SYDNEY, Australia  Australians believe the American hamburger and U.S. slang are infringing on their culture and they are "not at all pleased" about it, according to a survey released Monday. The telephone poll of 1,213 people by the government-funded U.S. Studies Center at the University of Sydney measured Australians' attitudes about their closest ally, the United States. Asked to judge the influence of American culture on Australia, 67% of respondents said they were "not at all pleased" about the prevalence of U.S.-style fast food in Australia. Australians ranked fast food second only behind U.S. foreign policy as an issue they were "very worried" about. The survey did not ask respondents for specific examples, though fast food chains selling burgers and french fries are more common now in Australia than the once-ubiquitous corner store selling fish and chips. A further 52% said they were very unhappy with the influence of "the American language" on the way people speak, which could easily now include phrases such as "Hey, buddy" instead of "G'day mate." The result reveals Australians' love-hate relationship with their U.S. counterparts, with a vast majority reporting they were at least "somewhat pleased" with the impact of American films and television — the most likely source of Australians' exposure to U.S. slang. Professor Murray Goot, who led the research, said Australians view their distinctive accent and slang as a "defining part of what it is to be Australian" and are therefore worried about outside influences. "I think there's a sense in which Australians see changing language as changing their identity as Australians ... in a way they don't see the idea of watching American movies or television shows as, in itself, quite that sort of problem," Goot said. The results, which comprise the second half of a broad investigation into Australian feelings about the United States, also found that Australians have less confidence in the U.S. than they did 21 years ago. While 62% had a favorable view of the American system of government in 1986, only 49% felt the same way in 2007. In 1986, 56% of those surveyed said they were confident the U.S. could deal wisely with its social and economic problems. In 2007, only 44% of respondents agreed. The first half results, released in October, found that while most people don't like President George W. Bush or the war in Iraq, they strongly believe the United States is an important security partner for Australia. The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 3%. Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Conversation guidelines: USA TODAY welcomes your thoughts, stories and information related to this article. Please stay on topic and be respectful of others. Keep the conversation appropriate for interested readers across the map.