The Institute speculated that three top reasons for anxiety among those polled were the Islamic State jihadist group (ISIL) in Iraq and Syria, terrorist attacks on Australian citizens overseas and local terrorism.
Most Australians answering the survey believe that their country's participation in military action against the ISIL in Iraq increases the risk of home-grown terrorism (55 percent), with 47 percent suggesting that it increases a risk in the future. Among those polled 20 percent say that participation in an anti-ISIL coalition makes Australia a safer place in the future.
Responding to the survey, 69 percent of Australians polled support airstrikes on ISIL positions, the involvement of the Australian military in the attacks, and providing Iraq with military assistance.
In April, Australian police detained five men in Melbourne, two of whom allegedly planned to carry out a terror attack during a national holiday. Shortly after the arrests, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said that the detainees were suspected of having links to the ISIL.
ISIL militants are known to be recruiting members from the west through social media and word of mouth. At least 20,000 foreign fighters are estimated to have joined ISIL to date, some 100 Australians among them.
