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Far-right rally

15 Jan 2019

Q. There was a far-right rally held in Melbourne last week opposing immigration the alleged crimes committed by African “gangs” in the city.

To what extent do you support agree or disagree with each of the following statements relating to this rally?

  NET: Agree NET: Disagree Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don’t know
There is no place in Australian society for the use of racist and fascist symbols used by participants in the rally 74% 17% 48% 26% 10% 7% 9%
All Australians have the right to peacefully protest, no matter how extreme their views 73% 19% 31% 42% 14% 5% 8%
Those attending the rally do not represent the views of the majority of Australians 60% 27% 31% 29% 17% 10% 13%
Scott Morrison demonstrated poor leadership by not immediately condemning the rally, and those who attended it, in stronger terms 48% 36% 21% 27% 23% 13% 16%
It was appropriate for Queensland senator Fraser Anning to use taxpayer money to attend the rally 22% 66% 8% 14% 18% 48% 12%

While 73% of Australians believe that ‘All Australians have the right to peacefully protest, no matter how extreme their views’, a similar proportion (74%) also feel agree that ‘There is no place in Australian society for the use of racist and fascist symbols used by participants in the rally’.

Six in ten believe that ‘Those attending the rally do not represent the views of the majority of Australians’.

Almost half (48%) agreed that ‘Scott Morrison demonstrated poor leadership by not immediately condemning the rally, and those who attended it, in stronger terms’.

Just 22% agreed ‘It was appropriate for Queensland senator Fraser Anning to use taxpayer money to attend the rally’ with 48% strongly disagreeing with this statement and 66% disagreeing overall.

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