Overwhelming voter support for VAD across Tasmania

Voters across every Tasmanian electoral District 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 17,650 Tasmanian voters, 80% (individual Districts ranging from 78% to 81%) favour reform, with just 9% (8% 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 57% to 60%, with Strongly Disagree (alone) at just 4% to 6%. That is, Strongly Agree voters outnumber Strongly Disagree voters by a sweeping margin of 11.7 times (10.0 to 15.1 times).

Very large majorities in favour exist across the political spectrum from Greens (88%), Labor (84%) and Liberal (72%), to minor party and indepdendents (76%) voters.

Those supporting VAD law reform include three quarters (75%) of Catholic and four out of five (82%) Anglican, as well as most Other-non-Christian (84%) and no-religion (94%) Tasmanians. 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
TASMANIA	17,650	5%	4%	8%	3%	21%	58%	9%	80%	11.7 x
Bass	3,289	5%	4%	7%	3%	24%	57%	9%	81%	12.1 x	COURTNEY Sarah FERGUSON Michael GUTWEIN Peter HOUSTON Jennifer O'BYRNE Michelle	Liberal Liberal Liberal Labor Labor
Braddon	2,647	4%	4%	8%	3%	20%	60%	8%	80%	15.1 x	BROAD Shane DOW Anita ELLIS Felix JAENSCH Roger ROCKLIFF Jeremy	Labor Labor Liberal Liberal Liberal
Clark	3,956	5%	4%	8%	3%	22%	57%	9%	80%	12.1 x	ARCHER Elise OGILVIE Madeleine O'CONNOR Cassy HADDAD Ella HICKEY Sue	Liberal Independent Greens Labor Liberal
Franklin	4,737	6%	4%	8%	3%	20%	58%	10%	78%	10.5 x	O'BYRNE David PETRUSMA Jacquie STANDEN Alison STREET Nic WOODRUFF Rosalie	Labor Liberal Labor Liberal Greens
Lyons	3,021	6%	4%	7%	3%	21%	60%	10%	80%	10.0 x	BARNETT Guy BUTLER Jen SHELTON Mark TUCKER John WHITE Rebecca	Liberal Labor Liberal Liberal 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
TASMANIA	6%	6%	88%	8%	8%	84%	16%	12%	72%	13%	11%	76%
Bass	6%	5%	89%	8%	7%	85%	15%	12%	73%	13%	11%	77%
Braddon	6%	6%	89%	7%	7%	86%	16%	13%	71%	13%	11%	75%
Clark	6%	6%	88%	8%	8%	84%	18%	13%	69%	12%	10%	78%
Franklin	7%	7%	87%	9%	8%	83%	15%	12%	73%	15%	12%	74%
Lyons	6%	5%	89%	9%	8%	83%	15%	12%	73%	13%	11%	76%

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
TASMANIA	14%	11%	75%	10%	9%	82%	25%	16%	59%	9%	8%	84%	3%	3%	94%
Bass	15%	12%	74%	9%	8%	83%	27%	17%	57%	8%	7%	85%	3%	3%	95%
Braddon	15%	12%	73%	9%	8%	84%	27%	17%	56%	9%	8%	84%	3%	3%	94%
Clark	13%	11%	76%	10%	9%	82%	19%	14%	67%	8%	7%	85%	3%	3%	94%
Franklin	13%	11%	76%	12%	10%	78%	29%	17%	54%	9%	8%	83%	3%	3%	94%
Lyons	14%	11%	74%	9%	8%	83%	23%	15%	62%	9%	8%	82%	3%	3%	94%