NZ: In April, for a third straight month, both the National-led Government and Parliamentary opposition were under 50% support

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 7-May-25

Roy Morgan’s New Zealand Poll for April 2025 shows the National-led Government (National, ACT & NZ First) on 49% (up 2% points) and the Labour-Greens-Maori Party Parliamentary Opposition on 47% (down 0.5% points). This is the fourth straight month the two main blocks representing both sides of politics have fallen short of a majority of support; it is also the seventh straight month no single party has managed to garner a third of the electorate’s support. There were changes in the composition of support for the National-led Government, with National down 1.5% points to 31%; however, support for ACT increased 1.5% points to 9% and support for NZ First increased 2% points to 9%, now at their highest level of support since the Election in October 2023. For the Parliamentary Opposition, support for Labour increased 1% point to 28.5% while support for the Greens was virtually unchanged at 14%. Support for the Maori Party dropped 1% point to 4.5%. A further 4% (down 1.5%) of electors supported a minor party outside Parliament. This New Zealand Roy Morgan Poll on voting intention was conducted by telephone – both landline and mobile – with a New Zealand-wide cross-section of 829 electors from 24 March to 20 April.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED, MORGAN POLL, NATIONAL PARTY OF NEW ZEALAND, ACT NEW ZEALAND, NEW ZEALAND FIRST PARTY, LABOUR PARTY (NEW ZEALAND), GREEN PARTY OF AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND, THE MAORI PARTY

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence increased 4.1pts to 87.5 in the week Australians voted in the Federal election

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 7-May-25

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rose 4.1pts to 87.5 in the week to 4 May; it is important to note that the vast majority of interviewing for Consumer Confidence was completed before the result of the Federal Election was known on Saturday night. Consumer Confidence is now 7 points above the same week a year ago (80.5), and 1.3pts above the 2025 weekly average of 86.2. Analysis by State shows increases around Australia, including in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia, but a slight decrease in Western Australia. Now 19% of Australians (up 4ppts) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 42% (down 5ppts) say their families are ‘worse off’ (the lowest figure for this indicator since September 2022). Looking forward, 28% (up 2ppts) of Australians expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 27% (down 3ppts) expect to be ‘worse off’. Now 10% (unchanged) of Australians expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 27% (down 2ppts) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 20% (down 2ppts) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 38% (unchanged) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

Roy Morgan Business Confidence down 9.3pts to 96.7 in April before weekend’s Federal Election

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 7-May-25

In April 2025, Roy Morgan Business Confidence was down 9.3pts to 96.7, in the weeks leading up to last weekend’s Federal Election. There was a similar trend three years ago when Business Confidence plunged by 12.8pts in the month leading up to the last Federal Election. Business Confidence is now 13.5pts below the long-term average of 110.2, although it is down a more modest 2.6pts from April 2024. Now 24.3% (down 6.6ppts) of businesses says their business is ‘better off’ financially than this time a year ago (the lowest figure for this indicator since September 2020, during the pandemic), while 36.7% (down 1.2ppts) say the business is ‘worse off’. Meanwhile, 36% (down 8.8ppts) expect the business will be ‘better off’ financially this time next year (the lowest figure for this indicator since April 2019), while 25.6% (up 8.3ppts) expect the business will be ‘worse off’ (the highest figure for this indicator since February 2024). The latest Roy Morgan Business Confidence results for April are based on 1,549 detailed interviews with a cross-section of Australian businesses from each State and Territory.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED

Liberals revolt over policy failures

Original article by Sarah Ison, Jack Quail
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 7-May-25

Sources within the Liberal Party have indicated that many of its policies were either not released or delayed for so long that they had no impact on the federal election. They include policies in key areas such as defence, taxation, education, health and the environment. Meanwhile, Sussan Ley is now widely regarded as the frontrunner to replace Peter Dutton as Opposition leader; advocates for Ley contend that she could boost support among female voters who have become disillusioned with the Liberal Party.

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LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Mother’s Day love: fewer Aussies spending more

Original article by
Australian Retailers Association – Page: Online : 7-May-25

A survey by the Australian Retailers Association and Roy Morgan has found that 30 per cent of Australians are set to celebrate Mother’s Day in 2025, which equates to seven million people. This is 2.7 million fewer people than in 2024, although the projected average spend is up from $102 last year to $141. In total, Australians are expected to spend $1 billion on Mother’s Day this year, which is virtually unchanged from a year ago despite tighter household budgets. Some 37% of respondents say flowers will be their gift of choice, while 20 per cent will opt for food and beverages. Other popular gifts include gift vouchers (10%), personal care items (10%), clothing and shoes (9%) and house-related gifts such as homewares and gardening hardware (7%). The ARA’s Fleur Brown says that special spending events like Mother’s Day help to keep the retail sector resilient.

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AUSTRALIAN RETAILERS ASSOCIATION, ROY MORGAN LIMITED

Albanese to dole out an extra ministry to the Left after landslide win

Original article by David Crary, James Massola
The Age – Page: Online : 7-May-25

Labor’s expanded caucus is set to meet on Friday to decide which MPs and senators will be in the new ministry, although Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will allocate portfolios next week. Labor’s left faction is set to gain an additional seat in the ministry after gaining about 12 seats in the federal election, while the Victorian Right faction will also push for increased representation in the ministry. The Left faction is set to outnumber the Right in Labor’s caucus, which is set to increase to at least 110, compared with 103 before the election.

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AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Stokes slams ALP’s super tax hit

Original article by Perry Williams, Jared Lynch, David Ross
The Australian – Page: 13 & 15 : 7-May-25

SGH Limited’s CEO Ryan Stokes has criticised the federal government’s proposal to tax the unrealised capital gains of superannuation funds. Stoke contends that while taxing profits is "entirely reasonable", taxing unrealised capital gains is dangerous and sets a far-reaching and concerning precedent, while it could also distort markets. The tax would initially apply to super accounts with a balance of more than $3m, but Stokes warns that it could potentially be extended to other asset classes. The Greens have advocated lowering the threshold to $2m, while the fact that the tax will not be indexed to inflations means that it will progressively apply to more people.

CORPORATES
SGH LIMITED – ASX SGH, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Trump tariff threat kick in the guts for local film industry

Original article by Mackenzie Scott, Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 2 : 7-May-25

Queensland’s Arts Minister John-Paul Langbroek has urged the federal government to protect the state’s economic investment in local film production. The state’s film industry generated a return of $525m in 2023-24 and created 4,000 direct jobs, including at the Gold Coast production studio. Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate says US President Donald Trump’s proposed 100 per cent tariff on all movies ‘produced in foreign lands’ is a "kick in the guts" for the region’s film industry. However, a White House spokesman has indicated that a final decision has not been made regarding tariffs on foreign-made films.

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ARTS QUEENSLAND, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Poll result opens door for housing market

Original article by Nila Sweeney
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 28 : 7-May-25

Real estate agents note that there has been an increase in the number of homes listed for sale in the last week. BresicWhitney CEO Thomas McGlynn expects this momentum to continue in the next week or so, after Labor secured majority government at the federal election on Saturday. Melbourne-based buyers’ agent Cate Bakos in turn says enquiries from prospective home buyers have also increased in the wake of the election, while Eliza Owen from Cotality says first-home buyers will return to the market when election policies that target them start to be implemented.

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BRESIC WHITNEY ESTATE AGENTS PTY LTD, COTALITY

PM urged to adopt 2035 emissions reduction target of 70pc

Original article by Greg Brown
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 7-May-25

The federal government will decide its 2035 emissions reduction target later this year, based on advice from the Climate Change Authority. However, the Labor Environment Action Network’s convener Felicity Wade says the group wants the 2035 target to be at least 70 per cent lower than 2005 emission levels. Wade adds that the environment must be a top priority for Labor’s second term in office, while LEAN wants the government’s ­nature positive laws to be legislated within 12 months. There are already doubts as to whether Labor’s 2030 emissions reduction target is achievable.

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AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LABOR ENVIRONMENT ACTION NETWORK