Executive Summary

This is a report of data collected for the Department of Industry, Science and Technology by the International Social Science Survey / Australia, Australia's leading academic survey, conducted by researchers at the Australian National University and the University of Melbourne. The results are based 1378 respondents from a large, representative national sample of all states and territories, drawn from the electoral roll. The survey was conducted in late 1994 and the early months of 1995. The conceptualization was based on a earlier developmental survey designed to explore a wide range of issues relating to genetic engineering

The author of this report is Senior Fellow in the Institute of Advanced Studies, Australian National University and Director of the International Social Science Survey. He has published widely in academic journals in Australia and overseas, including numerous publications in the world's best sociology and political science journals. (Details)

1.1 Scientific Research
1.2 Approval
1.3 Risks
1.4 Social Differences
1.5 Labeling
1.6 Use Of Genetically Modified Products
1.7 Benefits And Risks

1.1 Scientific Research

A majority of Australians claim some basic understanding of science. Most also accept what we have called the 'scientific world-view' -- Darwin's theory of evolution and modern astronomy (the 'big bang' and the like). But many others, especially devout Christians, reject the scientific world-view.

A clear majority said they had heard of genetic engineering and a majority claimed a 'basic understanding' of it. About half were interested in it.

Australians are very strongly in favour of scientific research in medicine. They are also very strongly in favour of some agricultural goals (crops that would create an export market, healthier food) and of environmental protection. They are strongly -- but not as strongly -- in favour of scientific research that would increase farmers' incomes, provide cheaper food, or provide tastier food.

1.2 Approval

The Australian public is broadly supportive of a wide range of genetic engineering projects. The average Australian rates the average genetic engineering project as a "good idea".

Of the genetic engineering products we asked about in the survey, the most popular are a treatment for blood cancer, a drug that lowers blood pressure, and cotton that resists insect pests. More than 90% of Australians favour these. Then comes healthier cooking oil, genetically modified viruses to protect farm crops by attacking insect pests, viruses to control imported animal pests, and lean pork. Support is lowest for the genetically engineered tomato but even here a clear majority is in favour, 64% declaring them to be a "good idea" or a "very good idea" so long as they are clearly labeled.

1.3 Risks

The survey also asked about the potential risks associated with genetic engineering. The results can be expressed in the form of a worry scale, from zero ("No worry") to 100 ("Huge worry, terrible and very likely to happen"). The results showed Australians to be a worrying lot, even when the observed risks are quite low: fluorides -- which are added to drinking water to reduce tooth decay in most parts of Australia -- elicited 45 points on the worry scale. Concern with the use of chemical pesticides in farming elicited 65 points on the worry scale.

Concern that genetic engineering could accidentally create a new disease which could escape from the laboratory elicited 67 points on the worry scale, about as high as concern with chemical pesticides. Concerns about the possible long-term risks of eating genetically engineered food (59 points) and fears that genetically engineered plants might escape into the environment and become weeds (58 points) were lower.

Even people most concerned with potential risks generally believe that the benefits of genetic engineering will outweigh the risks in the long run. These results suggest that Australians have a balanced view about genetic engineering: they recognize that with any new technology there will always be risks but that these risks need to be, and can be, balanced against the prospective benefits.

1.4 Social Differences

Most Australians approve of genetic engineering, and there are few social differences in approval. They approve of genetic engineering mainly because they see it as serving goals that they value, not because they understand much about it. Opposition to genetic engineering is concentrated among people who put a low priority on improvements in health and agriculture as goals for Australians scientists, concentrated among supporters of the Greens, and concentrated among people who dissent from the scientific worldview.

1.5 Labeling

The public wants genetically engineered food products to be clearly labeled, so they can choose for themselves whether or not to use them. Even if genetically engineered foods are in fact entirely safe -- a scientific issue not to be settled by public opinion polling -- people nonetheless want to make the choice themselves. Voluntary labeling might meet most public concerns.

1.6 Use of Genetically Modified Products

The vast majority of Australians would wear clothes made from genetically engineered cotton (77%). The rest are mostly undecided (18%), with only 5% definitely unwilling. Clear majorities would eat genetically engineered cooking oil (60%), tomatoes (61%), and pork (56%) with most of the rest undecided rather than definitely unwilling.

Most willing to use genetically engineered products are those who generally support scientific research on agriculture, those less worried about the risks of genetic engineering, those more knowledgeable about it, and those who have a scientific rather than religious world-view.

1.7 Benefits and Risks

A clear majority of the Australian public think the benefits of genetic engineering will outweigh the risks. Most of the rest have mixed feelings and fewer than 10% think the risks will outweigh the benefits.

People who think the benefits will outweigh the risks tend to be those who:

Conversely, those who think the risks will outweigh the benefits -- the minority -- tend to be those who: These results suggest that the Australian public will increasingly perceive genetic engineering's benefits as outwieghing its risks in the future as levels of knowledge increase. 
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