[NYTr] Aussies Not Wild about Yanquis -- Bush a Big Reason Why

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

sent by Dave Miller (southnews)

AAP - Aug 30, 2007

Bush on the nose for many Australians

By Sandra O'Malley

AUSTRALIANS care more about tackling climate change than terrorism and
a majority like Americans but not necessarily their president, a new 
foreign policy survey shows.

And as Sydneysiders gear up for a week of upheaval as Asia Pacific 
leaders descend on the city, their opinion of US President George W. 
Bush isn't likely to improve.

Mr Bush's early arrival on September 4, three days before the official 
start of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' summit, 
is set to cost NSW taxpayers an extra $4 million for security.

His earlier than expected appearance also means they'll be facing more 
road closures, traffic-stopping motorcades and other inconveniences.

The survey, released today by the Lowy Institute for International 
Policy, showed 60 per cent of Australians had a favourable opinion of 
the United States, while 39 per cent felt less than kindly toward the 
superpower.

When it came to Americans, more than three-quarters of Australians had
a favourable opinion of the nation's people.

Mr Bush is cited by nearly 70 per cent of unimpressed people and he was 
the top reason they had an unfavourable view.

US foreign policy was cited by 63 per cent as the reason they were 
turned off America, followed by American culture (41 per cent).

But only one in five Australians cited American people as the reason 
they had an unfavourable impression of the US.

While the Federal Government makes much of Canberra's close
relationship with Washington, three-quarters of Australians did not
believe the US payed much attention to its ally when making foreign
policy decisions.

Some 52 per cent believed the US did not pay too much attention to 
Australian interests when making international policy decisions, while 
22 per cent thought they paid no heed at all.

Australians have also been placing less weight on the importance of the 
Anzus alliance over the last few years.

In 2005, 45 per cent saw it as very important compared with 36 per cent 
this year.

Allan Gyngell, executive director of the Lowy Institute, said it 
remained to be seen if this was a long-term trend.

"The question is ... how much it relates to the administration that's
in Washington at the moment," he said on ABC radio.

"If you ask most Australians what they think about the United States, 
they certainly distinguish between their attitudes to Americans, which 
is quite positive, and America."

The survey also revealed Australians increasingly believed that climate 
change was s the most compelling threat to the nation.

Asked to consider the effect of foreign policy, tackling climate change 
and protecting Australian jobs were rated as very important aims by 75 
per cent of people.

By comparison, 65 per cent of people saw combating international 
terrorism as a very important outcome of foreign policy.

Similarly, 86 per cent were worried by the risk posed by climate change 
compared with 68 per cent for international terrorism.

In terms of Australia's top priority into the future, improving 
education and tackling climate change was top of the list for 28 per 
cent of people, while fighting climate change was viewed as most 
important by 5 per cent.

"(There is) a very strong, sustained, across the board belief by the 
Australian public that climate change issues should not only be an 
important foreign policy goal for Australia but it's an important
threat (as well)," Mr Gyngell said.