Attitudes to Government And Government services Anupoll ... · > There is strong support for more...

A t t i t u d e s t o G o v e r n m e n t A n d G o v e r n m e n t s e r v i c e sA n u p o l l o c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

Australian National Institute for Public Policy

Internationally, Australia has a creditable record for the efficient delivery of government services. Australia is frequently noted for its policy innovation, and for the way in which policies are targeted to secure the best results with available resources. Such innovation in the delivery of government services requires a constant reassessment of the range of services that are offered, how they are delivered, and not least, how they are financed.

This ANUpoll contributes to this ongoing policy debate by examining how the Australian public views government services, and how they believe these services should change in the years ahead. The results provide support for the efforts of policy makers. There is widespread satisfaction with how democracy works in Australia, and a majority support more spending on social programs generally. The public has particular views on which groups within society should bear the greatest tax burden, and there is also strong support for the main tenets of reform of the tax and welfare systems.

This ANUpoll adds an important dimension to the policy debates concerning tax and welfare reform in Australia by highlighting the views of the general public on these issues. The results provide a benchmark for understanding both the concerns of the public, and the changes they find most acceptable in order to address those concerns.

Professor Ian YoungVice-Chancellor, The Australian National University

V i C e - C h A N C e l l o r ’ s m e s s A g e

Photo by Belinda Pratten

A N U p o l l

Professor Ian McAllister1

Australian National Institute for Public Policy and ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences

Report No. 11 October 2011

1College of Arts and social sciences, The Australian National University

A B o U T T h e s U r V e y

The ANUpoll is conducted for The Australian National University by the social research Centre, melbourne. The survey is a national random sample of the adult population aged 18 years and over conducted by telephone. in this survey, 2,001 people were interviewed between 5 and 18 september 2011, with a response rate of 33.1 per cent. The results have been weighted to represent the national population. The survey’s margin of error is ± 2.0 per cent. Full details of the survey can be found at www.anu.edu.au/anupoll

©The Australian National University, 2011 Copyright of material contained in this publication is held by The Australian National University.

Attitudes to Government and Government Services:Results from the ANUpoll

C o N T e N T s

Attitudes to Government and Government services 6

Delivering Government services 12

Financing Government services 16

Key trends: most important problems and political mood 20

ANUpoll questions 22

K e y P o i N T s s U m m A r y

Attitudes to Government and Government services > Satisfaction with democracy in Australia remains high by international standards, though it is lower in 2010 and 2011 than in the earlier part of the decade.

> The lower levels of satisfaction with democracy in 2010 and 2011 are related to concerns about the quality of government.

> Half of the population believe that the federal government has enough power. Residents in Western Australia are most opposed to the federal government having more power, those in NSW more favourable.

> More people believe that unemployment and taxes have increased over the past few years, but they also see their own standard of living as having improved.

Delivering Government services > A large majority of the population report that they or their partner had received at least one government benefit in the previous five years, the most common being the private health insurance rebate.

> Four out of every 10 respondents would like to deal with a government department in person. One quarter would prefer to use electronic communication and the least preferred method is mail.

> The most popular means of improving public services is through the provision of a better trained workforce; least popular is information about local service providers.

Financing Government services > There is strong support for more government expenditure on areas of social support, such as education and aged pensions, and much less support for more spending on reducing carbon pollution and on the military.

> There is strong support for less tax on small businesses, people with low incomes and those contributing to retirement funds, and for more tax on banks, mining companies, and companies producing carbon pollution.

> The public is generally supportive of reforms to the tax and welfare systems, particularly in respect of a mining tax and an increase in the tax free threshold for income tax.

Key trends: most important problems and political mood > The economy and employment represent the main concerns of the survey respondents, and the proportion mentioning them has increased slightly since mid-year.

> The proportion mentioning ‘better government’ as the main problem facing Australia has doubled since the previous poll and is now the second ranked issue for the public.

> Satisfaction with the direction in which the country is headed has declined, although those who are satisfied still greatly outnumber those who are dissatisfied.

6

A T T i T U d e s T o g o V e r N m e N T A N d g o V e r N m e N T s e r V i C e s

> Satisfaction with democracy in Australia remains high by international standards, though it is lower in 2010 and 2011 than in the earlier part of the decade.

> The lower levels of satisfaction with democracy in 2010 and 2011 are related to concerns about the quality of government.

> Half of the population believe that the federal government has enough power. Residents in Western Australia are most opposed to the federal government having more power, those in NSW more favourable.

> More people believe that unemployment and taxes have increased over the past few years, but they also see their own standard of living as having improved.

Key points

ANUpoll - Attitudes to government and government services 7

Notwithstanding the intensity of partisan debate, Australian democracy has always been characterised by high levels of public satisfaction with the system. indeed, of 29 advanced democracies sampled in the 1990s, only four—the Netherlands, denmark, sweden and the United states—had a higher level of popular satisfaction with democracy.

over the period since 1996, when the question was first asked in the Australian election study (Aes) survey, no less than seven out of every 10 within the electorate have been satisfied with democracy. The figure was lowest in 1998, an election that was dominated by the issue of the goods and services tax, and peaked at 86 per cent in 2007, at the end of the howard liberal government. in the 2010 Aes, conducted immediately after the federal election of that year, satisfaction with democracy declined to 73 per cent, reflecting popular concern about neither major party securing a parliamentary majority.

The september 2011 ANUpoll shows that the overall level of satisfaction with democracy has remained unchanged since the 2010 election. much of the explanation for this lower level of satisfaction with democracy, at least compared to previous surveys, lies with concerns about the quality of government. For example, of those who nominated the economy and jobs as the foremost issues for the nation, 78 per cent were still satisfied with Australian democracy; even for those who nominated immigration as their first concern, 76 per cent remained satisfied. however, for those who mentioned ‘better government’ as their first concern, just 56 per cent were satisfied.

Satisfied with democracy

Not satisfied with democracy

on the whole, are you very satisfied, fairly satisfied, not very satisfied, or not at all satisfied with the way democracy works in Australia?

Sources Aes 1996-2010; ANUpoll on government services, 2011

40

60

50

70

30

80

10

20

0

90

100

1996 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2011

78

7174

8286

73 73

22

2926

1914

27 27

8

one underlying issue about government policy and service is the balance of power between the states and the Commonwealth. since the early twentieth century, the balance of power has gradually shifted in favour of the Commonwealth. The public has taken a variety of positions on the issue of state-federal relations. in 1979, when the question was first asked in a survey, opinion was very much against giving the federal government more powers. This followed the experience of the Whitlam labor government between 1972 and 1975, which was viewed as having intruded too far into state affairs.

By 2008, when the question was again asked in an ANUpoll, opinion was almost equally divided between the states and the federal government, representing a significant shift in public opinion over the three decades between the surveys. in the 2011 ANUpoll, opinion had again moved in favour of the states. once again, a substantial driver behind this change has been the negative views of many voters over the minority labor government elected in the 2010 election.

one final piece of evidence in public opinion on state-federal relations is the state differences that exist on the issue. Among the six states (the territories are excluded because their sample sizes were too small for reliable analysis), the proportion who want more power transferred from the states to the federal government is highest, at 35 per cent, in New south Wales. The state most supportive of retaining state powers is Western Australia, where 18 per cent take the same view.

1979 2008 2011

states should give more powers to Federal government 17 40 30

Federal government has enough power already 66 39 50

depends/no opinion 17 21 20

Total 100 100 100

(N) (2,014) (996) (2,001)

‘some people think that in order to deal with Australia’s problems the state governments should hand over some of their powers to the federal government in Canberra. others think that the federal government has enough power already. What is your own feeling on this? do you think the state governments should give some powers to the federal government, or do you think it has enough powers already? if you have no opinion, just say so.

Sources Australian National Political Attitudes survey 1979, ANUpoll on governance, 2008, ANUpoll on government services, 2011.


one of the major drivers of popular evaluations of government is changes in economic conditions. The ANUpoll asked the respondents if they believed that seven indicators of economic conditions, ranging from unemployment and taxes to the person’s own standard of living, had increased or fallen since the previous election. The same questions were also asked in the 2007 and 2010 Australian election study surveys, providing an important trend perspective.

The survey respondents were most likely to say that the prices of goods and services had increased since the previous election; in 2011, 89 per cent took this view, the same proportion as in 2007. There was also a significant increase in the proportion who thought that unemployment had increased, from 13 per cent in 2007 to 40 per cent in 2011. however, there was also a general view that the quality of education and health services had increased, at least compared to 2007, and also that the person’s own standard of living had increased, albeit with a slight decline in 2010 reflecting the end of the global financial crisis.

10

20

15

25

5

30

0

35

40

NSW SA Qld Vic Tas WA

3533

29 29 29

18

Per

cent

say

s st

ates

giv

e po

wer

aw

ay

10

The final piece of evidence concerning public opinion towards government and government services concerns attitudes towards government spending. A standard question included in a wide range of surveys since the 1960s asked the respondents if they want to see a reduction in taxes or more spending on social services. in effect, the question asks the respondents to make a choice between the two goals. The long term trends from the polls suggest that the high point in favour of reduced taxes was in the 1980s, and since then there has been an increasing proportion in favour of more spending on social services.

This ANUpoll shows that a total of 39 per cent wanted reduced taxes, the same proportion as in the 2010 Aes, but substantially lower than in 1987, when 65 per cent took this view. A majority of the respondents – 55 per cent – wanted more spending on social services, with 35 per cent expressing strong support for this view. overall, the trend towards seeking more spending on social services rather than reduced taxes is confirmed in the ANUpoll, and the results show that over the last decade or so, the proportions have remained relatively stable.

Per

cent

say

s in

crea

sed

Unemployment

40

60

50

70

30

80

90

100

10

20

0

Prices of goods and services

Taxes Standard of health services

Quality of school and education

Your own standard of living

General standard of living

13

3540

89

82

89

42 4447

10

20 19

10

25 2427

21

3228

18

26

‘Now thinking back to the Federal election in 2007 [2007: 2004], when Kevin rudd [2004: John howard] won against John howard [2004: mark latham], would you say that since then, the following have increased or fallen?’

Sources Aes 2007-2010; ANUpoll on government services, 2011.

2007

2010

2011


Public opinion on government spending tends to be both secular – in that it is largely unrelated to partisan debates and changes in government – and cyclical – in that it is responsive to broader economic conditions. For example, on the latter point, it has often been observed that national electorates are more likely to favour spending on social services and welfare when economic conditions are benign, and to favour reduced taxes when economic conditions become harsh. Australia’s favourable economic performance over the past decade has undoubtedly contributed to the proportions who favour more spending on social services.

Per cent

strongly favour reducing taxes 25

mildly favour reducing taxes 14

mildly favour spending more on social services 20

strongly favour spending more on social services 35

it depends/ don’t know 6

Total 100

(N) (1,997)

‘‘if the government had a choice between reducing taxes or spending more on social services, which do you think it should do?’

Source ANUpoll on government services, 2011

12

d e l i V e r i N g g o V e r N m e N T s e r V i C e s

> A large majority of the population report that they or their partner had received at least one government benefit in the previous five years, the most common being the private health insurance rebate.

> Four out of every 10 respondents would like to deal with a government department in person. One quarter would prefer to use electronic communication and the least preferred method is mail.

> The most popular means of improving public services is through the provision of a better trained workforce; least popular is information about local service providers.


A feature that has become common to almost all of the advanced economies is the increasing prevalence of government programs that provide benefits to ever-larger groups of people. Where once government services acted as a social safety net and were targeted at relatively small minorities of citizens with particular needs, the tendency has been to provide services to a wider population base. This has implications not just in terms of the costs of providing these services, but in how these services are delivered most efficiently by government.

The ANUpoll asked the respondents which of six government benefits they or their partner had received in the previous five years. The results show that almost half of the respondents had received a private health insurance rebate, a measure introduced in 1999 to encourage the uptake of private health insurance. one in four reported having received the family tax benefit, a measure not subject to means testing and intended to encourage more women to remain at home and care for children. The remaining benefits have much smaller uptakes, ranging from the aged pension (13 per cent) to the disability support pension (7 per cent).

measured across the adult population, just 27 per cent said that they did receive at least one of the six government benefits, with 46 per cent reporting that they received one, and 21 per cent received two. The median person received one benefit; no-one reported receiving more than four out of the six benefits.

such a high level of provision obviously presents challenges to government in efficiently delivering such benefits to those who are entitled to them, particularly where queries arise. The respondents who said that they had received a benefit were asked how they would like to deal with the government department if they had a query – electronically, by mail, by phone or in person.

The results show that the largest group – an average of 41 per cent across all six programs – would prefer to deal with the government department in person. This is particularly the case where either the aged or the disability support pensions are concerned. dealing with the department by phone was preferred by 27 per cent, most notably among those in receipt of family tax benefit (40 per cent). electronic communication was preferred by 25 per cent, while mail, at 7 per cent, was the least preferred method.

Per cent

Private health insurance rebate 44

Family tax benefit A and B 26

Aged pension 13

Child care benefit 11

Unemployment benefits (eg Newstart allowance) 7

disability support pension 7

‘in the past five years, have you or your partner received any of the following benefits from the government?’

Source ANUpoll on government services, 2011

14

Finally, in order to ascertain how the provision of government services might be improved, the respondents were asked whether six possible changes would improve the quality of government services. All six received majority support, and five of the six received the support of eight out of every 10 respondents or more. The exception was ‘better information about local service providers’ which was supported by just 60 per cent of the respondents.

The provision of various forms of benefits to the population provide the main means by which citizens interact with government. Consequently, such interaction helps to mould the public’s views of government generally, separate from the partisan debate that dominates elections. The fact that satisfaction with democracy remains high in Australia, as demonstrated in the previous section, underpins the general effectiveness of program delivery in Australia. Nevertheless, challenges remain. it is clear that there is a preference for dealing with government in person, rather than electronically, with implications for the resources required. And citizens want to see better trained public servants, the greater use of technology, and coordination between the different levels of government.

Electronically By mail

By phone

In person

Total (N)

Private health insurance rebate 39 7 31 23 100 (861)

Family tax benefit 32 4 40 24 100 (501)

Aged pension 14 12 19 55 100 (261)

Childcare benefit 24 7 22 47 100 (130)

Unemployment benefit 24 7 22 47 100 (130)

disability support pension 18 6 25 51 100 (134)

‘if you had a general question about the payment and conditions of the [benefit] you receive, would you prefer to deal with the government department electronically, by mail, by phone or in person?’

Source ANUpoll on government services 2011.

Per cent

Better trained workforce 93

Use of better technologies in health and education 91

Closer coordination between state and federal governments 89

more voice for local communities over their services 83

more staff in ‘frontline’ services 80

Better information about local service providers like the myschool website for local schools

60

‘The following are some changes that could be made to public services. For each, could you please tell me whether or not you see it as important to improving the quality of public services in Australia?’


16

F i N A N C i N g g o V e r N m e N T s e r V i C e s

> There is strong support for more government expenditure on areas of social support, such as education and aged pensions, and much less support for more spending on reducing carbon pollution and on the military.

> There is strong support for less tax on small businesses, people with low incomes and those contributing to retirement funds, and for more tax on banks, mining companies, and companies producing carbon pollution.

> The public is generally supportive of reforms to the tax and welfare systems, particularly in respect of a mining tax and an increase in the tax free threshold for income tax.


Asking respondents to choose the areas in which they would like to see more or less government spending is always problematic. in the real world, increased spending in one area inevitably leads to reduced spending in others. This is a balance that the survey respondents do not have to face. Nevertheless, asking the respondents about a range of areas provides a useful comparison of public support for spending in one area versus another.

in eight of the nine areas that were asked about in the ANUpoll, the public said that there should be more rather than less spending in eight of them; the exception is unemployment benefits, where 20 per cent opt to spend more, and 33 per cent less, with almost half of the respondents saying that the current level of spending is about right. of the remaining eight areas of possible government spending, there is a clear division between those which provide social support – such as education and aged pensions – and areas such as the environment, reducing carbon pollution and the military, which receive much less public support.

Spend more

Same Spend less

Total (N) More-Less

education 81 18 1 100 (1,978) +80

Aged pensions 71 27 2 100 (1,966) +69

Families with low incomes 60 35 5 100 (1,924) +55

Childcare 52 39 9 100 (1,849) +43

Public housing 52 36 12 100 (1,917) +40

The environment 47 37 16 100 (1,975) +31

efforts to reduce carbon pollution 44 26 30 100 (1,931) +14

military and defence 35 42 23 100 (1,936) +12

Unemployment benefits 20 47 33 100 (1,915) -13

‘i’m now going to read through a list of various areas of government spending. Could you please tell me whether you would like to see much more government spending in each area, more spending, the same spending as now, less spending or much less spending? remember that if you say ‘much more’, it might require a tax increase to pay for it.’ don’t know responses are excluded. responses are ranked by the distribution of opinion in the final column.


18

For example, no less than 81 per cent of the respondents want to see more spending on education, and just 1 per cent less spending; less than one in five think that the current level of spending is about right. At the other end of the scale, there is much less support for more spending on the military and defence. Just one in three want to spend more, while one in four want to spend less. Perhaps significantly, none of the nine areas register a majority who believe that the current level of spending is about right; the closest is unemployment benefits, where 47 per cent opt for the current level.

The priorities of the public for government spending are therefore fairly clear, and focus on social programs of one sort or another. Which groups within society do the public see as being best placed to pay for these government services? The ANUpoll asked the respondents if they believed that the level of taxation was too high, too low or about right for eight groups.

in contrast to the results for government spending, where most of the areas attracted positive support for more spending, the population makes clear distinctions between who should pay more and who should pay less tax. There is a strong view that small businesses, those on low incomes or contributing to superannuation or retirement funds should pay less tax. For example, two-thirds of the respondents believe that the tax burden on small businesses is too high, and just 3 per cent believe that it is too low.

Too high About right Too low Total (N) High-low

small businesses 66 31 3 100 (1,823) +63

People on low incomes 52 44 4 100 (1,899) +48

People contributing to superannuation or retirement funds

51 44 5 100 (1,804) +46

People on middle incomes 43 49 8 100 (1,909) +35

People who own investment properties

24 48 28 100 (1,606) -4

People on high incomes 20 34 46 100 (1,838) -26

mining companies 12 29 59 100 (1,702) -47

Banks 12 29 59 100 (1,719) -47

Companies that produce carbon pollution

10 31 59 100 (1,745) -49

‘Now thinking about taxes, could you tell me whether you would describe taxes in Australia today as too high or too low for the following groups?’ don’t know responses are excluded. responses are ranked by the distribution of opinion in the final column.


The groups that the public would like to see paying more tax include mining companies, banks, and companies that produce carbon pollution. indeed, for each of these three groups, almost six in every 10 of those interviewed believed that the current level of taxation was too low. For only one group – those with investment properties – is there an equal balance between those advocating more tax and those advocating lower tax. While only about 6 per cent of the population own an investment property, the rate of home ownership in Australia is one of the highest in the world, and investing in additional property is seen as a legitimate means of wealth creation that should not attract undue tax.


Approve Neither Disapprove Total (N) High-low

A tax on very profitable mining companies

81 3 16 100 (1,921) +65

An increase in the tax-free threshold for income tax

78 5 17 100 (1,858) +61

Quarantining welfare payments for things like food and rent (known as income management)

73 5 22 100 (1,809) +51

greater obligations on people receiving disability benefits to work

69 7 24 100 (1,891) +45

Paid parental leave scheme for new parents

70 3 27 100 (1,944) +43

higher taxes on tobacco and some alcoholic drinks

68 4 28 100 (1,971) +40

A carbon tax on the 500 largest polluting companies

63 3 34 100 (1,909) +29

over the past three decades, governments of all political persuasions have attempted to reform the tax system, by simplifying the system and broadening the base. starting with the hawke labor government’s 1985 Tax summit and evidenced most recently in the 2010 henry review of Tax and the associated october 2011 Tax Forum, a wide range of reform proposals have been canvassed.

To ascertain support for some of the current proposals for reform, the ANUpoll respondents were asked whether they approved or disapproved of seven reforms, ranging from the contentious mining tax to higher taxes on alcohol and tobacco. The results suggest that there is a majority in favour of all seven changes, most notably for a mining tax, which is supported by 81 per cent, and an increase in the tax-free threshold for income tax (supported by 78 per cent). At the other end of the scale, there is less support for a carbon tax, but even here two-thirds approve of the proposal while one-third oppose it.

‘The federal government has made or proposed a number of changes to taxes and welfare benefits. Could you please tell me how much you approve or disapprove of each of the following changes?’ don’t know responses are excluded. responses are ranked by the distribution of opinion in the final column.


There are, then, considerable variations in opinions on the areas in which government should spend its funds; who should pay for government expenditure; and on the desirability of reform in the tax and welfare systems. in general, the differences between the states on these opinions are relatively small, and those that exist are in line with the social composition and economic bases of the states in question.

For example, Queensland residents are more likely to support more expenditure on the military than the average Australian, reflecting the AdF’s contribution to the Queensland economy. similarly, residents of Western Australia and Queensland, whose economies are disproportionately dependent on resources, are most opposed to the mining tax. To the extent that there are state differences on economic policy, they are the result of compositional differences rather than to fundamental differences of outlook.

20

K e y T r e N d s : m o s T i m P o r T A N T P r o B l e m s A N d P o l i T i C A l m o o d

> The economy and employment represent the main concerns of the survey respondents, and the proportion mentioning them has increased slightly since mid-year.

> The proportion mentioning ‘better government’ as the main problem facing Australia has doubled since the previous poll and is now the second ranked issue for the public.

> Satisfaction with the direction in which the country is headed has declined, although those who are satisfied still greatly outnumber those who are dissatisfied.


most of the ANUpolls conducted over the past three years have found that the most frequently mentioned problems facing Australia are the economy and employment. however, with the exception of the period covering the global financial crisis, these concerns have rarely numbered more than one in four of the survey respondents. This survey continues this trend, with 22 per cent of the respondents mentioning the economy and jobs as their first concern. While still a minority of the respondents, it is the highest figure since the beginning of 2010, and reflects worries about declining jobs in manufacturing and a possible slow-down in the economy.

Oct 11 May 11 Dec 10 June 10 March 10

economy/jobs 22 18 19 17 17

Better government 18 9 10 10 5

immigration 16 20 12 14 13

environment/global warming 10 11 12 15 12

‘What do you think is the most important problem facing Australia today?’

Source ANUpolls, march 2010-october 2011.

The major change compared to recent ANUpolls is the proportion who mention ‘better government’ as their first concern. in the current poll, the proportion is 18 per cent, which is double the same proportion in the most recent ANUpoll which surveyed public opinion in may. Combined with the 8 per cent who mentioned ‘better government’ as their second concern, around one in every four respondents considered this to be either the first or second most important problem facing Australia.

immigration is the third most mentioned problem, at 16 per cent, down from the peak of 20 per cent who mentioned it in the previous poll. The proportion mentioning the environment and global warming as their first concern has also declined slightly from the most recent surveys. The remaining problems that were raised in the survey attracted relatively few mentions.

The political mood remains generally positive. Around one in 10 say that they are ‘very satisfied’ with the direction in which the country is heading, while almost half are ‘satisfied.’ however, this represents a modest, though significant, decline from the may 2011 ANUpoll, when 12 per cent were ‘very satisfied’ and 51 per cent were ‘satisfied.’ This overall level of satisfaction had been consistent since the beginning of 2010, so the current decline is significant.

‘All things considered, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way the country is heading?’


Very satisfied

0

Satisfied

Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied

Dissatisfied

Very dissatisfied

Don’t know

20 30 40 50

9

2

12

25

6

46

Per cent

22

A N U p o l l Q U e s T i o N s


Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way the country is heading?

Number Per cent

Very satisfied 188 9.4

satisfied 916 45.8

Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied 129 6.4

dissatisfied 502 25.1

Very dissatisfied 233 11.7

don’t know / Not sure 28 1.4

refused 5 .2

Total 2001 100.0

What do you think is the most important problem facing Australia today?

Number Per cent

economy / jobs 441 22.1

industrial relations 10 .5

interest rates 1 .0

housing affordability 20 1.0

health care 55 2.7

education 39 2.0

defence / national security 3 .1

Terrorism 2 .1

Afghan war 0 .0

environment / global warming 196 9.8

Water management 12 .6

immigration 317 15.8

indigenous affairs 13 .7

Taxation 16 .8

Better government 353 17.6

law and order / crime / justice system 32 1.6

Ageing population 35 1.8

Values / morals / respect for others 72 3.6

Poverty / social exclusion / inequality 75 3.8

other 85 4.3

None / no other 11 .5

Trade balance / loss of jobs to overseas 9 .5

rural / farming issues 1 .0

social services (including aged care, the disabled, etc)

4 .2

infrastructure / planning / innovation 21 1.0

Alcohol and drug use 8 .4

young people’s behaviour / attitudes 8 .4

Foreign influence / Australia’s position in world 12 .6

Family / community / societal breakdown 3 .1

Carbon tax 77 3.8

don’t Know / Can’t say 72 3.6

Total 2001 100.0

24

And what do you think is the second most important problem facing Australia today?

Number Per cent

economy / jobs 294 14.7

industrial relations 16 .8

interest rates 6 .3

housing affordability 30 1.5

health care 94 4.7

education 79 3.9

defence / national security 10 .5

Terrorism 8 .4

iraq war 0 .0

Afghan war 7 .3

environment / global warming 181 9.0

Water management 19 .9

immigration 281 14.0

indigenous affairs 20 1.0

Taxation 27 1.3

Better government 163 8.1

law and order / crime / justice system 43 2.1

Ageing population 27 1.3

Values / morals / respect for others 57 2.9

Poverty / social exclusion / inequality 94 4.7

other 93 4.6

None / no other 64 3.2

Trade balance / loss of jobs to overseas 10 .5

rural / farming issues 12 .6

social services (including aged care, the disabled, etc.)

10 .5

infrastructure / planning / innovation 25 1.3

Alcohol and drug use 2 .1

young people’s behaviour / attitudes 10 .5

Foreign influence / Australia’s position in world 4 .2

Family/community / societal breakdown 3 .1

Carbon tax 64 3.2

don’t Know / Can’t say 168 8.4

refused 1 .0

Total 1919 95.9

skipped 82 4.1

On the whole, are you satisfied, fairly satisfied, not very satisfied or not at all satisfied with the way democracy works in Australia?

Number Per cent

Very satisfied 391 19.6

Fairly satisfied 1026 51.3

Not very satisfied 381 19.0

Not at all satisfied 152 7.6

don’t know / Not sure 37 1.8

refused 14 .7

Total 2001 100.0


Since the Federal election in 2007, has the following increased or fallen? – Unemployment

Number Per cent

increased a lot 173 8.6

increased a little 621 31.0

stayed the same 387 19.3

Fallen a little 491 24.6

Fallen a lot 96 4.8

don’t know 232 11.6

refused 0 .0

Total 2001 100.0

Since the Federal election in 2007, has the following increased or fallen? – Prices of goods and services

Number Per cent





Fallen a lot 17 .9

don’t know 31 1.5

Total 2001 100.0

Since the Federal election in 2007, has the following increased or fallen? – Taxes

Number Per cent





Fallen a lot 10 .5


refused 3 .1

Total 2001 100.0

Since the Federal election in 2007, has the following increased or fallen? – The standard of health services

Number Per cent





Fallen a lot 333 16.6


refused 3 .2

Total 2001 100.0

26

Since the Federal election in 2007, has the following increased or fallen? – The quality of school education

Number Per cent







refused 2 .1

Total 2001 100.0

Since the Federal election in 2007, has the following increased or fallen? – The affordability of child care

Number Per cent







refused 5 .3

Total 2001 100.0

Since the Federal election in 2007, has the following increased or fallen? – Your own standard of living

Number Per cent






don’t know 32 1.6

refused 2 .1

Total 2001 100.0

Since the Federal election in 2007, has the following increased or fallen? – The general standard of living

Number Per cent






don’t know 88 4.4

refused 3 .2

Total 2001 100.0


Should the government reduce taxes or spend more on social services?

Number Per cent

strongly favour reducing taxes 495 24.7

mildly favour reducing taxes 283 14.1

mildly favour spending more on social services 405 20.2

strongly favour spending more on social services 704 35.2

it depends 75 3.8

don’t know 35 1.8

refused 4 .2

Total 2001 100.0

Do you think the state governments should give some powers to the federal government, or do you think it has enough?

Number Per cent

states should give more powers to Federal government

605 30.3

Federal government has enough power already 1001 50.0

it depends 120 6.0

No opinion 260 13.0

refused 15 .7

Total 2001 100.0

Whether important to improving the quality of public services? – Better information about local service providers

Number Per cent

yes 1203 60.1

No 581 29.0


refused 8 .4

Total 2001 100.0

Whether important to improving the quality of public services? – Closer coordination between state and federal governments

Number Per cent

yes 1770 88.5

No 132 6.6

don’t know 87 4.4

refused 12 .6

Total 2001 100.0

28

Whether important to improving the quality of public services? – Use of better technologies in health and education

Number Per cent

yes 1810 90.4

No 124 6.2

don’t know 64 3.2

refused 4 .2

Total 2001 100.0

Whether important to improving the quality of public services? – Better trained workforce

Number Per cent

yes 1869 93.4

No 106 5.3

don’t know 26 1.3

Total 2001 100.0

Whether important to improving the quality of public services? – More staff in ‘frontline’ services

Number Per cent

yes 1601 80.0

No 303 15.1

don’t know 91 4.6

refused 6 .3

Total 2001 100.0

Whether important to improving the quality of public services? – More voice for local communities over their services

Number Per cent

yes 1646 82.3

No 252 12.6

don’t know 93 4.7

refused 9 .5

Total 2001 100.0


Government spending – The environment

Number Per cent

spend much more 262 13.1

spend more 672 33.6

spend the same as now 729 36.4

spend less 215 10.7

spend much less 96 4.8

don’t know 25 1.2

refused 1 .1

Total 2001 100.0

Government spending – Efforts to reduce carbon pollution

Number Per cent


spend more 563 28.1


spend less 276 13.8


don’t know 70 3.5

refused 0 .0

Total 2001 100.0

Government spending – Education

Number Per cent


spend more 982 49.1


spend less 25 1.3

spend much less 5 .3

don’t know 22 1.1

refused 1 .0

Total 2001 100.0

Government spending – The military and defence

Number Per cent


spend more 463 23.1


spend less 300 15.0


don’t know 62 3.1

refused 3 .1

Total 2001 100.0

30

Government spending – Aged pensions

Number Per cent


spend more 938 46.9


spend less 35 1.7

spend much less 14 .7

don’t know 33 1.7

refused 2 .1

Total 2001 100.0

Government spending – Unemployment benefits

Number Per cent


spend more 305 15.2


spend less 385 19.3


don’t know 83 4.1

refused 3 .2

Total 2001 100.0

Government spending – Families with low incomes

Number Per cent


spend more 917 45.8


spend less 81 4.0


don’t know 74 3.7

refused 3 .1

Total 2001 100.0

Government spending – Child care

Number Per cent


spend more 774 38.7


spend less 128 6.4



refused 2 .1

Total 2001 100.0


Government spending – Public housing

Number Per cent


spend more 695 34.7


spend less 182 9.1


don’t know 80 4.0

refused 4 .2

Total 2001 100.0

Taxation levels – People on high incomes

Number Per cent

much too high 79 3.9

Too high 283 14.2

About right 629 31.4

Too low 588 29.4

much too low 260 13.0


refused 3 .1

Total 2001 100.0

Taxation levels – People on middle incomes

Number Per cent


Too high 689 34.5


Too low 131 6.6

much too low 12 .6

don’t know 90 4.5

refused 2 .1

Total 2001 100.0

Taxation levels – People on low incomes

Number Per cent


Too high 726 36.3


Too low 72 3.6

much too low 12 .6

don’t know 98 4.9

refused 4 .2

Total 2001 100.0

32

Taxation levels – People who own investment properties (other than a family home)

Number Per cent


Too high 318 15.9


Too low 366 18.3

much too low 99 5.0


refused 3 .1

Total 2001 100.0

Taxation levels – People contributing to superannuation or retirement funds

Number Per cent


Too high 655 32.7


Too low 88 4.4

much too low 6 .3


refused 1 .0

Total 2001 100.0

Taxation levels – Mining companies

Number Per cent


Too high 158 7.9


Too low 536 26.8



refused 5 .2

Total 2001 100.0

Taxation levels – Companies that produce carbon pollution

Number Per cent


Too high 124 6.2


Too low 690 34.5



refused 4 .2

Total 2001 100.0


Taxation levels – Banks

Number Per cent


Too high 137 6.9


Too low 591 29.5



refused 3 .1

Total 2001 100.0

Taxation levels – Small businesses

Number Per cent


Too high 926 46.3


Too low 35 1.8

much too low 13 .6


refused 1 .1

Total 2001 100.0

Taxes and welfare benefits – Paid parental leave scheme for new parents

Number Per cent

strongly approve 520 26.0

Approve 838 41.9

Neither approve nor disapprove 50 2.5

disapprove 341 17.1

strongly disapprove 194 9.7

don’t know 55 2.8

refused 2 .1

Total 2001 100.0

Taxes and welfare benefits – A carbon tax on the 500 largest polluting companies

Number Per cent


Approve 619 30.9


disapprove 332 16.6


don’t know 87 4.3

refused 5 .3

Total 2001 100.0

34

Taxes and welfare benefits – An increase in the tax-free threshold for income tax

Number Per cent


Approve 1009 50.4


disapprove 255 12.7



refused 2 .1

Total 2001 100.0

Taxes and welfare benefits – Greater obligations on people receiving disability benefits to work

Number Per cent


Approve 905 45.2


disapprove 330 16.5



refused 9 .4

Total 2001 100.0

Taxes and welfare benefits – A means-test on access to payments like the Baby Bonus and paid parental leave payments

Number Per cent


Approve 861 43.0


disapprove 253 12.6


don’t know 46 2.3

refused 6 .3

Total 2001 100.0

Taxes and welfare benefits – A tax on very profitable mining companies

Number Per cent


Approve 797 39.8


disapprove 231 11.5


don’t know 74 3.7

refused 6 .3

Total 2001 100.0


Taxes and welfare benefits – Quarantining welfare payments for things like food and rent

Number Per cent


Approve 787 39.3


disapprove 273 13.7



refused 14 .7

Total 2001 100.0

Taxes and welfare benefits – Higher taxes on tobacco and some alcoholic drinks

Number Per cent


Approve 605 30.2


disapprove 354 17.7


don’t know 24 1.2

refused 6 .3

Total 2001 100.0

Enquiries regarding this poll:

Professor ian mcAllister research school of social sciences Anu college of Arts and social sciences

t +61 2 6125 5553 e [email protected]

Australian National Institute for Public Policy

JG crawford building #132 the Australian national university canberra Act 0200 Australia

t +61 2 6125 2154 F +61 2 6125 9767 W publicpolicy.anu.edu.au

General enquiries: [email protected]

Attitudes to Government And Government services Anupoll ... · > There is strong support for more...

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