This report draws on three nationally representative surveys, conducted in 2024, 2025 and 2026, and eight deliberative focus groups conducted in November 2025, which were stratified across life stage and gender. It reveals complexity and commonalities in Australian community attitudes to national security, risk and resilience. The findings are intended to offer an evidence-based foundation for the hard conversations – and choices – a more dangerous world demands. 

This report arrives at a moment of compounding risk. The security environment is changing rapidly, yet it would be wrong to assume Australians are complacent. Most are concerned and want to know more. Safe and peaceful communities emerged as the Australian people’s foremost priority over the next five years.

Key findings

• Australians prioritise safety over ‘national security’.
• Anxiety is high and rising – but unevenly distributed.
• Public threat perceptions prioritise non-military threats.
• Australians expect intersecting shocks.
• Most Australians feel the nation is underprepared.