Australia is experiencing a historic shift in public attitudes toward multiculturalism, with belief in cultural diversity dropping from 90% in 2024 to 73% in 2026, following public attacks on multiculturalism and described as the largest shift on any societal question in the Lowy poll’s history.

Only about one in five Australians trust major global powers to do the right thing, with trust in leaders like Donald Trump and Xi Jinping at similar low levels amid broader global uncertainty.

More than half of Australians—53%—say they feel unsafe or very unsafe in the world today, driven by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine and heightened geopolitical instability.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged shifts in US foreign policy, noting Australia must adapt as the US takes a different role while preserving the alliance’s importance for national security.

Skepticism toward migration settings is rising, with 55% of Australians saying the number of migrants entering the country is too high, up from 48% a year earlier.

Public support for the Australia–US alliance remains strong despite low confidence in US leadership, with a majority backing AUKUS and continued security cooperation, including the potential basing of American forces in Australia.

Public concern about AI and global safety is rising, with a majority viewing AI risks as outweighing benefits and more than half feeling unsafe in the world.

The findings unfold amid ongoing debates on national identity and migration, including calls from One Nation for monocultural policies, highlighting social cohesion sensitivities.

Overall trust in major global powers remains low, with only about a third trusting the United States to act responsibly, yet confidence in the Australia–US security alliance persists.

Economic pessimism is at a recent high, with about six in ten Australians predicting poor economic performance over the next five years, marking the highest level since the poll began.

The poll covered a national sample of 2013 Australians conducted in mid-M March 2026, with experts noting a shift toward a more illiberal, nationalist international order.

Public satisfaction with the Albanese government’s foreign policy has declined, with a sizable share rating it as poor or very poor.