7 March 2003

Nearly half of Australians say Korean issue more
important than Iraq

A national poll conducted during mid to late February 2003 shows that nearly half of the Australian population believe our security focus should be within this region, and particularly on the growing crisis on the Korean peninsula, rather than joining a likely US lead invasion on Iraq. Older Australians and women are more concerned with the situation in South East Asia than the Middle East. And while the community is generally dissatisfied with the Prime Minister, Mr Howard's willingness to align so closely with the US position on Iraq, they certainly don't think that the leader of the Federal opposition, Mr Crean, offers a viable alternative.

Agree
Disagree
If the United Nations Council sanctions war on Iraq then Australia must take a leading role
41%
38%
The Prime Minister, Mr John Howard is handling the situation with Iraq well
37%
41%
The leader of the opposition, Mr Simon Crean, would handle the situation with Iraq better than the Prime Minister
10%
55%
Australia is being / has been bullied into war with Iraq
47%
31%
Australia is being / has been bullied into war with Iraq Australia should be concentrating on issues closer to home, i.e. North Korea
48%
18%

How This Poll Was Conducted

This topic was included in the ongoing Australians Today research program conducted by McNair Ingenuity Research in February 2003. The survey was conducted by means of a combination of a telephone interview and self-completion survey amongst 525 people aged 18+ from across Australia. The initial interviews were conducted by trained interviewers according to standards set-out by Interviewer Quality Control Australia. Respondents were asked to circle the numbers to answer the following question:

4.1 Please rate each of the following statements according to whether you agree or disagree with that statement.
Agree strongly
Agree Somewhat
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree Somewhat
Disagree Strongly
If the United Nations Council sanctions war on Iraq then Australia must take a leading role
5
4
3
2
1
The Prime Minister, Mr John Howard is handling the situation with Iraq well
5
4
3
2
1
The leader of the opposition, Mr Simon Crean, would handle the situation with Iraq better than the Prime Minister
5
4
3
2
1
Australia is being / has been bullied into war with Iraq
5
4
3
2
1
Australia should be concentrating on issues closer to home, i.e. North Korea
5
4
3
2
1

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