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Disagreement among Australians

11 Jul 2017

Q. What level of disagreement do you think exists among Australians over the following issues?

 

 

Total high Total low   Very high disagreement High disagreement Moderate disagreement Low disagreement Very low disagreement Don’t know
Allowing foreign investors to buy Australian farming land 42% 23%   23% 19% 22% 14% 9% 12%
Whether increased Muslim immigration poses a threat to the safety and security of the community 39% 22%   15% 24% 28% 11% 11% 11%
Offshore detention of asylum seekers 37% 24%   12% 25% 28% 13% 11% 11%
The need to legislate for same sex marriage 31% 34%   14% 17% 27% 18% 16% 9%
Paying penalty rates for working on Sundays and public holidays 30% 32%   14% 16% 29% 17% 15% 10%
What constitutes ‘fair pay’ 29% 24%   9% 20% 32% 16% 8% 15%
Whether we should open new coal mines 28% 25%   10% 18% 33% 15% 10% 14%
The immediate impact of climate change 26% 27%   7% 19% 36% 18% 9% 11%
Whether Australia should be a republic 20% 37%   7% 13% 27% 21% 16% 15%
Significant public investment in higher education 16% 38%   4% 12% 29% 26% 12% 16%
The need for Australia to focus on building renewable energy 15% 44%   4% 11% 30% 25% 19% 11%
Formally recognizing Aboriginal people in our constitution 14% 45%   5% 9% 28% 22% 23% 12%

 

The issues with the highest level of perceived disagreement were “allowing foreign investors to buy Australian farming land” (42% high disagreement), “whether increased Muslim immigration poses a threat to the safety and security of the community” (39%), and “offshore detention of asylum seekers” (37%).

The issues with the lowest level of perceived disagreement were “formally recognising Aboriginal people in our constitution” (45% low disagreement), the need for Australia to focus on building renewable energy (44%), “significant public investment in higher education (38%) and “whether Australia should become a republic (37%).

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