Essential Report
Managing Australia’s relationship with China
Q. Overall, which is closest to your view about Australia’s relationship with China?
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Australia’s relationship with China is a positive opportunity to be realised | 10% | 13% | 7% | 14% | 11% | 6% | 11% | 10% | 12% | 8% |
| Australia’s relationship with China is a complex relationship to be managed | 66% | 63% | 69% | 65% | 64% | 70% | 66% | 66% | 66% | 61% |
| Australia’s relationship with China is a threat to be confronted | 24% | 24% | 23% | 21% | 25% | 24% | 23% | 24% | 21% | 31% |
| Base (n) | 1,094 | 539 | 555 | 341 | 368 | 385 | 366 | 397 | 101 | 130 |
- Over twice as many people think Australia’s relationship with China is a threat to be confronted than a positive opportunity to be realised (24% to 10%). However most believe it is a complex relationship to be managed.
- Younger people aged 18-34 are more likely to see the opportunity for a positive relationship with China than those aged over 55 (14% to 6%).
Influence of China
Q. Thinking about Australia’s relationship with China, how do you rate the influence of China on each of the following aspects?
| TOTAL: Positive | TOTAL: Negative | Very positive | Somewhat positive | Somewhat negative | Very negative | Unsure | |
| Australia’s defence, military, and national security | 26% | 51% | 8% | 18% | 24% | 27% | 22% |
| Australia’s international trade | 28% | 55% | 8% | 20% | 25% | 29% | 17% |
| Australia’s culture | 32% | 46% | 9% | 24% | 25% | 22% | 21% |
| Australia’s politics | 21% | 57% | 7% | 14% | 28% | 29% | 21% |
| Chinese corporations and businesses operating in Australia | 22% | 60% | 5% | 17% | 27% | 33% | 19% |
| TOTAL: Positive influence | Jun’21 | May’20 | Aug’19 |
| Australia’s defence, military, and national security | 26% | 25% | 33% |
| Australia’s international trade | 28% | 28% | 59% |
| Australia’s culture | 32% | 35% | 43% |
| Australia’s politics | 21% | 23% | 30% |
| Chinese corporations and businesses operating in Australia | 22% | 22% | 41% |
| Base (n) | 1,087 | 1,087 | 1,096 |
| TOTAL: Positive influence | Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | ||||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
| Australia’s defence, military, and national security | 26% | 34% | 19% | 35% | 28% | 17% | 27% | 29% | 27% | 16% | ||
| Australia’s international trade | 28% | 34% | 22% | 36% | 31% | 18% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 15% | ||
| Australia’s culture | 32% | 35% | 30% | 36% | 36% | 26% | 37% | 33% | 35% | 19% | ||
| Australia’s politics | 21% | 27% | 16% | 26% | 26% | 12% | 20% | 26% | 21% | 13% | ||
| Chinese corporations and businesses operating in Australia | 22% | 28% | 16% | 31% | 23% | 12% | 24% | 23% | 26% | 11% | ||
| Base (n) | 1,087 | 527 | 560 | 328 | 374 | 385 | 378 | 407 | 98 | 102 | ||
- Compared to August 2019, Australians are less likely to rate China’s influence on Australia as positive – particularly in international trade (from 59% to 28%), and Chinese corporations operating in Australia (from 41% to 22%).
Most beneficial country to strengthen our relationship with
Q. Given the choice between the United States of America and China, with which country do you think it would be most beneficial for Australia to strengthen our relationship?
| Jun’21 | May’20 | Aug’19 | |
| United States of America | 57% | 42% | 38% |
| China | 14% | 18% | 28% |
| Neither | 15% | 24% | 18% |
| Don’t know | 14% | 16% | 15% |
| Base (n) | 1,087 | 1,087 | 1,096 |
- 57% of Australians now think it would be most beneficial to strengthen our relationship with the US, a proportion that has been increasing since August 2019.
- Only 14% think Australia should strengthen our relationship with China over the US (a decrease from 28% in 2019). A further 15% think Australia should strengthen our relationship with neither country, and a similar proportion (14%) don’t know.
| TOTAL | Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | ||||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
| United States of America | 57% | 62% | 52% | 44% | 57% | 69% | 55% | 69% | 37% | 61% | ||
| China | 14% | 14% | 13% | 18% | 13% | 11% | 16% | 11% | 24% | 9% | ||
| Neither | 15% | 15% | 15% | 19% | 17% | 10% | 17% | 10% | 19% | 23% | ||
| Don’t know | 14% | 9% | 20% | 20% | 13% | 10% | 12% | 10% | 21% | 7% | ||
| Base (n) | 1,087 | 527 | 560 | 328 | 374 | 385 | 378 | 407 | 98 | 102 | ||
- Across party lines, all voters are now more likely to think we should strengthen our relationship with the US compared to last May.
Concern about military conflict with China
Q. In the past month, diplomatic tensions between Australia and China have increased, with Australia investing $750M to improve Australian Defence Force training facilities in the Northern Territory and Defence Minister Peter Dutton saying that a war with China over Taiwan should not “be discounted”.
To what extent are you concerned about Australia engaging in a military conflict with China in the near future?
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
| Extremely concerned | 18% | 18% | 18% | 11% | 21% | 21% | 18% | 18% | 23% | 17% | ||
| Very concerned | 21% | 22% | 21% | 20% | 23% | 21% | 21% | 21% | 22% | 27% | ||
| Fairly concerned | 36% | 32% | 39% | 43% | 29% | 36% | 38% | 35% | 25% | 36% | ||
| Not very concerned | 19% | 21% | 17% | 19% | 20% | 18% | 19% | 18% | 25% | 19% | ||
| Not at all concerned | 6% | 8% | 5% | 7% | 7% | 5% | 4% | 8% | 5% | 1% | ||
| TOTAL: Concerned | 39% | 40% | 39% | 31% | 44% | 41% | 39% | 39% | 45% | 44% | ||
| TOTAL: Not concerned | 25% | 28% | 22% | 26% | 27% | 23% | 23% | 26% | 31% | 21% | ||
| Base (n) | 1,092 | 536 | 556 | 340 | 372 | 380 | 371 | 400 | 109 | 111 | ||
- 39% of Australians are concerned about Australia engaging in a military conflict with China in the near future, with 18% extremely concerned. 36% are fairly concerned, and a quarter (25%) are not concerned.
- Those 18-34 are less likely to be concerned about this than older cohorts (31% to 44% of those 35-54 and 41% those over 55).
Views towards trade disputes between Australia and China
Q. There are ongoing trade disputes between Australia and China, with China imposing high tariffs on imported Australian products.
Some people see this as a reaction from China to Australian calls for an inquiry into the origins of Covid-19 and leading international pressure on the Chinese Government’s record on human rights.
Which of the following statements is closer to you views on this issue?
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
| Australia is the innocent victim of Chinese assertion in restricting trade on certain products | 62% | 63% | 61% | 53% | 65% | 67% | 59% | 67% | 46% | 65% | ||
| Australia has made itself a target by publicly criticising the Chinese government | 38% | 37% | 39% | 47% | 35% | 33% | 41% | 33% | 54% | 35% | ||
| Base (n) | 1,071 | 539 | 532 | 339 | 374 | 358 | 356 | 406 | 102 | 107 | ||
- The majority of people think Australia is the victim of trade restrictions by China (62%), with the remainder linking the dispute to criticism of China by the Australian government (38%).
- Those most likely to think Australian trade has been unfairly restricted include those aged over 55 (67%) and Coalition voters (67%).
Chinese Barley Tariffs
Q. Last week the Chinese government imposed tariffs on Australian barley exports, costing farmers millions of dollars through lost revenue. To what extent do you agree or disagree about the following statements about international trade with China?
| NET: Agree | NET: Disagree | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Neither agree, nor disagree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | Unsure | |
| The Australian government needs to stand up to the Chinese Government and demand an open inquiry into the origins of Covid-19 | 66% | 9% | 44% | 22% | 14% | 5% | 4% | 11% |
| The Chinese government imposed the tariffs in response to Australia leading calls for an independent inquiry into the origins of Covid-19 | 57% | 15% | 36% | 20% | 16% | 7% | 7% | 13% |
| The Australian government needs to do all it can to avoid a trade war with China | 53% | 17% | 28% | 25% | 19% | 11% | 7% | 11% |
| Australia should impose tariffs on imports from China in retaliation | 48% | 22% | 27% | 21% | 19% | 14% | 7% | 12% |
| Australia should work towards an agreement with China to remove the tariffs on barley, whatever the conditions | 47% | 23% | 20% | 27% | 19% | 12% | 11% | 11% |
| NET: Agree | Age Group | Age Group | ||||||
| Total | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | NET: Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | |
| The Australian government needs to stand up to the Chinese Government and demand an open inquiry into the origins of Covid-19 | 66% | 52% | 66% | 78% | 60% | 76% | 59% | 69% |
| The Chinese government imposed the tariffs in response to Australia leading calls for an independent inquiry into the origins of Covid-19 | 57% | 46% | 57% | 65% | 59% | 66% | 47% | 52% |
| The Australian government needs to do all it can to avoid a trade war with China | 53% | 49% | 51% | 57% | 58% | 57% | 52% | 36% |
| Australia should impose tariffs on imports from China in retaliation | 48% | 39% | 50% | 53% | 46% | 54% | 42% | 52% |
| Australia should work towards an agreement with China to remove the tariffs on barley, whatever the conditions | 47% | 38% | 48% | 54% | 51% | 52% | 42% | 35% |
| Base (n) | 1,087 | 341 | 364 | 382 | 323 | 428 | 100 | 120 |
- Two-thirds (66%) of participants agree the Australian government needs to stand up to the Chinese Government and demand an open inquiry into the origins of Covid-19.
- More than half of participants agree the Chinese government imposed the tariffs in response to Australia leading calls for an independent inquiry into the origins of Covid-19 (57%) or the Australian government needs to do all it can to avoid a trade war with China (53%).
- Less than half of participants agree that Australia should impose tariffs on imports from China in retaliation (48%) or Australia should work towards an agreement with China to remove the tariffs on barley, whatever the conditions (47%).
- Coalition voters are most likely to agree that the government needs to stand up to the Chinese Government and demand an open inquiry into the origins of Covid-19 (76%); while Labor (60%) and Greens (59%) voters are less likely to agree.
Most beneficial country to strengthen our relationship with
Q. Given the choice between the United States of America and China, which country do you think it would be most beneficial for Australia strengthen our relationship with?
| Gender | Age Group | ||||||
| Total | Male | Female | Labor | NET: Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | |
| United States of America | 42% | 46% | 39% | 36% | 56% | 16% | 48% |
| China | 18% | 22% | 15% | 22% | 15% | 25% | 15% |
| Neither | 24% | 20% | 27% | 29% | 18% | 37% | 26% |
| Don’t know | 16% | 11% | 19% | 12% | 10% | 21% | 10% |
| Base (n) | 1,087 | 534 | 553 | 323 | 428 | 100 | 120 |
| May’20 | Aug’19 | Change | |
| United States of America | 42% | 38% | 4% |
| China | 18% | 28% | -10% |
| Neither | 24% | 18% | 6% |
| Don’t know | 16% | 15% | 1% |
| Base | 1,087 | 1,096 | – |
- Now 42% of participants believe it would be more beneficial to strength our relationship with the United States of America (up 4%), but a quarter say we should strengthen our relationship with neither country (24%, up 6%).
- Coalition voters are most likely to say we should strengthen our relationship with America (56%), while Greens voters would prefer to strengthen our relationship with neither country (37%).
Foreign investment
Q. Do you think investment in mining and ports by Chinese companies is good or bad for the Australian economy?
|
Total
|
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
|
| Total good |
38% |
37% |
50% |
34% |
29% |
|
| Total bad |
36% |
34% |
30% |
38% |
52% |
|
| Very good |
6% |
7% |
7% |
4% |
4% |
|
| Good |
32% |
30% |
43% |
30% |
25% |
|
| Bad |
22% |
24% |
18% |
24% |
28% |
|
| Very bad |
14% |
10% |
12% |
14% |
24% |
|
| Don’t know |
26% |
29% |
20% |
28% |
20% |
38% think that investment in mining and ports by Chinese companies is good for the Australian economy and 36% think it is bad.
Liberal/National voters are more likely to think it is good for the economy (50%), while Labor and Greens voters are almost evenly divided on this issue.
Those most likely to think it is good for the economy were men (48%) and full-time workers (46%). Those most likely to think it is bad were aged 55+ (46%).
COVID-19 RESEARCH
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