Julian Assange
Q. Nearly two years ago, Julian Assange, the head of Wikileaks, was granted political asylum by Ecuador and has since been living at Ecuador’s embassy in London. Police officers have been stationed outside the embassy to arrest him if he leaves – at a cost of about $10 million. Which of the following is closest to your view about Julian Assange?
|
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
|
| It is a waste of money trying to arrest Julian Assange |
69% |
76% |
61% |
73% |
80% |
|
| Julian Assange should be arrested despite the costs |
13% |
9% |
20% |
11% |
6% |
|
| Don’t know |
18% |
15% |
19% |
16% |
14% |
69% agreed more with the view that it is a waste of money trying to arrest Julian Assange and only 13% thought Julian Assange should be arrested despite the costs. A majority of all voter groups agreed it is a waste of money trying to arrest Julian Assange.
Awareness of Assange
Q. The founder of Wikileaks, Julian Assange, faces extradition from the UK to Sweden for an investigation into sexual assault allegations. In Sweden he will be detained while the investigation continues, and he may be extradited to the United States to face charges relating to WikiLeaks’s release of US diplomatic cables. How much have you read or heard about Julian Assange?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| A lot |
16% |
18% |
13% |
31% |
| Some |
38% |
37% |
41% |
41% |
| A little |
35% |
35% |
37% |
26% |
| Nothing at all |
8% |
8% |
8% |
3% |
| Don’t know |
3% |
2% |
1% |
– |
54% said they had read heard a lot or some about Julian Assange. Only 8% had read or heard nothing at all.
Those most likely to have heard a lot of some about Julian Assange were men (60%), aged 55+ (59%) and Greens voters (72%).
Assange for the Senate
Q. Julian Assange, has announced he will run for the Senate in Victoria in the next Federal election and will also run candidates in other states. How likely would Julian Assange be to make a positive contribution to Federal Parliament?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| Very likely |
12% |
13% |
9% |
21% |
| Somewhat likely |
20% |
24% |
18% |
40% |
| Not very likely |
25% |
25% |
27% |
18% |
| Not at all likely |
25% |
25% |
31% |
15% |
| Don’t know |
17% |
13% |
16% |
7% |
32% think it is very or somewhat likely that Julian Assange would make a positive contribution to Federal Parliament.
Those most likely to think he would make a positive contribution were men (38%), aged 25-44 (42%) and Greens voters (61%).
58% of those who had read or heard a lot about Julian Assange, and 42% of those who had read or heard some thought it was likely he would make a positive contribution to Parliament.
Support for Julian Assange
Q. Julian Assange faces extradition from the UK to Sweden for an investigation into sexual assault allegations. In Sweden he will be detained while the investigation continues, and he may be extradited to the United States to face charges relating to WikiLeaks’s release of US diplomatic cables.
Do you think the Australian government has provided appropriate support to Assange given he faces investigation for sexual assault in Sweden and possible extradition to the US?
|
19 Mar 2012 |
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| Government have provided appropriate support |
22% |
28% |
37% |
30% |
16% |
| Government have not provided appropriate support |
36% |
33% |
34% |
32% |
42% |
| Don’t know |
41% |
38% |
29% |
38% |
41% |
33% (down 3% since March) believe that Julian Assange has not received appropriate support from the Australian Government and 28% (up 6%) think he has received appropriate support. 38% could not give an opinion.
39% of men think the Government has not provided appropriate support compared to 28% of women – mainly due the 47% of women who said they “don’t know”. 34% of respondents aged 18-34 think Julian Assange has not received appropriate support compared to 21% who think the Government has provided appropriate support.
Government Response if Julian Assange is Charged by US
Q. Recently US government figures have indicated they want Julian Assange to be prosecuted. If he is charged by the US, what do you think the Australian Government should do?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| Support US attempts to prosecute him |
9% |
8% |
10% |
4% |
| Call for the US to observe due process and offer consular support |
34% |
40% |
33% |
30% |
| Offer him protection from extradition and prosecution. |
24% |
26% |
19% |
41% |
| Do nothing |
13% |
12% |
17% |
7% |
| Don’t know |
20% |
13% |
21% |
19% |
34% think that if Julian Assange is charged by the US, the Australian Government should call for the US to observe due process and offer consular support and 24% think the Government should offer him protection from extradition and prosecution. Only 9% think the Government should support US attempts to prosecute him and 13% think they should do nothing.
Support for offering Assange protection was highest among older respondents – 31% of respondents aged 55+ compared to 22% of those aged under 35.
Approval of Wikileaks
Q. The online organisation Wikileaks, which is headed by the Australian Julian Assange, has released diplomatic material leaked to it by an American source. It has also provided this material to other media which have also published information about the leaks. Do you approve or disapprove of Wikileaks and media outlets releasing this material?
|
20 Dec 2010 |
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| Total approve |
53% |
53% |
55% |
51% |
80% |
| Total disapprove |
25% |
26% |
30% |
30% |
5% |
| Strongly approve |
20% |
20% |
21% |
18% |
32% |
| Approve |
33% |
33% |
40% |
30% |
38% |
| Disapprove |
14% |
18% |
16% |
21% |
13% |
| Strongly disapprove |
11% |
8% |
6% |
10% |
5% |
| Don’t know |
22% |
22% |
17% |
20% |
12% |
Approval of Wikileaks release of leaked information remains unchanged since this question was asked over 12 months ago. 53% approve of Wikileaks activities and 26% disapprove.
80% of Greens voters approve compared to 55% of Labor voters and 51% of Liberal/National voters.
60% of men approve and 22% disapprove while women split 45% approve/30% disapprove. Younger respondents (aged 18-34) are also more likely to approve – 61% approve and 16% disapprove.
Support for Julian Assange
Q. Julian Assange faces extradition from the UK to Sweden for an investigation into sexual assault allegations. In Sweden he will be detained while the investigation continues, and he may be extradited to the United States to face charges relating to WikiLeaks’s release of US diplomatic cables.
Do you think the Australian government has provided appropriate support to Assange given he faces investigation for sexual assault in Sweden and possible extradition to the US?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
NSW |
Vic |
Qld |
|
| Government have provided appropriate support |
22% |
26% |
26% |
14% |
21% |
23% |
21% |
| Government have not provided appropriate support |
36% |
34% |
35% |
53% |
36% |
38% |
33% |
| Don’t know |
41% |
40% |
39% |
33% |
43% |
39% |
46% |
36% believe that Julian Assange has received appropriate support from the Australian Government and 22% think he has received appropriate support. 41% could not give an opinion.
47% of men think the Government has not provided appropriate support compared to 26% of women – mainly due the 53% of women who said they “don’t know”. Despite the their higher approval of Wikileaks, only 33% of respondents aged 18-34 think Julian Assange has not received appropriate support.
Wikileaks – Release of Material
Q. The online organisation Wikileaks, which is headed by the Australian Julian Assange, has released diplomatic material leaked to it by an American source. It has also provided this material to other media which have also published information about the leaks. Do you approve or disapprove of Wikileaks and media outlets releasing this material?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total approve | 53% | 55% | 51% | 80% |
| Total disapprove | 25% | 30% | 30% | 5% |
| Strongly approve | 20% | 21% | 17% | 35% |
| Approve | 33% | 34% | 34% | 45% |
| Disapprove | 14% | 16% | 18% | 3% |
| Strongly disapprove | 11% | 14% | 12% | 2% |
| Don’t know | 22% | 16% | 19% | 15% |
53% approve Wikileaks and other media outlets releasing leaked US diplomatic material and 25% disapprove – 22% do not have an opinion. There was majority approval from supporters of each major party.
There was also majority approval from all age groups – aged under 35 54% approve/17% disapprove, aged 35-54 51% approve/26% disapprove, aged 55+ 56% apperove/34% disapprove.
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Essential Report
Sign up for updates
Receive the Essential Report in your inbox.Essential Tags
Recent Comments
