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Troops in Afghanistan

21 Mar 2011

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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