Essential Report
Groups that benefit from free trade agreements
Q. How much do you think the following benefit from Free Trade agreements with other countries?
Total some/a lot | A lot of benefit | Some benefit | Little benefit | No benefit | Don’t know | Nov 2014 some/a lot | |||
The Australian Government | 59% | 20% | 39% | 14% | 5% | 22% | 52% | ||
Australian businesses overall | 59% | 19% | 40% | 14% | 5% | 22% | 44% | ||
Mining companies | 58% | 26% | 32% | 12% | 6% | 24% | 48% | ||
The Australian economy in general | 51% | 13% | 38% | 20% | 7% | 21% | 37% | ||
Manufacturing firms | 50% | 16% | 34% | 18% | 10% | 23% | 34% | ||
Tourism operators | 48% | 17% | 31% | 19% | 9% | 25% | 41% | ||
Farmers | 45% | 16% | 29% | 19% | 13% | 22% | 37% | ||
Working people | 41% | 11% | 30% | 22% | 16% | 22% | 25% |
A majority think that there are some or a lot of benefit from free trade for the Australian Government (59%), businesses overall (59%), mining companies (58%), the Australian economy in general (51%) and manufacturing companies (50%).
There was least benefit for working people (41% benefit/38% little or no benefit).
There have been substantial increases in perceptions of benefit from free trade for all groups since this question was asked in November 2014.

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