Vote 2016: Poll reveals what matters to Chinese-Australian voters

EXCLUSIVE POLL | The economy, health, and tax are the most important issues concerning Chinese-Australian voters this federal election, according to a new poll conducted by media agencies Anomaly and Identity Communications.

Chinese people in Australia tell what matters to them ahead of the 2016 elections.

Chinese people in Australia tell what matters to them ahead of the 2016 elections. Source: SBS News

The nationwide poll shows Chinese people rank lowest the issues dominating mainstream media, including same-sex marriage, climate change and asylum seekers.

It was conducted between 17 and 23 June on popular Chinese news website 1688.com.au and Chinese social media sites including Weibo and WeChat - believed to be a first - with a sample size of 280 Chinese-Australian voters. 

The Chinese are one of the largest migrant groups in Australia, comprising around 4 per cent, but their voting preferences have been largely unknown with many underrepresented in major opinion polls because of language barriers.

Thang Ngo, managing director of marketing company Identity Communications, says the results reflect the government’s immigration policy.

"A lot of the migrants these days are business migrants and affluent people, so for them they are concerned about business and the economy," Mr Ngo says. 

"Climate change and marriage equality are very important issues to us in the mainstream but what the poll shows is that to migrants that are worried about settling in and getting ahead, that is the least important."
The poll also shows the government holds a clear lead over the opposition in the Chinese-Australian community with 65 per cent of voters saying they will vote for the Coalition compared to 35 per cent favouring Labor in a two party preferred question.
Seventy-two per cent of Chinese-Australian voters prefer Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull with 22 per cent leaning towards Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.

"The community is very business orientated and our understanding from this poll is that they respect who becomes successful in business,"  Mr Ngo said. 

"That's one thing Malcolm Turnbull has very strongly in his favour.”
Malcolm Turnbull was in Hurstville in Sydney, the country's most populated Chinese suburb, on Wednesday to seek the support of the Chinese community in the marginal seat of Banks.

"It's been great to see their enterprise and their enthusiasm," he said.

"This area around Hurstville is filled with small-to-medium businesses."

The NSW electorate was held by Labor for over six decades until the Liberals won the seat at the last election.

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By Lydia Feng
Source: SBS World News


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