Maintaining national security in an age of terrorism means that we, as citizens, are asked to relinquish certain individual rights and liberties in the name of public safety. Whether it is the retention of our telecommunications activities, ability to walk around our cities without being captured on security video, or freedom to travel to prescribed ‘no go zones’ in foreign countries, our lives have changed in response to new global circumstances.

Attitudes to National Security: Balancing Safety and Privacy - number 22 in the ANUpoll series – found a large majority (71 per cent) are concerned about the possible rise of Islamist extremism in Australia, although 70 per cent also believe Muslims in Australia should not be subject to additional scrutiny based on their religion. The poll also found strong support for the government’s strict border protection controls, the retention of telecommunications metadata, revoking citizenship for foreign fighters with dual nationalities, and for bans on Australians traveling to conflict areas.  However, ANUpoll found a majority (55 per cent) said they were not concerned about being a victim or having a family member as a victim of a future terrorist attack in Australia, while 45 per cent were concerned.

Key findings:

• 56 per cent believe the government could do more to prevent terrorist attacks, 36 per believe the government is doing all it can, and 8 per cent believe the government has done too much;
• 67 per cent support retention of communications meta data;
• 59 per cent believe counter-terrorism policies single out Muslims for surveillance and monitoring, and 46 per cent of those say they are bothered by that;
• 80 per cent approve or strongly approve current border control measures as needed to protect Australia from extremism and terrorism;
• 69 per cent say Australia should prevent citizens from participating as fighters in overseas conflicts;
• 85 per cent support removing citizenship from dual nationals involved in terrorist activities overseas; but most support the courts having the power to remove citizenship rather than the Immigration Minister;
• 71 per cent are either concerned or very concerned about the possible rise of Islamic extremism in Australia, with personal concerns easing as education levels rise; and
• 70 per cent believe Muslims in Australia should not be subject to additional scrutiny due to their religion.