Australians split on scrapping NBN to aid Queensland flood recovery
- 01 February, 2011 00:01
- Comments 12
A split in public sentiment is appearing on whether scrapping or postponing the National Broadband Network (NBN) is the best way to help fund the Queensland flood recovery.
According to a Essential Research poll, 28 per cent of voters questioned believe postponing work on the NBN or canning it completely would be the best way to help fund the Queensland effort.
The Essential Research poll asked 1053 people a series of questions between January 25 and January 30. Respondents could picked from scrapping or postponing the NBN, selling off Medibank Private, using the Government’s one-off levy, raising mining taxes or to postpone returning the budget to surplus.
Delaying or destroying the NBN was the most popular method picked by respondents followed by postponing the return to a budget surplus, which was supported by 24 per cent.
Just 22 per cent of voters supported the Government’s decision to introduce a one-off levy.
Of the 28 per cent of respondents that wanted the NBN scrapped or delayed, 48 per cent identified themselves as Liberal or National Party voters. Just 11 per cent were Labor voters and 10 per cent were Australian Greens voters.
Age was also a major factor with 40 per cent of respondents aged 55 or older supporting a stop to the NBN.
But the figures weren’t all bad for the Government with 48 per cent of voters describing its actions in responding to the floods as “very good” or “good”. In contrast, only 29 per cent described the Coalition in similar terms.
- Bookmark this page
- Share this article
- Got more on this story? Email ARN
- Follow ARN on twitter
- MSP Guides for effective Endpoint Management Solutions
- New Gateway Anti-Malware Technology Sets the Bar for Web Threat Protection (Sponsored by McAfee)
- McAfee Whitepaper: Building the Business Case for Privacy
- Modernizing Security for the Small and Mid-Sized Business – Recommendations for 2013 (Sponsored by McAfee)
- Cloud and Co-Location Solutions
- Brocade’s Meyer appointed to OpenDaylight Project Committee
- Barracuda Networks raises free capacity of Copy.com to 15GB
- EXCLUSIVE: Cyan lays out Australian expansion plan
- EXCLUSIVE: Channel training integral to Intel smartphone/tablet growth
- In Pictures: She's gonna blow! 10 Star Trek technologies that are almost here
-
Barracuda Networks raises free capacity of Copy.com to 15GB
-
Barracuda Networks raises free capacity of Copy.com to 15GB
-
Barracuda Networks raises free capacity of Copy.com to 15GB
-
Barracuda Networks raises free capacity of Copy.com to 15GB
-
Barracuda Networks raises free capacity of Copy.com to 15GB
Get exclusive access to ARN's news, research and invitation only events. 
Comments
singo79
1
"48 per cent identified themselves as Liberal or National Party voters."
What a surprise! The Fony Tony and Malcolm TurnBULL brainwashed army play right into the Coalition's hands.
Michael
2
Great, so using this "logic" next time any problem/disaster occurs we are supposed to cancel or defer large projects. Doesn't happen in the real world!
I am sick and tied of the party politics in this country, where they play for points nit picking each other. What we need is long range planning to get things done, not what passes for long range planning (or the poll after the next).
Julia and Tony need to pull their respective digits out and get back to the job.
Government needs to lead, and FYI Tony, being the opposition doesn't mean you oppose everything the government does, it just means you sit on the benches opposite the government!
A pox on both your houses!
Herb.h
3
Very unhappy with Mr Abbott for doing everything in his power to stop help to flood victims and for undermining the NBN.
Emmisfor
4
72% of Australian do NOT want the NBN scrapped to pay for the flood damages.
That is the true headline.
72% WANT the NBN.
72% SUPPORT the NBN.
72% VOTED for the NBN.
Pretty darn good numbers and reflects the Australian public's desire to maintain the NBN.
Trying to make a headline out of 28% not wanting the NBN is a bit dodgy guys.
72% (!!!) voted to NOT scrap the NBN.
Listen to the numbers, hear the call.
Phony Tony is livid scared of a successful NBN under the ALP, as that keeps him in Opposition for another 6 years...
Vincent Le Plastrier
5
Suprise, suprise, 48% of tne Neo-Luddites think the government should scrap the NBN, take your pick on whether you choose the Liberal voters or the elderly as Neo-Luddites. The same people opposed the building of Sydney Harbour Bridge during the depression. The bridge cost 10 million pounds equivalent to 500 million in todays money, very dogged foresight by Bradfield & Jack Lang and a very cheap bridge in hindsight. This 48% need to take their political blinkers off and move on. At 79 years of age I support the building of the NBN, of course I must admit a bias as a MACS and nearly 35 years in IT.
Rich
6
It doesn't say that 48% of those that wanted it scrapped were Lib/Nat voters, is says that 48% of Lib/Nat voters want it scrapped. Also, it's not true to say that only 24% support delaying a return to surplus - as the results simply state that only 24% think that that's the BEST option. This is whole article represents a terrible interpretation of the results of what was already a fairly mediocre study.
Rich
7
77% of those in favour of scrapping the NBN were Lib/Nat voters, not 48%.
Kevin
8
The Liberal march lead by Malcolm Turncoat and Tony Abbys
Companeeeee march: right right right right. Right turn.
Yipes 72% turned left.
Are the opposition out f step or what
Kevin
9
The mention of surplus irks me.
John F Kennedy said "Any Government that end the financial year with a surplus is a bad Government"
A good government and a great treasure should end the fiscal year with no surplus and no debt. In other words governments should spend our taxes to benefit those who actually paid the tax.
Any idiot can budget for a surplus. Simply tax more than expenditure. A bigger idiot taxes less than expenditure.
Emmisfor
10
lol, turn and twist the numbers anyway you like, here is the cold, hard reality my good people:
72% of Australian do NOT want the NBN scrapped to pay for the flood damages.
That is the true headline.
72% WANT the NBN.
72% SUPPORT the NBN.
72% VOTED for the NBN.
Pretty darn good numbers and reflects the Australian public's desire to maintain the NBN.
72% (!!!) voted to NOT scrap the NBN.
Listen to the numbers, hear the loud 72% call for the NBN to proceed.
Hail the NBN! Build the Nation! >;))
BTW: Don't you just love real polls that actually call & ask people and not just dangle out their like a worm on a hook and see who bites...??
Simon
11
@Emmisfor
+1
Amanda
12
I was all for the NBN but now the government is out of money and going to add a new tax (levy) to pay for infrastructure rebuild on uninsured devistated areas of flood and cyclone then why not "shelf" the NBN until all other infrastructure is fixed. What is the point of saying I have super speed internet now but no house.
Get real with priorities of the nation - broadband is a luxury but basic destroyed infrastructure rebuild is more important. I most of the time do not agree with Tony Abbott but Labour needs to re-think the push on NBN and pursuing it and putting more tax is going to lose voters.
I want a government that can put all non-essential projects aside and devote to rebuilding after natural disaster rather than one that pursues unessential projects. I work in IT and would love to have NBN but not at the cost of rebuilding the country after these shocking disasters and wacking on extra tax is not the answer.