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Poll: Media goes too far in attacks on rich
MEDIA RELEASE
A new poll conducted by Galaxy Research for the Institute of Public Affairs shows that a majority of the Australian people is fed up with attacks on rich people by the media.
Galaxy asked 1,053 respondents across Australia from 15-17 June 2012:
"Do you think that the media go too far in their attacks on the rich?"
- 51% said yes, the media does go too far in their attacks on the rich
- 46% said no
- 4% did not know
Younger voters aged between 18 and 24 were the most clear that attacks on rich people had gone too far in the media, with 67% of respondents saying they had compared to just 30% who said they had not. Coalition voters had similar views, with 61% saying the media goes too far versus 35% who thought they did not go too far.
In an indication of divergent views between aspirational and other voters, respondents with below Year 12level schooling were more likely (57% to 38%) to believe that media attacks went too far than those with Year12 and beyond education (48% to 49%). Blue collar workers (53% to 43%) were also more concerned thanwhite collar workers (49% to 48%) about media attacks on rich people.
Victorians and Tasmanians were most likely to think the media went too far (53% to 43%), whilst WesternAustralians were least likely to think so (45% to 48%), perhaps reflecting the different editorial stances of theirlocal media.
"People who are rich contribute immensely to society. In a capitalist country you can only become rich byselling something that someone else wants to buy at a price they are willing to pay. Accumulating wealth isevidence someone is providing value to their community," said James Paterson, director of communications atthe Institute of Public Affairs.
"When the media denigrates rich people they are denigrating people who supply goods and services that thecommunity needs, and people who create jobs for their fellow Australians. Being rich is not a bad thing, and itis time the Australian media recognised that," said Mr Paterson.
Full survey results attached.
For further information and comment:
James Paterson
Director, Communications, Institute of Public Affairs
jpaterson@ipa.org.au
0423 502 147