Perceptions of change in the standard of living for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Q. In your opinion, over the past 10 years, have things got better or worse for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia, or have things stayed much the same?
| Jan’21 | Jun’19 | |
| A lot better | 18% | 18% |
| A little better | 30% | 28% |
| Stayed much the same | 32% | 36% |
| A little worse | 7% | 5% |
| A lot worse | 3% | 3% |
| Don’t know | 11% | 10% |
| TOTAL: Better | 48% | 46% |
| TOTAL: Worse | 10% | 8% |
| Base (n) | 1,084 | 1,097 |
- Nearly half (48%) believe things have got better for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples over the last 10 years, unchanged since June 2019 (46%).
- About a third (32%) state that in their opinion, conditions have stayed much the same for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders over the past 10 years, while 10% believe things have got worse. Both figures were also at a similar level in June 2019.
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | |
| A lot better | 18% | 15% | 23% | 9% | 20% |
| A little better | 30% | 32% | 33% | 22% | 27% |
| Stayed much the same | 32% | 34% | 31% | 45% | 26% |
| A little worse | 7% | 8% | 3% | 14% | 10% |
| A lot worse | 3% | 3% | 2% | 7% | 7% |
| Don’t know | 11% | 8% | 8% | 4% | 9% |
| TOTAL: Better | 48% | 47% | 57% | 30% | 47% |
| TOTAL: Worse | 10% | 11% | 4% | 21% | 17% |
| Base (n) | 1,084 | 334 | 431 | 118 | 106 |
- Coalition voters are the most likely to think things have got better for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the last decade (57% compared to 47% Labor voters, 30% Greens voters and 47% other voters).
Standard of living for next generation
Q. Do you think the standard of living for the next generation will be better or worse than today?
|
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote Other |
|
| Total better |
21% |
15% |
34% |
7% |
15% |
|
| Total worse |
48% |
57% |
26% |
73% |
62% |
|
| A lot better |
4% |
3% |
7% |
– |
1% |
|
| A little better |
17% |
12% |
27% |
7% |
14% |
|
| Much the same |
27% |
24% |
37% |
16% |
19% |
|
| A little worse |
13% |
14% |
8% |
28% |
11% |
|
| A lot worse |
35% |
43% |
18% |
45% |
51% |
|
| Don’t know |
4% |
4% |
2% |
3% |
3% |
21% think that the standard of living of the next generation will be better, 48% think it will be worse and 27% much the same.
Liberal/National voters were much more optimistic that other voters – 34% think it will be better and 26% worse. A majority of all other voters think it will be worse.
Younger respondents were more optimistic (for age 18-34 – 29% better/34% worse) than older respondents (for age 55+ – 18% better/65% worse).
Australia and United States – How they compare
Q. How do you think Australia compares to the United States on the following:
|
Total better in Australia |
Total better in USA |
A lot better in Australia |
A little better in Australia |
About the same |
A little better in USA |
A lot better in USA |
Don’t know |
|
| Access to health care |
82% |
5% |
61% |
21% |
8% |
3% |
2% |
5% |
| Standard of living for ordinary working people |
74% |
7% |
40% |
34% |
13% |
5% |
2% |
6% |
| Access to jobs |
70% |
5% |
34% |
36% |
17% |
4% |
1% |
7% |
| Public safety |
66% |
4% |
32% |
34% |
22% |
3% |
1% |
7% |
| Wages |
64% |
9% |
34% |
30% |
17% |
7% |
2% |
10% |
| Work rights |
63% |
7% |
34% |
29% |
18% |
5% |
2% |
13% |
| Education standards |
47% |
16% |
20% |
27% |
27% |
12% |
4% |
10% |
| Rights of individuals |
44% |
14% |
19% |
25% |
34% |
10% |
4% |
8% |
| Opportunities to succeed in business |
35% |
22% |
14% |
21% |
32% |
16% |
6% |
12% |
| International influence |
17% |
56% |
8% |
9% |
19% |
21% |
35% |
9% |
The vast majority of respondents think health care, standard of living, access to jobs, public safety, wages and work rights are better in Australia than in the US.
They are somewhat less certain about education standards, individual rights and opportunities to succeed in business – but still think these are better in Australia.
Only on international influence did respondents favour the US.
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