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Contribution of multiculturalism

2 Sep 2014

Q. Overall, has multiculturalism (that is, the acceptance of people from different countries, cultures and religions) made a positive or negative contribution to Australian society?

 

 

Total

 

 

Vote Labor

Vote Lib/Nat

Vote Greens

Vote other

 

Feb 2011

Total positive

57%

64%

51%

81%

49%

57%

Total negative

30%

27%

37%

13%

42%

29%

Very positive

18%

27%

7%

50%

13%

15%

Positive

39%

37%

44%

31%

36%

42%

Negative

19%

21%

22%

7%

21%

18%

Very negative

11%

6%

15%

6%

21%

11%

Made no difference

6%

6%

6%

2%

6%

6%

Don’t know

6%

3%

7%

4%

3%

8%

57% believe that multiculturalism has made a positive contribution to Australian society and 30% believe the contribution has been negative. These results are almost identical to when this question was asked in 2011. A majority of major party voter groups believe the contribution has been positive.

Older respondents tend to have a more negative view – those aged 55+ were split 49% positive/42% negative while those aged under 35 were 69% positive and 19% negative. 72% of university educated respondents thought it was positive.

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