30 April 2012, 300412, assistance, entitlement, Government assistance, Joe Hockey, Polling, polls, Shadow Treasurer
Q. The Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey recently said people in Western countries have an attitude of “entitlement” and expect the Government to provide assistance and subsidies for things like education, health, income support, retirement benefits, unemployment benefits. Do you agree or disagree that people in Australia receive too much Government assistance?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| Total agree |
39% |
27% |
54% |
19% |
| Total disagree |
33% |
55% |
20% |
58% |
| Strongly agree |
14% |
10% |
21% |
3% |
| Agree |
25% |
17% |
33% |
16% |
| Neither agree nor disagree |
23% |
21% |
23% |
23% |
| Disagree |
18% |
22% |
13% |
31% |
| Strongly disagree |
15% |
23% |
7% |
27% |
| Don’t know |
5% |
7% |
3% |
– |
Respondents were somewhat evenly split on their response to this question – 39% agree that people in Australia receive too much Government assistance while 33% disagree.
23% neither agree nor disagree and 5% don’t know.
Lib/Nat voters were significantly more likely to agree that people in Australia receive too much Government assistance (54%). Labor (55%) and Green (58%) voters were more likely to disagree.
Males (44%) were far more likely than females (32%) to agree that people in Australia receive too much Government assistance.
Those aged 65+ were also more likely to agree with this statement (48%), however those aged 55-64 were less likely (34%).
30 April 2012, 300412, Aid, Gross National Income, Millennium Declaration, Polling, polls
Q. In 2000 John Howard signed the Millennium Declaration committing Australia to spend 0.7% of Gross National Income on aid (the equivalent of 70 cents in every $100 earned in the economy). How much do you think Australia spent on aid in 2011?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| 0.35 |
13% |
15% |
12% |
16% |
| 0.5 |
12% |
10% |
16% |
14% |
| 0.7 |
7% |
10% |
7% |
8% |
| More than 0.7 |
24% |
28% |
25% |
20% |
| Don’t know |
44% |
37% |
40% |
42% |
When asked home much of Australia’s Gross National Income is spent on aid, the largest proportion of respondents stated ‘don’t know’ (44%).
The next largest proportion (24%) said that it was more than the 0.7 committed in the Millennium Declaration.
13% said that Australia spent 0.35 on aid, and 12% said 0.5. Just 7% said 0.7.
There was little difference across voting intention.
Females (48%) were more likely than males (39%) to select ‘don’t know’.
30 April 2012, 300412, Aid, Gross National Income, Polling, polls
Q. The bipartisan commitment on aid says Australia will allocate 0.5% of Gross National Income (50 cents of every $100 earned in Australia) by 2015. Considering Australia gave 0.35% in 2011, do you think Australia should meet this commitment?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| Should commit 0.5% |
37% |
46% |
29% |
62% |
| Should not commit 0.5% |
35% |
25% |
46% |
15% |
| Don’t know |
29% |
28% |
25% |
23% |
The respondents were quite evenly split in their response to this question – 37% think Australia should commit 0.5% by 2015, 35% think that Australia should not commit to 0.5% by 2015 and 29% don’t know.
Lib/Nat voters were more likely to state that Australia should not commit to 0.5% (46%). Green voters were more likely to state that Australia should commit to 0.5% (62%).
Males (40%) were more likely than females (29%) to think that Australia should not commit to 0.5%. Females (33%) were more likely than males (24%) to select ‘don’t know’.
Those aged 18-24 were more likely to think that Australia should commit to 0.5% (48%).
Those in QLD were more likely to think Australia should not commit to 0.5% (43%).