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  • Jun, 2012

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    Mabo Decision

    Q. This year is the 20th anniversary of the High Court’s “Mabo” decision which established land rights for Australia’s indigenous people.

    Do you think this decision has been good or bad for the following –

     

    Total good

    Total bad

    Very good

    Good

    Made no difference

    Bad

    Very bad

    Don’t know

    Aboriginal people

    65%

    4%

    27%

    38%

    19%

    3%

    1%

    11%

    Farmers

    15%

    35%

    4%

    11%

    32%

    28%

    7%

    17%

    Miners

    13%

    35%

    3%

    10%

    35%

    26%

    9%

    17%

    Regional communities

    30%

    23%

    6%

    24%

    32%

    17%

    6%

    15%

    All Australians

    33%

    22%

    10%

    23%

    30%

    16%

    6%

    14%

    Two thirds (65%) believe that the “Mabo” decision has been good for aboriginal people and only 4% think it has been bad. A majority of all voter groups think it has been good for aboriginal people – 80% of Greens voters, 72% of Labor voters and 63% of Liberal/National voters.

    Respondents were also more likely to think the decision was good for regional communities (30% good/23% bad) and all Australian (33%/22%).

    35% think it has been bad for farmers and miners. However, 47% think it has been good or made no difference for farmers and 48% think it has been good or made no difference for miners.

    Liberal/National voters were more inclined to think it was bad for all groups other than aboriginal people. For all Australians, 62% of Greens voters, 44% of Labor voters and 25% of Liberal/National voters think it has been good.

  • Jun, 2012

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    Republic

    Q.  Are you in favour or against Australia becoming a republic?

     

    Jan 2010

    March 2011

    Oct 2011

    Total

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    In favour

    41%

    39%

    41%

    39%

    56%

    27%

    54%

    Against

    32%

    34%

    33%

    35%

    22%

    51%

    21%

    No opinion

    27%

    27%

    26%

    27%

    22%

    22%

    25%

    39% favour Australia becoming a republic and 35% are against – showing only a little change since this question was asked in October 2011 (from net +8 to net +4 in favour). 27% have no opinion.

    Those most in favour were respondents aged 45-64 (45%), people earning $1,600+pw (45%), Labor voters (56%) and Greens voters (54%).

    Those most against were aged 65+ (58%) and Liberal/National voters (51%).

    36% of respondents aged under 35 had no opinion.

  • Jun, 2012

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    Will Australia ever become a Republic?

    Q. Do you think that Australia is likely or unlikely to ever become a republic?

     

    Total

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Total likely

    52%

    65%

    48%

    57%

    Total unlikely

    34%

    26%

    38%

    32%

    Very likely

    12%

    16%

    9%

    16%

    Somewhat likely

    40%

    49%

    39%

    41%

    Somewhat unlikely

    25%

    21%

    26%

    28%

    Very unlikely

    9%

    5%

    12%

    4%

    Don’t know

    15%

    9%

    13%

    11%

    52% think that it is very or somewhat likely that Australia will ever become a republic – and 34% think it is somewhat or very unlikely.

    For people aged 45+, 61%+ think it is likely and 29% unlikely while for those aged under 35, 42% think it is likely and 40% unlikely.

  • Jun, 2012

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    Trust in Institutions

    Q. How much trust do you have in the following institutions and organisations?

     

    Total

    trust

    26 Sep 11

    Total

    trust

    12 Jun 12

    A lot of trust

    Some trust

    A little trust

    No trust

    Don’t know

    % change

    The High Court

    72%

    60%

    20%

    40%

    24%

    9%

    7%

    -12

    The ABC

    46%

    54%

    15%

    39%

    31%

    10%

    6%

    +8

    Charitable organisations

    61%

    50%

    8%

    42%

    35%

    10%

    5%

    -9

    The Reserve Bank

    67%

    49%

    13%

    36%

    30%

    14%

    7%

    -18

    Environment groups

    45%

    32%

    6%

    26%

    35%

    25%

    7%

    -13

    The Commonwealth Public Service

      49%*

    30%

    4%

    26%

    42%

    18%

    9%

    -19

    Religious organisations

    29%

    27%

    5%

    22%

    30%

    37%

    6%

    -2

    Newspapers

    na

    26%

    3%

    23%

    46%

    23%

    5%

    na

    Online news media

    na

    23%

    2%

    21%

    45%

    25%

    6%

    na

    Federal Parliament

    55%

    22%

    3%

    19%

    37%

    36%

    6%

    -33

    Trade unions

    39%

    22%

    3%

    19%

    32%

    37%

    9%

    -17

    Business groups

    38%

    22%

    2%

    20%

    46%

    24%

    8%

    -16

    TV news media

    na

    21%

    3%

    18%

    43%

    30%

    5%

    na

    Political parties

    na

    12%

    2%

    10%

    31%

    52%

    5%

    na

    Note: ‘Total Trust’ is an aggregate figure achieved by adding ‘A lot of trust’ and ‘Some trust’.

    * This Commonwealth Public Service figure is from a question asked in 6 Feb 12.

     

    Respondents had most trust in the High Court (60%), the ABC (54%), charitable organisations (50%) and the Reserve bank (49%). They had least trust in political parties (12%), TV news media (21%) Federal Parliament, trade unions and business groups (all 22%).

    Trust in all institutions (except the ABC) declined since this question was asked last year. The major changes were a collapse in trust in Federal Parliament (-33%) and substantial declines in trust in the Commonwealth Public Service (-19%), the Reserve Bank (-18%), trade unions (-17%) and business groups (-16%).

    Compared to the average, Labor voters had more trust in political parties (19%), Federal Parliament (34%), the High Court (67%),  the Reserve Bank (57%), the Commonwealth Public Service (42%), trade unions (36%) and  environment groups (43%).

    Liberal/National voters, compared to the average, had more trust in religious organisations (33%) and business groups (27%) but less trust in Federal parliament (17%), the ABC (46%), trade unions (14%) and environment groups (21%).

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