Public opinion on genetic engineering differs greatly among countries, as shown by the Eurobarometer surveys, the largest and most closely comparable international surveys to date (Lemkow 1993: 10-14; Schibeci et al. 1994: 20-21). Hence overseas results offer no firm guidance about Australian opinion.
Our basic findings for Australia are similar to those for the USA, Canada and some European Community nations. The US Office of Technology Assessment's excellent 1987 survey's main, conclusion could equally well stand for our Australian survey:
"In summary, most Americans appear to be pragmatists on the issue of genetic engineering. They are concerned about both the morality and the risks of the technology. The survey finds that while the public expresses concern about genetic engineering in the abstract, it approves nearly every specific environmental or therapeutic application. ... This survey indicates that a majority of the public believes the expected benefits of science, biotechnology, and genetic engineering are sufficient to outweigh the risks" (U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, 1987: Executive Summary; emphasis in the original).