Morals or Money? Public Opinion and the Australian Foreign Aid Budget, Joanna Williams University of Sydney

Research Agenda  Question:  Under what conditions the Australian Government is most responsive to public preferences relating to aid?

In it to win it!  Government is most responsive to a preference promoted by aid advocacy groups when the Australian Government believes that their response would maximise their electoral position.  Influencing factors:  Intensity and salience  Economic climate

It’s the Economy, Stupid!  Luxury Goods Model of Economic Voting  ‘In the public mind, aid is basically seen as welfare for … the poor in other lands’ (Jarrett, 1994, p.67)

The ‘True’ Level of Active Support for Increased ODA

Breakdown of Activated Support for Increased ODA

Demographic Breakdown of Micah Challenge’s Supporters

The Mass Public’s Opinion on the 2012 Aid Diversion

But it’s not all negative!

Recommendations  Focus on increasing and developing ties with church groups in marginal electorates (esp. in rural areas)  Place a greater focus on the latent and activated public support for the preference within media coverage  Conduct further research into effect of public opinion on foreign aid