A comprehensive national study conducted by the Australian National University’s National Security College has uncovered profound public apprehension regarding Australia’s security landscape. The research, drawing from an extensive dataset of over 20,000 surveys, 480 interviews, 300 meetings, eight focus groups, and 100 public submissions collected between November 2024 and February 2026, reveals a nation increasingly concerned about multiple security challenges.
The findings indicate that 68% of Australians anticipate their country’s involvement in foreign military conflicts within the next five years, with 45% considering a direct foreign military attack on Australian soil as probable. The study documented a significant escalation in security concerns throughout the research period, particularly among younger demographics. Anxiety among 18- to 24-year-olds surged dramatically from 22% to 55% over the 15-month study duration.
Beyond conventional military threats, Australians expressed overwhelming concern about emerging risks. An astonishing 85-89% of respondents identified climate change impacts, AI-enabled attacks, disinformation campaigns, foreign interference, economic crises, and supply chain disruptions as likely to affect Australia within the coming half-decade. The research specifically highlighted artificial intelligence-enabled attacks and coordinated disinformation operations as particularly worrisome emerging threats.
The report further revealed that most Australians believe the nation remains inadequately prepared for these multifaceted challenges and feel the government provides insufficient information about national security issues. Terrorism concerns also saw a sharp increase, rising from 55% in 2024 to 72% in 2026, with researchers noting this spike followed closely after the Bondi Beach attack of December the previous year.
Researchers concluded that the cumulative data portrays a public that recognizes the reality of security risks, questions national preparedness, and desires greater transparency and information from leadership despite understanding the complexity of these issues.