THE ENVIRONMENT AND GLOBAL WARMING are seen by a sample of Australian Jews as the most important issues facing Australia today, a new survey shows.
The survey, authored by Monash University Research Associate Tanya Munz and conducted by The Jewish Independent and Shalom last year, finds nearly 550 Australian Jews concerned about the treatment of asylum seekers and social justice issues.
Emeritus Professor Andrew Markus, who analysed The Jewish Independent/Shalom’s survey results with Tanya Munz, says the results provide insight into a section of the Australian Jewish community.
When asked ‘what do you consider to be the most important issues facing Australia today?’ an overwhelming 184 respondents ranked environment and global warming top. They were followed by Disconnect and disengagement/division/ inequality (50) and the economy/economic issues (46) as next most important.
Professor Markus says the results are partially explained by the survey cohort. “This cohort is more critical of what’s happening in our society. More politically engaged too.”
“You’re also looking at a cohort that is more left of centre than the total Australian population (30% of respondents voted Labor and 21% Greens at the 2019 Federal Election). And that seems to be coming through here in the results.”
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Survey respondents answered questions on a variety of subjects, including Israel and Jewish identity. They were also asked about Australian society, immigration and population issues. Results were benchmarked to the general population through the Scanlon Foundation’s Social Cohesion survey.
Another result that stood out was that “people (in this survey) are much more positive towards the current immigration program and even larger numbers coming into this country (than the general population),” explains Professor Markus.
Around 42% of respondents thought the number of immigrants accepted into Australia was too low; many more than Scanlon Foundation respondents (13%).
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“We also see an interesting finding regarding asylum seekers. The Scanlon Foundation survey asks: ‘Are you concerned that Australian government is too harsh in its treatment of asylum seekers?’
“Opinion is around 50%/50% divided in the Scanlon Foundation survey. But in this survey it's more like three-quarters (76% of respondents) concerned.
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“So, a heightened level of concern for the treatment of asylum seekers and refugees at the present time.”
Markus doesn’t believe the result reflects Jewish history and values. “You might all like to think that it's a function of reading your Torah, just imbibing the lessons about how you treat strangers, because remember that you are once a stranger yourself.
“One would like to think that that's a very strong motivating factor in the Jewish community, a reflection on our learnings, both religious and personal.
“I personally think that the explanation has got more to do with it's the centre-left element in this survey, which it pretty much well lines up what we get in Scanlon (Scanlon Foundation survey).
“So, I would think the explanation is in terms of the politics of this sample, rather than being Jewish and having learned the lessons of how you treat strangers.”
Social justice was another stark difference in attitudes. Only 14% of respondents agreed that people on low incomes receive enough government financial support. In contrast 40% of Scanlon Foundation national survey respondents believed those on low incomes received adequate financial support.
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The Jewish Independent/Shalom survey respondents were ambivalent about the notion that Australia represented a ‘land of economic opportunity’.
When asked whether ‘Australia is a land of economic opportunity where in the long-run hard work brings a better life’ only 47% of The Jewish Independent/Shalom respondents agreed. Yet Scanlon Foundation national survey respondents were much quicker to agree (71%).
“I would see that in terms of their socially progressive views; again, people are more critical about what’s happening in our society,” says Markus.
The Jewish Independent/Shalom survey respondents are more trusting of others than the broader Australia population.
When asked: ‘Generally speaking, would you say that most people can be trusted or that you can’t be too careful in dealing with people?’ only 43% of Scanlon Foundation survey respondents indicated ‘Can be trusted.’ In contrast around 60% of The Jewish Independent/Shalom respondents agreed people ‘Can be trusted.’
Despite the differences on trust, immigration and asylum seekers, there were also similarities: Attitudes towards Australia’s system of government, for instance, were almost identical. Most believing only ‘minor change’ was needed (45% Plus61/Shalom vs 46% Scanlon Foundation).
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Both sets of respondents indicated pride in Australia’s way of life. In response to the question ‘To what extent do you take pride in the Australian way of life and culture?’ The Jewish Independent/Shalom survey respondents were extremely positive (80% agreed to either a moderate or great extent). This viewed aligned with the broader Australian population (85%).
PART 1: Australian Jews: worried about anti-Semitism, nuanced views about Israel
READ THE SURVEY IN FULL
Illustration: John Kron
