Language more important to Australian national identity than birthplace, poll finds

Updated

Being born here is not particularly important to Australians' national identity, but the ability to speak English is increasingly vital, a nationwide survey has found.

A majority of Australians also favour a republic, but do not want to change the flag, the 18th iteration of the Australian National University's ANUpoll found.

All things considered, Australians were substantially less satisfied with the way the country was heading compared to when the poll first asked that question in March 2008.

Australians rated respect for the country's institutions and laws as the most important trait for their fellow citizens, followed by an ability to speak English.

"Overwhelmingly, Australians believe that the ability to speak English is important to being Australian; while 92 per cent agree that language is important, 65 per cent see it as being 'very important', with only 27 per cent responding 'fairly important'," the report said.

That was an increase from 1995, when a separate survey found 86 per cent rated the ability to speak English as important, with 59 per cent responding "very important".

Overall the ANUpoll found Australians had a very positive view of immigrants' contribution to Australia, with 85 per cent saying immigrants improve Australian society by "bringing new ideas and cultures to Australia".

Two-thirds did not agree that immigrants increased crime rates or took jobs away from Australian-born nationals.

Regardless, nearly two-thirds said that Australia should take stronger measures to exclude illegal immigrants.

"Since 2003, the percentage of Australians who believe the immigration rate should be reduced has fallen from 61 to 28 per cent," the report said, calling that a significant change in public sentiment.

Satisfaction with "the way the country is heading" has been slowly declining over the life of the ANUpoll.

Therefore, the "net satisfaction" measure, calculated by combining the two percentages, plummeted from 53 per cent in 2008 to 19 per cent today.

In terms of the biggest problem facing the nation, "better government" and the economy are both seen as bigger issues than they were in January.

The report found the majority of Australians supported becoming a republic, although that support had "fallen consistently since the 1999 referendum", while the Queen and the royal family had become more popular.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott's restoration of the titles of knights and dames to the Australian honours system was confirmed as an unpopular decision, with 58 per cent of Australians disapproving of the reinstated honours.

The survey also found Australians are most proud of the country's achievements in sport and scientific and technological achievements, with 90 per cent of respondents expressing pride in these two areas.

Next up were pride in Australia's armed forces (88 per cent) and achievements in arts and literature (86 per cent).

The poll surveyed 1,200 people.

Topics: government-and-politics, social-policy, community-and-society, australia

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