Australians Less Positive About Economy, See ISIS As Greatest Threat

The positive outlook of Australians is dimming as more people have growing concerns over climate change, tension with Indonesia and ISIS. The results of a recent annual survey revealed that Australians had the lowest feelings of safety and gloomiest economic outlook in 11 years of the poll’s history.

According to the 2015 Lowy Institute poll, 24 percent of the 1,200 respondents said they felt “very safe.” The figure is down 20 percent from 2009. Australians ranked ISIS as the highest threat. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott had described the threat as “coming if it can for every person and every government,” reports The Guardian.

About 20 percent believes that a military conflict between the U.S. and China was seen as “high risk” while 77 percent saw China as Australia’s economic partner. However, Australia’s warm sentiment towards the world’s biggest economy has its limits as seven Australians out of 10 believe the government had allowed the Chinese to invest in residential properties too much.

The poll said economic optimism dropped 13 percent, the biggest in the history of the Lowy Institute survey. About 63 percent of Australians continue to have a positive view about the country’s economic performance in the next five years.

With the UN climate change conference in the horizon, 63 percent of the respondents believe Australia should “commit to significant reductions” in carbon emissions. About 43 percent of Australians believe solar energy would be the country’s main source of energy in 10 years. They also think coal would be the secondary source of power at 17 percent.

Australians’ feelings toward Indonesia cooled when tensions began over the executions of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran. Recent bribery allegations against Australia continue to strain the relationship between the two countries.

The Australian government has refused to deny or confirm the accusations. Deutsche Welle reports Indonesia had claimed that Australian authorities had paid people smugglers more than US$30,000 (AU$38,800) to turn back boats to Indonesia.

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