10 September 2012, 100912, afghanistan, increase troops, keep troops, troops, War on terror, withdraw troops
Q. Thinking about the Australian troops in Afghanistan, do you think Australia should –
|
21 Jun 2010 |
9 May 2011 |
21 Nov 2011 |
19 Mar 2012 |
This week 10 Sept 2012 |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| Increase the number of troops in Afghanistan |
7% |
6% |
3% |
4% |
4% |
5% |
6% |
3% |
| Keep the same number of troops in Afghanistan |
24% |
36% |
22% |
22% |
23% |
23% |
27% |
20% |
| Withdraw our troops from Afghanistan |
61% |
48% |
64% |
64% |
62% |
60% |
58% |
65% |
| Don’t know |
8% |
11% |
11% |
10% |
11% |
12% |
9% |
12% |
There is little change in respondents’ positions on troops in Afghanistan. Compared to the last time the question was polled six months ago in March 2012, 4% still believe that we should increase the number of troops. Belief that we should maintain the same number of troops increased 1% to 23% and belief that we should withdraw troops fell just 2 points from 64% in March 2012 to 62%.
Looking at the results by voting intention, Coalition voters were the most in favour of maintaining troop numbers (27%) compared to Labor voters (23%) and Greens voters (20%). Greens voters were the most likely to want to withdraw troops from Afghanistan (65%) when compared with Labor voters (60%) and Coalition voters (58%).
afghanistan, Afghanistan War, EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Polling, polls, troops, Troops in Afghanistan
Q. Thinking about the Australian troops in Afghanistan, do you think Australia should –
| 25 Oct 2010 | Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Increase the number of troops in Afghanistan | 10% | 5% | 7% | 6% | 1% |
| Keep the same number of troops in Afghanistan | 30% | 30% | 26% | 39% | 16% |
| Withdraw our troops from Afghanistan | 47% | 56% | 62% | 48% | 74% |
| Don’t know | 14% | 9% | 5% | 7% | 9% |
35% think that the Australian troops in Afghanistan should be increased or maintained and 56% think Australia should withdraw its troops. This is a significant shift (+9%) in favour of withdrawal since this question was last asked in October 2010.
62% of Labor voters and 74% of Greens voters support withdrawal. Liberal/National voters are split – 48% support withdrawal and 45 support increasing/maintaining troop numbers.
Males were more likely than females to state that Australia should increase the number of troops in Afghanistan (9% compared to 2% of females) or keep the same number of troops in Afghanistan (36% compared to 24% of females).
However, the majority of both males (49%) and females (63%) think Australia should withdraw troops from Afghanistan.
Q. Thinking about the Australian troops in Afghanistan, do you think Australia should –
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | March 09 | ||
| Increase the number of troops in Afghanistan | 7% | 7% | 7% | 14% | |
| Keep the same number of troops in Afghanistan | 24% | 25% | 32% | 24% | |
| Withdraw our troops from Afghanistan | 61% | 61% | 55% | 50% | |
| Don’t know | 8% | 7% | 6% | 12% |
61% of respondents think Australia should withdraw our troops from Afghanistan, 24% think we should keep the same number and 7% think we should increase numbers. Support for withdrawal of troops has increased by 11% since this question was asked in March last year.
There was majority support for withdrawal of troops across all demographic groups and voter types. 55% of Liberal/National voters, 61% of Labor voters and 75% of Greens voters support withdrawal of Australia’s troops. Comments »