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Use of Australian military forces

In 2017, 77% were in favour of using Australian military forces to restore law and order in a Pacific nation.

Question Use of Australian military forces

There has been some discussion about the circumstances that might justify using Australian military forces in other parts of the world. Please give your opinion about the following situations. Would you personally be in favour or against the use of Australian military forces:

Responses from 2017.

  1. 80%
  2. 60%
  3. 40%
  4. 20%
  5. 0%
  6. 20%
  7. 40%
  8. 60%
  9. 80%
  10. 100%
To restore law and order in a Pacific nation
18
77
To stop a government from committing genocide and killing large numbers of its own people
20
76
To conduct freedom of navigation naval operations in the South China Sea and other disputed areas claimed by China
19
68
If Russia invaded one of its neighbours
62
31

In 2017, the question asked ‘In response to China’s increasing military activities in the South China Sea, the United States has been conducting military operations designed to ensure freedom of navigation in the region. Are you personally in favour or against Australia conducting similar operations in an effort to ensure freedom of navigation in the South China Sea?’ In 2017 and 2019, the question asked ‘To fight against violent extremist groups in Iraq and Syria’.

  • Against
  • In favour
Total
All groups

2022 observation

As Australians increasingly express concern about a potential conflict between the United States and China over Taiwan, a slim majority of Australians (51%) would favour using the Australian military ‘if China invaded Taiwan and the United States decided to intervene’. This marks an eight-point increase since the question was last asked in 2019.

Four in ten Australians (40%) say Australia should deploy its military ‘if Russia invaded one of its neighbours’. This is nine points higher than in 2017. Eight in ten (79%) support using the military ‘to stop a government from committing genocide and killing large numbers of its own people’.

Three-quarters of Australians (75%) support using Australia’s military ‘to restore law and order in a Pacific nation’.

As in previous years, the majority of Australians (60%) support the Australian military being used ‘to conduct freedom of navigation naval operations in the South China Sea and other disputed areas claimed by China’.

However, the willingness of Australians to support deployment of the military to the Middle East has declined in recent years. Four in ten Australians (41%) say the Australian military should be used ‘to fight against violent extremist groups in the Middle East’, a nine-point decline from 2019 and 20 points lower than the level of support in 2017.

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