Agreement with removal of monuments and memorials
Q. Protesters are arguing for the removal of monuments and memorials of individuals or organisations connected to the slave trade, genocide of Indigenous Australians and racism. In some cases, the protesters have destroyed the monuments and memorials themselves.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with these statements about removing public monuments and memorials?
| NET: Agree | NET: Disagree | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | Unsure | |
| The protesters should focus on making changes for people living now, rather than things that happened in the past | 80% | 14% | 54% | 26% | 8% | 6% | 7% |
| Instead of removing monuments and memorials, we should include more information about the historical context of public figures | 78% | 15% | 47% | 30% | 10% | 5% | 7% |
| Every public figure has their positive and negative aspects, and this isn’t a good reason to remove their monuments or memorials | 76% | 16% | 45% | 31% | 9% | 7% | 8% |
| We lose part of our history when monuments and memorials are removed | 76% | 17% | 49% | 27% | 8% | 8% | 8% |
| It’s wrong to judge historical figures by our modern standards of morality | 72% | 19% | 44% | 28% | 11% | 8% | 9% |
| Monuments and memorials provide a constant reminder of racial discrimination in society | 48% | 42% | 19% | 29% | 20% | 21% | 11% |
| Monuments and memorials of people who support racism, segregation or slavery glorify their actions | 45% | 41% | 19% | 26% | 22% | 19% | 14% |
| NET: Agree | Total | Federal Voting Intention | |||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| The protesters should focus on making changes for people living now, rather than things that happened in the past | 80% | 77% | 89% | 61% | 83% |
| Instead of removing monuments and memorials, we should include more information about the historical context of public figures | 78% | 75% | 85% | 62% | 81% |
| Every public figure has their positive and negative aspects, and this isn’t a good reason to remove their monuments or memorials | 76% | 71% | 87% | 52% | 79% |
| We lose part of our history when monuments and memorials are removed | 76% | 71% | 88% | 54% | 71% |
| It’s wrong to judge historical figures by our modern standards of morality | 72% | 65% | 83% | 55% | 74% |
| Monuments and memorials provide a constant reminder of racial discrimination in society | 48% | 55% | 38% | 69% | 43% |
| Monuments and memorials of people who support racism, segregation or slavery glorify their actions | 45% | 50% | 37% | 65% | 41% |
| Base (n) | 1,079 | 315 | 445 | 107 | 108 |
- Four-fifths of participants agree protesters should focus on making changes for people living now, rather than things that happened in the past (80%) while another 78% agree that instead of removing monuments and memorials, we should include more information about the historical context of public figures.
- Less than half of participants agree that monuments and memorials provide a constant reminder of racial discrimination in society (48%) and monuments and memorials of people who support racism, segregation or slavery glorify their actions (45%).
- 18-34 year olds are more likely than those over 55, to agree that monuments and memorials of people who support racism, segregation or slavery glorify their actions (58% of 18-34 year olds and 35% of 55+) or agree that monuments and memorials provide a constant reminder of racial discrimination in society (58% and 37% respectively).
- Participants over 55 are more likely to agree that we lose part of our history when monuments and memorials are removed (87% of those aged 55+ and 64% of 18-34) and it’s wrong to judge historical figures by our modern standards of morality (80% of 55+ and 64% of 18-34).
- Broadly Greens voters are most likely to agree with negative statements about the impact of these monuments, while Coalition voters are least likely to agree with those statements.
Agreement with protests in Australia
Q. Following the protests in the United States of America, there have been demonstrations in Australia oppose the deaths of Indigenous people in police custody.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the protests in Australia?
| TOTAL: Agree | TOTAL: Disagree | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | Unsure | |
| Protesters gathering in large numbers during the Covid-19 puts the entire community at risk | 84% | 9% | 62% | 23% | 5% | 4% | 7% |
| Protesters are justified in their demands for authorities to address the issue of Indigenous deaths in custody | 62% | 27% | 31% | 32% | 11% | 16% | 11% |
| The situation in America is very different to Australia and has no relevance | 61% | 30% | 34% | 27% | 18% | 12% | 10% |
| TOTAL: Agreement | Gender | Age Group | ||||
| Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | |
| Protesters gathering in large numbers during the Covid-19 puts the entire community at risk | 84% | 86% | 82% | 78% | 87% | 87% |
| Protesters are justified in their demands for authorities to address the issue of Indigenous deaths in custody | 62% | 64% | 60% | 69% | 63% | 56% |
| The situation in America is very different to Australia and has no relevance | 61% | 67% | 54% | 54% | 62% | 64% |
| Base (n) | 1,087 | 534 | 553 | 341 | 364 | 382 |
- While a large majority of people agree that the protests pit the community at risk by spreading Covid-19 (84%), 62% agree that protesters are justified in their demands for authorities to address the issue of Indigenous deaths in custody.
- Men (67%), those aged over 55 (64%) and Coalition voters (74%) are more likely to agree that ‘The situation in America is very different to Australia and has no relevance’ compared to women (54%), those aged under 35 (54%) and Labor and Greens voters (54% and 38%).
Institutional Racism in Australia
Q. Institutional racism is where the institutions in a society are biased in a way that means particular ethnic groups are disadvantaged.
For example, Indigenous Australians are more likely to be arrested in some situations; whereas, white (European) Australians are more likely to be warned, cautioned or diverted away from the criminal justice system. Additionally, Indigenous Australians are more likely to die in custody than white Australians. To some people these arguments show that there is institutional racism against Indigenous Australians.
Which of the following best describes your view of institutional racism in Australia?
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| There is no racism in Australian police forces | 9% | 7% | 11% | 8% | 11% |
| While there may be isolated incidents involving racism, police forces in Australia are not institutionally racist against Indigenous Australians | 43% | 40% | 54% | 21% | 50% |
| There is institutional racism in Australian police forces which is shown through many examples of discrimination against Indigenous Australians | 30% | 36% | 19% | 56% | 29% |
| I do not know enough about the issue to provide a view | 18% | 16% | 16% | 15% | 10% |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 325 | 419 | 90 | 136 |
Forms of intolerance
Q. For each of the following forms of intolerance, please indicate to what extent you think it is a problem in Australia.
| Total large/ moderate | Large prob. | Mod. prob. | Small prob. | Not a prob. | Don’t know | Sep 12 Total large/ mod. | Jun 13 Total large/ mod. | Feb 14 Total large/ mod. | Jun 15 Total large/ mod. | |||
| Racism against people from other countries | 60% | 22% | 38% | 28% | 9% | 4% | 71% | 69% | 64% | 58% | ||
| Racism against indigenous Australians | 54% | 19% | 35% | 29% | 12% | 4% | 51% | |||||
| Sexism | 47% | 14% | 33% | 38% | 10% | 6% | 45% | 52% | 51% | 44% | ||
| Homophobia | 47% | 13% | 34% | 32% | 13% | 7% | 50% | 51% | 47% | 42% | ||
| Religious intolerance | 53% | 18% | 35% | 30% | 11% | 5% | 65% | 54% | 51% | 56% | ||
| Ageism | 48% | 17% | 31% | 33% | 12% | 8% | 44% | 46% | 49% | 49% |
47% think homophobia is a major/moderate problem in Australia – up 5% since June.
60% think that racism against people from other countries is a major/moderate problem in Australia – and 54% think racism against indigenous Australians is a major/moderate problem. These figures have not changed substantially since June.
Adam Goodes
Q. Do you think the people who booed Adam Goodes were being racist or not being racist?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Vote Other | ||
| Being racist | 29% | 35% | 22% | 53% | 18% | |
| Not being racist | 45% | 40% | 59% | 21% | 58% | |
| Don’t know | 26% | 24% | 19% | 26% | 24% |
29% think that the people who booed Adam Goodes were being racist or and 45% think they were not being racist.
A majority (59%) of Liberal/National voters thought they were not being racist while most (53%) Greens voters though they were being racist.
Those most likely to think they were being racist were aged 18-34 (37%) and those with a university degree (37%).
Forms of intolerance
Q. For each of the following forms of intolerance, please indicate to what extent you think it is a problem in Australia.
|
Total large/ mod |
|
A large problem |
Mod problem |
Small problem |
Not a problem at all |
Don’t know |
|
Sept 12 Total large/ mod |
Jun 13 Total large/ mod |
Feb 14 Total large/ mod |
|
| Racism |
67% |
30% |
37% |
23% |
6% |
4% |
71% |
69% |
64% |
||
| Religious intolerance |
61% |
28% |
33% |
25% |
9% |
5% |
65% |
54% |
51% |
||
| Sexism |
47% |
16% |
31% |
36% |
12% |
5% |
45% |
52% |
51% |
||
| Ageism |
45% |
17% |
28% |
33% |
13% |
9% |
44% |
46% |
49% |
||
| Homo-phobia |
45% |
15% |
30% |
32% |
15% |
8% |
50% |
51% |
47% |
67% think that racism is a major/moderate problem in Australia – up 3% compared to when this question was previously asked in February last year. 61% think that religious intolerance is a major/moderate problem – up 10% since last February.
Those most likely to think racism a major/moderate problem were women (73%) and Greens voters (80%).
Those most likely to think religious intolerance a major/moderate problem were women (73%) and incomes under $600pw (69%).
Those most likely to think sexism a major/moderate problem were women (68%) and Greens voters (67%).
Those most likely to think homophobia a major/moderate problem were Greens voters (67%), Labor voters (53%) and aged 18-24 (57%).
58% of those aged 55+ think ageism is a major/moderate problem.
Experience of forms of intolerance
Q. Have you personally experienced or witnessed any of the following forms of intolerance in the past 12 months?
|
|
Total |
|
Men |
Women |
Aged 18-34 |
Aged 35-54 |
Aged 55+ |
|
Total Jun 13 |
Total Feb 14 |
| Racism |
33% |
35% |
32% |
45% |
32% |
21% |
39% |
36% |
||
| Sexism |
26% |
21% |
32% |
32% |
25% |
20% |
29% |
29% |
||
| Religious intolerance |
26% |
25% |
27% |
36% |
24% |
17% |
29% |
28% |
||
| Ageism |
22% |
21% |
24% |
20% |
18% |
32% |
24% |
26% |
||
| Homophobia |
19% |
18% |
20% |
27% |
17% |
12% |
26% |
24% |
33% say they have experienced or witnessed racism in the past 12 months, while about one quarter have experienced or witnessed sexism and religious intolerance. These figures have dropped a little since this question was last asked in February last year.
Younger people (aged 18-34) were more likely to have experienced/witnessed racism (45%), homophobia (27%), sexism (32%) and religious intolerance (36%). 32% of those aged 55+ say they have experienced/witnessed ageism. 32% of women say they have experienced/witnessed sexism.
Forms of intolerance
Q. For each of the following forms of intolerance, please indicate to what extent you think it is a problem in Australia.
|
Total large/ moderate |
|
A large problem |
Moderate problem |
Small problem |
Not a problem at all |
Don’t know |
|
Sept 12 Total large/ moderate |
Jun 13 Total large/ moderate |
|
| Racism |
64% |
25% |
39% |
29% |
6% |
2% |
71% |
69% |
||
| Religious intolerance |
51% |
18% |
33% |
32% |
14% |
4% |
65% |
54% |
||
| Sexism |
51% |
15% |
36% |
37% |
10% |
3% |
45% |
52% |
||
| Ageism |
49% |
15% |
34% |
31% |
13% |
8% |
44% |
46% |
||
| Homophobia |
47% |
16% |
31% |
36% |
13% |
5% |
50% |
51% |
64% think that racism is a major/moderate problem in Australia – down a little compared to when this question was previously asked in June last year. Just over half believe that religious intolerance and sexism are major/moderate problems.
Those most likely to think racism a major/moderate problem were women (68%), Greens voters (85%) and Labor voters (71%).
Those most likely to think sexism a major/moderate problem were women (58%) and Greens voters (70%).
Those most likely to think homophobia a major/moderate problem were women (54%), Greens voters (77%), Labor voters (54%) and aged 18-34 (56%).
54% of those aged 55+ think ageism is a major/moderate problem.
There were no substantial differences between groups on views about religious intolerance.
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Essential Report
In this week's report:
- Federal government response to Covid-19
- State government response to Covid-19
- Views towards reopening international borders
- Views towards state border closures
- Comprehension and confidence in PM’s plan to ‘safely reopen’ Australia
- Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine
- Necessity of mandatory vaccinations in specific situations
- Views towards easing restrictions for fully vaccinated people
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