This week’s Essential Report comes in with the primaries running 50 (up 2) / 35 (down 2) to Labor, washing out into a two party preferred of 59/41 the same way – a 2 point increase to Labor from last week. This comes from a rolling two week sample of 1805, giving us an MoE that maxes out around the 2.3% mark.

Essential also asked additional questions this week, testing public opinion on matters as diverse as how the government should act when an Australian gets into trouble overseas right through to lowering the voting age. These additional questions ran from a sample of 1009 for an MoE that maxes out around the 3.1% mark.

In each of the following situations involving Australian citizens in foreign countries, what sort of action do you think the Australian Government should take?

(click to expand)


bangedupabroad

There’s nothing on the cross-tabs for this question, but the moral of the story seems to be that the Australian public will give you full support if you get into serious trouble overseas, as long as there is no whiff of guilt.

A report into health and hospitals has recommended that the Federal Government take over some health services from the states – including outpatient services, community health centres and aged care, but not hospitals. Would you support or oppose the Federal Government taking over these services from the states?

healthThe cross-tabs tell us:

Support for a Federal takeover of health services, excluding hospitals, increased with age – 51% of 18 – 34 year olds compared with 70% of people aged over 55.

Labor voters were more likely to support a Federal takeover of health services, excluding hospitals (71%) while Coalition voters were more likely to oppose (20%).

Support was consistent across all states.

Would you support or oppose the Federal Government taking over all hospitals services from the states?

health2Essential says with the cross-tabs:

Support increased with age – 45% of people aged 34 years and younger support the Federal takeover of hospitals compared with 69% of people aged over 55 that support such a move.

Labor voters were more likely to support a Federal takeover of hospitals (63%) while Coalition voters were more likely to oppose such a move (23%).

Support was consistent across all states.

Thinking about your main job, do you agree or disagree that: “It often seems like I have too much work for one person to do.”

stress

The cross-tabs note that:

Respondents on higher incomes ($1600 per week) were more likely to strongly agree/somewhat agree that “it often seems like I have too much work for one person to do” (68%).

I wonder what the responses for this type of question are over a longer period of time? Does ahyone know of a similar survey done in the past?

Do you support or oppose allowing 16-17 year olds to vote in elections?

loweragevoting

The cross-tabs have us:

Opposition to allowing 16 – 17 year olds the vote increased with age – 70% of people aged 18 – 34 years compared with 87% of people aged 55 years and over.

Green voters were more likely to support allowing 16 – 17 year olds to vote (21%), while Coalition voters were more likely to oppose such a move (84%).

I guess that idea will be going no further then.