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  • Sep, 2012

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    Troops in Afghanistan

    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%).

  • Mar, 2011

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    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.

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  • Jun, 2010

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    Troops in 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 »

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