YourSay Community Panel Territory Coat of Arms Survey

Summary Report

27 April 2021 Background: The ACT Government is reviewing the emblems which represent and celebrate the Australian Capital Territory following a Legislative Assembly enquiry in 2018. This includes developing a new Territory Coat of Arms. As part of community engagement in this process, a survey has been developed to gauge preferences of YourSay Panel members regarding current and possible new emblems to be used in a new Territory Coat of Arms.

Purpose: The findings from the survey will help inform the design of options for a Territory Coat of Arms (undertaken in conjunction with students from the University of ) which will subsequently be put to the community for further feedback.

Timeframe: The survey took place between 1–11 April 2021.

Sample: 1,720 YourSay Community Panel members completed the survey.

Weighting: The results have been weighted to reflect relative population proportions based on Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Census figures.

Rounding: In single choice questions, results may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

Limitations: The methodology is biased towards those with internet and computer literacy.

2 Sample profile (unweighted)

Female 58% Region Gender Male 41%

Non-binary 1% 14% Prefer not to say 1% 22%

19% 16-24 7%

25-34 17% 8% Age 35-44 20% 8%

45-54 17% 10%

55-64 19% 18% 65-74 15%

75+ 4%

3 * Totals may not add up to 100% due to rounding n=1,720 Around four in ten members are aware of plans to create a new Territory Coat of Arms

Q. Before today, were you aware of plans to create a new Territory Coat of Arms?

There is higher awareness among males compared with females

58%

42% Awareness is highest among the Baby Boomer generation

Yes No

4 n=1,720 Around six in ten are very or quite interested about having a say on the Coat of Arms in the future

Q. And how interested are you in having a say about a new Territory Coat of Arms?

27% 29% 35% 8% 2%

Very interested Quite interested Somewhat interested Not very interested Not at all interested

5 n=1,720 A public vote is frequently raised as the way for Canberrans to have their say Q. How would you like to have a say on the design of the Coat of Arms in the future?

This type of questionnaire is a good I'd like to see way of giving input possible finalists in the Voting on re-design and SURVEYS Another survey like submitted provide a vote this one designs on them

PUBLIC I would like to see some proposed designs and be VOTE able to comment FORUMS Broad level community engagement that all residents can be party to

6 n=1,720 Brindabellas and Gang-gang Cockatoo emerging as most preferred symbols

Q. Which of these symbols would you most like to see on a new Territory Coat of Arms?

The Brindabella Mountains 62%

The Gang-gang Cockatoo 59%

The Royal Bluebell 48%

The Mulleun (Little Eagle) 37%

The Southern Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby 30%

The Bogong Moth 28%

A gum tree 25% Others include: • The Black swan 22% • Parliament House • Black Mountain/ • Other Aboriginal design/theme Something else 12% • Other fauna

None of the above 2%

7 n=1,720 Other comments – main themes

Q. Was there anything else you would like to add about the Coat of Arms?

Incorporate No need to Indigenous change current design / stylistic Keep it simple – Coat of Arms Indigenous community visually clean, not representation / too busy engagement in design should be central

Remove references to Needs to Waste of time / money the Queen / UK / Latin recognisable / distinctly Euro-centric, not fitting ‘Canberran’ for Australia

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