D0135: Age Poll, June, 1977
POLLING ORGANISATION Irving Saulwick and Associates SURVEY METHOD The sampled population consisted of persons aged 18 years and over who were enrolled to vote from all federal electorates throughout Australia, excluding the Northern Territory. Approximately 2,000 interviews were usually conducted. A number of starting points, proportional to the number of electors, was chosen in each Federal electorate. Beginning at the dwelling adjacent to that starting point the interviewer approached each dwelling until a contact was made and an interview completed. The next three adjacent dwellings were skipped and approaches were then made to each dwelling until a second interview was obtained and so on until a cluster size of 4 interviews were completed. The interviewee was selected by taking that person whose birthday was nearest to the date of interview, aged 18 years or more and enrolled to vote and at home. Equal numbers of interviews with males and females within a pair of clusters and an age quota were imposed in each sample locality. This poll is based on 2,105 interviews conducted in June 1977. BACKGROUND VARIABLES country of birth / religion / self assessment of social class/ occupation of head of household / age / sex / marital status / highest level of education / occupation / voting intention/ vote at last federal election/ WEIGHTING The responses are unweighted. THEMES - NAMES AND RESPONSES 1a. THERE IS MUCH TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN AUSTRALIA - WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN AUSTRALIA TODAY ARE - ? (Read Out - Encourage Best Guess) Category label Code Count Percent VERY GOOD 1 38 1.8 GOOD 2 190 9.0 FAIR 3 888 42.2 POOR 4 633 30.1 VERY POOR 5 350 16.6 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 6 6 .3 ------- ----- Total responses 2105 100.0 1b. AND IN 6 MONTHS TIME DO YOU THINK THEY WILL BE - ? Category label Code Count Percent VERY GOOD 1 52 2.5 GOOD 2 283 13.4 FAIR 3 699 33.2 POOR 4 548 26.0 VERY POOR 5 454 21.6 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 6 69 3.3 ------- ----- Total responses 2105 100.0 2a. STILL THINKING ABOUT THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY AND IN PARTICULAR ABOUT THE PROBLEMS OF INFLATION, WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING COMES CLOSEST TO YOUR VIEW? (1) WAGE EARNERS ARE ENTITLED TO DEMAND THAT THE PURCHASING POWER OF THEIR WAGES BE MAINTAINED (2) IN THE INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY, WAGE EARNERS SHOULD ACCEPT A CUT IN REAL WAGES Category label Code Count Percent WAGES KEPT UP 1 1335 63.4 WAGES CUT 2 650 30.9 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 3 120 5.7 ------- ----- Total responses 2105 100.0 2b. AND WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS COMES CLOSEST TO YOUR VIEW? (1) MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS ARE ENTITLED TO MAINTAIN THEIR PROFIT MARGINS (2) IN THE INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS SHOULD NOT RAISE PRICES, AND ACCEPT LOWER PROFITS Category label Code Count Percent MAINTAIN PROFITS 1 717 34.1 ACCEPT LOWER PROF 2 1314 62.4 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 3 74 3.5 ------- ----- Total responses 2105 100.0 3. DURING RECENT MONTHS AUSTRALIA HAS EXPERIENCED A NUMBER OF STRIKES WHICH HAVE INCONVENIENCED THE PUBLIC AND AFFECTED BUSINESS. AS A RESULT, THE RIGHT OF UNIONS TO STRIKE OR BAN WORK ON PROJECTS HAS BEEN WIDELY DISCUSSED. WITH WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS DO YOU PERSONALLY AGREE? - YOU MAY AGREE WITH AS MANY OR AS FEW AS YOU WISH. (1) UNIONS SHOULD NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO STRIKE WHERE THIS ACTION WOULD SERIOUSLY INCONVENIENCE THE PUBLIC (2) UNIONS SHOULD NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO STRIKE WHERE THEIR ACTION COULD LEAD TO OTHER WORKERS BEING STOOD DOWN (3) UNIONS SHOULD NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO STRIKE OR BAN WORK ON PROJECTS WHICH THE GOVERNMENT DECLARED TO BE VITAL (4) GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES SHOULD NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO STRIKE (5) UNIONS SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE THE RIGHT TO STRIKE (6) UNIONS SHOULD NEVER HAVE THE RIGHT TO STRIKE Category label Code Count Percent NO STRIKES WHICH INCONVENIENCE PUBLIC Q3A 1308 63.8 NO STRIKES RESULTING IN STAND DOWNS Q3B 1194 58.3 NO STRIKES ON VITAL PROJECTS Q3C 999 48.8 GOVT EMPLOYEES - NO RIGHT TO STRIKE Q3D 445 21.7 ALWAYS THE RIGHT TO STRIKE Q3E 660 32.2 NEVER THE RIGHT TO STRIKE Q3F 253 12.3 ------- ----- Total responses 2105 100.0 4. SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT MUST GET TOUGH WITH UNIONS AND IMPOSE HARSH PENALTIES ON UNIONS TO PREVENT THEM FROM TAKING STRIKE ACTION. OTHERS SAY THAT THE THREAT OF PENALTIES WOULD LEAD TO FURTHER INDUSTRIAL UNREST. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS COMES CLOSEST TO YOUR VIEW? (1) TOUGH POLICIES ARE NEEDED TO PREVENT UNIONS FROM TAKING STRIKE ACTION (2) TOUGH POLICIES WILL LEAD TO CONFLICT AND INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF STRIKES Category label Code Count Percent TOUGH POLS NEEDED 1 970 46.1 NO TOUGH POLICIES 2 990 47.0 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 3 145 6.9 ------- ----- Total responses 2105 100.0 5a. DURING RECENT STRIKES A NUMBER OF LEADING FIGURES BECAME INVOLVED IN THE SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES. AMONG THESE, MR FRASER AND MR HAWKE WERE PROMINENT. THINKING ABOUT MR FRASER IN PARTICULAR, WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WORDS DO YOU THINK BEST DESCRIBES HIS INVOLVEMENT? (1) STATESMANLIKE (2) CONSTRUCTIVE (3) UNHELPFUL (4) PROVOCATIVE Category label Code Count Percent STATESMANLIKE - MR FRASER Q5A1 346 16.4 CONSTRUCTIVE - MR FRASER Q5A2 409 19.4 UNHELPFUL - MR FRASER Q5A3 687 32.6 PROVOCATIVE - MR FRASER Q5A4 620 29.5 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB - MR FRASER Q5A5 182 8.6 ------- ----- Total responses 2105 100.0 5b. DURING RECENT STRIKES A NUMBER OF LEADING FIGURES BECAME INVOLVED IN THE SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES. AMONG THESE, MR FRASER AND MR HAWKE WERE PROMINENT. THINKING ABOUT MR HAWKE IN PARTICULAR, WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WORDS DO YOU THINK BEST DESCRIBES HIS INVOLVEMENT? (1) STATESMANLIKE (2) CONSTRUCTIVE (3) UNHELPFUL (4) PROVOCATIVE Category label Code Count Percent STATESMANLIKE - MR HAWKE Q5B1 222 10.5 CONSTRUCTIVE - MR HAWKE Q5B2 1081 51.4 UNHELPFUL - MR HAWKE Q5B3 276 13.1 PROVOCATIVE - MR HAWKE Q5B4 520 24.7 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB - MR HAWKE Q5B5 140 6.7 ------- ----- Total responses 2105 100.0 6. IF A FEDERAL ELECTION FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WAS HELD TOMORROW, FOR WHICH POLITICAL PARTY WOULD YOU PROBABLY VOTE? Category label Code Count Percent AUST.PARTY;CENTRE 1 168 8.0 ALP 2 867 41.2 DLP 3 36 1.7 LIBERAL 4 686 32.6 NCP 5 87 4.1 OTHER 6 70 3.3 WOULD NOT VOTE 7 44 2.1 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 8 147 7.0 ------- ----- Total responses 2105 100.0 7a. IF YOU HAD TO GIVE MR FRASER A MARK OUT OF TEN FOR HIS POPULARITY WITH YOU, WHAT MARK WOULD YOU GIVE HIM - YOU CAN GIVE HIM ANY NUMBER BETWEEN ONE AND TEN? 10 MEANS HE IS EXTREMELY POPULAR WITH YOU. 1 MEANS HE IS EXTREMELY UNPOPULAR WITH YOU. Category label Code Count Percent EXTREMELY UNPOPULAR 1 523 24.8 2 123 5.8 3 113 5.4 4 154 7.3 5 421 20.0 6 204 9.7 7 200 9.5 8 196 9.3 9 36 1.7 EXTREMELY POPULAR 10 115 5.5 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 12 20 1.0 ------- ----- Total responses 2105 100.0 7b. IF YOU HAD TO GIVE MR WHITLAM A MARK OUT OF TEN FOR HIS POPULARITY WITH YOU, WHAT MARK WOULD YOU GIVE HIM - YOU CAN GIVE HIM ANY NUMBER BETWEEN ONE AND TEN? 10 MEANS HE IS EXTREMELY POPULAR WITH YOU. 1 MEANS HE IS EXTREMELY UNPOPULAR WITH YOU. Category label Code Count Percent EXTREMELY UNPOPULAR 1 467 22.2 2 115 5.5 3 142 6.7 4 152 7.2 5 440 20.9 6 183 8.7 7 160 7.6 8 174 8.3 9 37 1.8 EXTREMELY POPULAR 10 215 10.2 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 12 20 1.0 ------- ----- Total responses 2105 100.0 7c. DO YOU THINK THE RE-ELECTION OF MR WHITLAM AS LEADER OF THE LABOR PARTY HAS - (1) IMPROVED THE PROSPECTS OF THE LABOR PARTY OF WINNING A FEDERAL ELECTION (2) WORSENED THE PROSPECTS OF THE LABOR PARTY OF WINNING A FEDERAL ELECTION Category label Code Count Percent IMPROVED 1 824 39.1 WORSENED 2 1031 49.0 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 3 250 11.9 ------- ----- Total responses 2105 100.0 8. GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE WORLD ARE CONCERNED WITH THE GROWING ENERGY CRISIS. THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT HAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED A WIDE PROGRAM TO CONSERVE THE USE OF ENERGY FUELS IN THE UNITED STATES, PARTICULARLY PETROLEUM FUELS FOR USE IN CARS AND FOR THE HEATING OF HOMES. AUSTRALIA HAS LIMITED SUPPLIES OF LOCALLY PRODUCED OIL AND UNLESS NEW RESERVES ARE FOUND WILL BECOME MORE DEPENDENT ON IMPORTS. IN THIS SITUATION, WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING POLICIES SHOULD BE INTRODUCED IN AUSTRALIA? - YOU MAY AGREE WITH AS MANY POLICIES AS YOU WISH. (1) INTRODUCE TOLL CHARGES ON MAJOR ROADS (2) REQUIRE HOUSES TO BE INSULATED (3) APPLY VERY STRICT SPEED LIMITS ON ALL ROADS (4) INCREASE PRICES OF PETROL AND HOME HEATING OIL (5) IMPOSE TAXES OR HIGHER REGISTRATION CHARGES ON LARGE CARS WHICH USE A LOT OF PETROL (6) IMPOSE PETROL RATIONING (7) INTRODUCE SPECIAL TAXES TO IMPROVE PUBLIC TRANSPORT (8) DO NONE OF THESE THINGS Category label Code Count Percent TOLL CHARGES ON MAJOR ROADS Q8A 290 13.8 REQUIRE HOUSES TO BE INSULATED Q8B 1048 49.8 STRICT SPEED LIMITS Q8C 1290 61.3 INCREASE PRICES OF PETROL AND OIL Q8D 234 11.1 IMPOSE TAXES ON LARGE CARS Q8E 905 43.0 IMPOSE PETROL RATIONING Q8F 267 12.7 IMPROVE PUBLIC TRANSPORT Q8G 893 42.4 NONE OF THESE THINGS Q8H 222 10.6 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB Q8I 28 1.3 ------- ----- Total responses 2105 100.0 9. THINKING NOW ABOUT THE MINING AND EXPORT OF URANIUM. YOU MAY KNOW THAT A ROYAL COMMISSION HAS RECENTLY STATED THAT IF AUSTRALIA MINED AND EXPORTED URANIUM IT SHOULD BE ONLY UNDER CERTAIN CONTROLLED CONDITIONS. SOME PEOPLE CLAIM THAT AUSTRALIA HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO SUPPLY ENERGY-SHORT COUNTRIES WITH URANIUM; OTHERS SAY THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY RISKS INVOLVED. THE GOVERNMENT HAS INDICATED THAT IT WOULD PERMIT THE EXPORT OF URANIUM ONLY UNDER STRICT CONTROL AND ONLY TO COUNTRIES WHICH UNDERTAKE THAT THEY WILL USE FOR PEACEFUL PURPOSES. TAKING ALL THINGS INTO ACCOUNT, DO YOU THINK THAT AUSTRALIA, AT THE PRESENT TIME - - (1) SHOULD MINE AND EXPORT URANIUM OR (2) SHOULD NOT MINE AND EXPORT URANIUM Category label Code Count Percent SHOULD MINE & EXPORT 1 1218 57.9 SHOULD NOT MINE 2 709 33.7 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 3 178 8.5 ------- ----- Total responses 2105 100.0 10. I WOULD NOW LIKE YOU TO THINK ABOUT SECONDARY SCHOOLS 10a. THINKING FIRST ABOUT STATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS - BOTH HIGH SCHOOLS AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS - WHICH OF THESE DO YOU THINK APPLY TO THEM? - YOU MAY SELECT AS MANY OR AS FEW AS YOU WISH Category label Code Count Percent PERMISSIVE Q10A1 630 29.9 PROMOTING SOCIAL EQUALITY Q10A2 625 29.7 PROGRESSIVE Q10A3 687 32.6 DISCIPLINED Q10A4 355 16.9 TRADITIONAL Q10A5 442 21.0 COMPETITIVE Q10A6 660 31.4 SOCIALLY DESIRABLE Q10A7 605 28.7 EXPERIMENTAL Q10A8 694 33.0 ENCOURAGES INDIVIDUAL EXPRESSION Q10A9 727 34.5 EMPHASIS ON EXAMS Q10A10 573 27.2 ENCOURAGES PARENT INTEREST Q10A11 718 34.1 CONSERVATIVE Q10A12 350 16.6 NO WORD SELECTED Q10A13 124 5.9 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB Q10A14 132 6.3 ------- ----- Total responses 2105 100.0 10b. AND NOW THINKING ABOUT CATHOLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS, WHICH WORDS DO YOU THINK APPLY TO THEM? Category label Code Count Percent PERMISSIVE Q10B1 136 6.5 PROMOTING SOCIAL EQUALITY Q10B2 331 15.7 PROGRESSIVE Q10B3 433 20.6 DISCIPLINED Q10B4 1047 49.7 TRADITIONAL Q10B5 894 42.5 COMPETITIVE Q10B6 607 28.8 SOCIALLY DESIRABLE Q10B7 498 23.7 EXPERIMENTAL Q10B8 229 10.9 ENCOURAGES INDIVIDUAL EXPRESSION Q10B9 424 20.1 EMPHASIS ON EXAMS Q10B10 629 29.9 ENCOURAGES PARENT INTEREST Q10B11 747 35.5 CONSERVATIVE Q10B12 641 30.5 NO WORD SELECTED Q10B13 256 12.2 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB Q10B14 347 16.5 ------- ----- Total responses 2105 100.0 10c. AND FOR NON-CATHOLIC PRIVATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS - WHICH WORDS WOULD YOU SELECT? Category label Code Count Percent PERMISSIVE Q10C1 216 10.3 PROMOTING SOCIAL EQUALITY Q10C2 340 16.2 PROGRESSIVE Q10C3 560 26.6 DISCIPLINED Q10C4 841 40.0 TRADITIONAL Q10C5 915 43.5 COMPETITIVE Q10C6 703 33.4 SOCIALLY DESIRABLE Q10C7 583 27.7 EXPERIMENTAL Q10C8 338 16.1 ENCOURAGES INDIVIDUAL EXPRESSION Q10C9 582 27.6 EMPHASIS ON EXAMS Q10C10 652 31.0 ENCOURAGES PARENT INTEREST Q10C11 690 32.8 CONSERVATIVE Q10C12 617 29.3 NO WORD SELECTED Q10C13 255 12.1 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB Q10C14 353 16.8 ------- ----- Total responses 2105 100.0 11a. DURING RECENT MONTHS MR DON CHIPP HAS RESIGNED FROM THE LIBERAL PARTY AND HAS BEEN CAMPAIGNING FOR THE FORMATION OF A NEW CENTRE PARTY. HE CLAIMS TO HAVE RECEIVED STRONG SUPPORT IN ALL STATES. DO YOU YOURSELF THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD THING TO HAVE A CENTRE PARTY IN AUSTRALIAN POLITICS? Category label Code Count Percent YES 1 1267 60.2 NO 2 681 32.4 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 3 157 7.5 ------- ----- Total responses 2105 100.0 11b. HERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS WHY PEOPLE WOULD SUPPORT A CENTRE PARTY IN AUSTRALIA, AND SOME REASONS WHY THEY WOULD NOT SUPPORT IT. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING REASONS ARE IMPORTANT IN YOUR CASE? - YOU MAY AGREE WITH AS MANY OR AS FEW AS YOU LIKE. (1) THE NEW CENTRE PARTY WON'T GET OFF THE GROUND (2) IT'S TOO IDEALISTIC (3) VOTING FOR THE CENTRE PARTY WOULD WASTE A VOTE (4) IT HAS LEADERS OF PRINCIPLE (5) THE TWO MAJOR PARTIES ARE TOO IDENTIFIED WITH UNIONS AND BUSINESS (6) THE CENTRE PARTY WOULD REPRESENT THE MIDDLE GROUND IN POLITICS (7) THE MAJOR PARTIES HAVE FAILED TO SORT OUT OUR PROBLEMS (8) A CENTRE PARTY WOULD HOLD A BALANCE OF POWER AND FORCE THE MAJOR PARTIES TO MODERATE THEIR POLICIES (9) A CENTRE PARTY WOULD INTRODUCE AN UNSTABLE ELEMENT IN AUSTRALIAN POLITICS (10) IT'S MERELY AN ESCAPE HATCH FOR DISILLUSIONED VOTERS Category label Code Count Percent CENTRE PARTY WON'T GET OFF THE GROUND Q11B1 519 24.7 IT'S TOO IDEALISTIC Q11B2 430 20.4 VOTE FOR CENTRE PARTY IS WASTE OF VOTE Q11B3 581 27.6 IT HAS LEADERS OF PRINCIPLE Q11B4 966 45.9 MAJOR PARTIES IDENT WITH UNIONS & BUS. Q11B5 1124 53.4 CENTRE PARTY - MIDDLE GROUND Q11B6 1004 47.7 MAJOR PARTIES FAILED TO SOLVE PROBLEMS Q11B7 1241 59.0 CENTRE PARTY - BALANCE OF POWER Q11B8 994 47.2 CENTRE PARTY - UNSTABLE ELEMENT Q11B9 406 19.3 ESCAPE HATCH FOR DISILLUSIONED VOTERS Q11B10 736 35.0 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB Q11B11 117 5.6 ------- ----- Total responses 2105 100.0 12. IF A CENTRE PARTY WERE TO FIELD CANDIDATES AT THE NEXT ELECTION IN YOUR ELECTORATE, WOULD YOU PERSONALLY GIVE IT YOUR VOTE? Category label Code Count Percent YES 1 425 20.2 POSSIBLY 2 618 29.4 NO 3 945 44.9 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 4 117 5.6 ------- ----- Total responses 2105 100.0 13. AND TO WHAT PARTY WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR PREFERENCE Category label Code Count Percent ALP 1 846 40.2 40.2 LIBERAL 2 687 32.6 32.6 NCP 3 123 5.8 5.8 OTHER 4 102 4.8 4.8 WOULD NOT VOTE 5 30 1.4 1.4 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 6 280 13.3 13.3 MISSING 7 37 1.8 1.8 ------- ----- ----- Total responses 2105 100.0 100.0 15. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING PAPERS DOES THE HEAD OF THIS HOUSEHOLD BUY OR READ REGULARLY - SAY MORE THAN THREE TIMES A WEEK? Category label Code Count Percent MELBOURNE AGE Q15A 174 31.6 MELBOURNE SUN Q15B 322 58.5 MELBOURNE HERALD Q15C 255 46.4 OTHER DAILY NEWSPAPERS Q15D 113 20.5 NO DAILY NEWSPAPERS Q15E 36 6.5 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB Q15F 5 .9 ------- ----- Total responses 550 100.0 Note: Q15 was answered only be respondents in Victoria
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