Economic and trade policy
Along with increased concerns about safety and security, Australians have downgraded their view of Australia’s economic prospects. In 2022, six in ten Australians (62%) say they are ‘very optimistic’ or ‘optimistic’ about Australia’s economic performance in the world over the next five years. This represents a 17-point fall from 2021, but remains ten points ahead of the record low in economic optimism experienced by Australians in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 at 52%.
Levels of optimism about the economy in the Australian public have often mirrored Australian perceptions of the global economy. In 2022, the majority of Australians (55%) say ‘a severe downturn in the global economy’ poses a critical threat to Australia’s interests, which has risen five points since 2021, but remains 16 points below the record high of 71% in 2020.
Australians have generally rejected the global trend towards protectionist and anti-globalisation sentiments experienced in other countries over the past decade. This continues in 2022, despite the ongoing pandemic and increases in the cost of living in Australia. Seven in ten Australians (73%) continue to say globalisation is mostly good for Australia, a marginal three-point increase from 2020. This result remains six points below 2009, in the aftermath of the global financial crisis, where 79% of Australians said globalisation was mostly good.
Only a small gap exists between urban and regional residents on this question. Three-quarters of Australians who live in urban areas (75%) say globalisation is mostly good for Australia, whereas this view is held by 69% of Australians who live in regional or rural areas.
Support for free trade continues to be on an upward trajectory in Australia. Eight in ten Australians (80%) say free trade is good for their standard of living, a five-point increase from 2019. More than seven in ten Australians say free trade is good for the Australian economy (78%, a seven-point increase from 2019) and for Australian companies (71%, a six-point increase from 2019). Two-thirds of Australians (66%) also say that free trade is good for ‘creating jobs in Australia’, a five-point increase since 2019.
43 questions match this theme
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Economic and trade policy
Globalisation
Now on globalisation. Do you believe that globalisation, especially the increasing connections of our economy with others around the world, is mostly good or mostly bad for Australia?
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Economic and trade policy
Attitudes to free trade
I am going to read you some statements about moving towards freer trade.
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Economic and trade policy
Budget priorities
Now about the federal budget. If you were making up the budget for the federal government this year, would you personally increase spending, decrease spending or keep spending about the same for:
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Climate change and energy
Potential federal government policies on climate change
Would you support or oppose the following federal government policies?
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Economic and trade policy
Support for free trade
Overall, do you personally think free trade is good or bad for each of the following:
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Security and defence
Threats to Australia's vital interests
Do you see the following possible threat as a critical threat, an important but not critical threat, or not an important threat to Australia's vital interests in the next ten years?
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Climate change and energy
Australia's approach to international climate change negotiations
In the leadup to the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, which one of the following two statements most closely represents your own view of the approach the Australian government should take in international climate change negotiations?
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Climate change and energy
Costs and benefits of climate change action
Which statement is closest to your personal view on further action on climate change?
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Climate change and energy
Energy policy priorities
Now thinking about energy policy, which one of the following goals do you personally think should be the main priority for the Federal Government?
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Economic and trade policy
Foreign investment by country
Are you in favour or opposed to a company, bank or investment fund controlled by the following foreign governments buying a controlling stake in a major Australian company?
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Economic and trade policy
Australia's free trade negotiations
Thinking now about Australia’s approach to negotiating free trade agreements. On balance, do you think signing a free trade agreement with the following would be good or bad for Australia, or would it make no difference?
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Australian foreign policy
Australian values and foreign policy
In dealing with international problems, there can sometimes be a clash between Australia’s economic interests and Australia’s democratic values. When that happens, should interests or values be considered more important?
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China
China's economic future
Now about China. Please tell me which statement most closely matches your own opinion about China’s economy in the next five years.
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Covid-19 pandemic
Global power in the post-crisis period
The world is currently going through a severe health and economic crisis. When the world recovers from this crisis do you think each of the following will be more powerful, less powerful or will they be just as powerful as they were before the crisis?
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Economic and trade policy
International students in Australia
Thinking about the numbers of international students enrolled at Australian universities, do you think the numbers are:
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Australian foreign policy
Satisfaction with the direction of the world
And turning to the situation in the world overall, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way things are going in the world today?
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Economic and trade policy
World's leading economic powers
Today, which one of the following do you think is the world's leading economic power?
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Economic and trade policy
Foreign acquisitions of farmland
Are you personally in favour or against the Australian government allowing foreign companies to buy Australian farmland?