Modern Australian
The Times

Poll shows Australians hate Trump policies and have lost trust in US, but still strongly believe in alliance

  • Written by Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

Australians strongly disagree with key policies of US President Donald Trump, and have overwhelmingly lost trust in the United States to act responsibly in the world, according to the Lowy Institute’s 2025 poll.

Despite this, 80% of people say the alliance is “very” or “fairly” important for Australia’s security, only fractionally down on last year’s 83%.

The poll also found people nearly evenly divided on whether Peter Dutton (35%) or Anthony Albanese (34%) would be the better leader to manage Australia’s relations with Trump.

But Albanese rated much more strongly than Dutton as better able to manage Australia’s relationship with China and President Xi Jinping (45% to 25%).

2025 Lowy Institute Poll Albanese was also well ahead (41%-29%) when people were asked who would be more competent at handling Austrlaia’s foreign policy over the next three years. The poll comes as the “Trump effect” has overshadowed the campaign, and increasingly worked against Dutton. Labor has cast Dutton as having looked to the US for policies, such as his proposed cuts to the public service. It has labelled him “DOGEy Dutton”, a reference to Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The Lowy poll of 2,117 people was taken between March 3 and 16. This was after Trump had announced plans for a 25% tariff on steel and aluminium imports, and other tariffs, but before his “Liberation Day” regime which saw a 10% general tariff hitting all countries.
2025 Lowy Institute Poll Trust in the US has plummeted since the last Lowy poll in 2024, with nearly two-thirds of respondents (64%) having little or no trust in the US to act responsibly in the world, compared with 44% a year before. This is a new low in the poll’s two-decade history. Trust fell dramatically among older voters. Trust was already relatively low among younger voters, and fell by a smaller margin. On various Trump stances, the poll found Australians most disapproving (89%) of Trump’s pressure on Denmark to sell or or hand over its self-governing territory of Greenland to the US.
2025 Lowy Institute Poll More than eight in ten (81%) disapproved of Trump’s use of tariffs to pressure other countries to comply with his administration’s objectives. Three-quarters disapproved of the US withdrawing from the World Health Organization (76%) and from international climate change agreements (74%). In addition, three-quarters (74%) disapproved of Trump negotiating a deal on the future of Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin that might require Ukraine to accept a loss of territory. The dramatic Oval Office showdown between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US Vice President JD Vance took place just before the survey. Australians also disapproved of the US cutting spending on foreign aid (64%) and undertaking mass deportations of undocumented migrants (56%). On Trump’s demand that US allies spend more on defence people were, however, evenly divided (49% approved/disapproved). Authors: Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

Read more https://theconversation.com/poll-shows-australians-hate-trump-policies-and-have-lost-trust-in-us-but-still-strongly-believe-in-alliance-254587

The Growing Popularity of Lab Grown Diamonds in Sydney and Hong Kong

The diamond industry has changed significantly in recent years as more buyers seek ethical, affordable, and sustainable alternatives to mined diamon...

Modern AI SEO Agency vs Traditional SEO: What’s the Difference

Search engine optimisation has changed dramatically over the past few years. Search engines have become smarter, user behaviour has evolved, and bus...

Caravan Travel for Modern Australian Getaways: Plan a Comfortable Holiday

A family road trip is one of the best ways to explore Australia together. And, travelling by caravan gives you the freedom to take your time, stop a...

Mini Excavator and Trailer Package for Sale: What I Buy as One Deal in 2026

The first client who asked me for a mini excavator and trailer package for sale wasn’t trying to save a few hundred dollars on shipping. They we...

Make Dad a Guest in His Own Home This Father’s Day

Father’s Day can accidentally turn Dad into the unpaid event manager of his own celebration. He lights the barbecue, finds extra chairs, checks wh...

Where to Enjoy Your Off-Road Caravan on the Gold Coast

With a caravan, you can travel anywhere and everywhere without battling the rush of the peak holiday season or last-minute reservations. While the r...

How Osteopathy Supports Recovery from Sciatica and Nerve Pain

Sciatica isn't just annoying. It's genuinely painful. It sits deep in your glute and shoots straight down the back of your leg. It turns something as...

The Winter Jewellery Edit: Five Pieces You'll Wear All Season

As wardrobes shift to cosy knits, tailored coats and rich seasonal textures, jewellery becomes the finishing touch that pulls every winter outfit to...

7 Signs It's Time to Upgrade Your Piston Air Compressor

If you run a workshop, panel shop, or fabrication business anywhere around Perth, you already know what heat and dust do to equipment over a few sum...

How Long Do Bathroom Renovations Melbourne Take? Step-by-Step Process Explained

Planning a bathroom renovation is exciting, but one of the biggest questions homeowners ask is, "How long will it take?" While every project is uniq...

Why Your Skin Breaks Out: The Science of Acne Explained

Acne is the most common skin condition in the world. An estimated 85% of people experience it at some point between the ages of 12 and 24, and a gro...

10 Swimwear Trends Australian Women Are Wearing This Summer

Every Australian summer brings a fresh wave of swimwear trends, but some styles have much greater staying power than others. While fashion constantly ...

Why Regular Skills Updates Are Essential for Licensed Security Officers

A guard at a Brisbane shopping centre gets a call about a shoplifter who's turned aggressive.  They’ve done the job for six years. But their de-...

10 Benefits of Choosing Professional Tutoring Penrith Services

Every student has unique learning strengths, challenges, and academic goals. While classroom teaching provides essential knowledge and structure, so...

Sunshine Coast Baby Classes Prove Big Hit Among First-Time Mums

There's a movement gaining traction on the Sunshine Coast, providing a village of support, socialisation and relief for first-time mothers and babie...

Father's Day Gift Ideas for Men Who Are Hard to Buy For

Some dads are easy to buy for. Others do not want anything, already have everything, or give you the classic "don't worry about me" answer every yea...

Top 5 Mistakes That Wear Out Your Brakes Faster

Brakes don't need frequent replacements like oil changes do.   But a lot of the wear happens quietly, over months, because of habits most drivers...

Plantation Shutters vs Curtains: Which Is Better for Your New Home?

Moving into a new home is an exciting opportunity to personalise your space and make it your own. While many homeowners focus on furniture, flooring...