ALP support down as fewer Australians believe we are 'heading in the right direction'
| Finding No. 4307 -
Latest Roy Morgan Australian Federal Vote Result.:
July 11, 2008 |
In early July, ALP support is 48.5% (down 3.5%), L-NP support 35% (up 1%), support for the Greens 8% (unchanged), Family First 2.5% (up 1%) and Independent/Others 6% (up 1%). Despite a fall in ALP support they would still win a Federal election if held now according to the latest face-to-face Morgan Poll.
On a two-party preferred basis, support for the ALP is 59% (down 2%), while support for the L-NP is 41% (up 2%).
The Roy Morgan Government Confidence Rating is down 2.5 points to 111.5 — the lowest level since the Rudd Government was elected on November 24, 2007.
In early December (1/2 & 8/9), the newly elected Rudd Government had a record high Roy Morgan Government Confidence Rating of 147.5 with 64% of electors saying “Australia is heading in the right direction. Now, only 45.5% (down 2.5%) of electors agree with that statement.
In early December a low 16.5% of electors said “Australia is heading in the wrong direction”. Since then the number of electors agreeing with the statement has more than doubled to 34% (unchanged).
The latest Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence Rating of 92.0 is well below recent levels although it has stopped falling. Since the election of the Rudd Government the Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence Rating has dropped from 126.8 (in December) to 92.0 — a drop of 34.8 points in only 7 months.
Gary Morgan says:
“Support for the Rudd Government has dropped with record petrol and food prices, low consumer confidence and an electorate that is increasingly concerned about the economic future of Australia and less confident that the country is ‘heading in the right direction.’”
Electors were asked: “If a Federal election for the House of Representatives were being held today — which party would receive your first preference?”
This face-to-face Morgan Poll on Federal voting intention was conducted over the weekends of June 28/29 & July 5/6, 2008, with an Australia-wide cross-section of 1,806 electors.
During the polling period:
- The long awaited Garnaut Report on the effects of Climate Change, was released causing much discussion. Garnaut’s advocacy of wide-ranging cuts to carbon emissions under a carbon-trading system has not received unanimous support.
- Federal Labor MP Belinda Neal and her husband (New South Wales Labor frontbencher John Della Bosca) at first resisted, and then agreed to undergo police interviews concerning the incident at Iguanas nightclub on the Central Coast.
- Australia’s longest serving Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, has announced his resignation from Parliament. Downer’s imminent departure from Parliament will cause a by-election in his seat of Mayo, a seat the Liberals are expected to retain. The ALP has not yet decided whether it will field a candidate in the seat.
- In Zimbabwe, President Robert Mugabe was re-elected in widely criticized election — after the opposition candidate, Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), withdrew from the race after the murders of many of his supporters by mobs controlled by the ruling ZANU-PF party.
- The Victorian Government secured the rights for the extension of the Melbourne Grand Prix contract for a further 5 years — till 2015 — despite renewed opposition to the race and the cost to taxpayers.
For further information:
Gary Morgan: Office +61 3 9224 5213 Mobile +61 411 129 094
Michele Levine: Office +61 3 9224 5215 Mobile +61 411 129 093
FEDERAL VOTING INTENTION SUMMARY - HOUSE OF REPS (%)
|
|
|
|
The |
Family |
Ind./ |
|
|
ALP |
L-NP |
Greens |
First# |
Others |
|
RECENT ELECTION RESULTS |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Election March 2, 1996 |
38.8 |
47.3 (8.6) |
1.7 |
† |
12.2 |
|
Election October 3, 1998^ |
40.1 |
39.5 (5.3) |
2.1 |
† |
18.3 |
|
Election November 10, 2001 |
37.8 |
43 (5.6) |
4.4 |
† |
13.8 |
|
Election October 9, 2004 |
37.6 |
46.4 (5.9) |
7.2 |
2.0 |
6.8 |
|
Election November 24, 2007 |
43.4 |
42.1 (5.5) |
7.8 |
2.0 |
4.7 |
|
MORGAN POLL |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dec 5/6, 2007 (Phone) |
49 |
36.5 (3.5) |
7 |
1.5 |
6 |
|
Dec 1/2 & 8/9, 2007 (Face: Face) |
49.5 |
34 (2.5) |
10.5 |
2.5 |
3.5 |
|
Jan 5/6 & 12/13, 2008 (Face : Face) |
51.5 |
33 (2.5) |
8 |
2 |
5.5 |
|
Jan 23/24, 2008 (Phone) |
53 |
32(2) |
10 |
1 |
4 |
|
Jan 19/20 & 26/27, 2008(Face : Face) |
49 |
36 (3) |
8.5 |
1.5 |
5 |
|
Jan 30/31, 2008 (Phone) |
50 |
34.5 (3) |
8 |
1 |
6.5 |
|
Feb 2/3 & 9/10, 2008 (Face : Face) |
54 |
33 (3) |
7.5 |
1.5 |
4 |
|
Feb 16/17 & 23/24, 2008 (Face : Face) |
56.5 |
31.5(3) |
6.5 |
1.5 |
4 |
|
Mar 1/2 & 8/9, 2008 (Face : Face) |
55.5 |
30.5 (2.5) |
9 |
1.5 |
3.5 |
|
Mar 11/12, 2008 (Phone) |
53.5 |
34 (2.5) |
5.5 |
1.5 |
5.5 |
|
Mar 15/16 & 22/23, 2008 (Face : Face) |
55 |
31 (2) |
7 |
3 |
4 |
|
Mar 26/27 & Apr 2/3, 2008 (Phone) |
51 |
34 (2) |
7.5 |
2 |
5.5 |
|
Apr 5/6, 2008 (Face : Face) |
53.5 |
33.5 (2) |
7.5 |
1.5 |
4 |
|
Apr 9/10, 2008 (Phone) |
54 |
32 (3) |
8.5 |
1 |
4.5 |
|
Apr 12/13, 2008 (Face : Face) |
54 |
33.5 (4.5) |
6.5 |
1 |
5 |
|
Apr 16/17, 2008 (Phone) |
55 |
33 (2.5) |
6 |
1 |
5 |
|
Apr 19/20 & 26/27, 2008 (Face : Face) |
54.5 |
33.5 (3.5) |
5.5 |
2.5 |
4 |
|
May 3/4, 2008(Face : Face) |
52.5 |
32.5 (2) |
8 |
2 |
5 |
|
May 7-11, 2008(Phone) |
47 |
37 (2.5) |
9 |
1 |
6 |
|
May 17,18, 2008 (Face : Face) |
51.5 |
35 (2.5) |
8 |
1 |
4 |
|
May 24/25, 2008 (Face : Face) |
53 |
34(3) |
5.5 |
2.5 |
5 |
|
May 31 - June 1, 2008 (Face : Face) |
52.5 |
31.5 (2.5) |
9 |
2 |
5 |
|
June 4-9, 2008 (Phone) |
45.5 |
38.5(2) |
8.5 |
1.5 |
6 |
|
June 7/8, 2008 (Face : Face) |
48.5 |
36 (3) |
8.5 |
2 |
5 |
|
June 14/15 & 21/22, 2008 (Face : Face) |
52 |
34 (2) |
8 |
1.5 |
4.5 |
|
June 28/29 & July 5/6, 2008 (Face : Face) |
48.5 |
35 (2.5) |
8 |
2.5 |
6 |
Note: National Party results are in brackets
# Sample Sizes under 50 should be treated with caution
^ 1998 Federal election results have been updated to include results from the electorate of Newcastle supplementary election. The L-NP did not have a candidate contesting the electorate of Newcastle
* The Family First Party were included as an option on Federal Voting Intention from October 30, 2004

TWO-PARTY PREFERRED VOTE (%)
| |
ALP |
L-NP |
|
|
| |
% |
% |
|
|
|
Election March 2, 1996 |
46.4 |
53.6 |
|
|
|
Election October 3, 1998^ |
51 |
49 |
|
|
|
Election November 10, 2001 |
49 |
51 |
|
|
|
Election October 9, 2004 |
47.3 |
52.7 |
|
|
|
Election November 24, 2007 |
52.7 |
47.3 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferences distributed
by how electors
say they will vote |
Preferences distributed
by how electors voted
at the 2007 election |
| |
% |
% |
% |
% |
| MORGAN POLL |
ALP |
L-NP |
ALP |
L-NP |
|
Dec 5/6, 2007 (Phone) |
58.5 |
41.5 |
58.5 |
41.5 |
|
Dec 1/2 & 8/9, 2007 (Face : Face) |
61.5 |
38.5 |
60.5 |
39.5 |
|
Jan 5/6 & 12/13, 2008 (Face : Face) |
62 |
38 |
61.5 |
38.5 |
|
Jan 23/24, 2008 (Phone) |
63 |
37 |
63 |
37 |
|
Jan 19/20 & 26/27, 2008 (Face : Face) |
60 |
40 |
59 |
41 |
|
Jan 30/31, 2008 (Phone) |
60 |
40 |
60 |
40 |
|
Feb 2/3 & 9/10, 2008 (Face : Face) |
63 |
37 |
62.5 |
37.5 |
|
Feb 16/17 & 23/24, 2008 (Face : Face) |
64.5 |
35.5 |
64.5 |
35.5 |
|
Mar 1/2 & 8/9, 2008 (Face : Face) |
65.5 |
34.5 |
65 |
35 |
|
Mar 11/12, 2008 (Phone) |
62 |
38 |
61 |
39 |
|
Mar 15/16 & 22/23, 2008 (Face : Face) |
63.5 |
36.5 |
63.5 |
36.5 |
|
Mar 26/27 & Apr 2/3, 2008 (Phone) |
61.5 |
38.5 |
60.5 |
39.5 |
|
Apr 5/6, 2008 (Face : Face) |
61.5 |
38.5 |
62 |
38 |
|
Apr 9/10, 2008 (Phone) |
64.5 |
35.5 |
63.5 |
36.5 |
|
Apr 12/13, 2008 (Face : Face) |
62.5 |
37.5 |
62 |
38 |
|
Apr 16/17, 2008 (Phone) |
64 |
36 |
62.5 |
37.5 |
|
Apr 19/20 & 26/27, 2008 (Face : Face) |
62.5 |
37.5 |
61.5 |
38.5 |
|
May 3/4, 2008(Face : Face) |
64 |
36 |
62 |
38 |
|
May 7-11, 2008 (Phone) |
58 |
42 |
58 |
42 |
|
May 17/18, 2008 (Face : Face) |
61 |
39 |
60.5 |
39.5 |
|
May 24/25, 2008 (Face : Face) |
62 |
38 |
61 |
39 |
|
May 31 - June 1, 2008 (Face : Face) |
63.5 |
36.5 |
63 |
37 |
|
June 4-9, 2008 (Phone) |
56 |
44 |
56 |
44 |
|
June 7/8, 2008 (Face : Face) |
59 |
41 |
58.5 |
41.5 |
|
June 14/15 & 21/22, 2008 (Face : Face) |
61.5 |
38.5 |
61 |
39 |
|
June 28/29 & July 5/6, 2008 (Face : Face) |
59 |
41 |
59 |
41 |
** Phone Poll
^ 1998 Federal election results have been updated to include results from the electorate of Newcastle supplementary election. The L-NP did not have a candidate contesting the electorate of Newcastle
THINK WILL WIN
Respondents were asked: "Regardless of who you'd like to win, who to you THINK will win the next Federal election - the Liberal-National Coalition or the Labor Party?"
|
Think Will Win |
ALP |
L-NP |
Can't Say |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
Dec 5/6, 2007 (Phone) |
58 |
14.5 |
27.5 |
| Dec 1/2 & 8/9, 2007 (Face : Face) |
61 |
17 |
22 |
| Jan 5/6 & 12/13, 2008 (Face : Face) |
65 |
15 |
20 |
| Jan 23/24, 2008 (Phone) |
65 |
10.5 |
24.5 |
| Jan 19/20 & 26/27, 2008 (Face : Face) |
64 |
16 |
20 |
| Jan 30/31, 2008 (Phone) |
65.5 |
9 |
25.5 |
| Feb 2/3 & 9/10, 2008 (Face : Face) |
65.5 |
17 |
17.5 |
| Feb 16/17 & 23/24, 2008 (Face : Face) |
69.5 |
15 |
15.5 |
| Mar 1/2 & 8/9, 2008 (Face : Face) |
70.5 |
14 |
15.5 |
| Mar 11/12, 2008 (Phone) |
71 |
13 |
16 |
| Mar 15/16 & 22/23, 2008 (Face : Face) |
70.5 |
14.5 |
15 |
| Mar 26/27 & Apr 2/3, 2008 (Phone) |
71.5 |
12.5 |
16 |
|
Apr 5/6, 2008 (Face : Face) |
71.5 |
15 |
13.5 |
|
Apr 9/10, 2008 (Phone) |
71.5 |
10 |
15 |
|
Apr 12/13, 2008 (Face : Face) |
72 |
15.5 |
12.5 |
|
Apr 16/17, 2008 (Phone) |
73 |
12 |
15 |
|
Apr 19/20 & 26/27, 2008 (Face : Face) |
72.5 |
15.5 |
12 |
|
May 3/4. 2008 (Face : Face) |
72.5 |
14 |
13.5 |
|
May 7-11, 2008 (Phone) |
70.5 |
11.5 |
18 |
|
May 17/18, 2008 (Face : Face) |
69.5 |
17 |
13.5 |
|
May 24/25, 2008 (Face : Face) |
68 |
15.5 |
16.5 |
|
May 31 - June 1, 2008 (Face : Face) |
63.5 |
20.5 |
16 |
|
June 4-9, 2008 (Phone) |
65.5 |
21 |
13.5 |
|
June 7/8, 2008 (Face : Face) |
61.5 |
20 |
18.5 |
|
June 14/15 & 21/22, 2008 (Face : Face) |
64.5 |
21 |
14.5 |
|
June 28/29 & July 5/6, 2008 (Face : Face) |
61.5 |
23.5 |
15 |
AUSTRALIA HEADING IN “RIGHT” OR “WRONG” DIRECTION
Electors were asked: “Generally speaking, do you feel that things in Australia are heading in the right direction or would you say things are seriously heading in the wrong direction?”
| |
Interviewing Dates — L-NP Government |
| |
May
26/27 |
June
2/3 |
June 9/10
& 16/17 |
June 23/24 &
June 30/July 1 |
July 7/8
& 14/15 |
July 21/22
& 28/29 |
Aug 4/5
& 11/12 |
Aug 18/19
& 25/26 |
Sep
1/2 |
Sep
8/9 |
Sep
15/16 |
Sep
22/23 |
Sep
29/30 |
| |
Face |
Face |
Face |
Face |
Face |
Face |
Face |
Face |
Face |
Face |
Face |
Face |
Face |
| |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Right direction |
50.5 |
48.5 |
51.5 |
51.5 |
55.5 |
49 |
49 |
48.5 |
47 |
48 |
52.5 |
52 |
49.5 |
|
Wrong direction |
33 |
32.5 |
33.5 |
31 |
30 |
33.5 |
34.5 |
33 |
34.5 |
37 |
32 |
32 |
34.5 |
|
Roy Morgan GCR* |
117.5 |
116 |
118 |
120.5 |
125.5 |
115.5 |
114.5 |
115.5 |
112.5 |
111 |
120.5 |
120 |
115 |
|
Can’t say |
16.5 |
19 |
15 |
17.5 |
14.5 |
17.5 |
16.5 |
18.5 |
18.5 |
15 |
15.5 |
16 |
16 |
|
Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
.
| |
Interviewing Dates — L-NP Government |
| |
Oct
6/7 |
Oct
13/14 |
Oct
17/18 |
Oct
20/21 |
Oct
24/25 |
Oct
27/28 |
Nov
3/4 |
Nov
7/8 |
Nov
10/11 |
Nov
15-17 |
Nov
17/18 |
Nov
21/22 |
Nov
23 |
| |
Face |
Face |
Phone |
Face |
Phone |
Face |
Face |
Phone |
Face |
Phone |
Face |
Phone |
Phone |
| |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Right direction |
53 |
57.5 |
53 |
53.5 |
63.5 |
56 |
50 |
55.5 |
55.5 |
48 |
52.5 |
52 |
54 |
|
Wrong direction |
28.5 |
29 |
31.5 |
30 |
28 |
30 |
30.5 |
31 |
29 |
37 |
30 |
34 |
30 |
|
Roy Morgan GCR* |
124.5 |
128.5 |
121.5 |
123.5 |
135.5 |
126 |
119.5 |
124.5 |
126.5 |
111 |
122.5 |
118 |
124 |
|
Can’t say |
18.5 |
13.5 |
15.5 |
16.5 |
8.5 |
14 |
19.5 |
13.5 |
15.5 |
15 |
17.5 |
14 |
16 |
|
Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
| |
Interviewing Dates — ALP Government |
| |
Dec
5/6 |
Dec 1/2
& 8/9 |
Jan 5/6
& 12/13 |
Jan
23/24 |
Jan 19/20
& 26/27 |
Jan
30/31 |
Feb 2/3
& 9/10 |
Feb 16/17
& 23/24 |
Mar 1/2
& 8/9 |
Mar
11/12 |
Mar 15/16
& 22/23 |
Mar 26/27
& Apr 2/3 |
| |
Phone |
Face |
Face |
Phone |
Face |
Phone |
Face |
Face |
Face |
Phone |
Face |
Phone |
| |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Right direction |
60 |
64 |
64 |
61 |
59.5 |
62 |
62.5 |
61 |
62.5 |
51.5 |
53.5 |
54 |
|
Wrong direction |
15.5 |
16.5 |
17 |
19 |
20 |
20 |
18.5 |
22 |
20 |
29.5 |
27.5 |
26.5 |
|
Roy Morgan GCR* |
144.5 |
147.5 |
147 |
142 |
139.5 |
142 |
144 |
139 |
142.5 |
122 |
126 |
127.5 |
|
Can’t say |
24.5 |
19.5 |
19 |
20 |
20.5 |
18 |
19 |
17 |
17.5 |
19 |
19 |
19.5 |
|
Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
| |
Interviewing Dates — ALP Government |
| |
Apr
5/6 |
Apr
9/10 |
Apr
12/13 |
Apr
16/17 |
Apr 19/20
& 26/27 |
May 3/4 |
May
7-11 |
May
17/18 |
May
24/25 |
May 31
& June 1 |
June 4-9 |
June 7/8 |
June 14/15 & 21/22 |
June 28/29 & July 5/6 |
| |
Face |
Phone |
Face |
Phone |
Face |
Face |
Phone |
Face |
Face |
Face |
Phone |
Face |
Face |
Face |
| |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Right direction |
56.5 |
49.5 |
59 |
55 |
59 |
56.5 |
52 |
56 |
53 |
49.5 |
48 |
54 |
48 |
45.5 |
|
Wrong direction |
25 |
26 |
23 |
26.5 |
27.5 |
25.5 |
29 |
25 |
31.5 |
30 |
31 |
27 |
34 |
34 |
|
Roy Morgan GCR* |
131.5 |
123.5 |
136 |
128.5 |
131.5 |
131 |
123 |
130 |
121.5 |
119.5 |
117 |
127 |
114 |
111.5 |
|
Can’t say |
18.5 |
24.5 |
18 |
18.5 |
13.5 |
18 |
19 |
18 |
15.5 |
20.5 |
21 |
19 |
18 |
20.5 |
|
Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
Phone: Telephone survey method; Face: Face-to-face survey method.
* Roy Morgan GCR = Roy Morgan Government Confidence Rating (100 plus the difference between the percentage of people who say the country is “going in the right direction” and the percentage who say the country is “going in seriously the wrong direction”)

Margin of Error
The margin of error to be allowed for in any estimate depends mainly on the number of interviews on which it is based. The following table gives indications of the likely range within which estimates would be 95% likely to fall, expressed as the number of percentage points above or below the actual estimate. The figures are approximate and for general guidance only, and assume a simple random sample. Allowance for design effects (such as stratification and weighting) should be made as appropriate.
|
Sample Size |
Percentage Estimate |
| |
40%-60% |
25% or 75% |
10% or 90% |
5% or 95% |
|
1,000 |
±3.2 |
±2.7 |
±1.9 |
±1.4 |
|
1,500 |
±2.6 |
±2.2 |
±1.5 |
±1.1 |
|
2,000 |
±2.2 |
±1.9 |
±1.3 |
±1 |
The Morgan Poll was the most accurate of all polling companies at the 2007 Federal election for both primary vote and two-party preferred predictions (sample 2,115 electors).
The Morgan Poll accurately predicted that the ALP would win the 2006 Queensland election with a reduced majority (sample 604 electors).
The Morgan Poll accurately predicted that the ALP would win the 2006 Victorian election with a reduced majority (sample 956 electors). The Morgan Poll was also the most accurate on the primary vote of the major parties for the Victorian election.
Note: The recent discussion on Possum Pollytics regarding Morgan and Newspoll is well worth reading.
The following included comment says it all: “I find it interesting that for the only poll in the last five years for which there is any ‘real’ figure with which to compare, i.e. the polls immediately before the 2004 election, Morgan (45.5%) was closer to the actual Coalition Primary (46.7%) than Newspoll (45%) or Nielsen (49%), and Morgan (38.5%) was also closer to the ALP actual primary (37.6%) than Newspoll (39%), and only marginally further away than Nielsen (37%). Since we have no idea of how far away the ongoing polls are from ‘reality’ (whatever that means), surely we should just go with what we know, that in the most recent testable case, Morgan was better at forecasting the actual primary vote than Newspoll. On what possible basis should we decide that the Newspoll or Nielsen primary vote estimate is ‘better’ than Morgan’s.”
View Federal Voting Intention Trend
The Roy Morgan Research Centre conducts the Morgan Poll in Australia and New Zealand and is the Gallup International Association Member
No other public opinion poll taken in Australia or New Zealand has this qualification.
|