A rich joint cultural history has kept Australians and Brits besties for more than 200 years.
But it seems the Aussies are going through a bit of a ‘200-year-itch’ as they are courting the Americans.
The Lowy Institute poll found that Australians are still sentimental about their faithful friends the Brits with eight out of ten Australians saying their British bond is important. 28% of those surveyed are still very loyal to their British heritage saying the relationship is ‘very important’.
Picking from a list of ‘best friends’ Australians placed the Brits at their third best friend with New Zealanders being slightly more popular in second while 35% of respondents said their ‘bestest’ friends are Americans.
The poll established that Australians feel a greater affinity to other English speaking nations and feel they have more in common with the Yanks half a world away than with their Asian neighbours.
“This is a good time for our two nations [Britain and Australia] to focus on our relationship and our shared interests in Asia and beyond,” said Lowy Institute Executive Director Dr Michael Fullilove.
“The United Kingdom is an important international actor and a fellow member of the G20 and the UN Security Council.”