While a majority of Australians think the Government could be doing more to prevent terrorism, many aren't concerned about being the victim of a terrorist attack... nor do they want more money spent combatting terrorism.
A slight majority of 51% of respondents to the ANU Poll are not or not very concerned about them or their family being the subject of a terrorist attack in Australia.
Almost two thirds – 71% – are concerned about the possible rise of Islamic extremism.
A majority – 56% – think the Government could be doing more to prevent terrorist attacks.
Many – 60% – think the Government is spending about the right amount of money to combat terrorism.
Australians appear to be slightly less concerned about the prospect they or their family members could be the victim of a terrorist attack than when the ANU Poll last asked the question in 2007. Then, those concerned and those not concerned were evenly split.
In this ANU Poll (2016), 51 per cent are either not at all or not very concerned by the prospect, and 38 per cent do express concern. An identical number in both the 2007 and 2016 polls - 14 per cent - are very concerned they or their family will be a victim of a terrorist attack.
It seems even those who think they won't be the victim of an attack want the government to do more to prevent terrorism. 56 per cent think more could be done, while only 8 per cent think the Government is doing too much.
But that doesn't equate to people wanting more money spent with 60 per cent saying the Government is spending the right amount of money, and 16 per cent saying too much has been spent. Only a quarter, 24 per cent, want more spent.
This ANU Poll supports the notion that many Australians conflate terrorism and Islamic extremism. Just over 70 per cent of respondents are either very concerned or somewhat concerned by the possible rise of Islamic extremism in Australia. Only 8 per cent are not concerned at all. The level of concern appears to be associated with education.
Among respondents with a university degree - either bachelor or postgraduate - only 23 per cent are very concerned about the possible rise of Islamic extremism in Australia. That figure rises as the level of educational attainment falls.