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  • Sep, 2021

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    Agreement with AUKUS implications

    Q. Australia recently announced a trilateral partnership with the US and UK (known as AUKUS) which will deliver a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines for Australia.

    The new security pact sees Australia cancel its previous deal with France’s Naval Group to build conventionally powered submarines.

    How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the new AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine partnership?

      TOTAL: Agree TOTAL: Disagree Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree
    Australia is right to build strong relations with the US and UK for its national defence 62% 8% 33% 29% 30% 5% 3%
    The AUKUS partnership strains Australia’s trade relations with China who see it as a threat 55% 8% 20% 35% 37% 5% 3%
    The AUKUS partnership may endanger future trade deals with France and the EU 48% 13% 16% 32% 39% 9% 4%
    The AUKUS partnership is in Australia’s best security and economic interests 54% 12% 26% 28% 34% 7% 5%

     

    Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Australia is right to build strong relations with the US and UK for its national defence 62% 68% 56% 49% 58% 77% 59% 78% 44% 58%
    The AUKUS partnership strains Australia’s trade relations with China who see it as a threat 55% 61% 49% 49% 54% 61% 57% 57% 65% 55%
    The AUKUS partnership may endanger future trade deals with France and the EU 48% 49% 47% 47% 47% 49% 53% 47% 64% 48%
    The AUKUS partnership is in Australia’s best security and economic interests 54% 62% 46% 45% 50% 66% 49% 72% 36% 47%
    Base (n) 1,094 539 555 341 368 385 366 397 101 130
    • While 62% think it is good for Australia to strengthen relations with the US and UK through the AUKUS partnership, 55% acknowledge it will strain the trading relationship with China and 48% see the risk to relationships with France and other EU countries.
    • Just over half think the AUKUS partnership is in Australia’s best economic and security interests (54%).
    • The partnership appeals to Coalition voters, who are most likely to think it is right to build strong relations with the UK and US (78%) and agree that the deal is in Australia’s best interests (72%).
  • Sep, 2021

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    National security and AUKUS partnership

    Q. Thinking about the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine partnership, which is closer to your view?

    Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    The AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine partnership will make Australia more secure 45% 47% 44% 34% 40% 60% 39% 62% 30% 38%
    The AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine partnership will not affect Australia’s security 36% 34% 37% 48% 36% 24% 39% 27% 40% 33%
    The AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine partnership will make Australia less secure 19% 19% 19% 18% 24% 15% 22% 12% 30% 29%
    Base (n) 1,094 539 555 341 368 385 366 397 101 130
    • Less than half think the AUKUS partnership will make Australia more secure (45%). 36% think it will not affect our security and 19% think we are now at more risk.
    • Those aged over 55 and Coalition voters are most likely to believe Australia is now more secure due to the AUKUS partnership.
  • Sep, 2021

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    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%).
  • May, 2015

    Importance of international relationships

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

      Very import-ant Quite import-ant Not very import-ant Don’t know   Very impor-tant

    Mar 11

    Very import-ant

    Nov 13

    Very import-ant

    Oct 14

    Very import-ant

    Feb 15

    Change
    United States 44% 41% 8% 8% 60% 59% 53% 44%
    China 39% 44% 6% 10% 48% 54% 44% 41% -2
    United Kingdom 39% 43% 9% 10% 56% 48% 48% 38% +1
    Japan 31% 52% 6% 11% 39% 35% 31% 30% +1
    Canada 24% 45% 18% 13% na na 26% 22% +2
    India 22% 47% 17% 14% 26% 26% 22% 20% +2
    Indonesia 21% 40% 27% 12% 31% 40% 32% 22% -1
    Germany 20% 47% 19% 14% 23% 20% 22% 18% +2
    Saudi Arabia 14% 40% 30% 16% na na 17% 12% +2
    Russia 13% 38% 33% 16% na na 16% 11% +2

    44% of respondents think it is very important to have a close relationship with the United States and 39% think it is very important to have a close relationship with China and the United Kingdom. Relations with Russia (13%) and Saudi Arabia (14%) were thought to be the least important.

    A close relationship with the United States is considered very important by 51% of Liberal/National voters, 48% of Labor voters and 29% of Greens voters.

    Since this question was asked in February, there has been little change in importance of relations for all countries.

  • Feb, 2015

    Trust in the Government’s handling of international relations

    Q. How much trust do you have in Tony Abbott and the Liberal Government to handle Australia’s international relations? 

     

     Total

     

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Vote other

     

    Nov 2013

    Jun 2014

    Oct 2014

    Total a lot/some

    33%

    13%

    66%

    12%

    21%

    41%

    35%

    40%

    Total little/no trust

    62%

    84%

    31%

    85%

    71%

    53%

    59%

    53%

    A lot of trust

    12%

    2%

    28%

    7%

    20%

    17%

    17%

    Some trust

    21%

    11%

    38%

    12%

    14%

    21%

    18%

    23%

    A little trust

    22%

    23%

    23%

    19%

    21%

    18%

    16%

    18%

    No trust

    40%

    61%

    8%

    66%

    50%

    35%

    43%

    35%

    Don’t know

    5%

    2%

    4%

    2%

    8%

    7%

    5%

    6%

     

    Overall, 33% (down 7% since October) have a lot or some trust in Tony Abbott and the Liberal Government to handle Australia’s international relations and 62% (up 9%) have a little or no trust. Only 12% (down 5%) have “a lot of trust” and 40% (up 5%) have no trust.

    Labor (61%) and Greens (66%) voters were far more likely to have ‘no trust’. 28% Liberal/National voters have “a lot of trust”- down from 44% in October.

  • Nov, 2014

    Trust in the Government’s handling of international relations

    Q. How much trust do you have in Tony Abbott and the Liberal Government to handle Australia’s international relations? 

     

     Total

     

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Vote other

     

    Nov 2013

    Jun 2014

    Oct 2014

    Total a lot/some

    38%

    15%

    79%

    7%

    24%

    41%

    35%

    40%

    Total little/no trust

    57%

    82%

    19%

    93%

    75%

    53%

    59%

    53%

    A lot of trust

    15%

    2%

    38%

    4%

    20%

    17%

    17%

    Some trust

    23%

    13%

    41%

    7%

    20%

    21%

    18%

    23%

    A little trust

    20%

    22%

    16%

    18%

    28%

    18%

    16%

    18%

    No trust

    37%

    60%

    3%

    75%

    47%

    35%

    43%

    35%

    Don’t know

    6%

    4%

    2%

    1%

    2%

    7%

    5%

    6%

    15% of people have “a lot of trust” in Tony Abbott and the Liberal Government to handle Australia’s international relations.

    37% have no trust.

    Labor (60%) and Greens (75%) voters were far more likely to have ‘no trust’. Liberal/National voters were far less likely (3%) to have no trust. 38% of Liberal/National voters have “a lot of trust”.

    Since this question was asked in October, those saying they have a lot or some trust has decreased by 2% and those saying they have little/no trust increased by 4%.

  • Oct, 2014

    Importance of international relationships

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

     

    Very 

    Quite 

    Not very 

    Don’t know

     

    Very 

    Mar 11

    Very 

    Nov 13

    Very 

    Jun 14

    Change

    United States

    53%

    37%

    5%

    4%

    60%

    59%

    57%

    -4

    United Kingdom

    48%

    41%

    7%

    4%

    56%

    48%

    48%

    China

    44%

    45%

    6%

    6%

    48%

    54%

    46%

    -2

    Indonesia

    32%

    46%

    15%

    7%

    31%

    40%

    35%

    -3

    Japan

    31%

    51%

    11%

    7%

    39%

    35%

    32%

    -1

    Canada

    26%

    47%

    20%

    7%

    na

    na

    28%

    -2

    India

    22%

    46%

    24%

    8%

    26%

    26%

    23%

    -1

    Germany

    22%

    43%

    27%

    8%

    23%

    20%

    21%

    +1

    Saudi Arabia

    17%

    38%

    35%

    10%

    na

    na

    na

    na

    Russia

    16%

    39%

    37%

    8%

    na

    na

    na

    na

    More than half the respondents think it is very important to have close relationships with the United States (53%). Relations with Russia (16%) and Saudi Arabia (17%) were thought to be the least important.

    A close relationship with the United States is considered very important by 67% of Liberal/National voters, 50% of Labor voters and 41% of Greens voters.

    Since this question was last asked in June, there has been a 4% decrease in the rating of the importance of relations with the United States.

  • Oct, 2014

    , ,

    Trust in the Government’s handling of international relations

    Q. How much trust do you have in Tony Abbott and the Liberal Government to handle Australia’s international relations? 

     

     Total

     

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Vote other

     

    Nov 2013

    Jun 2014

    Total a lot/some

    40%

    16%

    82%

    19%

    26%

    41%

    35%

    Total little/no trust

    53%

    81%

    15%

    80%

    71%

    53%

    59%

    A lot of trust

    17%

    1%

    44%

    2%

    8%

    20%

    17%

    Some trust

    23%

    15%

    38%

    17%

    18%

    21%

    18%

    A little trust

    18%

    24%

    13%

    10%

    20%

    18%

    16%

    No trust

    35%

    57%

    2%

    70%

    51%

    35%

    43%

    Don’t know

    6%

    3%

    3%

    1%

    2%

    7%

    5%

    17% of people have “a lot of trust” in Tony Abbott and the Liberal Government to handle Australia’s international relations.

    35% have no trust.

    Labor (57%) and Greens (70%) voters were far more likely to have ‘no trust’. Liberal/National voters were far less likely (2%) to have no trust. 44% of Liberal/National voters have “a lot of trust”.

    Since this question was asked in June, those saying they have a lot or some trust has increased by 5% and those saying they have no trust decreased by 6% – a similar position to the poll in November last year.

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