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Importance of Asylum Seeker Issue

15 Jun 2011

Q. Is the issue of how Australia handles asylum seekers more or less important than issues such as managing the economy, education and health services? (This question has been commissioned by Network Ten)

Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens Men Women Age

18-34

Aged

35-54

Aged 55+
Total more or equally important 50% 49% 53% 56% 48% 52% 48% 50% 55%
A lot more important 5% 6% 6% 6% 3% 7% 5% 4% 8%
A little more important 5% 6% 5% 3% 6% 3% 5% 5% 5%
Equally important 40% 37% 42% 47% 39% 42% 38% 41% 42%
A little less important 21% 22% 21% 22% 18% 24% 25% 19% 20%
A lot less important 23% 23% 25% 19% 28% 18% 20% 26% 23%
Don’t know 5% 6% 1% 4% 4% 6% 8% 6% 2%

50% think that the issue of how Australia handles asylum seekers is more/equally important as issues such as managing the economy, education and health services – 44% think it is less important.

There were not substantial differences across voter and other groups – although Greens voters (56%) and those aged 55+ (55%) were a little more likely to think it was important.

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