I don't think there were too many respondents who thought that life was easy for the disabled and shouldn't be better, but goodwill doesn't necessarily translate into strong support for the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Across the sample 53% supported Queensland contributing financially to the scheme, but 42% disagreed.There are a variety of other issues, such as whether you think the scheme will deliver, or whether it can be funded, and if so, by whom, which can turn support for the proposition into opposition to a particular funding model.

Strongly negative sentiment towards the current Prime Minister means that many respondents look on the proposal suspiciously. As they suspect her of being driven substantially by political advantage, and see her as inept, anything she proposes is viewed similarly.

My guess before doing this poll was that results would be unfavourable to the Queensland government's position. While I was correct, the degree of disapproval was not overwhelming, and was located much more amongst Labor and Greens than LNP voters. Katter supporters were split, but in the LNP's favour of opposing the state contributing to the NDIS trials.

As in a tight election Katter voters are likely to determine the result in a number of seats this is critical support.

P4. The Newman government says that it supports the NDIS but has refused to allocate money towards funding it. How strongly do you agree or disagree with this attitude?

The Leximancer Map

The Leximancer map shows the terms Gillard and Newman at opposite ends of the debate with those who support Newman's position likely to refer to Gillard on one end and those who support Gillard's position likely to refer to Newman or the LNP.

You can see all the words referring to the reality of disability clustered down in the sector supporting the federal government along with those referring to society: words like "care", "disabilities", "community" and "government". The terms "political" and "politics" also appear down there, suggesting that the public sees the state government as being political rather than the federal government.

As one moves further away from the strong support position words to do with money appear, including "money", "debt", "funds" and "financial". The word "federal" is also in there indicating that division of responsibilities between the feds and the states is an issue for some.

Verbatims

THEME: money (money, government, people, QLD, NDIS, Queensland, disabled, funding, states, disability)

money (Hits: 90)
First_Pref: alp
Qld_NDIS: agree
COLUMN: qld_ndis_why
To give money to the present Federal ferrals would be just flushing dowen the drain, Qld. has enough problems.
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government (Hits: 63)
First_Pref: lnp
Qld_NDIS: agree
COLUMN: qld_ndis_why
I think I covered this in P4. The state government cannot allocate money it does not have.
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people (Hits: 58)
First_Pref: bkap
Qld_NDIS: disagree
COLUMN: qld_ndis_why
Every state should allocate money toward it. While its a bigging for the people with disability.
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QLD (Hits: 48)
First_Pref: lnp
Qld_NDIS: agree
COLUMN: qld_ndis_why
Qld has no money therefore none to give, fram what I hear it won't get off the ground as far too expensive
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NDIS (Hits: 44)
First_Pref: bkap
Qld_NDIS: agree
COLUMN: qld_ndis_why
He needs to get Qld's house in order first and then look at the NDIS. gillard is wasting money hand over foot: eg.
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Queensland (Hits: 44)
First_Pref: lnp
Qld_NDIS: strongly_agree
COLUMN: qld_ndis_why
Queensland does not have the money. We are almost bankrupt.
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disabled (Hits: 45)
No info on it at all.I believe in helping the disabled but is this another money wasting brain storm of hers.
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funding (Hits: 40)
First_Pref: grn
Qld_NDIS: strongly_disagree
COLUMN: qld_ndis_why
If Newman supports the NDIS then that should be demonstrated with funding for at least a pilot program such as in Victoria and NSW. ’No money’ is a boringly pathetic excuse that Newman uses for anything that he doesn't like and does not accurately reflect state finances.
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states (Hits: 24)
First_Pref: lnp
Qld_NDIS: strongly_agree
COLUMN: qld_ndis_why
This is a Federal Initiative which was "spruiked" by Gillard and she probably did not realise that once she opened her mouth it would have severe traction in the electorate....then she back pedalled and looked for money from states
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disability (Hits: 22)
First_Pref: lnp
Qld_NDIS: strongly_disagree
COLUMN: qld_ndis_why
By the Queensland State Government committing to the NDIS they would save heaps of money in the end as there would be less need for the number of health and allied organisations that exist now. Under one umberalla a more concerted effort would be to relieve the suffering and pain most people with a disability feel now, either financially of physically.

THEME: scheme (scheme, fund, afford, funded, debt, federal, ALP)

scheme (Hits: 63)
First_Pref: lnp
Qld_NDIS: agree
COLUMN: qld_ndis_why
One of the reasons given is the question as to why 75% of the estimated cost of the scheme would go to administration & setup costs. The PM could not answer this question.
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fund (Hits: 35)
First_Pref: lnp
Qld_NDIS: agree
COLUMN: qld_ndis_why
Queensland put up a perfectly sensible scheme to fund it. A scheme which was supported by all the other Liberal state governments.
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afford (Hits: 35)
It smells of a Rolls Royce scheme when we can only afford a Great Wall scheme.
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funded (Hits: 29)
First_Pref: lnp
Qld_NDIS: agree
COLUMN: qld_ndis_why
prime minister originally stated scheme would be federally funded.
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debt (Hits: 23)
First_Pref: lnp
Qld_NDIS: agree
COLUMN: qld_ndis_why
The queensland government is so heavily in debt already, it really can't afford to put money in the scheme
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federal (Hits: 20)
A national insurance scheme should be funded by the federal government. Don
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ALP (Hits: 18)
First_Pref: lnp
Qld_NDIS: agree
COLUMN: qld_ndis_why
The previous ALP government left this State in a parlous financial position and as it is proposed to be a National scheme it should be funded by the Feds.

THEME: Newman (Newman, support, politics, LNP, disabilities, political)

Newman (Hits: 60)
However it is making Newman look bad!
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support (Hits: 41)
First_Pref: alp
Qld_NDIS: strongly_disagree
COLUMN: qld_ndis_why
Newman is hypocritical by saying he will support the scheme in principle but not supporting it financially.
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politics (Hits: 25)
First_Pref: grn
Qld_NDIS: strongly_disagree
COLUMN: qld_ndis_why
Newman is simply playing party politics
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LNP (Hits: 23)
We need it and can afford it. Business profit is more important to Newman and the LNP.
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disabilities (Hits: 19)
Newman is clearly disinterested in helping people with disabilities or even to be cooperative with the other states.
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political (Hits: 23)
Hence Newman's approach is purely political to keep up the charade that Qld's economics are like Spain's, which is absurd. Newman shows himself to be all stunt, spin and swagger, and totally partisan to the point of absurdity, and to my mind has lost all pretense at credibility.

THEME: trial (trial)

trial (Hits: 22)
Is the Government afraid that it won't have a surplus next year? Why have a trial in the first place?

THEME: Gillard (Gillard)

Gillard (Hits: 20)
First_Pref: alp
Qld_NDIS: agree
COLUMN: qld_ndis_why
Gillard has used this to try and improve her standing. Evidenced by trying to get an announcement signed up with the Premiers by the evening news bulletins.
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