Pacific Islands
While many Australians have been wary of foreign aid in the past, in 2022, Australians are overwhelmingly in favour of Australia providing foreign aid to Pacific Island states. Almost all Australians (93%) are in favour of providing aid for disaster relief. The provision of aid for Covid-19 vaccines also receives high levels of support, with 86% of Australians saying they are in favour. This aligns with attitudes in 2021, where 83% of Australians said Australia should help Pacific countries to pay for Covid-19 vaccines.
There is also strong support for Australia to play a role in building strong economies in the Pacific. Eight in ten Australians (84%) favour providing aid to the Pacific for long-term economic development, and 82% favour providing aid ‘to help prevent China from increasing its influence in the Pacific’. In a different question in 2019, 73% said Australia should try to prevent China from increasing its influence in the Pacific. Three-quarters of Australians (75%) are in favour of providing aid to Pacific Island states for climate change action. The same number (75%) support Australia hosting a UN Climate Conference, which has been floated as a proposal that could involve Australia co-hosting with Pacific Island nations.
Australians feel warmly towards their Pacific neighbours, receiving very warm readings on the Lowy Institute’s feelings thermometer in 2022. Papua New Guinea received a reading of 61 °, while Tonga received a reading of 67 °. In an election year for Papua New Guinea, Australians are also more likely to agree that Papua New Guinea is a democracy. In 2022, six in ten Australians (63%) say Papua New Guinea is a democracy, a ten-point increase from 2020.
16 questions match this theme
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Pacific Islands
Foreign aid to the Pacific
Thinking specifically about foreign aid to Pacific Island nations. Would you personally be in favour or against Australia providing aid for the following purpose:
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China
Potential Chinese military base in the Pacific
To what extent are you concerned or not concerned about China potentially opening a military base in a Pacific Island country?
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Immigration and refugees
Immigration and national identity
Next, indicate whether the first statement or the second statement comes closer to your own views, even if neither is exactly right:
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World leaders and countries
Confidence in world leaders
How much confidence you have in the following leader to do the right thing regarding world affairs?
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Security and defence
Use of Australian military forces
Would you personally be in favour or against the use of Australian military forces:
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Covid-19 pandemic
Foreign aid for Covid-19 vaccines
Now thinking about Australia helping other countries to access Covid-19 vaccines. Are you in favour or against Australia helping the following countries to pay for Covid-19 vaccines?
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Climate change and energy
Australia's climate policies and reputation
In your opinion, what effect, if any, has Australia’s approach to climate change had on its reputation in the world and on its relationship with Pacific island countries?
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Pacific Islands
Attitudes to Papua New Guinea
Now a question about Papua New Guinea. Please say whether you personally agree or disagree with each of the following statements.
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Pacific Islands
Australia in the Pacific
Please say whether you personally agree or disagree with each of the following statements:
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Pacific Islands
Future intervention in Pacific
If there is another major crisis in the Pacific, such as happened in the Solomon Islands in 2003, do you personally think Australia should ... ?
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World leaders and countries
Admiration for world leaders
For each of the following leaders, please say whether you personally admire them a lot, admire them a little or you don't admire them at all.
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Security and defence
Global risk priorities for Australia
Do you see the following as a high, moderate, low or no risk to Australia's security in the next ten years?
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Pacific Islands
Broadcast services in the region
And are you personally in favour or against the Australian government funding broadcast services or other programs to communicate with people from countries in our region, with the aim of improving relations with those countries?
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Pacific Islands
Restarting dialogue with Fiji
Would you now personally be in favour or against the Australian government restarting ministerial-level contacts with this government in Fiji?
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Pacific Islands
Approach to Fiji sanctions
Which one of the following approaches do you think the Australian government should now take with the regime in Fiji regarding sanctions:
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Pacific Islands
Australian assistance to Papua New Guinea
Should Australia do more, less or about the same to help Papua New Guinea?
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