SURVEY: NUCLEAR WEAPONS

Australian Public Survey on Nuclear Weapons

The Roy Morgan Research Company was commissioned by the Australian Peace Committee (South Australian Branch) and the Australian Anti-Bases Campaign to carry out a poll throughout every state and territory of Australia on the question of nuclear weapons. The survey was carried out on the 11th and 12th of November, 1998, and the results of the survey were faxed to the Australian Government before the vote on Resolution L.48 was taken in the United Nations First Committee on Friday 13th 1998. (Australia abstained)

The people polled were asked to think about nuclear weapons in the world today.

Q1 was: All nuclear weapons should be destroyed. Do you agree or disagree?

The results were:

Strongly Agree: ……………...… 72%
Mildly Agree: ………………….. 15%
Mildly Disagree: ………………... 9%
Strongly Disagree: ………….…… 3%
Can’t Say: …………………….… 1%
(i.e. 87% of people agreed)

Q2 was: Australia has signed treaties banning chemical and biological weapons. Australia should help negotiate a global treaty to ban and destroy all nuclear weapons. Do you agree or disagree?

The results were:

Strongly Agree: …………………. 75%
Mildly Agree: …………………… 17%
Mildly Disagree: …………………..5%
Strongly Disagree: …………….…..2%
Can’t Say: …………………………1%
(i.e. 92% of people agreed)

Q3 was: Australia should keep its military alliance with the United States even though the United States is the biggest nuclear power in the world. Do you agree or disagree?

The results were:

Strongly Agree: …………………..48%

Mildly Agree: ………………….....32%
Mildly Disagree: …………………...8%
Strongly Disagree: …………………6%
Can’t Say: ………………………….6%
(i.e. 80% of people agreed)

Dr Hannah Middleton of the AABC said, "We call upon the Howard Government to stop dragging its feet at the UN. Instead of doing what the United States wants, Australia should vote for the resolution, reflecting the will of the Australian people. We have lived under the shadow of nuclear annihilation since 1945. We have never had a better chance than now to get rid of them. This is what the Australian people want. This is what our Government should vote for at the United Nations."

Irene Gale of the APC commented, "Although Australians wish to maintain an alliance with the United States, they overwhelmingly desire that alliance to be nuclear weapons free. They also overwhelmingly desire the Australian Government to work earnestly to remove nuclear weapons from the world, and to help negotiate a global treaty to achieve this end. This attitude of the Australian people is reflected by the fact that 150 Local Authorities and many thousands of individuals have endorsed the Abolition 2000 campaign by calling upon the Australian Government to work to remove nuclear weapons from the world. It clearly follows that the Australian Government must vote in favour of resolution L.48 when it is voted upon in the UN General Assembly in December." (Australia abstained)

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