D0141: Age Poll, November, 1978
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 1,546 interviews conducted in November 1978. BACKGROUND VARIABLES country of birth / religion / church attendance / self assessment of social class / occupation of head of household / industry of head of household / age / sex / marital status / highest level of education / occupation / industry / income / voting intention / vote at last federal election / household composition / household income / tenure / father's level of education / father's occupation / father's industry / WEIGHTING The responses are unweighted. THEMES - NAMES AND RESPONSES 1. I HAVE HERE SOME STATEMENTS PEOPLE HAVE MADE ABOUT THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY - - 1a. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO TELL ME WHICH ONE COMES CLOSEST TO YOUR VIEW. FIRSTLY - - (1) IT IS SENSIBLE TO BUY THINGS NOW BECAUSE THEY MAY BE MORE EXPENSIVE LATER OR (2) IT IS NOT WISE TO SPEND MONEY AT THE PRESENT BECAUSE THE FUTURE IS TOO UNCERTAIN Category label Code Count Percent SPEND 1 967 62.5 NOT SPEND 2 501 32.4 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 3 76 4.9 MISSING 4 2 .1 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 1b. AND WHICH OF THESE STATEMENTS COMES CLOSEST TO YOUR VIEW? (1) THE FRASER GOVERNMENT KNOWS WHAT IT IS DOING, AND ITS POLICIES WILL LEAD TO ECONOMIC RECOVERY OR (2) THE FRASER GOVERNMENT DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO TO IMPROVE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS Category label Code Count Percent ECONOMIC RECOVERY 1 631 40.8 NO ECON. RECOVERY 2 810 52.4 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 3 105 6.8 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 1c. AND WHICH OF THESE STATEMENTS COMES CLOSEST TO YOUR VIEW? (1) THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD FIGHT INFLATION EVEN IF IT MEANS AN INCREASE IN UNEMPLOYMENT (2) THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD FIGHT INFLATION BUT ONLY IF UNEMPLOYMENT IS NOT INCREASED AS A RESULT (3) THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD FIGHT UNEMPLOYMENT EVEN IF IT MEANS AN INCREASE IN INFLATION Category label Code Count Percent FIGHT DESPITE UNEMP 1 289 18.7 FIGHT;NO INCR.UNEMP 2 863 55.8 FIGHT UNEMPLOYMENT 3 341 22.1 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 4 53 3.4 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 2. AND NOW ON A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT SUBJECT - - SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT INDUSTRY MUST USE MODERN TECHNIQUES TO BE AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE; OTHERS CLAIM THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF MODERN TECHNIQUES COULD LEAD TO FURTHER UNEMPLOYMENT. WHICH OF THESE STATEMENTS COMES CLOSEST TO YOUR VIEW? (1) IN ORDER TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE AND EFFICIENT, AUSTRALIA SHOULD ENCOURAGE THE GREATER USE OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY, INCLUDING COMPUTERS IN FACTORIES AND OFFICES OR (2) AUSTRALIA SHOULD NOT ENCOURAGE THE GREATER USE OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY, SUCH AS COMPUTERS DURING PERIODS OF HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT Category label Code Count Percent ENCOURAGE MOD TECH 1 798 51.6 NOT ENCOUR.MOD TECH 2 701 45.3 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 3 46 3.0 MISSING 4 1 .1 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 3. STILL THINKING ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT - AS I READ EACH OF THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS FOR DEALING WITH UNEMPLOYMENT, WOULD YOU TELL ME WHETHER YOU SUPPORT IT OR DO NOT SUPPORT IT. PAY SUBSIDIES TO EMPLOYERS WHO EMPLOY YOUNG WORKER TRAINEES ON A TEMPORARY BASIS If nec: DO YOU SUPPORT THIS SUGGESTION OR DO YOU NOT? Repeat if nec for other suggestions Category label Code Count Percent SUPPORT 1 1178 76.2 DO NOT SUPPORT 2 330 21.3 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 3 37 2.4 MISSING 4 1 .1 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 INTRODUCE COMPULSORY NATIONAL SERVICE FOR SCHOOL LEAVERS TO WORK ON NATIONAL PROJECTS Category label Code Count Percent SUPPORT 1 987 63.8 DO NOT SUPPORT 2 504 32.6 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 3 54 3.5 MISSING 4 1 .1 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 REDUCE WORKING HOURS, WITH A CORRESPONDING REDUCTION IN PAY, SO THAT OTHERS CAN SHARE THE WORK Category label Code Count Percent SUPPORT 1 774 50.1 DO NOT SUPPORT 2 725 46.9 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 3 44 2.8 MISSING 4 3 .2 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 CUT OUT PENALTY RATES FOR OVERTIME OR WEEKEND WORK Category label Code Count Percent SUPPORT 1 659 42.6 DO NOT SUPPORT 2 840 54.3 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 3 45 2.9 MISSING 4 2 .1 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 HAVE MORE DIRECT SPENDING BY GOVERNMENTS ON PUBLIC WORKS Category label Code Count Percent SUPPORT 1 1179 76.3 DO NOT SUPPORT 2 294 19.0 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 3 68 4.4 MISSING 4 5 .3 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 INTRODUCE A WAGE FREEZE IN THE HOPE THAT IT WILL PRODUCE MORE JOBS Category label Code Count Percent SUPPORT 1 895 57.9 DO NOT SUPPORT 2 590 38.2 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 3 58 3.8 MISSING 4 3 .2 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 INTRODUCE MEASURES TO DISCOURAGE MARRIED WOMEN FROM ENTERING Category label Code Count Percent SUPPORT 1 613 39.7 DO NOT SUPPORT 2 877 56.7 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 3 56 3.6 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 4. AND NOW SOME QUESTIONS ON ABORIGINES - - 4a. THINKING ABOUT ABORIGINES IN AUSTRALIA TODAY - - WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS COMES CLOSEST TO YOUR OPINION - - (1) ABORIGINES SHOULD BE LEFT TO FIT INTO THE AUSTRALIAN WHITE COMMUNITY AT THEIR OWN PACE (2) ABORIGINES SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED AND ASSISTED TO FIT INTO THE WHITE AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE (3) ABORIGINES SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED AND ASSISTED TO MAINTAIN THEIR OWN WAY OF LIFE Category label Code Count Percent AT THEIR OWN PACE 1 486 31.4 AS SOON AS POSSIBLE 2 382 24.7 OWN WAY OF LIFE 3 640 41.4 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 4 38 2.5 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 4b. STILL THINKING ABOUT ABORIGINES - - DO YOU PERSONALLY THINK THAT ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO ALLOW MINING ON THEIR TRADITIONAL ABORIGINAL LAND? Category label Code Count Percent YES 1 916 59.2 NO 2 563 36.4 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 3 65 4.2 MISSING 4 2 .1 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 4c. DO YOU FEEL THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE DOING MORE, OR ABOUT THE SAME, OR LESS THAN IT IS TO HELP ABORIGINES? Category label Code Count Percent MORE 1 746 48.3 ABOUT THE SAME 2 582 37.6 LESS 3 156 10.1 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 4 58 3.8 MISSING 5 4 .3 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 4d. WHO DO YOU THINK IS BASICALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROBLEM OF ABORIGINES IN AUSTRALIA. ARE THE PROBLEMS.... (1) ENTIRELY THE FAULT OF THE WHITE COMMUNITY (2) MAINLY THE FAULT OF THE WHITE COMMUNITY (3) BOTH COMMUNITIES ARE EQUALLY AT FAULT (4) MAINLY THE FAULT OF THE ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY (5) ENTIRELY THE FAULT OF THE ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY Category label Code Count Percent ENTIRELY WHITE 1 115 7.4 MAINLY WHITE 2 345 22.3 BOTH 3 838 54.2 MAINLY ABORIGINAL 4 157 10.2 ENTIRELY ABORIGINAL 5 50 3.2 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 6 40 2.6 MISSING 7 1 .1 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 5. 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 ALP 1 703 45.5 AUST.DEM 2 75 4.9 DLP 3 40 2.6 LIBERAL 4 499 32.3 NCP 5 78 5.0 OTHER 6 19 1.2 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 7 132 8.5 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 6. THINKING ABOUT MR FRASER AND HIS PERFORMANCE AS PRIME MINISTER- - HOW WOULD YOU RATE HIS PERFORMANCE? WOULD YOU SAY HIS PERFORMANCE WAS - - Category label Code Count Percent VERY GOOD 1 78 5.0 GOOD 2 306 19.8 FAIR 3 607 39.3 POOR 4 244 15.8 VERY POOR 5 267 17.3 DON'T KNOW 6 34 2.2 MISSING 7 10 .6 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 THINKING ABOUT MR HAYDEN AND HIS PERFORMANCE AS LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION - - HOW WOULD YOU RATE HIS PERFORMANCE? WOULD YOU SAY HIS PERFORMANCE WAS - - Category label Code Count Percent VERY GOOD 1 99 6.4 GOOD 2 371 24.0 FAIR 3 712 46.1 POOR 4 153 9.9 VERY POOR 5 71 4.6 DON'T KNOW 6 131 8.5 7 9 .6 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 7. SOME PEOPLE ARE CONSIDERED TO BE WELL PAID FOR THE WORK THEY DO, OTHERS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE POORLY PAID. I AM GOING TO LIST SOME OCCUPATIONS FOR YOU: I WOULD LIKE YOU TO TELL ME WHETHER YOU THINK, IN GENERAL, THEY ARE PAID - - FAR TOO MUCH, A BIT TOO MUCH, ABOUT THE RIGHT AMOUNT, A BIT TOO LITTLE, FAR TOO LITTLE DOCTORS Category label Code Count Percent FAR TOO MUCH 1 440 28.5 A BIT TOO MUCH 2 491 31.8 ABOUT THE RT AMOUNT 3 571 36.9 A BIT TOO LITTLE 4 19 1.2 FAR TOO LITTLE 5 4 .3 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 6 20 1.3 MISSING 7 1 .1 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 SKILLED METAL WORKERS Category label Code Count Percent FAR TOO MUCH 1 63 4.1 A BIT TOO MUCH 2 196 12.7 ABOUT THE RT AMOUNT 3 739 47.8 A BIT TOO LITTLE 4 191 12.4 FAR TOO LITTLE 5 54 3.5 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 6 301 19.5 MISSING 7 2 .1 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 LABOURERS Category label Code Count Percent FAR TOO MUCH 1 84 5.4 A BIT TOO MUCH 2 235 15.2 ABOUT THE RT AMOUNT 3 698 45.1 A BIT TOO LITTLE 4 348 22.5 FAR TOO LITTLE 5 87 5.6 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 6 89 5.8 MISSING 7 5 .3 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 PUBLIC SERVANTS Category label Code Count Percent FAR TOO MUCH 1 249 16.1 A BIT TOO MUCH 2 528 34.2 ABOUT THE RT AMOUNT 3 553 35.8 A BIT TOO LITTLE 4 86 5.6 FAR TOO LITTLE 5 20 1.3 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 6 109 7.1 MISSING 7 1 .1 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 PLUMBERS Category label Code Count Percent FAR TOO MUCH 1 318 20.6 A BIT TOO MUCH 2 456 29.5 ABOUT THE RT AMOUNT 3 620 40.1 A BIT TOO LITTLE 4 51 3.3 FAR TOO LITTLE 5 8 .5 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 6 89 5.8 MISSING 7 4 .3 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 SCHOOL TEACHERS Category label Code Count Percent FAR TOO MUCH 1 114 7.4 A BIT TOO MUCH 2 272 17.6 ABOUT THE RT AMOUNT 3 815 52.7 A BIT TOO LITTLE 4 231 14.9 FAR TOO LITTLE 5 50 3.2 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 6 64 4.1 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 POLICEMEN Category label Code Count Percent FAR TOO MUCH 1 23 1.5 A BIT TOO MUCH 2 79 5.1 ABOUT THE RT AMOUNT 3 700 45.3 A BIT TOO LITTLE 4 487 31.5 FAR TOO LITTLE 5 128 8.3 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 6 125 8.1 MISSING 7 4 .3 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 NURSES Category label Code Count Percent FAR TOO MUCH 1 10 .6 A BIT TOO MUCH 2 51 3.3 ABOUT THE RT AMOUNT 3 631 40.8 A BIT TOO LITTLE 4 576 37.3 FAR TOO LITTLE 5 216 14.0 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 6 58 3.8 MISSING 7 4 .3 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 BUSINESS EXECUTIVES Category label Code Count Percent FAR TOO MUCH 1 398 25.7 A BIT TOO MUCH 2 522 33.8 ABOUT THE RT AMOUNT 3 467 30.2 A BIT TOO LITTLE 4 22 1.4 FAR TOO LITTLE 5 8 .5 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 6 124 8.0 MISSING 7 5 .3 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 YOURSELF Category label Code Count Percent FAR TOO MUCH 1 9 .6 A BIT TOO MUCH 2 49 3.2 ABOUT THE RT AMOUNT 3 460 29.8 A BIT TOO LITTLE 4 239 15.5 FAR TOO LITTLE 5 126 8.2 DON'T KNOW 6 20 1.3 DON'T WORK 7 641 41.5 MISSING 8 2 .1 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 AND WHAT ABOUT TWO OTHER GROUPS - DO THEY GET - FAR TOO MUCH - A BIT TOO MUCH - ABOUT THE RIGHT AMOUNT - A BIT TOO LITTLE - FAR TOO LITTLE - - PENSIONERS Category label Code Count Percent FAR TOO MUCH 1 2 .1 A BIT TOO MUCH 2 8 .5 ABOUT THE RT AMOUNT 3 390 25.2 A BIT TOO LITTLE 4 579 37.5 FAR TOO LITTLE 5 535 34.6 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 6 32 2.1 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 UNEMPLOYED PERSONS Category label Code Count Percent FAR TOO MUCH 1 255 16.5 A BIT TOO MUCH 2 305 19.7 ABOUT THE RT AMOUNT 3 555 35.9 A BIT TOO LITTLE 4 241 15.6 FAR TOO LITTLE 5 102 6.6 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 6 85 5.5 MISSING 7 3 .2 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0 8. FINALLY, WHICH ONE OF THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE DO YOU THINK WOULD MAKE THE BEST POLITICAL LEADER? Category label Code Count Percent DOUG ANTHONY 1 44 2.8 JOH BJELKE-PETERSEN 2 100 6.5 DON CHIPP 3 85 5.5 SIR CHARLES COURT 4 42 2.7 DON DUNSTAN 5 259 16.8 MALCOLM FRASER 6 219 14.2 DICK HAMER 7 19 1.2 BOB HAWKE 8 218 14.1 BILL HAYDEN 9 115 7.4 JOHN HOWARD 10 10 .6 ANDREW PEACOCK 11 57 3.7 NEVILLE WRAN 12 303 19.6 MISSING 13 75 4.9 ------- ----- Total responses 1546 100.0
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