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Importance of international relationships

26 Nov 2013

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 Import
-ant
14
Nov
11

Very Import
-ant
29
Oct
12

Very Import
-ant
9
Oct
13

Change – Oct  to Nov

United States

59%

33%

4%

4%

55%

55%

51%

+8

New Zealand

54%

37%

5%

4%

61%

54%

56%

-2

China

54%

35%

4%

6%

48%

45%

46%

+8

United Kingdom

48%

39%

9%

4%

47%

47%

42%

+6

Indonesia

40%

38%

17%

6%

27%

33%

35%

+5

Japan

35%

48%

10%

6%

32%

31%

27%

+8

India

26%

43%

25%

7%

23%

26%

19%

+7

Germany

20%

42%

29%

8%

18%

20%

17%

+3

South Africa

15%

35%

40%

10%

12%

14%

12%

+3

More than half the respondents think it is very important to have close relationships with the United States (59%), New Zealand (54%) and China (54%).

A close relationship with the United States is considered very important by 68% of Liberal/National voters, 61% of Labor voters and 46% of Greens voters. A close relationship with Indonesia is considered very important by 37% of Liberal/National voters, 47% of Labor voters and 48% of Greens voters.

Since this question was last asked in October, the largest increases in the rating of the importance of relations were with the United States, China and Japan (all +8%).

Since this question was first asked in March 2011, the largest increases in the rating of the importance of relations were with the Indonesia (+9%) and China (+6%).

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