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  • Nov, 2010

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    Importance of Relationships with Other Countries

    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%).

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  • Nov, 2010

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    Change in Relationships with Other Countries

    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%.

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