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Views towards Great Barrier Reef being in danger of long-term damage

3 Aug 2021

Q. As you may be aware, the Great Barrier Reef is a UN world heritage site. The UN’s educational, scientific and cultural organisation (UNESCO) recently recommended that the Great Barrier Reef should be put on its list of places that are “in danger”.

Do you think the Great Barrier Reef is in danger of long-term damage?

  Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
Yes definitely 46% 44% 48% 50% 47% 42% 56% 33% 69% 43%
Yes probably 31% 31% 30% 31% 32% 29% 30% 36% 24% 29%
Probably not 9% 9% 8% 8% 6% 12% 5% 12% 3% 11%
Definitely not 4% 5% 4% 2% 2% 9% 2% 8% 0% 8%
Unsure 10% 10% 10% 9% 13% 8% 7% 10% 5% 9%
TOTAL: Yes definitely + Yes probably 77% 75% 78% 81% 79% 71% 87% 70% 93% 72%
TOTAL: Probably not + Definitely not 13% 14% 12% 10% 8% 21% 6% 21% 3% 19%
Base (n) 1,098 537 561 341 372 385 371 402 90 128

 

  State
NSW VIC QLD SA WA
Yes definitely 47% 49% 40% 56% 37%
Yes probably 30% 28% 31% 29% 39%
Probably not 8% 8% 11% 5% 12%
Definitely not 5% 3% 9% 1% 3%
Unsure 11% 11% 9% 9% 8%
TOTAL: Yes definitely + Yes probably 77% 78% 71% 85% 77%
TOTAL: Probably not + Definitely not 13% 11% 20% 6% 15%
Base (n) 352 276 220 86 111
  • The majority of people think the Great Barrier Reef is in danger, with 46% saying it definitely is and 31% saying it probably is.
  • Those most likely to think the reef is in danger include those aged 18-34 (81%), Greens voters (93%) and Labor voters (87%)
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