Essential Report, occupy, Polling, protests
Q. There have recently been protests held in some Australian cities – similar to the “Occupy Wall Street” protests in USA – against “corporate greed” and the power of major banks and multinational corporations. Which best describes your opinion of these protests?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Agree with their concerns and support the protests | 29% | 36% | 18% | 59% |
| Agree with their concerns but don’t support the protests | 40% | 37% | 48% | 27% |
| Don’t agree with their concerns | 13% | 10% | 19% | 5% |
| Don’t know | 18% | 18% | 15% | 8% |
69% say they agree with the concerns of the “occupy” protests – made up of 29% who support the protests and 40% who don’t support the protests. Only 13% say they don’t agree with their concerns.
A majority (59%) of Greens voters support the protests compared to only 18% of Liberal/National voters – although only 19% of Liberal/National voters disagree with their concerns. Labor voters are split over support for the protests – 36% support them and 37% agree with their concerns but don’t support the protests.
Support for the concerns of the protests is strongest among older respondents (aged 55+), 28% support the protests and a further 48% agree with their concerns.
Essential Report, occupy, Polling, protests
Q. Do you support the removal of protesters by police in Melbourne and Sydney or should they be allowed to continue their protests?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Support their removal | 42% | 34% | 57% | 16% |
| Should be allowed to continue | 41% | 51% | 26% | 76% |
| Don’t know | 17% | 15% | 17% | 8% |
Although only 29% support the protests, respondents were divided over the removal of the protesters in Melbourne and Sydney. 42% support their removal and 41% think they should have been allowed to continue.
While 57% of Liberal/National voters supported the removal, 51% of Labor voters and 76% of Greens voters think they should have been allowed to continue.
Younger respondents (aged 18-34) were more likely to think they should be allowed to continue (45% to 35%), and those aged 55+ favoured removal 51% to 37%.
48% of those on incomes under $1,000 pw think they should be allowed to continue while 47% of those on incomes over $1,000 pw support their removal.