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  • Oct, 2012

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    UN Security Council

    Q. The Australian Government is currently seeking to gain a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Permanent seats on the UN Security Council are held by major powers such as the US, Russia and China while non-permanent seats are held by other countries including Croatia, Indonesia and South Africa. 

    Do you think there is a benefit for Australia in having a seat on the UN Security Council or is there no benefit?

     

    29 Sept 2008

    This week

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Is a benefit

    66%

    44%

    60%

    32%

    68%

    No benefit

    14%

    24%

    9%

    39%

    7%

    Don’t know

    20%

    32%

    31%

    29%

    25%

    Forty four per cent (44%) of respondents believe that having a seat on the UN Security Council would be a benefit for Australia, whilst 24% believe it will be of no benefit.

    Since the last time the question was polled four years ago in September 2008, the portion of those that believe a seat on the UN Security Council is a benefit has dropped 22 points from 66% to 44%.  The portion of those that don’t know also increased significantly in that time from 20% in September 2008 to 32% in this week’s results.

    Greens voters are the most likely to believe that having a Security Council seat is a benefit (68%) followed by Labor voters (60%).

    Coalition voters are the most likely to believe that it will be of no benefit (39%).

  • Jul, 2012

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    Why has the UN accused Australia of failing children?


    Norman Gillespie says Australia broke its promise to the UN to take children out of detention centres.

    Last month the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child gave its five yearly report card on Australia’s children and the findings were not good — especially regarding our treatment of asylum seeking children.

    UNICEF Australia’s CEO Norman Gillespie tells 3Q that the UN’s recommendation seven years ago to release these children into the community has been ignored with over 400 children still in detention. He hopes the recent announcement to appoint a National Children’s Commissioner will ensure Australian meets its obligations for children seeking asylum and all children who continue to fall through the gaps.

  • Nov, 2009

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    Importance of National Issues

    Q. How important are the following issues for Australia?

    Total important Very important Somewhat important Not very important Not at all important Don’t know
    Reaching a global agreement on climate change 74% 44% 30% 9% 13% 4%
    Having a Bill of Rights 63% 29% 34% 18% 11% 8%
    Gaining a seat on the UN Security Council 59% 20% 39% 20% 13% 8%
    Having a treaty with indigenous Australians 56% 23% 33% 20% 19% 5%
    Having a referendum on becoming a republic 41% 17% 24% 25% 29% 5%

    Reaching a global agreement on climate change was considered very/somewhat important for Australia by 74% of people surveyed.   63% think that having a Bill of Rights is very/somewhat important and 59% think Australia gaining a seat on the UN Security Council is very/somewhat important.

    Green (94%) and Labor (87%) voters were more likely to think that reaching a global agreement on climate change is very/somewhat important for Australia.  Just over half (55%) of Coalition voters think that this is very/somewhat important for Australia.

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