JWS Research True Issues Terrorism and Security Special Release August 2016

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2 From a list of key policy areas, 11% of Australian adults select defence, security and terrorism as the single most important issue governments should be focusing on. This follows hospitals and healthcare (21%) and the economy and finances (14%), but is slightly ahead of education and training and the environment (10% each). Half of Australians include defence, security and terrorism in their top five most important issues (49%) and, among this group, the top concerns governments should be addressing in this area are: terrorism (56%), homegrown terrorism (39%), religious and ethnically motivated violence (24%), and radicalisation of individuals in the community, especially youth (2). Other key areas include: Australia's security alliances (17%), Cyberwarfare (16%), Australian military involvement in the Middle East, Syria and Iraq (15%), Australia's foreign aid budget (15%), and Australians travelling to the Middle East to fight as insurgents (1). Reflecting this concern around terrorism, almost eight-in-ten Australian adults (79%) are concerned about an act of terrorism taking place in Australia in the next 6 months, including one-in-five who are extremely concerned (19%). A further 24% are very concerned and 37% are somewhat concerned. 2

3 For a majority of adults (57%), concern about the threat of terrorism in Australia has increased over the last six months, including one-in-five for whom it has greatly increased (19%). Among 38%, their level of concern has only somewhat increased, and for a further 38% it has stayed the same. Very few say their level of concern has decreased over the last six months (3%). Levels of concern about terrorism in Australia are high across the board, regardless of gender, age or area. In NSW, concern is significantly higher 49% are extremely/very concerned about an act of terrorism taking place in Australia in the next 6 months (versus 43% nationally). Four-in-ten Australians rate the performance of the Federal Government in countering terrorism in Australia as good (41%), including 7% who say it has been very good. However, almost as many rate the Government s performance as average (39%). A sizeable group view the Government s performance as poor on countering terrorism (15%), including 9% who say it has been very poor. Again, ratings are similar across the board, regardless of gender, age or area. 3

4 Key policy areas % most important, % top five Hospitals and healthcare The economy and finances 21% 14% 61% 79% Leading concerns related to defence, security, terrorism Defence, security and terrorism 11% 49% Terrorism 56% Education and training 10% 61% Home-grown terrorism 39% The environment Immigration and border security 10% 8% 38% 43% Religious and ethnically motivated violence Radicalisation of individuals in the community, especially youth Australia's security alliances 24% 2 17% The quality of government 7% 37% Cyberwarfare 16% Community and social issues 6% 4 Australian military involvement in the Middle East, Syria and Iraq 15% Infrastructure and population 6% 40% Australia's foreign aid budget 15% Regional and rural Australia 4% 3 Australians travelling to the Middle East to fight as insurgents 1 Business, mining and industry 16% Q1. From the following list, please select the 5 most important issues to you as something governments should be focusing on. Please put a 1 next to the most important issue, followed by a 2, a 3 and so on. [Chart shows total 1, total 1-5 ] Base: All respondents, n=1002 Q2. Please select up to three issues or concerns relating to <defence, security and terrorism> that are most important to you that you think governments should be addressing or focusing on specifically. Base: Defence, security and terrorism selected in top five issues, n=492 4

5 Concern that an act of terrorism will take place in Australia in the next 6 months Total extremely / very concerned amongst demographics Extremely / Very concerned 43% Somewhat concerned 37% Not concerned 19% Don't know 44% 41% Extremely concerned Very concerned 19% 24% 43% 41% 44% Somewhat concerned 37% y/os y/os 55+ y/os Not that concerned 14% 49% 4 37% 37% 4 39% Not at all concerned 5% Don't know NSW/ACT VIC QLD WA SA Other Q38. To what extent are you concerned about an act of terrorism taking place in Australia in the next 6 months? Base: All respondents, n=1002 Significantly higher than total at 95% confidence interval 5

6 Concern about the threat of terrorism over the last 6 months Total increased amongst demographics Total increased 57% Greatly increased Stayed the same 38% 19% Total decreased 3% Don't know 60% 54% 57% 54% 59% Somewhat increased 38% Stayed the same 38% y/os y/os 55+ y/os Somewhat decreased 61% 53% 56% 54% 51% 7 Greatly decreased 1% Don't know NSW/ACT VIC QLD WA SA Other Q39. Has your concern about the threat of terrorism in Australia increased, decreased or stayed the same over the last six months? Base: All respondents, n=1002 6

7 Rating of the performance of the Australian Federal Government in countering terrorism in Australia Total good amongst demographics Average 39% Total Good 41% Total Poor 15% Don t know 5% 37% 46% Very good Good 7% 34% 44% 39% 41% Average 39% y/os y/os 55+ y/os Poor Very poor 9% 5% 37% 4 47% 41% 35% 51% Don't know 5% NSW/ACT VIC QLD WA SA Other Q40. How would you rate the performance of the Australian Federal Government in countering terrorism in Australia? Base: All respondents, n=1002 7

8 Part of True Issues Wave 10 (W10): in field August, 2016 WHEN April 14-15, 2014 Comprised of a representative sample of 1,002 Australians aged 18+ Conducted as an online survey with sample drawn from the Cint s OpinionHUB panel marketplace platform ( Margin of error is +/-3.1% at the 95% confidence level for results near 50% Conducted in compliance with AS-ISO

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