Labor’s primary vote has edged up to 35% but the Coalition retains a huge lead in a new poll from Essential Report.
Four weeks ago Labor’s vote had dropped to 32%, but it has since slowly recovered. The Coalition’s vote, however, has remained strong on 48%, with the Greens remaining at 9%, a couple of points shy of the long-run average over the last year. The 2PP result is the same at last week; 55-45 to the Coalition.
With religious and ethnic conflict in the news recently after the release of an anti-Islam film sparked protests, Essential found racism was the most pervasive form of intolerance. Almost three-quarters of those surveyed — 71% — identified it was the form of intolerance of most concern. Religious intolerance was rated of concern by 65% of voters, while half were concerned about homophobia. S-xism and ageism were of concern to 45% and 44% of voters respectively.
However, few had directly experienced intolerance: 12% of voters said they had first-hand experienced of racism or ageism; 11% s-xism; 6% religious intolerance and 4% homophobia, with 67% of voters saying they had not experienced any forms of intolerance.
Women were more likely to regard not just s-xism but almost all forms of intolerance as a major problem: 35% of women regarded racism as a major problem compared to 29% of men; 15% of women regarded s-xism as a major concern compared to 9% of men; similarly with homophobia and religious intolerance. Only on ageism did men and women see things the same way.
Unsurprisingly, those who experienced forms of intolerance were far more likely to believe it was a major problem.
Just over half — 55% — of voters believed the violent protests in Sydney in response to the film Innocence of Muslims were by extremists and unrepresentative of those who believe in Islam; 29% believed the violent protests were representative of all Muslims.
The Coalition is expected to cut public services if elected; Essential found 30% of voters said they thought public services would be treated well by the Coalition and 39% said they thought they would fare poorly.
The same-s-x marriage debate over the last fortnight in Parliament, and Cory Bernardi’s contribution, has done little to shift views on the issue, with opposition up three points and support up one point.
Yes but what does being concerned mean and how many white people respond to the silly poll.
It’s hard to interpret the poll about the experience of intolerance. What does ‘experienced’ mean? A better question might have been to ask people if they have witnessed intolerance and if so how often. If you are a white, Anglo, hetero male whose dress and demeanour are mainstream and who does not wear or display religious symbols, you will rarely experience discrimination, except perhaps until you go job hunting after a certain age (45 or 50). However, the reason for people who aren’t currently subject to discrimination to be concerned is encapsulated in ‘First they came…’.
And even if you yourself are not subject to intolerance, family and friends may be.
It’s dead easy for a white person to experience racism, from their own government, no less. Just go and apply for one of the countless indigenous-only jobs, entitlements, grants or prizes. You won’t be considered. Why? Because of your race. No whites need apply!
Is it possible to be intolerant of homosexuality without being afraid of homosexuality? “Homophobia” seems to be being applied to anyone who is intolerant of homosexuality, but how do we know they are all afraid? Or does this particular phobia no longer refer to a fear because of common usage? Or do we just assume that anyone who dislikes homosexuals must automatically be afraid of them?