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  • Mar, 2021

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    Views towards sexual assault allegations against federal politicians and staffers

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

    TOTAL: Agree Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    This is just a Canberra insider story 16% 23% 9% 13% 23% 12% 11% 21% 12% 24%
    What is happening in Canberra is relevant to all women 68% 62% 75% 56% 72% 75% 77% 66% 71% 63%
    It’s time women were believed when they say they have been assaulted 67% 58% 76% 59% 69% 71% 76% 64% 69% 55%
    Because the charge of rape is so serious, the burden of proof needs to be high 62% 66% 59% 51% 64% 71% 59% 74% 43% 61%
    Base (n) 997 505 492 294 346 357 321 367 89 132
    • 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.
  • Mar, 2021

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    Agreement towards independent inquiry undermining the rule of law

    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?

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Strongly agree 15% 20% 10% 4% 18% 21% 7% 25% 5% 18%
    Somewhat agree 22% 24% 20% 20% 23% 23% 16% 31% 12% 23%
    Neither agree nor disagree 31% 27% 34% 45% 29% 21% 31% 24% 36% 31%
    Somewhat disagree 15% 13% 17% 19% 13% 13% 21% 11% 22% 7%
    Strongly disagree 18% 17% 19% 12% 18% 22% 25% 9% 25% 21%
    TOTAL: Agree 37% 44% 30% 24% 41% 43% 23% 57% 17% 41%
    TOTAL: Disagree 33% 29% 36% 31% 31% 36% 46% 20% 47% 28%
    Base (n) 1,124 553 571 337 383 404 375 410 98 142
    • 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).
  • Mar, 2021

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    Views towards sexual assault of women in Parliament

     Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the recent allegations of rape and sexual assault from women working in Parliament?

    TOTAL: Agree Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    The government has been more interested in protecting itself than the interests of those who have been assaulted 65% 62% 68% 66% 69% 61% 76% 51% 88% 69%
    Women can face a hard time in workplaces in all professions, but politics has a particular problem with harassment and assault 61% 58% 64% 62% 64% 58% 67% 54% 75% 56%
    Workplaces only change when women are equally represented in leadership positions 57% 52% 62% 60% 59% 53% 60% 52% 69% 57%
    There is no difference in the way the different political parties treat women 45% 54% 37% 36% 44% 54% 41% 53% 30% 48%
    Base (n) 1,074 527 547 326 363 385 335 396 106 138
    • 65% agree the government has been more interested in protecting itself than the interests of those who have been assaulted, with Greens voters most likely to agree with this statement (88%), followed by Labor voters (76%) and minor and independent party voters (69%). About half (51%) of Coalition voters agree with this.
    • Less than half (45%) agree there is no difference in the way the different political parties treat women. Of this, 53% of Coalition voters agree, compared to 30% of Greens voters, 41% of Labor voters and 48% of minor and independent party voters.
    • 61% agree women can face a hard time in workplaces in all professions, but politics has a particular problem with harassment and assault. 44% of Greens voters strongly agree with this, compared to 34% Labor voters and 35% minor and independent party voters. Only 21% of Coalition voters strongly agree with this statement.
    • 57% agree workplaces only change when women are equally represented in leadership positions and while agreement towards this is consistent across most demographics, men are more likely than women to disagree (20% to 9% respectively).
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