Overwhelming voter support for VAD across the ACT

Voters across all five ACT electoral Districts overwhelmingly favour voluntary assisted dying (VAD) law reform, a new analysis of VoteCompass data collected at the 2019 federal election shows.

Based on a total sample size (N) of 25,565 ACT voters, 80% (individual Districts ranging from 79% to 81%) favour reform, with just 9% (9% to 10%) opposed.

Amongst voters who are most likely to change their first preference at the next Tasmanian election should their MP oppose their stance on VAD, Strongly Agree (alone, excluding Agree) are the majority in every District at 56% to 60%, with Strongly Disagree (alone) at just 5% to 6%. That is, Strongly Agree voters outnumber Strongly Disagree voters by a sweeping margin of 10.9 times (9.7 to 12.8 times).

Very large majorities in favour exist across the political spectrum from Greens (88%), Labor (83%) and Coalition (71%), to minor party and indepdendents (75%) voters.

Those supporting VAD law reform include three quarters (76%) of Catholic and four out of five (81%) Anglican and Other-non-Christian (81%), as well as most no-religion (95%) ACT voters. Clergy opposing VAD law reform do not represent the majority of their flocks.

The study methodology is described here.

For further information, contact Penny Hackett on +61 (0)425 231 786.

Electoral Districts sorted by support for VAD law reform

Electoral Districts main table

To download a detailed PDF for an individual electoral District, click the District name.

Electorate (PDF)	N	Strongly disagree	Disagree	Neutral	Don't Know	Agree	Strongly agree	Total disagree	Total agree	'Strongly' ratio *	Member	Party
ACT	25,565	5%	4%	8%	3%	22%	58%	9%	80%	10.9 x
Brindabella	3,776	6%	4%	8%	3%	21%	59%	10%	79%	10.0 x	BURCH Joy DAVIS Johnathan GENTLEMAN Mick LAWDER Nicole PARTON Mark	Labor Greens Labor Liberal Liberal
Ginninderra	4,921	5%	4%	8%	3%	20%	60%	9%	80%	11.8 x	BERRY Yvette CAIN Peter CHEYNE Tara CLAY Jo KIKKERT Elizabeth	Labor Liberal Labor Greens Liberal
Kurrajong	7,571	5%	4%	7%	3%	22%	59%	9%	81%	12.8 x	BARR Andrew LEE Elizabeth RATTENBURY Shane STEPHEN-SMITH Rachel VASSAROTTI Rebecca	Labor Liberal Greens Labor Greens
Murrumbidgee	5,568	5%	4%	8%	4%	22%	57%	10%	79%	10.6 x	DAVIDSON Emma HANSON Jeremy JONES Giulia PATERSON Marisa STEEL Chris	Greens Liberal Liberal Labor Labor
Yerrabi	3,729	6%	4%	9%	3%	23%	56%	9%	79%	9.7 x	BRADDOCK Andrew CASTLEY Leanne COE Alistair ORR Suzanne PATTERSSON Michael	Greens Liberal Liberal Labor Labor

* 'Strongly' ratio: Strongly Agree voters outnumber Strongly Disagree voters by a factor of...

Electoral Districts preferred party table

	Greens			Labor			Coalition			Other
Electorate	Disagree	Neutral	Agree	Disagree	Neutral	Agree	Disagree	Neutral	Agree	Disagree	Neutral	Agree
ACT	6%	6%	88%	9%	8%	83%	16%	13%	71%	14%	11%	75%
Brindabella	6%	6%	88%	10%	9%	82%	17%	13%	70%	13%	11%	76%
Ginninderra	7%	6%	87%	9%	8%	83%	17%	13%	70%	15%	12%	74%
Kurrajong	6%	6%	89%	8%	7%	85%	15%	12%	73%	12%	10%	78%
Murrumbidgee	6%	6%	88%	9%	8%	82%	17%	13%	70%	15%	12%	74%
Yerrabi	6%	6%	87%	9%	8%	83%	15%	12%	73%	14%	11%	75%

Electoral Districts religion table

	Catholic			Anglican			Other Christian			Other Non-Christian			None
Electorate	Disagree	Neutral	Agree	Disagree	Neutral	Agree	Disagree	Neutral	Agree	Disagree	Neutral	Agree	Disagree	Neutral	Agree
ACT	13%	11%	76%	10%	9%	81%	20%	14%	66%	10%	9%	81%	2%	3%	95%
Brindabella	13%	11%	77%	11%	10%	79%	21%	15%	65%	10%	9%	81%	2%	2%	95%
Ginninderra	14%	11%	75%	11%	9%	80%	19%	14%	67%	10%	9%	82%	2%	2%	95%
Kurrajong	13%	11%	77%	8%	8%	84%	17%	13%	70%	9%	8%	83%	3%	3%	95%
Murrumbidgee	14%	12%	74%	10%	9%	82%	19%	14%	67%	11%	10%	79%	3%	3%	95%
Yerrabi	12%	10%	78%	10%	9%	81%	23%	15%	62%	11%	10%	79%	3%	3%	95%