Australian candidate study, 1987: File p

The Australian Candidate Study, 1987 was undertaken in conjunction with the Australian Election Survey, 1987 (SSDA Study No. 445), in order to provide a comparison between the attitudes of the candidates and of the electorate, and to obtain information on the candidates' political background and the support for and obstacles to their candidacy, with a special emphasis on women candidates. Questions on candidates' political background include dates of previous candidacies at local, State and Federal level and when elected; when interest in politics began; length of current party membership and of any previous party membership; voluntary or community organisations involved with; party activities undertaken before becoming a candidate; number of nominees for the candidacy and the number of women nominees. Information was sought on who first encouraged the candidate to stand; the support of family and friends; main source of financial support; obstacles to nomination; negative aspects of the candidacy; and the importance of leaders to the election outcome. Women candidates were asked about their party's attitude towards women candidates; their relations with the women's association of the party; the support received from other women in the party, women's organisations and women politicians; and the importance of women's issues. A section on election issues covered reduced taxes vs. increased social services; the power of trade unions and big business; consumption tax; defence spending; privatisation; uranium mining; marijuana legislation; abortion; benefits for aborigines; law and order; Asian migration; testing for AIDS; opportunities for women; and left-right positions for their own views and those of the major parties. Background information includes age, place of birth of self and parents; year arrived in Australia; age left school; level of qualification; occupation; employment sector; years lived in the electorate; marital status; number of children; partner's occupation; religion and church attendance; union membership; sex; candidate's party; electorate; position on ballot; whether Representatives of Senate candidate; whether incumbent and whether elected.