Five polls in Australian states or territories have been undertaken seeking public opinion about tobacco advertising and sponsorship, and support for tobacco tax since 1987.(184,185,186,187,188) Key findings are summarised in Table 15.2 below. In general, the surveys have shown broad support for bans on advertising and sponsorship, especially if sports and art sponsorship are augmented by money raised from tobacco taxes. Public opinion on the taxation issues is discussed in Chapter 7, Section 10.
A poll was also undertaken in Perth in 1989.(189) The key findings from this research are not included in Table 15.2 as the questions asked were not directly comparable with surveys undertaken in the other states or territories shown. The Perth study found that 74% of all people questioned approved of a ban on cigarette advertising, and 60% were in favour of a ban on tobacco sponsorships. This increased to 77% if sport were given 'government money' in place of money from tobacco companies.