The global Ipsos poll released today and published by Fairfax Media, entitled Attitudes towards Socialist Ideals in the 21st Century, shows that half the Australian people asked understand the truth about socialism – but it is not the half who believe socialist ideals are of great value for societal progress.

Rather, it is the half who know that socialism is a system of political oppression, mass surveillance and state terror.

Unsurprisingly – and tellingly – the survey responses in China saw 84 per cent giving the thumbs up for socialism.