China, International relationships, United States
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 |
| 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 | ||
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 Import-ant Mar 11 |
Very Import-ant Nov 13 |
Very Import-ant Jun 14 |
Very Import-ant Oct 14 |
Change |
|
| United States |
44% |
40% |
7% |
8% |
60% |
59% |
57% |
53% |
-9 |
|
| China |
41% |
41% |
8% |
9% |
48% |
54% |
46% |
44% |
-3 |
|
| United Kingdom |
38% |
41% |
12% |
9% |
56% |
48% |
48% |
48% |
-10 |
|
| Japan |
30% |
50% |
9% |
11% |
39% |
35% |
32% |
31% |
-1 |
|
| Indonesia |
22% |
44% |
23% |
11% |
31% |
40% |
35% |
32% |
-10 |
|
| Canada |
22% |
43% |
23% |
12% |
na |
na |
28% |
26% |
-4 |
|
| India |
20% |
47% |
21% |
12% |
26% |
26% |
23% |
22% |
-2 |
|
| Germany |
18% |
43% |
26% |
13% |
23% |
20% |
21% |
22% |
-4 |
|
| Saudi Arabia |
12% |
39% |
35% |
14% |
na |
na |
na |
17% |
-5 |
|
| Russia |
11% |
33% |
43% |
13% |
na |
na |
na |
16% |
-5 |
44% of respondents think it is very important to have a close relationship with the United States and 41% think it is very important to have a close relationship with China. Relations with Russia (11%) and Saudi Arabia (12%) were thought to be the least important.
A close relationship with the United States is considered very important by 50% of Liberal/National voters, 47% of Labor voters and 36% of Greens voters.
Since this question was asked in October, there has been a decrease in the rating of the importance of relations for all countries – especially United Kingdom and Indonesia (both down 10%).
08 October 2013, 081013, International relationships
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 (28 Mar 11) |
Very Import (14 Nov 11) |
Very Import (29 Oct 12) |
Change – Oct 12 to Oct 13 |
|
| United States |
51% |
38% |
6% |
4% |
60% |
55% |
55% |
-4% |
| New Zealand |
56% |
32% |
8% |
4% |
69% |
61% |
54% |
2% |
| United Kingdom |
42% |
43% |
11% |
4% |
56% |
47% |
47% |
-5% |
| China |
46% |
42% |
8% |
5% |
48% |
48% |
45% |
1% |
| Indonesia |
35% |
41% |
18% |
6% |
31% |
27% |
33% |
2% |
| Japan |
27% |
52% |
15% |
6% |
39% |
32% |
31% |
-4% |
| India |
19% |
41% |
32% |
8% |
26% |
23% |
26% |
-7% |
| Germany |
17% |
38% |
35% |
9% |
23% |
18% |
20% |
-3% |
| South Africa |
12% |
32% |
45% |
12% |
16% |
12% |
14% |
-2% |
More than half the respondents think it is very important to have close relationships with the New Zealand (56%) and the United States (51%) and just under half think it is very important to have a close relationship with China (46%) and the United Kingdom (42%).
A close relationship with the United States is considered very important by 62% of Liberal/National voters, 47% of Labor voters and 41% of Greens voters.
Since this question was asked last October, there have been decreases in the rating of the importance of relations with India (-7%) and the United Kingdom (-5%). There have been only very slight increases in the importance of the relationship with Indonesia (+2%) and New Zealand (+2%).
29 October 2012, 291012, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, International relationships, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States
Q. Would you like to see Australia’s relationship with these countries get closer, stay the same or become less close?
|
|
Get closer |
Stay the same |
Become less close |
Don’t know |
|
Get closer 28 Mar 11 |
Get closer 14 Nov 11 |
Change |
| China |
29% |
50% |
9% |
12% |
|
32% |
35% |
-6 |
| New Zealand |
26% |
59% |
4% |
11% |
|
37% |
33% |
-7 |
| Indonesia |
25% |
47% |
16% |
12% |
|
21% |
23% |
+2 |
| India |
24% |
47% |
15% |
14% |
|
19% |
23% |
+1 |
| Japan |
22% |
59% |
7% |
13% |
|
26% |
24% |
-2 |
| United Kingdom |
21% |
62% |
6% |
10% |
|
25% |
19% |
+2 |
| United States |
21% |
59% |
10% |
10% |
|
24% |
18% |
+3 |
| Germany |
18% |
59% |
7% |
16% |
|
18% |
20% |
-2 |
| South Africa |
12% |
57% |
14% |
16% |
|
13% |
14% |
-2 |
29% favour closer relations with China, 26% with New Zealand, 25% with Indonesia and 24% with India.
Liberal/National voters are more likely to favour closer relationships with United States (25%).
Greens voters are more likely to favour closer relationships with Indonesia (34%), Japan (34%) and India (44%),
Since this question was asked last year, the percentages wanting a closer relationship with the China (-7%) and the New Zealand (-6%) have declined.
Australia, Essential Report, International relationships, Polling
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 | Change | ||
| New Zealand | 61% | 31% | 5% | 3% | 69% | -8 | |
| United States | 55% | 37% | 4% | 3% | 60% | -5 | |
| China | 48% | 44% | 5% | 3% | 48% | – | |
| United Kingdom | 47% | 43% | 7% | 3% | 56% | -9 | |
| Japan | 32% | 53% | 11% | 4% | 39% | -7 | |
| Indonesia | 27% | 49% | 19% | 5% | 31% | -4 | |
| India | 23% | 48% | 24% | 6% | 26% | -3 | |
| Germany | 18% | 44% | 32% | 6% | 23% | -5 | |
| South Africa | 12% | 37% | 42% | 8% | 16% | -4 |
More than half the respondents think it is very important to have close relationships with the New Zealand (61%) and the United States (55%) and just under half think it is very important to have a close relationship with the China (48%) and the United Kingdom (47%).
A close relationship with the United States is considered very important by 60% of Liberal/National voters, 58% of Labor voters and 42% of Greens voters.
Since this question was asked in March, there have been substantial decreases in the rating of the importance of relations with New Zealand (-8%), United Kingdom (-9%) and Japan (-7%). The importance of relations with all other listed countries has also fallen a little – with the exception of China which is unchanged. China is now ranked above United Kingdom in importance.
Australia, Essential Report, International relationships, Polling
Q. Would you like to see Australia’s relationship with these countries get closer, stay the same or become less close?
| Get closer | Stay the same | Become less close | Don’t know | Get closer
28 Mar |
Change | ||
| China | 35% | 48% | 9% | 8% | 32% | +3 | |
| New Zealand | 33% | 57% | 3% | 8% | 37% | -4 | |
| Japan | 24% | 59% | 7% | 9% | 26% | -2 | |
| India | 23% | 50% | 16% | 12% | 19% | +4 | |
| Indonesia | 23% | 48% | 20% | 10% | 21% | +2 | |
| Germany | 20% | 58% | 10% | 12% | 18% | +2 | |
| United Kingdom | 19% | 67% | 7% | 7% | 25% | -6 | |
| United States | 18% | 63% | 12% | 7% | 24% | -6 | |
| South Africa | 14% | 58% | 14% | 14% | 13% | +1 |
35% think that Australia’s relationship with China should get closer and 33% think our relationship with New Zealand should get closer.
Labor voters are most likely to favour closer relationships with China (41%) and New Zealand (37%).
Liberal/National voters are also most likely to favour closer relationships with China (34%) and New Zealand (29%).
Greens voters are most likely to favour closer relationships with New Zealand (47%), Indonesia (40%) and China (31%).
Since this question was asked in March, the percentage wanting a closer relationship with the United Kingdom and the United States has declined 6%.
China, EMC, ER, essential report, Germany, India, Indonesia, International relationships, International ties, Japan, NZ, South Africa, UK, US
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 April 10 | Change | ||
| United States | 56% | 34% | 5% | 4% | 59% | -3 | |
| New Zealand | 54% | 36% | 6% | 5% | 56% | -2 | |
| China | 45% | 44% | 5% | 6% | 51% | -6 | |
| United Kingdom | 44% | 43% | 9% | 4% | 46% | -2 | |
| Japan | 30% | 53% | 10% | 7% | 40% | -10 | |
| Indonesia | 30% | 48% | 15% | 7% | 39% | -9 | |
| India | 24% | 45% | 23% | 8% | 27% | -3 | |
| Germany | 15% | 43% | 34% | 9% | 18% | -3 | |
| South Africa | 12% | 35% | 43% | 10% | 12% | – |
More than half the respondents think it is very important to have close relationships with the United States (56%) and New Zealand (54%) and just under half think it is very important to have a close relationship with China (45%) and United Kingdom (44%).
A close relationship with the United Sates is considered very important by 65% of Liberal/National voters and 62% of Labor voters but only 37% of Greens voters. Greens voters consider relations with New Zealand (58%) and China (47%) more important.
Since this question was asked in April, the overall rating of the importance of relations with other countries has dropped – especially for Japan (-10%) and Indonesia (-9%).
China, EMC, ER, essential report, Germany, India, Indonesia, International relationships, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, UK, US
Q. Would you like to see Australia’s relationship with these countries get closer, stay the same or become less close?
| Get closer | Stay the same | Become less close | Don’t know | Get closer April 10 | Change | ||
| China | 30% | 50% | 9% | 11% | 33% | -3 | |
| New Zealand | 29% | 58% | 3% | 11% | 33% | -4 | |
| Indonesia | 23% | 49% | 15% | 13% | 30% | -7 | |
| India | 22% | 50% | 14% | 14% | 24% | -2 | |
| Japan | 21% | 58% | 8% | 13% | 24% | -3 | |
| United States | 20% | 60% | 11% | 10% | 24% | -4 | |
| United Kingdom | 20% | 63% | 7% | 10% | 24% | -4 | |
| Germany | 14% | 62% | 9% | 15% | 16% | -2 | |
| South Africa | 11% | 59% | 14% | 16% | 13% | -2 |
30% think that Australia’s relationship with China should get closer and 29% think our relationship with New Zealand should get closer.
Labor voters are most likely to favour closer relationships with China (32%) and New Zealand (29%).
Liberal/National voters are most likely to favour closer relationships with New Zealand (29%) and China (28%).
Greens voters are most likely to favour closer relationships with China (38%), Indonesia (36%) and New Zealand (36%).
Since this question was asked in April, the percentage wanting a closer relationship with Indonesia has dropped from 30% to 23%.