Essential: voters hostile to foreign workers, Abbott at new lows
Voters are strongly opposed to bringing in foreign workers, new polling from Essential Research finds, and believe mining companies’ only motivation is cheap labour.
Around 60% of voters disapprove of bringing in overseas workers compared to only 16% who approve. Some 35% say they strongly disapprove, and the feeling is strong across all voting groups — Labor, Liberal and Greens voters all feel about the same.
Almost 60% believe mining companies bring in foreign labour simply because it is cheaper; only 18% believe Australia doesn’t have enough skilled workers and 17% that Australians don’t want to work in the industry.
Half (49%) of voters also believe mining companies will continue to develop projects here, compared to 32% who believe labour costs and taxes might drive them away, although that is primarily Liberal voters.
Meanwhile, Julia Gillard’s personal approval has improved slightly, with a one-point rise in approval to 32% and a four-point drop in disapproval to 56%. However, Tony Abbott has hit his lowest approval ratings, with approval down four points to 32%, while disapproval has remained about the same: from 53% to 54%. Gillard has dropped a point in the preferred PM stakes, leaving the leaders tied at 37% each.
On voting intention, there’s been little change, with Coalition and Labor primary votes both down one point to 49% and 32% respectively and the Greens unchanged on 10%. The 2PP outcome washes out at 56-44, the same as last week.
Essential polling also shows the Craig Thomson and Peter Slipper affairs have inflicted serious damage on parliament’s reputation. Trust in parliament has fallen from 55% in September last year to 22%, and trade unions have also taken a hammering, falling from 39% to 22%. The Reserve Bank has also declined in standing, from 67% to 49%; religious organisation are down two points to 27%; environment groups down 13% to 32% and business groups down 38% to 22%.
The only organisation that has picked up trust is the ABC, up from 46% to 54% — second only to the High Court on 60%.
Obviously those polled who ‘trust’ the ABC are hard of hearing and short sighted and watch and listen to ABC for the country shows and Jane Eyre reruns
Good piece Bernard, also I liked what you had to say on ABC radio this morning.
Id be interested to know with this stat.
“Trust in parliament has fallen from 55% in September last year to 22%”
Is that due to the two people mentioned or the behavior of the opposition to both situations & their behind the scene involvement. A person could easily draw that conclusion with the Mr Abbotts rating.
I think the PM was exceptional last night on Q&A. Although don’t agree with her on one issue, gay marriage. Even with their standard liberal stacked ordinance, has anyone else noticed there has not been an episode where the liberal party has had less than 40% & labor less that low 30%. She performed with dignity & openness. Will we see a rise in her numbers in the weeks to come?
I would like to see if Tony Jones was so aggressive to Mr Abbott is he ever grew a pair & appeared on the Q&A, why is he so scared, more running away I think seems he is getting better & better at that, & the media just can’t keep up, or don’t want to?.
Dear Zach,
Latest headline on the ABC site
“PM’s economic forum a ‘charm offensive’: Abbott” as usual the ABC leads with the oppositions talking point of the day so if your point is well made.
Never the less about 750K tuned into Q&A.
Given the PMs strong performance I would consider there is a bounce in her ratings.
That Abbott lacks the guts to front on Q&A just confirms his unfitness
I am sure his handlers would have nightmares at him being in such an unscripted venue.
His inability to think under pressure and propensity to paniv would be there for all to see.
Come the election I am sure he will avoid all public debates where there is any hint of opennness
But what an awful number for anyone drawing breath - “the same PM preferral rate as Tony Abbott”?
Klewso. I am disgusted by that; but,there are a lot of people, who have spent a lot of money, (big tobacco, fat miners & big business), happy with that result. The blind hatred they have drummed up around the Prime Minister is a disgrace; but it has been effective. The good part of this is that the wing nutted manure spreader, with 70% of the available press, positive, protected & scripted, is just as hated.
I delight in imagining what his numbers would be without all the positive press his rubbish gets & what hers would be with some positive or supportive press. Look at the leveson inquiry to find out how destructive that mob can be. The problem for the PM is that the ex PM is still working for the dark side as well. That she rates in positive figures at all is a miracle.
DRMICK: Exactly. The Murdoch Meedya have done everything to Julia Gillard short of physically taking an axe to her. Yet here are these members of the electorate who have the same repugnance for the bat-eared ponce leading the Liberal Party. Poor old Rupert, despite his best efforts he hasn’t managed to prevent the entire nation from thinking for itself.
During Q&A Julia Gillard did not once refer to the coalition.
Bill Hilliger
Posted Tuesday, 12 June 2012 at 5:38 pm | Permalink
“During Q&A Julia Gillard did not once refer to the coalition”.
Its about time that the ALP woke up to this and just ignore the lying two faced Tony.
Julia was very good on Q & A and showed why she is the best bet the ALP have atm.
Yes it would be interesting if the Limited News and all its lazy hangers-on at the T V networks inc the ABC actually put some pressure on the big eared idiot that so desperately wants to be PM.
But its much easier to just follow Murdochs hacks and keep bagging the government and Julia endlessly
Abbott has shown many times he cannot take pressure and usually clams up when asked a hard question.
Failing to be able to change the media, Labor has to look at itself,
to see what they can change from within.
Or what other ways it can appeal directly to the electorate - to counter that
Murdocracy set “views agenda” (from their market share), the less affluent media follows.
KLEWSO: It’s all due to the legal profession being allowed to enter Parliament. The Liberal Party-devoid of ethics as it is-is able to manufacture the most outlandish lies and Labor feels it has to negate the poison. It’s exactly the same when people want someone else’s money, the predators carefully invent a whole raft of lies which the poor bästärd has to refute while the legal profession exacts a hideous financial price.
Don’t forget the average voter, whose bible is the Murdoch press, is pretty damn stupid. They would mistake silence as being a confession of guilt, especially so after the meedya had condemned the person concerned.
It’s an interesting point you raise. I daresay the old school Labor politician would be appalled at any attempt to modernise the system. Real talent like Greg Combet and Bill Shorten-both from the union movement-won’t get a shot at the top job until they are old. Don’t misunderstand me, I’m all in favour of Julia Gillard. The most radical change I can think of would be for Labor to become a company and list itself as a public company. That way they would have to issue a prospectus which would make them ask themselves what they’re really on about.
Sorry I can’t be more helpful.
KLEWSO: I have written you regarding your question. Naturally I’ve been moderated, so you may have to wait a while to get it.
MODERATOR: As usual I’ve said nothing worth moderating.
Dear Venise
Change your name to Suzanne Blake.
She get away with any slander, libel, plagarism or general off topiv inconsequential crap