D0142: Age Poll, April, 1979
POLLING ORGANISATION Irving Saulwick and Associates SURVEY METHOD The sampled population consisted of persons aged 18 years and over who were enrolled to vote from all federal electorates throughout Australia, excluding the Northern Territory. Approximately 2,000 interviews were usually conducted. A number of starting points, proportional to the number of electors, was chosen in each Federal electorate. Beginning at the dwelling adjacent to that starting point the interviewer approached each dwelling until a contact was made and an interview completed. The next three adjacent dwellings were skipped and approaches were then made to each dwelling until a second interview was obtained and so on until a cluster size of 4 interviews were completed. The interviewee was selected by taking that person whose birthday was nearest to the date of interview, aged 18 years or more and enrolled to vote and at home. Equal numbers of interviews with males and females within a pair of clusters and an age quota were imposed in each sample locality. This poll is based on 1,905 interviews conducted in April 1979. BACKGROUND VARIABLES country of birth / religion / tenure / self assessment of social class/ number of persons living in dwelling/ household income / trade union membership / occupation of head of household / age / sex / marital status / highest level of education / occupation / income / church attendance/ vote at last federal election/ present voting intention/ WEIGHTING The responses are unweighted. THEMES - NAMES AND RESPONSES 1. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK RECENTLY ABOUT WHETHER AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY SHOULD BE PROTECTED FROM OVERSEAS COMPETITION. SOME PEOPLE CLAIM THAT WE NEED PROTECTION TO PROTECT JOBS AND TO DEVELOP A BROADLY BASED ECONOMY. OTHERS ARGUE THAT PROTECTION INCREASES COSTS AND LEADS TO INEFFICIENCY. 1a. WHICH OF THESE TWO STATEMENTS COMES CLOSEST TO YOUR VIEW? (1) WE SHOULD ENSURE THAT AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS ARE PROTECTED FROM LOW PRICED, IMPORTED MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS OR (2) LOW PRICED MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS SHOULD BE ALLOWED INTO AUSTRALIA, EVEN IF IT MEANS THAT THEY COMPETE WITH AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTS Category label Code Count Percent PROTECT AUST.GOODS 1 1121 58.8 ALLOW COMPETITION 2 725 38.1 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 3 59 3.1 ------- ----- Total responses 1905 100.0 1b. AND WHICH OF THESE COMES CLOSEST TO YOUR VIEW? (1) WE SHOULD ENSURE THAT AUSTRALIAN FARM PRODUCTS ARE PROTECTED FROM LOW-PRICED IMPORTED FARM PRODUCTS OR (2) LOW PRICED FARM PRODUCTS SHOULD BE ALLOWED INTO AUSTRALIA, EVEN IF IT MEANS THAT THEY COMPETE WITH AUSTRALIAN FARM PRODUCTS Category label Code Count Percent PROTECT AUST.PROD 1 1391 73.0 ALLOW COMPETITION 2 471 24.7 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 3 43 2.3 ------- ----- Total responses 1905 100.0 2. AND NOW A QUESTION ABOUT IMMIGRATION - - RECENTLY A GREEK COUPLE WAS DEPORTED FROM AUSTRALIA AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. IT WAS SAID AT THE TIME THAT THERE MAY BE MANY THOUSANDS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN AUSTRALIA. 2a. DO YOU THINK THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD - - (1) SEEK TO FIND SUCH PEOPLE AND DEPORT THEM (2) DEPORT SUCH PEOPLE IF AND WHEN THEY ARE FOUND (3) CONSIDER EACH CASE ON ITS MERITS (4) ALLOW ALL SUCH PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN AUSTRALIA TO STAY, PROVIDED THEY MAKE THEMSELVES KNOWN TO THE AUTHORITIES WITHIN A SPECIFIED TIME Category label Code Count Percent FIND AND DEPORT 1 325 17.1 DEPORT IF FOUND 2 240 12.6 CONSIDER EACH CASE 3 1017 53.4 ALLOW TO STAY 4 304 16.0 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 5 19 1.0 ------- ----- Total responses 1905 100.0 2b. STILL THINKING ABOUT IMMIGRATION - - YOU MAY KNOW THAT IN THE LAST YEAR OR TWO, AUSTRALIA HAS ALLOWED ABOUT TEN THOUSAND REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM AND OTHER INDO-CHINESE COUNTRIES TO SETTLE IN AUSTRALIA EACH YEAR - - IN FUTURE SHOULD WE - - (1) ACCEPT MORE EACH YEAR (2) ACCEPT ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER EACH YEAR (3) ACCEPT FEWER EACH YEAR (4) ACCEPT NO MORE Category label Code Count Percent ACCEPT MORE 1 135 7.1 ACCEPT SAME NUMBER 2 441 23.1 ACCEPT FEWER 3 569 29.9 ACCEPT NO MORE 4 705 37.0 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 5 55 2.9 ------- ----- Total responses 1905 100.0 3. AND NOW I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LAW - 3a. THERE HAS BEEN SOME TALK RECENTLY ABOUT WHETHER THE PENALTY FOR MURDER SHOULD BE DEATH. I HAVE HERE A LIST OF VARIOUS TYPES OF MURDERS OR KILLINGS COULD YOU TELL ME WHETHER YOU FEEL THAT THE DEATH PENALTY SHOULD BE IMPOSED FOR ANY OF THESE TYPES OF MURDERS OR KILLINGS? Category label Code Count Percent TERRORISM Q3A1 1199 62.9 KILLING A POLICEMAN Q3A2 932 48.9 ROBBERY Q3A3 902 47.3 DOMESTIC DISPUTE Q3A4 318 16.7 SEXUAL ASSAULT Q3A5 1106 58.1 PERSON DYING FROM INCURABLE ILLNESS Q3A6 224 11.8 IN NO CIRCUMSTANCES Q3A7 466 24.5 DON'T KNOW; NOT ESTABLISHED Q3A8 49 2.6 ------- ----- Total responses 1905 100.0 3b. ASSUMING THAT THE PENALTY FOR MURDER IS IMPRISONMENT, DO YOU THINK - - (1) IT SHOULD BE AUTOMATICALLY FOR LIFE OR (2) FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AS DETERMINED BY THE JUDGE ON THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED Category label Code Count Percent AUTOMATICALLY LIFE 1 766 40.2 NUMBER OF YEARS 2 1084 56.9 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 3 55 2.9 ------- ----- Total responses 1905 100.0 4. THINKING ABOUT THE TYPES OF SENTENCES PEOPLE RECEIVE FOR VARIOUS OFFENCES - - FOR WHICH OF THESE OFFENCES DO YOU THINK A CONVICTED ADULT PERSON SHOULD RECEIVE A SENTENCE, SUCH AS A FINE, A BOND, PROBATION, OR COMMUNITY SERVICE, RATHER THAN A JAIL SENTENCE? Category label Code Count Percent ARMED ROBBERY Q401 67 3.6 CAR STEALING Q402 777 41.4 PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS Q403 1680 89.6 PROSTITUTION Q404 1574 83.9 VAGRANCY Q405 1657 88.4 DRINKING AND DRIVING Q406 711 37.9 POSSESSING MARIJUANA Q407 934 49.8 FALSE APPLICATION FOR BENEFITS Q408 1081 57.7 DEFRAUDING COMPANY SHAREHOLDERS Q409 409 21.8 HUSBAND OR WIFE BEATING Q410 877 46.8 CHILD BASHING Q411 382 20.4 DON'T KNOW; NOT ESTABLISHED Q412 22 1.2 ------- ----- Total responses 1905 100.0 5. PEOPLE IN PRISON MAY BE RELEASED ON PAROLE BEFORE THE END OF THEIR SENTENCE. IN YOUR OPINION, SHOULD PAROLE BE - - Category label Code Count Percent MADE HARDER TO GET 1 1088 57.1 MADE EASIER TO GET 2 80 4.2 STAY AS IT IS NOW 3 500 26.2 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 4 156 8.2 MISSING 5 81 4.3 ------- ----- Total responses 1905 100.0 6. THERE HAS ALSO BEEN TALK RECENTLY ABOUT WHETHER OIL EXPLORATION SHOULD BE ALLOWED ON THE BARRIER REEF - - WHICH OF THESE STATEMENTS COMES CLOSEST TO YOUR VIEW? (1) BECAUSE AUSTRALIA MAY BE SHORT OF OIL, DRILLING FOR OIL SHOULD BE PERMITTED ON THE BARRIER REEF, EVEN IF THERE IS SOME DANGER TO THE REEF OR (2) THE BARRIER REEF IF SUCH AN IMPORTANT NATURAL WONDER, THAT NO DRILLING FOR OIL SHOULD BE ALLOWED ON OR NEAR IT Category label Code Count Percent PERMIT DRILLING 1 587 30.8 STOP DRILLING 2 1262 66.2 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 3 56 2.9 ------- ----- Total responses 1905 100.0 7. IF A FEDERAL ELECTION FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WAS HELD TOMORROW, FOR WHICH POLITICAL PARTY WOULD YOU PROBABLY VOTE? Category label Code Count Percent ALP 1 837 43.9 AUST.DEM 2 107 5.6 DLP 3 24 1.3 LIBERAL 4 662 34.8 NCP 5 89 4.7 OTHER 6 12 .6 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 7 174 9.1 ------- ----- Total responses 1905 100.0 8. THINKING ABOUT MR FRASER AND HIS PERFORMANCE AS PRIME MINISTER- - HOW WOULD YOU RATE HIS PERFORMANCE? WOULD YOU SAY HIS PERFORMANCE WAS - - Category label Code Count Percent VERY GOOD 1 100 5.2 GOOD 2 362 19.0 FAIR 3 701 36.8 POOR 4 317 16.6 VERY POOR 5 359 18.8 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 6 66 3.5 ------- ----- Total responses 1905 100.0 AND WHAT ABOUT MR HAYDEN AND HIS PERFORMANCE AS LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION - - HOW WOULD YOU RATE HIS PERFORMANCE? WOULD YOU SAY HIS PERFORMANCE WAS - - Category label Code Count Percent VERY GOOD 1 110 5.8 GOOD 2 462 24.3 FAIR 3 912 47.9 POOR 4 205 10.8 VERY POOR 5 88 4.6 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 6 128 6.7 ------- ----- Total responses 1905 100.0 9. THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISCUSSION RECENTLY ABOUT ELECTORAL REFORM, AND ALSO ABOUT THE WAY POLITICAL PARTIES ARE FINANCED. 9a. FIRSTLY, DO YOU THINK THAT MONEY TO PAY FOR THE ELECTION CAMPAIGNS OF THE MAJOR PARTIES (1) SHOULD BE PRIVIDED FROM GOVERNMENT FUNDS OR (2) SHOULD BE RAISED BY THE PARTIES THEMSELVES? Category label Code Count Percent GOVT FUNDS 1 432 22.7 PARTIES 2 1427 74.9 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 3 46 2.4 ------- ----- Total responses 1905 100.0 9b. SOME PEOPLE ARGUE THAT ALL ELECTORATES SHOULD HAVE ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER OF VOTERS IN THEM; OTHERS SAY THAT COUNTRY ELECTORATES, BECAUSE OF THE AREA THEY COVER, SHOULD HAVE FEWER VOTERS THAN CITY ELECTORATES. DO YOU THINK - - (1) THAT ALL ELECTORATES SHOULD HAVE ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER OF VOTERS OR (2) THAT COUNTRY ELECTORATES SHOULD HAVE FEWER VOTERS THAN CITY ELECTORATES Category label Code Count Percent SAME NUMBER 1 1085 57.0 DIFFERENT 2 700 36.7 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 3 120 6.3 ------- ----- Total responses 1905 100.0 9c. AT THE PRESENT TIME, IN MOST STATE AND FEDERAL ELECTIONS, IN ORDER TO CAST A VALID VOTE, VOTERS MUST PUT A NUMBER AGAINST EACH NAME ON THE BALLOT PAPER. DO YOU THINK THAT, IN ORDER TO CAST A VALID VOTE, (1) VOTERS SHOULD HAVE TO PUT A NUMBER AGAINST EACH NAME ON THE BALLOT PAPER OR (2) NUMBER ONLY AS MANY PREFERENCES AS THEY WISH Category label Code Count Percent NUMBER ALL BOXES 1 511 26.8 NUMBER ANY BOXES 2 1356 71.2 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 3 38 2.0 ------- ----- Total responses 1905 100.0 10. WE ARE ALSO INTERESTED IN THE TYPES OF ENTERTAINMENT PEOPLE ATTEND - - DURING THE PAST TWELVE MONTHS HOW OFTEN HAVE YOU - - GONE TO THE RACES Category label Code Count Percent FREQUENTLY 1 62 3.3 OCCASIONALLY 2 309 16.2 NOT AT ALL 3 1529 80.3 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 4 5 .3 ------- ----- Total responses 1905 100.0 GONE TO CLASSICAL MUSIC OR LIVE THEATRE PERFORMANCES Category label Code Count Percent FREQUENTLY 1 109 5.7 OCCASIONALLY 2 689 36.2 NOT AT ALL 3 1103 57.9 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 4 4 .2 ------- ----- Total responses 1905 100.0 GONE TO 'POP' CONCERTS Category label Code Count Percent FREQUENTLY 1 33 1.7 OCCASIONALLY 2 230 12.1 NOT AT ALL 3 1635 85.8 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 4 7 .4 ------- ----- Total responses 1905 100.0 GONE TO SEE FILMS Category label Code Count Percent FREQUENTLY 1 272 14.3 OCCASIONALLY 2 1067 56.0 NOT AT ALL 3 564 29.6 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 4 2 .1 ------- ----- Total responses 1905 100.0 GONE TO SEE FOOTBALL OR CRICKET MATCHES Category label Code Count Percent FREQUENTLY 1 231 12.1 OCCASIONALLY 2 477 25.0 NOT AT ALL 3 1193 62.6 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 4 4 .2 ------- ----- Total responses 1905 100.0 GONE TO A CLUB OR RESTAURANT FOR DINNER Category label Code Count Percent FREQUENTLY 1 444 23.3 OCCASIONALLY 2 1127 59.2 NOT AT ALL 3 333 17.5 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 4 1 .1 ------- ----- Total responses 1905 100.0 GONE TO A PRIVATE PARTY OR DINNER PARTY Category label Code Count Percent FREQUENTLY 1 431 22.6 OCCASIONALLY 2 1125 59.1 NOT AT ALL 3 346 18.2 DON'T KNOW;NOT ESTAB 4 3 .2 ------- ----- Total responses 1905 100.0
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