D0147: Age Poll, October, 1980
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 was based on 1,880 interviews conducted in October 1980. BACKGROUND VARIABLES country of birth / religion / tenure / self assessment of social class/ number of persons living in dwelling/ home ownership/ occupation of head of household / age / sex / marital status / highest level of education / occupation / income / church attendance/ vote at last federal election/ present voting intention/ WEIGHTING The responses are unweighted. THEMES - NAMES AND RESPONSES 1. THE FEDERAL ELECTION FOR BOTH THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND HALF THE SENATE WILL BE HELD ON OCTOBER 18TH. HERE ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES WHICH ARE BEING DISCUSSED IN THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN. WHICH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT AS FAR AS YOU ARE CONCERNED? WHICH NEXT (etc.)? Rank from 1 to 10 PENSIONS AND SOCIAL SERVICES Category label Code Count Percent MOST IMPORTANT 1 281 14.9 SECOND 2 136 7.2 THIRD 3 180 9.6 FOURTH 4 211 11.2 FIFTH 5 218 11.6 SIXTH 6 220 11.7 SEVENTH 7 178 9.5 EIGHTH 8 170 9.0 NINTH 9 157 8.4 LEAST IMPORTANT 10 118 6.3 MISSING 13 11 .6 ------- ----- Total responses 1880 100.0 STRIKES AND UNION POWER Category label Code Count Percent MOST IMPORTANT 1 110 5.9 SECOND 2 169 9.0 THIRD 3 156 8.3 FOURTH 4 147 7.8 FIFTH 5 194 10.3 SIXTH 6 175 9.3 SEVENTH 7 196 10.4 EIGHTH 8 214 11.4 NINTH 9 234 12.4 LEAST IMPORTANT 10 273 14.5 MISSING 13 12 .6 ------- ----- Total responses 1880 100.0 DEVELOPMENT OF AUSTRALIAN RESOURCES Category label Code Count Percent MOST IMPORTANT 1 111 5.9 SECOND 2 163 8.7 THIRD 3 216 11.5 FOURTH 4 211 11.2 FIFTH 5 223 11.9 SIXTH 6 237 12.6 SEVENTH 7 226 12.0 EIGHTH 8 175 9.3 NINTH 9 179 9.5 LEAST IMPORTANT 10 127 6.8 MISSING 13 12 .6 ------- ----- Total responses 1880 100.0 INFLATION Category label Code Count Percent MOST IMPORTANT 1 273 14.5 SECOND 2 350 18.6 THIRD 3 322 17.1 FOURTH 4 258 13.7 FIFTH 5 193 10.3 SIXTH 6 159 8.5 SEVENTH 7 113 6.0 EIGHTH 8 89 4.7 NINTH 9 58 3.1 LEAST IMPORTANT 10 52 2.8 MISSING 13 13 .7 ------- ----- Total responses 1880 100.0 PETROL PRICES Category label Code Count Percent MOST IMPORTANT 1 66 3.5 SECOND 2 169 9.0 THIRD 3 148 7.9 FOURTH 4 151 8.0 FIFTH 5 148 7.9 SIXTH 6 150 8.0 SEVENTH 7 190 10.1 EIGHTH 8 239 12.7 NINTH 9 272 14.5 LEAST IMPORTANT 10 336 17.9 MISSING 13 11 .6 ------- ----- Total responses 1880 100.0 ABILITY TO MANAGE THE ECONOMY Category label Code Count Percent MOST IMPORTANT 1 356 18.9 SECOND 2 261 13.9 THIRD 3 212 11.3 FOURTH 4 190 10.1 FIFTH 5 176 9.4 SIXTH 6 180 9.6 SEVENTH 7 158 8.4 EIGHTH 8 157 8.4 NINTH 9 105 5.6 LEAST IMPORTANT 10 72 3.8 MISSING 13 13 .7 ------- ----- Total responses 1880 100.0 UNEMPLOYMENT Category label Code Count Percent MOST IMPORTANT 1 430 22.9 SECOND 2 352 18.7 THIRD 3 278 14.8 FOURTH 4 219 11.6 FIFTH 5 175 9.3 SIXTH 6 108 5.7 SEVENTH 7 103 5.5 EIGHTH 8 83 4.4 NINTH 9 81 4.3 LEAST IMPORTANT 10 43 2.3 MISSING 13 8 .4 ------- ----- Total responses 1880 100.0 QUALITY OF THE LEADERS Category label Code Count Percent MOST IMPORTANT 1 110 5.9 SECOND 2 86 4.6 THIRD 3 125 6.6 FOURTH 4 159 8.5 FIFTH 5 163 8.7 SIXTH 6 198 10.5 SEVENTH 7 184 9.8 EIGHTH 8 222 11.8 NINTH 9 250 13.3 LEAST IMPORTANT 10 368 19.6 MISSING 13 15 .8 ------- ----- Total responses 1880 100.0 DEFENCE AND FOREIGN POLICY Category label Code Count Percent MOST IMPORTANT 1 34 1.8 SECOND 2 84 4.5 THIRD 3 110 5.9 FOURTH 4 152 8.1 FIFTH 5 199 10.6 SIXTH 6 208 11.1 SEVENTH 7 259 13.8 EIGHTH 8 273 14.5 NINTH 9 283 15.1 LEAST IMPORTANT 10 267 14.2 MISSING 13 11 .6 ------- ----- Total responses 1880 100.0 TAXES Category label Code Count Percent MOST IMPORTANT 1 102 5.4 SECOND 2 103 5.5 THIRD 3 125 6.6 FOURTH 4 172 9.1 FIFTH 5 182 9.7 SIXTH 6 243 12.9 SEVENTH 7 261 13.9 EIGHTH 8 240 12.8 NINTH 9 239 12.7 LEAST IMPORTANT 10 202 10.7 MISSING 13 11 .6 ------- ----- Total responses 1880 100.0 2a. 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 1 212 11.3 GOOD 2 444 23.6 FAIR 3 589 31.3 POOR 4 279 14.8 VERY POOR 5 332 17.7 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 6 24 1.3 ------- ----- Total responses 1880 100.0 2b. AND WHAT 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 1 272 14.5 GOOD 2 545 29.0 FAIR 3 711 37.8 POOR 4 175 9.3 VERY POOR 5 121 6.4 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 6 56 3.0 ------- ----- Total responses 1880 100.0 3. IF THE FEDERAL ELECTION FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WERE HELD TOMORROW, FOR WHICH POLITICAL PARTY WOULD YOU PROBABLY VOTE? Category label Code Count Percent ALP 1 892 47.4 AUST.DEM 2 166 8.8 LIBERAL 3 639 34.0 NCP 4 95 5.1 OTHER 5 10 .5 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 6 78 4.1 ------- ----- Total responses 1880 100.0 * If ALP., Liberal, or National Country Party given to Q.3 - Go to Q.5. If NOT - Go to Q.4 4. AND TO WHICH PARTY WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR SECOND PREFERENCE? Category label Code Count Percent ALP 1 72 3.8 LIBERAL 2 59 3.1 NCP 3 18 1.0 OTHER 4 6 .3 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 5 50 2.7 NOT ASKED 6 1626 86.5 MISSING 7 49 2.6 ------- ----- Total responses 1880 100.0 5. AND IF THE SENATE ELECTION WERE HELD TOMORROW, FOR WHICH POLITICAL PARTY WOULD YOU PROBABLY VOTE? Category label Code Count Percent ALP 1 772 41.1 AUST.DEM 2 328 17.4 LIBERAL 3 565 30.1 NCP 4 98 5.2 OTHER 5 12 .6 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 6 105 5.6 ------- ----- Total responses 1880 100.0 6. IF A STATE ELECTION WAS HELD TOMORROW, FOR WHICH POLITICAL PARTY WOULD YOU PROBABLY VOTE? Category label Code Count Percent ALP 1 951 50.6 AUST.DEM 2 106 5.6 LIBERAL 3 595 31.6 NCP 4 142 7.6 OTHER PARTY 5 3 .2 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 6 83 4.4 ------- ----- Total responses 1880 100.0 7. THINKING ABOUT THE FEDERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON OCTOBER 18TH - - HOW MUCH INTEREST HAVE YOU TAKEN IN THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN SO FAR - WOULD YOU SAY YOU HAVE TAKEN - - Category label Code Count Percent A GOOD DEAL 1 751 39.9 SOME 2 676 36.0 NOT MUCH 3 354 18.8 NONE 4 99 5.3 ------- ----- Total responses 1880 100.0 8. NOW I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT INFORMATION AND PERSONAL LIBERTIES. AS YOU KNOW, A GOOD DEAL OF INFORMATION CAN BE COLLECTED ABOUT INDIVIDUALS - BY GOVERNMENTS, BY EMPLOYERS, FROM PEOPLE FROM WHOM ONE PURCHASES GOODS, AND SO ON - - I'M GOING TO READ YOU TWO STATEMENTS, AND I WOULD LIKE YOU TO TELL ME WHICH COMES CLOSER TO YOUR VIEW - - (1) PEOPLE WHO ARE IN A JOB SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO SEE THEIR PERSONAL FILE IF THEY ASK FOR IT OR (2) AN EMPLOYER SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO RECORD AND KEEP SECRET, INFORMATION ABOUT AN EMPLOYEE Category label Code Count Percent ACCESS TO EMPLOYEE 1 1552 82.6 EMPLOYER ONLY 2 295 15.7 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 3 33 1.8 ------- ----- Total responses 1880 100.0 9. AND WHICH OF THESE STATEMENTS COMES CLOSEST TO YOUR OPINION? (1) GOVERNMENTS HAVE A DUTY TO SEE THAT PEOPLE WHO THEY THINK MAY BE A THREAT TO SOCIETY ARE OBSERVED AND THEIR ACTIVITIES RECORDED OR (2) GOVERNMENTS HAVE A DUTY TO RESPECT THE PRIVACY OF CITIZENS, AND ONLY IN VERY EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD IT OBSERVE OR RECORD THE ACTIVITIES OF INDIVIDUALS Category label Code Count Percent OBSERVE ACTIVITIES 1 615 32.7 RESPECT PRIVACY 2 1228 65.3 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 3 37 2.0 ------- ----- Total responses 1880 100.0 10. OF THESE TWO STATEMENTS WHICH ONE COMES CLOSEST TO YOUR VIEW? (1) A PERSON SEEKING A LOAN SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO SEE AND COMMENT ON ANY REPORTS ABOUT HIM OR HER WHICH HAVE BEEN OBTAINED BY A LENDING BODY OR (2) A PERSON SEEKING A LOAN SHOULD NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO SEE AND COMMENT ON ANY REPORTS ABOUT HIM OR HER WHICH HAVE BEEN OBTAINED BY A LENDING BODY Category label Code Count Percent RIGHT TO SEE 1 1675 89.1 NO RIGHT TO SEE 2 183 9.7 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 3 22 1.2 ------- ----- Total responses 1880 100.0 11. SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT IN TO-DAY'S SOCIETY, THE PERSONAL LIBERTY OF PEOPLE IS THREATENED - OTHERS FEEL THAT PERSONAL LIBERTY IS NOT THREATENED - GENERALLY, DO YOU FEEL THAT YOUR PERSONAL LIBERTY - - (1) IS UNDER THREAT IN AUSTRALIA TO-DAY OR (2) IS NOT UNDER THREAT IN AUSTRALIA TO-DAY Category label Code Count Percent IS UNDER THREAT 1 595 31.6 IS NOT UNDER THREAT 2 1226 65.2 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 3 59 3.1 ------- ----- Total responses 1880 100.0 12. FINALLY, GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS GATHER QUITE A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT INDIVIDUALS - - DO YOU BELIEVE THAT INFORMATION COLLECTED BY ANY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT - - (1) IS TREATED AS CONFIDENTIAL AND IS NEVER PASSED TO OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS OR OUTSIDE BODIES OR (2) IS NOT TREATED AS CONFIDENTIAL AND IS SOMETIMES PASSED TO OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS OR OUTSIDE BODIES Category label Code Count Percent CONFIDENTIAL 1 518 27.6 NOT CONFIDENTIAL 2 1187 63.1 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 3 175 9.3 ------- ----- Total responses 1880 100.0
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