Fight or flight? Street survey reveals surprising answers about defending Australia
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The spirit of the ANZACs, pride in our nation's military history, and respect for those who have served have long been ingrained in the Australian identity.
However, a recent street survey in Melbourne has sparked a fiery debate across the country, revealing a divide in attitudes towards war service and the defence of Australia.
A conservative journalist named Fred Pawle posed a question to a handful of men as seen on a video he posted on social media.
He asked, 'If war erupted tomorrow, would you defend Australia?’
This prompted varied responses, spanning from unwavering patriotism to outright refusal.
‘Yeah, f****** oath I would. I’d be on the front line,’ a man said firmly.
‘Australia straight away… … and who wouldn’t defend their own country?’ another answered.
However, a few individuals were reluctant to affirm their willingness to be on the front lines if called to combat.
‘I would not, no,’ one firmly said.
‘I couldn’t tell you why, but I’m not much of a fighter, so I wouldn’t be that useful to you,’ another explained, to which Mr Pawle further questioned, ‘But is Australia worth defending, do you think?’
‘Not in its current state, no,’ the man responded.
‘I’m not a believer in war,’ another remarked.
Others remained undecided, suggesting their political beliefs might influence their willingness to participate.
‘Maybe depends if conscription’s a thing,’ one said.
‘I guess it depends on the context of the war, whether I feel like it was worth it to stand up and defend it.’
Support from Western nations to Ukraine has come in various forms, including funding, weapons, and training.
However, the prospect of other nations directly engaging in the conflict remains uncertain, primarily due to the formidable threat posed by Russia's nuclear arsenal.
Earlier this year, Dr Alexey Muraviev, an Associate Professor of National Security and Strategic Studies at Curtin University, warned that Australia should contemplate reinstating conscription in response to the looming possibility of an ‘all-out war’ with Russia.
Furthermore, officials from other NATO countries, such as Sweden, emphasised the importance of laying the groundwork for mobilisation in anticipation of a potential major war.
This led experts like Dr Alexey Muraviev of Curtin University to suggest that Australia should consider reintroducing conscription in the face of a potential 'all-out war'.
Internationally, the UK's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced backlash for proposing compulsory 12 months military service for 18-year-olds, a plan met with outrage and scepticism.
Sunak believes it could ‘create a shared sense of purpose among our young people and a renewed sense of pride in our country’.
He proposed an election policy mandating young people in the UK to serve in the military for up to 12 months, a measure akin to national service or conscription.
He argued that this initiative would foster a shared sense of purpose and national pride among the youth.
However, the announcement sparked outrage and ridicule from the public, with one ex-military chief dismissing it as 'bonkers.'
Analysts anticipate a significant backlash against the Conservative Party, while Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer has dismissed the proposal as 'some kind of teenage Dad's Army'.
The Australian Federal Government has introduced a recruitment plan to address shortages in the defence force by welcoming foreign nationals from specific countries.
Permanent residents who have lived in Australia for at least one year and have not served in the military recently are eligible to apply. Upon successful recruitment, individuals may qualify for Australian citizenship after completing 90 days of service.
The initiative will begin with New Zealanders in July and extend to UK, US, and Canada residents in January 2025. With a shortage of 4400 recruits, the Defence Force aims to boost its ranks by including loyal permanent residents.
Upon successful enlistment, recruits would qualify for Australian citizenship after completing 90 days of service.
‘But we do need to grow the defence force, and so looking at permanent residents that have already clearly made Australia home, have loyalty to Australia as part of that recruitment pool is a very important way in which we can continue to grow our defence force as we need to.’ Minister for Defence Personnel Matt Keogh said.
Recently, individuals have hesitated to engage in conflicts for their country due to concerns over veteran treatment.
For instance, the discontinuation of a collector's item that supported veterans and their families reflects this societal shift.
This decision underscores the impact of historical perceptions on contemporary attitudes towards military service and veteran support.
What are your thoughts on the answers the people gave in the interview? We’d love to hear your opinions and insights in the comment below.
However, a recent street survey in Melbourne has sparked a fiery debate across the country, revealing a divide in attitudes towards war service and the defence of Australia.
A conservative journalist named Fred Pawle posed a question to a handful of men as seen on a video he posted on social media.
He asked, 'If war erupted tomorrow, would you defend Australia?’
This prompted varied responses, spanning from unwavering patriotism to outright refusal.
‘Yeah, f****** oath I would. I’d be on the front line,’ a man said firmly.
‘Australia straight away… … and who wouldn’t defend their own country?’ another answered.
Some men were questioned about their readiness to defend their country in the event of a war. Credit: @FredPawle / X
However, a few individuals were reluctant to affirm their willingness to be on the front lines if called to combat.
‘I would not, no,’ one firmly said.
‘I couldn’t tell you why, but I’m not much of a fighter, so I wouldn’t be that useful to you,’ another explained, to which Mr Pawle further questioned, ‘But is Australia worth defending, do you think?’
‘Not in its current state, no,’ the man responded.
‘I’m not a believer in war,’ another remarked.
Others remained undecided, suggesting their political beliefs might influence their willingness to participate.
‘Maybe depends if conscription’s a thing,’ one said.
‘I guess it depends on the context of the war, whether I feel like it was worth it to stand up and defend it.’
Support from Western nations to Ukraine has come in various forms, including funding, weapons, and training.
However, the prospect of other nations directly engaging in the conflict remains uncertain, primarily due to the formidable threat posed by Russia's nuclear arsenal.
Earlier this year, Dr Alexey Muraviev, an Associate Professor of National Security and Strategic Studies at Curtin University, warned that Australia should contemplate reinstating conscription in response to the looming possibility of an ‘all-out war’ with Russia.
Furthermore, officials from other NATO countries, such as Sweden, emphasised the importance of laying the groundwork for mobilisation in anticipation of a potential major war.
This led experts like Dr Alexey Muraviev of Curtin University to suggest that Australia should consider reintroducing conscription in the face of a potential 'all-out war'.
Internationally, the UK's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced backlash for proposing compulsory 12 months military service for 18-year-olds, a plan met with outrage and scepticism.
Sunak believes it could ‘create a shared sense of purpose among our young people and a renewed sense of pride in our country’.
He proposed an election policy mandating young people in the UK to serve in the military for up to 12 months, a measure akin to national service or conscription.
He argued that this initiative would foster a shared sense of purpose and national pride among the youth.
However, the announcement sparked outrage and ridicule from the public, with one ex-military chief dismissing it as 'bonkers.'
Analysts anticipate a significant backlash against the Conservative Party, while Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer has dismissed the proposal as 'some kind of teenage Dad's Army'.
The Australian Federal Government has introduced a recruitment plan to address shortages in the defence force by welcoming foreign nationals from specific countries.
Permanent residents who have lived in Australia for at least one year and have not served in the military recently are eligible to apply. Upon successful recruitment, individuals may qualify for Australian citizenship after completing 90 days of service.
The initiative will begin with New Zealanders in July and extend to UK, US, and Canada residents in January 2025. With a shortage of 4400 recruits, the Defence Force aims to boost its ranks by including loyal permanent residents.
Upon successful enlistment, recruits would qualify for Australian citizenship after completing 90 days of service.
‘But we do need to grow the defence force, and so looking at permanent residents that have already clearly made Australia home, have loyalty to Australia as part of that recruitment pool is a very important way in which we can continue to grow our defence force as we need to.’ Minister for Defence Personnel Matt Keogh said.
Recently, individuals have hesitated to engage in conflicts for their country due to concerns over veteran treatment.
For instance, the discontinuation of a collector's item that supported veterans and their families reflects this societal shift.
This decision underscores the impact of historical perceptions on contemporary attitudes towards military service and veteran support.
What are your thoughts on the answers the people gave in the interview? We’d love to hear your opinions and insights in the comment below.
