Since 2018, polls run by the Lowy Institute have consistently shown that Australians who had at least one parent born in an Asian country have lower trust in the United States, compared to those whose parents were both born in Australia.

Eduardo Caceres-Sandoval says his Chilean Australian parents encouraged him to read about the Asia-Pacific region when growing up. Credit: Supplied

In addition, a lower proportion of them find the alliance with the US important for Australia’s security.

“I think it’s already happening, but I would like Australia to just go all-in in terms of engaging with its Asian counterparts,” Caceres-Sandoval says.

Ria Verma says immigration has been a life changing opportunity for many people, including her parents. Credit: Supplied

Nuanced shift of views on US between generations

“I think foreign policy would be one of the highest things that I would rank in terms of how I view the election,” says Ng, who studies international relations at the Australian National University.

Regina Ng says foreign policy is among the top issues she’ll be looking at in deciding her vote. Credit: Supplied

Dylan Rafel Adams, a 19-year-old Greek Australian student, will be casting his first vote at a federal election.

He tells SBS News that he and his peers are “more aware” of the Australia-US relationship than their parents’ generation.

Dylan Rafel Adams says he considers national security as the most important election issue when considering who he will vote for. Credit: Supplied

Adams’ views on the US appear to mirror the dynamics of how gen Z Australians see the Australia-US relationship — they remain supportive but sceptical about the partnership — according to the Lowy Institute poll in 2025.

But there is a generational gap — while 61 per cent of Australians aged 60 and above considered Australia’s alliance with the US “very important”, only 41 per cent of people aged 18 to 29 considered it so.

Generational divide when it comes to trust

Among Australians aged 18 to 29, trust in the US fell by a smaller margin (just 4 percentage points) but they were already at relatively low levels, and this group has reported the lowest level of trust among all age groups since 2018.

The Lowy poll also shows Australians aged 18 to 29 have the highest level of trust in Anthony Albanese’s competence at handling foreign policy (54 per cent), but the lowest trust in Peter Dutton (11 per cent), compared to other age groups.

Plans could ‘hurt’ young people

Adams says while it’s “essential” for Australia to increase defence funding amid an “unstable global environment with increasing tensions”, he’s worried the Coalition’s plan could hurt young people.

“As an Australian voter, I want honesty.”

Cuts to public service raise fears about career pathways

But Ramantanis says many young Australians now have their eyes on overseas international relations organisations.

She also wants to see if the next government can help open up more jobs in the international relations sector that “align with young people’s values, like sustainability technology or international affairs alike”.