http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/pro-tax-sweep-fails-to-turn-vot...

A BARNSTORMING campaign by Julia Gillard to sell the details of the carbon tax has failed to turn the tide against the levy or the government, according to marginal seats polling obtained exclusively by The Weekend Australian.

A majority of voters oppose the tax, support calls for an early election, prefer Tony Abbott as prime minister and have a poor opinion of the Greens holding the balance of power.

The polling shows that most voters (62 per cent) say they now understand the carbon tax package, yet 55 per cent oppose it and 31 per cent support it.

The revelations are a setback to the government, which has pinned its hopes on being able to counter the Coalition's anti-tax campaign by explaining the details of the compensation package.

Conducted by Melbourne-based JWS Research on Wednesday, the automated polling sampled the views of more than 3000 voters in 59 of the nation's most marginal seats; 27 Labor, 27 Coalition and the five seats held by the Greens and independents.

It also tested voting intentions and returned results consistent with other published polls, including Newspoll, showing the ALP primary vote at 31 per cent compared with the Coalition's 52 per cent, delivering a 42-58 two-party-preferred split.

If replicated at an election, these figures would deliver a landslide victory to the Coalition. They show that the release of the tax package details, so far, has failed.

Despite election-style campaigning by Ms Gillard and her senior ministers this week, less than a quarter of voters (23 per cent) say their attitude to the tax has changed for the better since the policy details were released on Sunday, while 34 per cent say they have a worse opinion and 37 per cent say their views have not changed.

While 55 per cent of respondents oppose the tax, 54 per cent believe it will be bad for them and 51 per cent say it will be bad for the nation. More than half say they'll be unhappy if it is introduced and tellingly, given Mr Abbott's call for an election, 55 per cent support an early poll to resolve the issue.

JWS Research pollster John Scales said voters had already reached "saturation point" on the carbon tax.

"They have heard enough about it and are becoming very frustrated with the continued attention to a policy which they rate as a very low priority for government, well below health, the economy, education and cost of living," Mr Scales said.

The survey shows voters view health and hospitals (75 per cent), keeping the economy strong (72 per cent), education (68 per cent) and keeping the cost of living down (66 per cent) as the most important issues.

The carbon tax at 34 per cent comes in just ahead of building the NBN at 30 per cent, although tackling climate change comes in higher at 44 per cent.

Asked to rate their view about the Greens holding the balance of power, 54 per cent of respondents had a poor view (13 per cent fairly poor and 41 per cent very poor). Even 23 per cent of the dwindling number of Labor voters are unhappy about the Greens holding the balance of power.

"These poll results are devastating for the government," Mr Scales said. "They show that most voters believe they have a good understanding of Labor's carbon tax package and yet they still don't like it."

and interesting point is that support for the CT is 31% yet labors primary is 27% and the Greens is 12%.  where did the other 8% go??

Many LABOR AND GREENS VOTERS OPPOSE THE CARBON TAX.

no wonder they need two years to sell it..lol..

you know announcing a policy without the policy, taking 5 months to devise the policy. then giving us 1 year to get to understand it. then another year to digest it..before we are allowed a vote on it..

does that seem strange to anyone????

freediver wrote on Jul 16^th, 2011 at 12:42pm:

You would have to see the result of the same methodology that came up with the 27% for it to be an indicator of a rise in support.

freediver wrote on Jul 16^th, 2011 at 12:59pm:



I'm afraid I hope you are not expecting a sharp rise in support for it.

People do not support taxes - no matter what you call them - carbon, levy, or whatever.

It still means we will be out of pocket - people don't like that. I know I don't.

adelcrow wrote on Jul 16^th, 2011 at 1:09pm:

Yes socialism sucks and has never worked.

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Jul 16^th, 2011 at 1:18pm:

Labor are about to be schooled in democracy. Green are that dictatorial, they still will not listen to the people and probably never will.

adelcrow wrote on Jul 16^th, 2011 at 1:09pm:


That wasnt Greece's problem. Their problem has been decades of profligate and irresponsible Socialist government coupled with a tax-evading and lazy population. There are a lot of very successful, very wealthy and hard-working Greeks. very few of them live in Greece. That isnt an accident!