D0065: Age Poll, November, 1973
POLLING ORGANISATION Irving Saulwick and Associates SURVEY METHOD The sampled population consists of persons aged 18 years and over from 80 federal electorates throughout Australia, excluding the Northern Territory. Approximately 2,000 interviews are usually conducted. 13 starting points are selected in each metropolitan and 12 in each non-metropolitan electorate from the electoral roll, and 2 interviews per starting point are obtained with only one interview per dwelling. The interview is conducted with the youngest adult over the age of 18 available subject to a sex quota of equal numbers of interviews with males and females in each sample locality. This poll is based on 1,952 interviews conducted in November 1973. BACKGROUND VARIABLES age / sex / highest level of education / religion / church attendance / occupation / occupation of head of household / marital status / vote at last Federal election / present voting intention / country of birth. WEIGHTING The responses are unweighted. THEMES - NAMES AND RESPONSES 1. Very soon Australians will be voting at a referendum on the subject of price and income controls. At present the power to control prices and incomes rests under the individual states. The referendum would transfer these powers to the Federal Government which then may, or may not, choose to use it to control prices or incomes. There will be two questions on the ballot paper, one on prices and one on incomes. (SHOW CARD R) These are the questions. I'd like you to tell me how you would answer - YES or NO if the referendum were held TOMORROW ....... a) First on prices - Do you approve the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitles - "An Act to alter the Constitution so as to enable the Australian Parliament to CONTROL PRICES"? Category label Code Count Percent NE 0 120 6.1 YES 1 1085 55.6 NO 2 747 38.3 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 b) And now, on incomes - Do you approve the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled - "An Act to alter the Constitution so as to enable the Australian Parliament to MAKE LAWS WITH RESPECT TO INCOMES"? Category label Code Count Percent NE 0 143 7.3 YES 1 828 42.4 NO 2 981 50.3 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 2a. By the way, do you personally think PRICES should be controlled IMMEDIATELY? Category label Code Count Percent NE 0 95 4.9 YES 1 1353 69.3 NO 2 504 25.8 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 b. And do YOU personally think INCOMES should be controlled IMMEDIATELY? Category label Code Count Percent NE 0 114 5.8 YES 1 966 49.5 NO 2 872 44.7 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 3a. There is much talk about economic conditions in Australia .. Would you say that the economic conditions in Australia today are .. (Read out) Category label Code Count Percent NE 0 33 1.7 VERY GOOD 1 176 9.0 GOOD 2 562 28.8 FAIR 3 768 39.3 POOR 4 294 15.1 VERY POOR 5 119 6.1 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 b. And in SIX MONTHS TIME .. Do you feel they will be .. (Read out - encourage "best guess") Category label Code Count Percent NE 0 156 8.0 VERY GOOD 1 168 8.6 GOOD 2 419 21.5 FAIR 3 546 28.0 POOR 4 402 20.6 VERY POOR 5 261 13.4 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 4. I am going to read you some statements which people have made about the Federal Government and each time I would like you to say how far you agree or disagree, according to this card. The first statement is (...Read out...). Do you agree strongly, agree in part, disagree in part or disagree strongly? (Repeat for other statements) a. The Government is trying to do too many things at once Category label Code Count Percent NE 0 47 2.4 AGREE STRONGLY 1 815 41.8 AGREE IN PART 2 618 31.7 DISAGREE IN PART 3 273 14.0 DISAGREE STRONGLY 4 199 10.2 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 b. The Government's policy on education is fair to the community as a whole Category label Code Count Percent NE 0 176 9.0 AGREE STRONGLY 1 594 30.4 AGREE IN PART 2 676 34.6 DISAGREE IN PART 3 304 15.6 DISAGREE STRONGLY 4 202 10.3 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 c. The Government is too friendly to China Category label Code Count Percent NE 0 146 7.5 AGREE STRONGLY 1 516 26.4 AGREE IN PART 2 373 19.1 DISAGREE IN PART 3 418 21.4 DISAGREE STRONGLY 4 499 25.6 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 d. The Government has allowed interest rates on housing to rise too high Category label Code Count Percent NE 0 104 5.3 AGREE STRONGLY 1 1134 58.1 AGREE IN PART 2 419 21.5 DISAGREE IN PART 3 174 8.9 DISAGREE STRONGLY 4 121 6.2 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 e. The Government has taken a number of positive steps in an attempt to control inflation Category label Code Count Percent NE 0 89 4.6 AGREE STRONGLY 1 378 19.4 AGREE IN PART 2 547 28.0 DISAGREE IN PART 3 394 20.2 DISAGREE STRONGLY 4 544 27.9 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 f. The Government has put too many people in senior public service jobs Category label Code Count Percent NE 0 342 17.5 AGREE STRONGLY 1 801 41.0 AGREE IN PART 2 400 20.5 DISAGREE IN PART 3 243 12.4 DISAGREE STRONGLY 4 166 8.5 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 g. Australia's relations with the United States are more realistic since this Government came into power Category label Code Count Percent NE 0 211 10.8 AGREE STRONGLY 1 484 24.8 AGREE IN PART 2 435 22.3 DISAGREE IN PART 3 389 19.9 DISAGREE STRONGLY 4 433 22.2 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 h. The Government should be taking more positive action to control strikes Category label Code Count Percent NE 0 35 1.8 AGREE STRONGLY 1 1294 66.3 AGREE IN PART 2 374 19.2 DISAGREE IN PART 3 127 6.5 DISAGREE STRONGLY 4 122 6.3 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 i. All things considered, patients would be better off under the Government's proposed health scheme Category label Code Count Percent NE 0 229 11.7 AGREE STRONGLY 1 522 26.7 AGREE IN PART 2 349 17.9 DISAGREE IN PART 3 252 12.9 DISAGREE STRONGLY 4 600 30.7 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 j. The Government is failing to inform the business community of its policy towards business Category label Code Count Percent NE 0 653 33.5 AGREE STRONGLY 1 474 24.3 AGREE IN PART 2 428 21.9 DISAGREE IN PART 3 216 11.1 DISAGREE STRONGLY 4 181 9.3 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 5. In previous polls we have asked people about the leaders of the main political parties in Australia. Take The Prime Minister Mr. Whitlam first of all - if you had to give him a mark out of TEN for his popularity with you - what would you give .. 10 means he is EXTREMELY popular .. 1 means he is extremely UNPOPULAR .. You can give him any number between 1 and 10 (You may NOT give nil (0) - 1 is the lowest) Category label Code Count Percent EXTREMELY UNPOPULAR 1 365 18.7 2 85 4.4 3 86 4.4 4 111 5.7 5 320 16.4 6 123 6.3 7 169 8.7 8 262 13.4 9 78 4.0 EXTREMELY POPULAR 10 318 16.3 NE 11 35 1.8 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 The Liberal leader Mr. Snedden Category label Code Count Percent EXTREMELY UNPOPULAR 1 438 22.4 2 120 6.1 3 141 7.2 4 152 7.8 5 427 21.9 6 158 8.1 7 149 7.6 8 155 7.9 9 41 2.1 EXTREMELY POPULAR 10 101 5.2 NE 11 70 3.6 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 The Country Party Leader Mr. Anthony Category label Code Count Percent EXTREMELY UNPOPULAR 1 314 16.1 2 119 6.1 3 131 6.7 4 137 7.0 5 386 19.8 6 180 9.2 7 158 8.1 8 199 10.2 9 45 2.3 EXTREMELY POPULAR 10 128 6.6 NE 11 155 7.9 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 6a. Differing attitudes exist in the community today about marriage. In particular, there are differing views about when a marriage should be able to be dissolved. Generally speaking, which ONE of these attitudes comes CLOSEST to your feelings about when a marriage should be able to be dissolved:- - Only by death OR - Only if one of the partners commits an offence, such as adultery, great cruelty or desertion OR - By mutual consent (both parties agreeing that the marriage has failed) OR - At the wish of one partner only Category label Code Count Percent NE 0 64 3.3 ONLY BY DEATH 1 304 15.6 IF OFFENCE COMMITTED 2 298 15.3 MUTUAL CONSENT 3 1138 58.3 WISH OF 1 PARTNER 4 148 7.6 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 6b. Views about marriage sometimes differ according to whether or not there are any children involved. I am going to read you a series of situations. Each time would you tell me whether you approve, accept or disapprove of the situations:- (Show Card 2) A childless couple, able to marry, but preferring to live together without marriage Category label Code Count Percent APPROVE 1 488 25.0 ACCEPT 2 604 30.9 DISAPPROVE 3 824 42.2 NE 4 36 1.8 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 A childless couple, prevented for some reason from marrying, living together Category label Code Count Percent APPROVE 1 640 32.8 ACCEPT 2 741 38.0 DISAPPROVE 3 531 27.2 NE 4 40 2.0 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 A couple with dependent children, able to marry, but preferring to live together with the children, without marriage. Category label Code Count Percent APPROVE 1 229 11.7 ACCEPT 2 415 21.3 DISAPPROVE 3 1267 64.9 NE 4 41 2.1 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 A couple with dependent children, prevented for some reason from marrying, living together with the children Category label Code Count Percent APPROVE 1 497 25.5 ACCEPT 2 799 40.9 DISAPPROVE 3 597 30.6 NE 4 59 3.0 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 A couple with grown-up children, able to marry, but preferring to live together without marriage Category label Code Count Percent APPROVE 1 431 22.1 ACCEPT 2 605 31.0 DISAPPROVE 3 863 44.2 NE 4 53 2.7 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 A couple with grown-up children, prevented for some reason from marrying, living together Category label Code Count Percent APPROVE 1 560 28.7 ACCEPT 2 772 39.5 DISAPPROVE 3 568 29.1 NE 4 52 2.7 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 An unhappily married couple staying together for the sake of the children Category label Code Count Percent APPROVE 1 461 23.6 ACCEPT 2 450 23.1 DISAPPROVE 3 953 48.8 NE 4 88 4.5 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 A single woman, deliberately choosing to bring up a child on her own without marriage Category label Code Count Percent APPROVE 1 715 36.6 ACCEPT 2 642 32.9 DISAPPROVE 3 529 27.1 NE 4 66 3.4 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 7. Some people call marriage a gamble. And there are differing attitudes about gambling itself. How do you personally feel about each of these forms of gambling? (Show Card 3) Would you answer each time in terms of this card? State Lotteries Category label Code Count Percent APPROVE 1 1295 66.3 ACCEPT IF CHARITY 2 484 24.8 DISAPPROVE 3 154 7.9 NE 4 19 1.0 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 Horse Racing Category label Code Count Percent APPROVE 1 1184 60.7 ACCEPT IF CHARITY 2 267 13.7 DISAPPROVE 3 451 23.1 NE 4 50 2.6 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 Football Pools Category label Code Count Percent APPROVE 1 1126 57.7 ACCEPT IF CHARITY 2 357 18.3 DISAPPROVE 3 387 19.8 NE 4 82 4.2 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 Dog Racing Category label Code Count Percent APPROVE 1 1070 54.8 ACCEPT IF CHARITY 2 252 12.9 DISAPPROVE 3 576 29.5 NE 4 54 2.8 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 Casinos (as in Wrest Point, Tasmania) Category label Code Count Percent APPROVE 1 775 39.7 ACCEPT IF CHARITY 2 241 12.3 DISAPPROVE 3 865 44.3 NE 4 71 3.6 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 Gambling facilities in private clubs Category label Code Count Percent APPROVE 1 833 42.7 ACCEPT IF CHARITY 2 228 11.7 DISAPPROVE 3 834 42.7 NE 4 57 2.9 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 8a. In recent weeks, there have been news reports from people testifying to evidence of some form of intelligent life coming from other parts of the universe. Which if these statements comes closest to YOUR feelings - (read out) OR I am convinced there is some form of intelligent life in other parts of the universe OR I believe there may be some form of intelligent life in other parts of the universe OR I feel it unlikely that there is any form of intelligent life in other parts if the universe OR I am convinced there is NO form of intelligent life in other parts if the universe Category label Code Count Percent NE 0 80 4.1 A-CONVINCED 1 295 15.1 B-MAY BE 2 986 50.5 C-UNLIKELY 3 337 17.3 D-NO LIFE 4 254 13.0 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 8b. (If Code 1 or Code 2 chosen in 8a.) Do you feel that intelligent from other parts if the universe has already attempted to make contact with Earth by means of - (read out) Radio signals Investigations by what we call unidentified flying objects Making contact with people on Earth Category label Code Count Percent RADIO SIGNALS Q8BI 257 33.4 U.F.O'S Q8BII 650 84.4 CONTACT WITH PEOPLE Q8BIII 178 23.1 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 9. SHOW CARD 1 I am going to read you some more statements, and each time I would like you to answer in terms of the card according to how the statement appears to YOU personally I am annoyed when everything around me is not neat and orderly Category label Code Count Percent NE 0 17 .9 AGREE STRONGLY 1 771 39.5 AGREE IN PART 2 685 35.1 DISAGREE IN PART 3 327 16.8 DISAGREE STRONGLY 4 152 7.8 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 I don't like to undertake a project unless I have a pretty idea how it will turn out Category label Code Count Percent NE 0 26 1.3 AGREE STRONGLY 1 1068 54.7 AGREE IN PART 2 527 27.0 DISAGREE IN PART 3 200 10.2 DISAGREE STRONGLY 4 131 6.7 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 Once I have made up my mind, I almost never change it Category label Code Count Percent NE 0 10 .5 AGREE STRONGLY 1 705 36.1 AGREE IN PART 2 526 26.9 DISAGREE IN PART 3 424 21.7 DISAGREE STRONGLY 4 287 14.7 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 An ounce of fact is worth a ton of theory Category label Code Count Percent NE 0 91 4.7 AGREE STRONGLY 1 1093 56.0 AGREE IN PART 2 512 26.2 DISAGREE IN PART 3 151 7.7 DISAGREE STRONGLY 4 105 5.4 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 In general, I spend my money very carefully and give little away Category label Code Count Percent NE 0 27 1.4 AGREE STRONGLY 1 624 32.0 AGREE IN PART 2 639 32.7 DISAGREE IN PART 3 387 19.8 DISAGREE STRONGLY 4 275 14.1 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 10. Generally speaking, in Politics, do you think of YOURSELF as Liberal, A.L.P., Country, D.L.P. or what? Category label Code Count Percent NE 0 47 2.4 LIBERAL 1 704 36.1 ALP 2 786 40.3 DLP 3 52 2.7 COUNTRY PARTY 4 98 5.0 AUSTRALIA PTY 5 36 1.8 OTHER PARTY 6 9 .5 NOT IDENTIFY 7 220 11.3 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0 10b. If any party named at q10a - codes 1-6) How strongly (name of Party) do you feel (Read out) Category label Code Count Percent NA 0 269 13.8 VERY STRONGLY 1 551 28.2 FAIRLY STRONGLY 2 761 39.0 NOT VERY STRONG 3 362 18.5 NE 4 9 .5 ------- ----- Total responses 1952 100.0
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