40% | 23% | 6% | 2% | 16% |
| The NSW State Government | 33% | 12% | 8% | 25% | 27% | 8% | 4% | 27% |
| The NSW State Government (NSW only) | 26% | 22% | 5% | 21% | 33% | 13% | 9% | 20% |
| The Australian military | 78% | 2% | 49% | 29% | 8% | 1% | 1% | 10% |
| State emergency services | 88% | 2% | 71% | 17% | 4% | 1% | 1% | 7% |
| The media | 61% | 9% | 26% | 35% | 23% | 5% | 4% | 7% |
| The banks | 22% | 26% | 6% | 16% | 30% | 17% | 9% | 23% |
| The insurance industry | 10% | 53% | 2% | 8% | 22% | 25% | 28% | 14% |
| Australian businesses overall | 48% | 8% | 13% | 35% | 30% | 6% | 2% | 14% |
| The Australian people overall | 85% | 2% | 56% | 29% | 7% | 1% | 1% | 6% |
Groups with highest ratings for their response to the floods were state emergency services (88% good), the Australian people overall (85%), the Queensland State Government (78%) and the Australian military (78%).
The Federal Government’s response was rated 48% good/15% poor/26% average while the Federal Opposition was rated 29% good/19% poor/37% average.
The only groups with overall negative ratings were the insurance industry (53% poor/10% good) and the banks (26% poor/22% good).
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 »
15
Competition Between Banks
Q. Do you think there needs to be more competition between Australian banks or is there enough competition?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| There is enough competition | 21% | 21% | 25% | 13% |
| Needs to be more competition | 68% | 70% | 68% | 81% |
| Don’t know | 11% | 8% | 6% | 7% |
68% believe there needs to be more competition between banks and 21% think there is currently enough competition.
81% of Greens voters believe there needs to be more competition.
Younger respondents are a little more likely to think there is enough competition (27% of aged 18-34) while 76% of respondents aged 55+ think there should be more competition.
Q. Thinking about banking in Australia, do you think there needs to be more or less regulation of banks or is the present level of regulation about right?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Needs to be more regulation | 64% | 68% | 67% | 57% |
| Needs to be less regulation | 4% | 2% | 5% | 4% |
| Present regulation about right | 20% | 20% | 20% | 35% |
| Don’t know | 12% | 10% | 8% | 4% |
64% believe there needs to be more regulation of Australian banks and 20% think the present level of regulation is about right. Only 4% think there needs to be less regulation. Labor and Coalition voters show similar support for more regulation while Greens voters are more likely to approve of the present level regulation. 72% of those aged 45-64 want more regulation. Comments »
Q. Would you support or oppose the following regulations for Australia’s banks?
| Total support | Total oppose | Strongly support | Support | Oppose | Strongly oppose | Don’t know | |
| Stopping banks from sending jobs off-shore | 83% | 7% | 46% | 37% | 5% | 2% | 9% |
| Only permitting banks to change interest rates in line with Reserve Bank rates | 82% | 11% | 53% | 29% | 8% | 3% | 7% |
| Capping bank CEO’s salaries | 84% | 9% | 60% | 24% | 7% | 2% | 6% |
| Ensuring bank fees are not higher than the actual cost of the service | 91% | 4% | 67% | 24% | 3% | 1% | 4% |
| A requirement to let customers know if their personal data is being sent to other countries for processing | 93% | 2% | 71% | 22% | 2% | * | 6% |
| Tougher rules about giving loans and credit | 74% | 15% | 32% | 42% | 13% | 2% | 12% |
More than 90% support regulations requiring banks to let customers know if their personal data is being sent to other countries for processing and ensuring bank fees are not higher than the actual cost of the service. Over 80% support stopping banks from sending jobs off-shore, only permitting banks to change interest rates in line with Reserve Bank rates and capping bank CEO’s salaries.
There were no substantial differences by voting intention – all regulations were strongly supported by all voter groups.
| Total support | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Stopping banks from sending jobs off-shore | 83% | 85% | 85% | 83% |
| Only permitting banks to change interest rates in line with Reserve Bank rates | 82% | 87% | 82% | 73% |
| Capping bank CEO’s salaries | 84% | 88% | 83% | 86% |
| Ensuring bank fees are not higher than the actual cost of the service | 91% | 93% | 93% | 90% |
| A requirement to let customers know if their personal data is being sent to other countries for processing | 93% | 94% | 93% | 94% |
| Tougher rules about giving loans and credit | 74% | 71% | 80% | 77% |
Support for Government-owned Bank
Q. Would you support or oppose the establishment of a Government-owned bank to compete with the private banks?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total support | 62% | 68% | 60% | 72% |
| Total oppose | 17% | 14% | 21% | 16% |
| Strongly support | 28% | 32% | 27% | 33% |
| Support | 34% | 36% | 33% | 39% |
| Oppose | 11% | 9% | 13% | 13% |
| Strongly oppose | 6% | 5% | 8% | 3% |
| Don’t know | 22% | 19% | 19% | 13% |
62% support and 17% oppose the establishment of a Government-owned bank to compete with the private banks.
Strongest support is shown by men (68%), Greens voters (72%) and full-time workers (68%). Comments »
15
Influence of Groups
Q. How much influence do you think the following groups have on the policies of Australian political parties?
| Too much | About the right amount | Not enough | Don’t know | |
| The media | 53% | 27% | 5% | 15% |
| Banks | 50% | 28% | 5% | 18% |
| Business lobby groups | 40% | 33% | 5% | 21% |
| Mining companies | 40% | 33% | 10% | 17% |
| Unions | 40% | 33% | 12% | 14% |
| Religious groups | 38% | 29% | 11% | 21% |
| Environment groups | 25% | 31% | 29% | 15% |
About half the respondents believed that the media (53%) and banks (50%) have too much influence on the policies of Australian political parties.
40% believed that business lobby groups, mining companies and unions have too much influence.
Only 25% thought environmental groups have too much influence and 29% think they have not enough influence.
There were substantial differences by party preference on the influence of business lobby groups (Labor 52% too much, Lib/Nat 28%), unions (26%/61%), and mining companies (57%/26%). However, there was little difference on the perceived influence of the media (Labor 57% too much, Lib/Nat 56%) and banks (53%/51%). Comments »
15
Trust in Groups
Q. And how much trust do you have in the following groups to represent the interests of people like you?
| Total a lot/some trust | A lot of trust | Some trust | A little trust | No trust at all | Don’t know | |
| Environment groups | 38% | 8% | 30% | 28% | 22% | 11% |
| Unions | 33% | 8% | 25% | 27% | 30% | 10% |
| Business lobby groups | 21% | 4% | 17% | 30% | 35% | 15% |
| Religious groups | 20% | 5% | 15% | 24% | 43% | 13% |
| Mining companies | 20% | 2% | 18% | 27% | 40% | 13% |
| Banks | 15% | 2% | 13% | 26% | 49% | 10% |
| The media | 14% | 1% | 13% | 33% | 43% | 9% |
38% said they have a lot or some trust in environment groups and 33% have a lot/some trust in unions. Banks (15%) and the media (14%) were the least trusted groups.
49% had no trust at all in banks and 43% had no trust at all in religious groups and the media.
51% of Labor voters have trust in unions and 47% have trust in environment groups. The most trusted groups for Liberal/National voters are mining companies (32%) and business lobby groups (31%). Comments »
27
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 »
Q. Thinking about housing prices, which of the following is mainly responsible for the increase in Australian house prices?
And which is the second most responsible?
| Main | Second | |
| Shortage of housing | 33% | 20% |
| Overseas buyers | 19% | 15% |
| Low interest rates | 11% | 15% |
| The first home buyers grant | 8% | 14% |
| Real estate agents | 7% | 10% |
| Australian investors | 5% | 10% |
| Bank lending | 4% | 11% |
| Don’t know | 13% | 4% |
Most people think that a shortage of housing is mainly responsible for the increase in Australian housing prices, 20% think this is the second reason for the increase in house prices.
19% point to overseas buyers as being mainly responsible for the increase in Australian house prices, 15% think this is the second reason.
Coalition voters were more likely to think overseas buyers are mainly responsible for the increase in Australian house prices (22%), while Green voters were more likely to think Australian investors are mainly responsible.
People aged 35 – 44 were more likely to think low interest rates are most responsible (17%), people aged 45 – 54 think a shortage of housing is most responsible (40%), while those aged 65 years and over think that overseas buyers are most responsible for the increase in housing prices (26%).
Females more likely to indicate overseas buyers are mainly responsible (23%), while males were more likely to point to a shortage of housing as mainly responsible for increased house prices (39%). Comments »
Essential Report
Two Party Preferred: 05 March 12
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