Q. The Australian Government has committed $18 million to efforts to fight Ebola in West Africa, but has said the risks are too high to send medical or other personnel at this time. Do you think Australia is doing enough or not doing enough to assist the international efforts to fight Ebola?

58% of respondents think Australia is doing enough to assist the international efforts to fight Ebola and 21% think we are not doing enough.

74% of Liberal/National voters and 54% of Labor voters think we are doing enough but 42% of Greens voters think we are not doing enough.

62% of women think we are doing enough compared to 54% of men.

Q. Would you support or oppose Australia providing the following types of aid to fight Ebola in West Africa?

A majority (53%) would support Australia increasing funding to aid the fight against Ebola in West Africa.

However less than 50% support sending medical personnel (44%), troops (36%) or other workers (48%).

Those most likely to support sending medical personnel were Greens voters (62%) and those with university education (52%).

With Treasurer Wayne Swan reaching deep to produce his promised Budget surplus, foreign aid has become one of the victims.

The Government’s long standing promise to increase aid will happen but it will be delayed for another year. Currently Australia allocates just 0.35 per cent of National Gross Income — or 35c for every $100. The change means that by 2015-16, it will increase to 50c in every dollar. It’s still a long way from the top global donor, Norway, which gives $1.10 out of every $100 of its national income to the world’s poor.

Tim O’Connor from UNICEF tells 3Q Australia rates poorly compared with the rest of the world, ranking 13th out of 23 OECD nations. The delay in increasing funding has been criticised by aid groups and according to UNICEF it will cost lives.

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?

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’.

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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?

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%).

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