The Australia Institute commissioned ReachTEL to conduct a survey of 1,031 residents across the federal electorate of Mayo on the evening of 5 June 2018. The poll included a question about funding for the ABC. The results are released today.

Key results:

74% of respondents think funding for the ABC should be increased or stay the same, with only 23% want funding decreased

50% of Liberal voters want funding increased or to stay the same, 45% want it reduced

87% of Rebekha Sharkie voters want funding for the public broadcaster maintained or increased

Voters across all age groups support maintaining or increasing funding for the ABC, with older voters the most likely to support more funding for the ABC

Question

In the Budget the government cut the ABC’s funding by $83.7 million. Do you think funding for the ABC should be reduced, increased, or stay the same?

Total Female Male 18-34 35-50 51-65 65+ Increased 40.5% 39.3% 41.8% 36.4% 41.5% 44.9% 37.9% Stay the same 33.5% 35.7% 31.1% 23.2% 33.7% 37.1% 35.8% Reduced 23.0% 19.9% 26.4% 37.7% 19.2% 17.1% 22.9% Don’t know/Not sure 3.0% 5.1% 0.7% 2.6% 5.7% 0.8% 3.3%

Total Centre Alliance Liberal Labor Greens Other Undecided Increased 40.5% 53.8% 10.5% 62.5% 65.6% 48.1% 51.7% Stay the same 33.5% 33.6% 39.5% 21.9% 28.9% 11.1% 27.6% Reduced 23.0% 10.5% 45.1% 14.1% 5.6% 37.0% 13.8% Don’t know/Not sure 3.0% 2.1% 4.9% 1.6% 0.0% 3.7% 6.9%

“The people of Mayo, like the wider electorate, support the ABC. Cutting funding to the ABC is unpopular enough, proposing to privatise the national broadcaster would be political poison,” Ben Oquist, Executive Director of the Australia Institute, said.

“Our research has consistently shown the importance of, and support for, public broadcasting in Australia.

“In an age of fake news, digital disruption, and when the business model for journalism is under threat, a strong well-resourced ABC is needed more than ever,” Oquist said.

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