Q. How important are the following industries for providing jobs for Australians into the future?
| Very important | Quite important | Somewhat important | Not very important | Don’t know | |
| Mining | 64% | 24% | 7% | 2% | 3% |
| Construction | 58% | 30% | 9% | 0% | 2% |
| Manufacturing | 55% | 29% | 12% | 2% | 2% |
| Tourism | 53% | 33% | 11% | 1% | 2% |
| Retail | 47% | 35% | 13% | 2% | 2% |
| Hospitality | 46% | 38% | 12% | 1% | 3% |
| Finance | 39% | 38% | 18% | 3% | 3% |
| Telecommunications | 39% | 37% | 18% | 3% | 3% |
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.
20
Opinion of Mining Tax
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the proposed mining tax (called the Minerals Resource Rent Tax) on large profits of mining companies?
| 12 Jul 2010 | 5 Sep 2011 | 21 Nov 2011 | Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total approve | 50% | 46% | 51% | 55% | 80% | 39% | 74% |
| Total disapprove | 28% | 34% | 33% | 28% | 7% | 46% | 12% |
| Strongly approve | 13% | 18% | 18% | 23% | 46% | 7% | 44% |
| Approve | 37% | 28% | 33% | 32% | 34% | 32% | 30% |
| Disapprove | 18% | 18% | 20% | 17% | 6% | 26% | 9% |
| Strongly disapprove | 10% | 16% | 13% | 11% | 1% | 20% | 3% |
| Don’t know | 22% | 19% | 15% | 17% | 13% | 14% | 14% |
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. Gina Rinehart (mining company owner and Australia’s wealthiest person) has recently bought a major stake in Fairfax newspapers (publishers of the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age). Do you think this will make Fairfax newspapers reporting of politics and business more balanced and independent, less balanced and independent or will It make no difference?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | NSW | Victoria | |
| More balanced and independent | 7% | 7% | 8% | 6% | 11% | 5% |
| Less balanced and independent | 31% | 35% | 22% | 62% | 33% | 31% |
| Make no difference | 44% | 36% | 55% | 23% | 38% | 46% |
| Don’t know | 19% | 22% | 15% | 9% | 18% | 18% |
44% think that Gina Rinehart’s purchase of a major stake in Fairfax will make no difference to the balance and independence of the newspapers. 31% think this will make the newspapers less balanced and independent and only 7% think the newspapers will become more balanced and independent.
Greens voters (62%) and respondents aged under 35 (37%) were most likely to think the newspapers will become less balanced and independent and Liberal/National voters least likely (22%).
21
Mining Tax
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the proposed mining tax (called the Minerals Resource Rent Tax) on large profits of mining companies?
| 12 Jul 2010 | 5 Sep 2011 | Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total approve | 50% | 46% | 51% | 74% | 32% | 85% |
| Total disapprove | 28% | 34% | 33% | 13% | 55% | 7% |
| Strongly approve | 13% | 18% | 18% | 32% | 5% | 51% |
| Approve | 37% | 28% | 33% | 42% | 27% | 34% |
| Disapprove | 18% | 18% | 20% | 11% | 30% | 7% |
| Strongly disapprove | 10% | 16% | 13% | 2% | 25% | - |
| Don’t know | 22% | 19% | 15% | 12% | 12% | 9% |
51% approve the Government’s proposed mining tax and 33% disapprove. This represents a strengthening in support since this question was asked in September (from net +12% to net +18%).
Labor voters (74%) and Greens voters (85%) strongly support the tax – but Liberal/National voters disapprove 55% to 32%.
5
Mining Tax
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the proposed mining tax (called the Minerals Resource Rent Tax) on large profits of mining companies?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | 12 Jul 2010 | ||
| Total approve | 46% | 72% | 27% | 82% | 50% | |
| Total disapprove | 34% | 13% | 57% | 2% | 28% | |
| Strongly approve | 18% | 33% | 7% | 43% | 13% | |
| Approve | 28% | 39% | 20% | 39% | 37% | |
| Disapprove | 18% | 10% | 29% | 1% | 18% | |
| Strongly disapprove | 16% | 3% | 28% | 1% | 10% | |
| Don’t know | 19% | 15% | 17% | 16% | 22% |
46% approve the Government’s proposed mining tax and 34% disapprove. This represents a weakening in support since this question was asked in July 2010.
Labor voters (72%) and Greens voters (82%) strongly support the tax – but Liberal/National voters disapprove 57% to 27%.
5
Australian Industries
Q. Thinking about Australian industries, how would you rate the current state of the following industries?
| Total good | Total poor | Very good | Good | Poor | Very poor | |
| Mining | 85% | 15% | 76% | 9% | 2% | 13% |
| Construction | 77% | 23% | 47% | 30% | 7% | 16% |
| Hospitality | 81% | 19% | 46% | 35% | 7% | 12% |
| Tourism | 81% | 19% | 45% | 36% | 7% | 12% |
| Finance | 76% | 24% | 44% | 32% | 8% | 16% |
| Telecommunications | 78% | 22% | 43% | 35% | 11% | 11% |
| Media | 72% | 28% | 38% | 34% | 12% | 16% |
| Agriculture | 75% | 25% | 36% | 39% | 9% | 16% |
| Retail | 75% | 25% | 26% | 49% | 16% | 9% |
| Manufacturing | 62% | 38% | 19% | 43% | 22% | 16% |
76% rate the state of the mining industry as very good – the only industry to score above 50%. However at least 75% think all other industries except manufacturing are in a very good or good state.
Only 19% rate manufacturing as very good – and 38% rate it poor or very poor.
Q. And which of these industries are the three most important for Australia’s economic future?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Mining | 67% | 77% | 67% | 61% |
| Agriculture | 58% | 57% | 59% | 58% |
| Tourism | 46% | 47% | 43% | 56% |
| Manufacturing | 37% | 30% | 40% | 36% |
| Construction | 25% | 26% | 26% | 31% |
| Finance | 21% | 18% | 23% | 17% |
| Retail | 17% | 18% | 17% | 12% |
| Telecommunications | 14% | 16% | 11% | 20% |
| Hospitality | 10% | 10% | 9% | 6% |
| Media | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Don’t know | 4% | * | 4% | 3% |
Australia’s most important industries are thought to be mining (67%), agriculture (58%), tourism (46%) and manufacturing (37%). Opinions are consistent across voter groups in terms of order of importance.
Q. Do you think the current mining boom in Australia has benefited you personally?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Yes | 16% | 18% | 18% | 19% |
| No | 69% | 67% | 69% | 72% |
| Don’t know | 14% | 15% | 13% | 9% |
Only 16% agree that they have personally benefited from the mining boom and 69% think they have not benefited.
There was little difference across voter groups.
Those on higher incomes are a little more likely to say they have benefited – 24% of those earning $1,600+ per week compared to 13% of those earning less than $1,000 per week.
Q. Thinking about Australian industries and the ways in which the Government can give them assistance and support – which forms of assistance and support do you think the Government should give to the following industries? (multi-response)
| Lower tax rates | Direct subsidies and grants | Protection from overseas competition | Total should give assistance | Should not give any assistance | Don’t know | |
| Agriculture | 34% | 44% | 45% | 79% | 7% | 14% |
| Renewable energy e.g. solar panels, wind farms | 34% | 56% | 19% | 79% | 7% | 14% |
| Other manufacturing e.g. clothing, whitegoods | 24% | 16% | 43% | 69% | 14% | 17% |
| Car manufacturing | 22% | 18% | 39% | 66% | 16% | 18% |
| Mining | 13% | 9% | 19% | 37% | 42% | 21% |
| Banking and finance | 13% | 3% | 12% | 25% | 57% | 18% |
| Media e.g. newspapers, TV stations | 5% | 5% | 12% | 21% | 58% | 21% |
More than three-quarters of respondents are in favour of Government assistance and support for agriculture and renewable energy industries. 45% believe that agriculture should receive protection from overseas competition and 56% support direct grants and subsidies for renewable energy.
About two-thirds are in favour of Government support for car and other manufacturing industries – especially protection from overseas competition.
Media (21%) and banking and finance (25%) are thought to be least deserving of Government support.
By voting intention Liberal/National voters were a little more likely to favour Government support for agriculture (87%) and mining (44%). Comments »
12
Approval of MRRT
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the new mining tax (called the Minerals Resource Rent Tax) recently negotiated between the Government and major mining companies?
| Total approve | 50% |
| Total disapprove | 28% |
| Strongly approve | 13% |
| Approve | 37% |
| Disapprove | 18% |
| Strongly disapprove | 10% |
| Don’t know | 22% |
50% of respondents approved the new mining tax negotiated with the mining companies and 28% disapproved. Labor voters approved 75% to 10% and Greens voters approved 52% to 26%. 33% of Liberal/National voters approved and 53% disapproved. Comments »
12
Performance of PM over MRRT
Q. How would you rate the job Prime Minister Julia Gillard has done in handling the mining tax issue?
| Total good | 58% |
| Total poor | 25% |
| Very good | 14% |
| Good | 44% |
| Poor | 15% |
| Very poor | 10% |
| Don’t know | 16% |
58% rated the Prime Minister’s handling of the mining tax issue as good and 25% rated it poor. Labor voters rated it 87% good and 6% poor and Greens voters rated it 60% good and 27% poor. 40% of Liberal/National voters rated it good and 49% poor. Comments »
Essential Report
Two Party Preferred: 05 March 12
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