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  • Jun, 2014

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    Australian troops in Iraq

    Q. Would you approve or disapprove of Australia sending troops to Iraq if the USA asks for our support?

     

    Total

     

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Vote other

    Total approve

    30%

    24%

    42%

    21%

    24%

    Total disapprove

    54%

    58%

    43%

    62%

    63%

    Strongly approve

    7%

    10%

    7%

    1%

    5%

    Approve

    23%

    14%

    35%

    20%

    19%

    Disapprove

    27%

    30%

    22%

    35%

    25%

    Strongly disapprove

    27%

    28%

    21%

    27%

    38%

    Don’t know

    17%

    18%

    14%

    17%

    13%

    30% would approve of Australia sending troops to Iraq if the USA asks for our support and 54% would disapprove.

    Liberal/National voters were split – 42% approve and 43% disapprove – while a majority of other voter groups disapproved.

    71% of those aged 55+ disapproved.

  • Jul, 2013

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    Australian troops in Afghanistan

    Q. Thinking about the Australian troops in Afghanistan, do you think Australia should –

     

    Jun 2010

    May 2011

    Nov 2011

    Mar 2012

    Sept 2012

     

    Total

     

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Increase the number of troops in Afghanistan

    7%

    6%

    3%

    4%

    4%

    2%

    2%

    2%

    Keep the same number of troops in Afghanistan

    24%

    36%

    22%

    22%

    23%

    16%

    14%

    22%

    11%

    Withdraw our troops from Afghanistan

    61%

    48%

    64%

    64%

    62%

    69%

    72%

    64%

    70%

    Don’t know

    8%

    11%

    11%

    10%

    11%

    13%

    12%

    12%

    19%

    Support for withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan increased to 69% from 62% last September. Support for increasing or maintaining troops in Afghanistan dropped from 27% to 18%.

    65% of men and 73% of women favour withdrawal of troops.

    Support for withdrawing Australian troops has increased for all voter groups – up 12 points to 72% for Labor voters, up 6 points to 64% for Liberal/National voters and up 5 points to 70% for Greens voters.

  • Mar, 2012

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    Troops in Afghanistan

    Q.  Thinking about the Australian troops in Afghanistan, do you think Australia should –

     

    25 Oct 2010

    21 Mar 2011

    29 Aug

    21 Nov

    Total

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Increase the number of troops in Afghanistan

    10%

    5%

    4%

    3%

    4%

    4%

    4%

    6%

    Keep the same number of troops in Afghanistan

    30%

    30%

    26%

    22%

    22%

    21%

    27%

    18%

    Withdraw our troops from Afghanistan

    47%

    56%

    64%

    64%

    64%

    64%

    62%

    69%

    Don’t know

    14%

    9%

    7%

    11%

    10%

    11%

    7%

    6%

    64% (no change since November 2011) think Australia should withdraw our troops from Afghanistan, 22% (no change) think we should maintain troop numbers and 4% (up 1%) think we should increase them.

    In the past 12 months, support for withdrawal of Australian troops has increased from 56% to 64%. There was majority support for withdrawal by all voting groups – 62% of Lib/Nat voters, 64% Labor and 69% Greens. Support for withdrawal was 71% among people aged 55+ and women were more likely than men to support withdrawal of troops (69% to 59%).

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  • Nov, 2011

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    Australian troops in Afghanistan

    Q.  Thinking about the Australian troops in Afghanistan, do you think Australia should –

    25 Oct 2010 21 Mar 2011 29 Aug 2011 Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Increase the number of troops in Afghanistan 10% 5% 4% 3% 3% 4% 3%
    Keep the same number of troops in Afghanistan 30% 30% 26% 22% 21% 29% 11%
    Withdraw our troops from Afghanistan 47% 56% 64% 64% 66% 57% 76%
    Don’t know 14% 9% 7% 11% 10% 10% 10%

    64% (no change) think Australia should withdraw our troops from Afghanistan, 22% (down 4%) think we should maintain troop numbers and 3% (down 1%) think we should increase them.

    Since October last year, support for withdrawal of Australian troops has increased from 47% to 64%. There was majority support for withdrawal by all voting groups – 57% of Lib/Nat voters, 66% Labor and 76% Greens. Support for withdrawal was also similar across age groups but women were more likely than men to support withdrawal of troops (72% to 55%).

    Comments »

  • May, 2011

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    Troops in Afghanistan

    Q.  Thinking about the Australian troops in Afghanistan, do you think Australia should –

    25 Oct 10 21 Mar 11 Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Increase the number of troops in Afghanistan 10% 5% 6% 4% 8% 1%
    Keep the same number of troops in Afghanistan 30% 30% 36% 37% 43% 25%
    Withdraw our troops from Afghanistan 47% 56% 48% 49% 41% 65%
    Don’t know 14% 9% 11% 10% 8% 9%

    42% think that the Australian troops in Afghanistan should be increased or maintained and 48% think Australia should withdraw its troops. This is a significant drop (-8%) in support for withdrawal since this question was last asked in March.

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  • Oct, 2010

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    War in Afghanistan

    Q. Thinking about the Australian troops in Afghanistan, do you think Australia should –

    Total

    25 Oct 10

    Labor Liberal Greens 30 March 09 21 June 10 11 Oct 10
    Increase the number of troops in Afghanistan

    10%

    10%

    12%

    10%

    14%

    7%

    13%

    Keep the same number of troops in Afghanistan

    30%

    31%

    34%

    23%

    24%

    24%

    24%

    Withdraw our troops from Afghanistan 47% 49% 45% 55% 50% 61% 49%
    Don’t know 14% 10% 8% 12% 12% 8% 14%

    47% say Australia should withdraw our troops from Afghanistan, 30% say we should keep the same number and 10% say we should increase troop numbers. The support for keeping the same number of troops in Afghanistan has increased by 6% since previous surveys.

    Support for withdrawal is highest among Greens voters (55%) and those on higher incomes (54% of those earning over $1,600 per week).

    Support for maintaining or increasing troop numbers is highest among Liberal/National voters (46%), men (46%) and those aged 55+ (48%).

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  • Oct, 2010

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    Troops in Afghanistan

    Q. Thinking about the Australian troops in Afghanistan, do you think Australia should –

    Total

    11 Oct 10

    Labor Liberal Greens 21 June 10 March 09
    Increase the number of troops in Afghanistan 13% 10% 20% 6% 7% 14%
    Keep the same number of troops in Afghanistan 24% 26% 29% 14% 24% 24%
    Withdraw our troops from Afghanistan 49% 50% 41% 73% 61% 50%
    Don’t know 14% 14% 10% 7% 8% 12%

    49% of respondents believe Australia should withdraw our troops from Afghanistan, 24% think we should keep the same number and 13% think the numbers should be increased.

    Support for withdrawal has dropped from the 61% recorded in June but is similar to the result recorded in March last year.

    50% of Labor voters and 73% of Greens voters support withdrawal but 49% of Liberal/National voters favour maintaining or increasing the number of troops.

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