Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements regarding sexual assault allegations against federal politicians and staffers?

• There is widespread agreement that what is happening in Canberra is relevant to all women (68%) and it’s time women were believed when they say they have been assaulted (67%). Over a third of people strongly agree with each statement (38% and 36% respectively).
• Agreement with these two statements is high overall, but highest among women (75% and 76% respectively), those over 55 (75% and 71% respectively) and Labor voters (77% and 76% respectively).
• 62% agree that because the charge of rape is so serious, the burden of proof needs to be high. While 59% of women agree with this statement, agreement is higher among men (66%). Agreement with this statement is also high among those over 55 (71%) and Coalition voters (74%).
• Just 16% of people agree the recent sexual assault allegations against federal politicians and staffers is just a Canberra insider story.

Q. Following the allegations of rape and sexual assault against Attorney General Christian Porter last week, Scott Morrison has rejected calls for an independent inquiry, saying that “I don’t agree with that because I don’t agree with the precedent or the prima facie case for there being such a process… because that would say the rule of law and our police are not competent to deal with these issues.”.

To what extent do you agree with his suggestion that holding an independent inquiry would undermine the rule of law?

• People are split on Scott Morrison’s suggestion that holding an independent inquiry would undermine the rule of law. While 33% disagree with the Prime Minister’s suggestion, 37% agree and 31% are undecided.
• Men are more likely than women to agree with this suggestion (44% to 30% respectively). Those over 55 and those aged 35-54 are also more likely to agree with it than the younger 18-34 cohort (43% and 41% to 24% respectively).

Q. Which of the following statements regarding the Prime Minister’s decision not to hold an independent investigation into claims of rape and sexual assault against Attorney General Christian Porter is closer to your view?

• It’s closer to over half (55%) of people’s view that the Prime Minister needs an independent investigation to determine if the Attorney General is a fit and proper person to be the nation’s first law officer. The majority of women (59%) chose this option.
• Greens and Labor voters are most likely to hold this view (77% and 72% respectively) compared to other voters (37% Coalition voters, 48% minor and independent party voters).
• On the other hand, 45% think ‘We need to respect the rule of law, we can’t have a trial by mob. The police has said they will not be pressing charges and that should be the end of the matter.’ Men (49%), those over 55 (55%) and Coalition voters (63%) are mostly likely to align with this view.

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?

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.