The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

Importance of relationships with other countries

29 Oct 2012

Q. How important is it for Australia to have a close relationship with the following nations?

 

Very important

Quite important

Not very important

Don’t know

 

Very Important 28 Mar 11  

Very Important 14 Nov 11  

Change

United States

55%

36%

5%

3%

60%

55%

New Zealand

54%

36%

7%

3%

69%

61%

-7

United Kingdom

47%

44%

6%

3%

56%

47%

China

45%

44%

6%

4%

48%

48%

-3

Indonesia

33%

43%

18%

5%

31%

27%

+6

Japan

31%

52%

12%

5%

39%

32%

-1

India

26%

45%

22%

6%

26%

23%

+3

Germany

20%

44%

29%

7%

23%

18%

+2

South Africa

14%

35%

43%

8%

16%

12%

+2

More than half the respondents think it is very important to have close relationships with the New Zealand (54%) and the United States (55%) and just under half think it is very important to have a close relationship with the China (45%) and the United Kingdom (47%).

A close relationship with the United States is considered very important by 60% of Liberal/National voters, 60% of Labor voters and 43% of Greens voters.

Since this question was asked last November, there have been decreases in the rating of the importance of relations with New Zealand (-7%) and an increase in the rating of the importance of relations with Indonesia (+6%).

Error: