Opinion | Australia media reporting on China ‘too negative’, ‘distrustful’ of Chinese-Australians: survey

A majority of Australian-Chinese think local media portrays them as ‘distrustful’ and posing risks to national security, according to a survey

They believe Australian media’s reporting on China has led to low acceptance of their community by the Australian public

Reading Time:4 minutes

Chinese migrants in Australia protest against a policy on investment visa in Sydney on June 16, 2023. Photo: Reuters

Published: 6:00am, 31 Aug 2023

Australian media have significantly increased their reporting on China and Australian-Chinese communities in the past few years.

But how fair is that coverage? The Lowy Institute asked 2,000 Australians this question last year. In response, 61 per cent said it was “fair and balanced”, while 10 per cent of respondents said it was “too positive”. Only 26 per cent said it was “too negative”.

Lowy then asked Chinese-Australians the same question. In 2022, 42 per cent of Chinese-Australian respondents said Australian media reporting about China was “too negative”. By contrast, in the previous year’s poll, 57 per cent had said such reporting was “too negative”.

What accounts for the striking difference between the assessments of mainstream Australians and Chinese-Australians?

Lowy’s survey of Chinese-Australians included individuals of various backgrounds: different histories and trajectories of migration, and countries of origin.

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