Australian public opinion and government response to US-Israel war on Iran and regional military deployments
Consensus Summary
Australian public opinion remains deeply divided over the US-Israel war on Iran, with polls showing a majority preferring to stay out of the conflict despite concerns about Iran’s nuclear ambitions and regional threats. The Guardian Essential poll found only 26% of Australians support the war, while 43% disapprove, and the Resolve Political Monitor poll revealed 61% want Australia to remain entirely uninvolved. Both polls indicate strong opposition to direct military support for the US, with only around 30% backing Australia’s deployment of an E-7 Wedgetail surveillance aircraft and missiles to the UAE. Economic concerns dominate public sentiment, as 85% of Australians worry about rising fuel prices and cost-of-living impacts due to the conflict. The Guardian highlights growing skepticism toward the US alliance, with 31% wanting Australia to distance itself from Washington and 65% favoring closer ties with 'middle powers' like Canada and Japan. Meanwhile, the SMH and The Age report that Liberal MP Andrew Hastie criticized US President Donald Trump for dismissing allies, while Foreign Minister Penny Wong urged caution against escalating the conflict into Lebanon. The government’s response remains cautious, with Defence Minister Richard Marles open to extending the Wedgetail deployment but emphasizing Australia’s focus on Gulf defense rather than direct involvement in the Iran war.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- The Resolve Political Monitor poll (SMH/TheAge) found 61% of Australians want the country to stay entirely out of the US-Israel war on Iran, with only 13% eager for involvement.
- The Guardian Essential poll (Guardian) found 43% disapproved of the US and Israeli bombardment of Iran, while 26% backed the move, with 31% unsure.
- The Resolve poll (SMH/TheAge) reported 39% opposed and 28% supported the US-Israeli military actions in Iran, with 36% undecided or neutral.
- The Guardian Essential poll (Guardian) found 34% approved and 25% disapproved of Australia’s deployment of an E-7 Wedgetail surveillance aircraft and 85 ADF personnel to the UAE, with 40% unsure.
- The Resolve poll (SMH/TheAge) found 39% backed Australia’s decision to send missiles and an E-7 Wedgetail to the UAE, while 25% opposed it.
- The Guardian Essential poll (Guardian) found 85% of Australians are concerned about the war’s impact on cost of living, with petrol prices surging over $2 per litre since the conflict began.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed (SMH/TheAge) that an Iranian projectile struck near Australia’s Al Minhad Air Base in the UAE, causing a fire and damaging an accommodation block and medical facility, with no Australian injuries.
- Foreign Minister Penny Wong urged Israel (SMH/TheAge) against launching a major ground invasion in Lebanon, citing humanitarian concerns and displacement of over 1 million civilians.
- The Guardian Essential poll (Guardian) found 60% of Australians wanted Australia to work with international organisations on peace talks to prevent further escalation in the Middle East.
- The Guardian Essential poll (Guardian) found 30% of respondents opposed sending naval support to end blockages of oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, while 37% would back it.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The Guardian Essential poll (1,008 respondents) found 26% of Australians approved of the US-Israel war on Iran, with 43% disapproving and 31% unsure.
- The poll found 31% wanted Australia to distance itself from the US, while 21% wanted a closer relationship, contrasting with 51% wanting a closer relationship with New Zealand.
- The Guardian reported that Defence Minister Richard Marles refused to rule out extending the deployment of the E-7 Wedgetail beyond the initial four weeks, stating Australia had received requests from the US to help defend the Gulf region.
- The Guardian noted that 37% of respondents would back sending naval support to end blockages of oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, while only 21% would support sending Australian troops to any ground operation.
- The Guardian reported that 37% of Australians backed offering refuge to civilians displaced by the war, and 30% opposed sending naval support to the Strait of Hormuz.
- The Guardian cited Peter Lewis (Essential Media) stating, 'The US strikes on Iran are supported by the public, but they also seem to be undermining support for the US alliance more generally.'
- The Guardian reported that 35% of respondents backed prioritising relationships with 'middle powers' like Canada and Japan over the US, while 35% backed prioritising the US.
- The SMH reported that Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie branded US President Donald Trump 'petulant' for declaring the US did not need allies’ help in Iran.
- The SMH included a quote from Hastie: 'I thought it was a petulant post from a president under immense pressure... I just don’t think that’s how you treat allies.'
- The SMH reported that 47% of Australians supported regime change in Tehran, with just 9% wanting the current government to remain in place.
- The SMH included a quote from Pollster Jim Reed: 'The major touchpoint for most Australians is the price they’re paying for fuel, and how that’s knock on to grocery prices.'
- The SMH reported that 48% of respondents opposed Australia offering any military support to the US in Iran, with 24% supporting it and 28% neutral or undecided.
- The Age repeated verbatim the SMH article, including the quote from Andrew Hastie about Trump being 'petulant' and the details about the Iranian projectile strike near Al Minhad Air Base.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian Essential poll found 26% of Australians approved of the US-Israel war on Iran, while the Resolve poll (SMH/TheAge) found only 28% in support.
- The Guardian Essential poll reported 34% approved of Australia’s deployment of the E-7 Wedgetail and 85 ADF personnel to the UAE, while the Resolve poll (SMH/TheAge) found 39% in support of the same deployment.
- The Guardian Essential poll found 31% of Australians wanted Australia to distance itself from the US, while the Resolve poll (SMH/TheAge) did not provide comparable data on this specific question.
- The Guardian reported 37% of respondents would back sending naval support to the Strait of Hormuz, while the Resolve poll (SMH/TheAge) did not explicitly state this percentage.
- The Guardian reported 21% of respondents would support sending Australian troops to any ground operation, while the Resolve poll (SMH/TheAge) did not provide a direct comparison for this specific question.
Source Articles
Australians want no part in Iran conflict as Hastie unloads on ‘petulant’ Trump
Most Australians want the country to stay out of the war in Iran, with fewer than one in three voters backing the Albanese government’s support for US strikes....
Australians want no part in Iran conflict as Hastie unloads on ‘petulant’ Trump
Most Australians want the country to stay out of the war in Iran, with fewer than one in three voters backing the Albanese government’s support for US strikes....
Guardian Essential poll: only a quarter of Australians approve of US-Israel war on Iran
Poll also finds Australians keener for government to forge closer ties with ‘middle powers’ such as Canada and Japan Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Only one in four Austr...