Today’s release of the annual Lowy Poll reveals a disappointing drop in support for action on climate change, but on the matter of foreign aid, the results are extraordinarily positive.
This is the second year in a row the Lowy has included a question on support for foreign aid as part of its poll. It shows no change in the percentage of those who believe helping countries in our region to reduce poverty is “very important” – staying static at 54% of Australians.
But this year, the Lowy added two additional questions on foreign aid that are incredibly illuminating.
To find out what Australians think about the government’s proposed increase in foreign aid, the Lowy asked respondents to give their “hunch” about what percentage of the Australian Federal budget they think is actually spent on foreign aid. Here is where it gets interesting.
