Zoomers Won’t Fight For an Australia They’ve Been Taught to Hate, Survey Reveals

Zoomers Won’t Fight For an Australia They’ve Been Taught to Hate, Survey Reveals

A recent survey has revealed alarming attitudes among Generation Z (Zoomers) towards defending Australia in times of conflict, sparking intense national debate about the state of patriotism, education, and national identity among young Australians.

Conducted ahead of Anzac Day 2026 and reported exclusively by The Courier-Mail, the survey found that 26% of respondents aged 14-29 would “refuse to make any personal sacrifices to protect Australia.” Additionally, 75% of young people surveyed expressed the belief that the world is on the verge of World War III. Perhaps most concerning was the finding that almost two-thirds of Zoomers believe Australia should not follow the United States into any future war, reflecting a significant erosion of support for the long-standing ANZUS alliance that has been central to Australia’s defence posture since World War II.

The survey also indicated that one in ten Zoomers support cutting defence spending, standing in stark contrast to the views of older generations, particularly Baby Boomers, who generally favour increased investment in national security. Close to half of older respondents expressed support for some form of compulsory service — either military or civil — for young people.

These findings have ignited fierce discussion across Australia, with many commentators pointing not to inherent laziness or cowardice among the young, but to deeper systemic issues in education, media, and culture that have allegedly fostered a sense of disconnection from — and even resentment toward — Australia’s history, values, and achievements.

The Education Factor: A Black Armband View of History

Many readers and analysts responding to the survey placed significant blame on what they describe as a “woke” or “Marxist-influenced” education system that emphasises Australia’s historical faults while downplaying or ignoring its achievements, sacrifices, and contributions to freedom and democracy.

One subscriber to The Courier-Mail stated: “The education system also has questions to be asked. Leftist ideology that teaches the black armband view of our history. If it weren’t for our forebears… there would be no indigenous folks.”

Another added: “The education system needs to stop telling students that Australia is an evil colonial ruler… [and] stop teaching kids to hate this country and that we should be sorry for all the liberty and freedoms that we have.”

Education expert Kevin Donnelly has previously argued that the Australian curriculum should move away from what he calls “indoctrinating students with a black armband of history” and instead focus on nation-building and national pride. He has advocated for more emphasis on cadet units, teamwork, discipline, leadership training, raising the Australian flag, and reciting the oath of allegiance in schools, rather than what he sees as excessive focus on certain grievance-based narratives.

The Institute for Public Affairs (IPA) reached similar conclusions in earlier polling, with Deputy Executive Director Daniel Wild stating that “the negative, self-hate view of Australian history and culture being forced onto students at schools and universities means that now barely one-third of young Australians believe Australia is even worth fighting for.”

Generational Perspectives and Broader Societal Issues

While the survey highlighted concerning attitudes among Zoomers, some voices urged caution against blanket condemnation of the younger generation. RSL President Peter Tinley suggested there remains a “quiet patriotism” among young Australians, noting increased participation in Anzac Day marches in recent years.

Former Queensland Premier and ex-Army engineer Campbell Newman offered a more nuanced view. Speaking on Sky News, Newman acknowledged that many young people feel they have “little to fight for,” particularly citing housing affordability and economic pressures. However, he drew parallels with the Oxford Union debate in 1933, where students famously voted against fighting for “king and country,” only for many of those same young men to later distinguish themselves in the Battle of Britain.

Newman also pointed out that, according to the survey data, a higher percentage of Baby Boomers (45%) indicated they would not fight compared to Gen Z (33%), suggesting the picture may be more complex than initial headlines suggest.

Other commentators linked the reluctance to broader societal issues: high levels of government dependency, difficulties with assimilation in mass immigration programs, over-taxation, over-regulation, and a political class perceived as disconnected from everyday concerns. Some expressed outright disillusionment with current leadership, stating they would be unwilling to fight for “a pathetic government” or policies they fundamentally oppose.

Historical Context and National Identity

The survey results come at a time when Australia continues to honour its military heritage through Anzac Day commemorations. The willingness of previous generations to make enormous sacrifices — from Gallipoli to Kokoda, from the Coral Sea to Vietnam — stands in sharp contrast to the attitudes revealed among some young people today.

Critics argue that decades of curriculum changes emphasising Australia’s faults (the “black armband” view) while minimising stories of courage, innovation, and nation-building have contributed to a weakened sense of national pride. The rewriting or selective presentation of history, combined with constant narratives of guilt, grievance, and climate alarmism, may have left many young Australians feeling disconnected from — or even ashamed of — their country.

A Nation Worth Defending

At its core, the survey raises profound questions about what kind of nation Australia is becoming and whether it is cultivating a citizenry willing to defend it. A country that teaches its young people to be ashamed of its past, doubtful of its alliances, and sceptical of its worth is unlikely to inspire the loyalty and sacrifice necessary in times of crisis.

Defence is not merely about weapons and budgets — it is fundamentally about the will to defend a way of life, shared values, and a national story worth preserving. If significant portions of the rising generation see little worth defending, Australia faces a deeper cultural and spiritual challenge that cannot be solved by increased military spending alone.

Restoring a healthy patriotism will require honest reckoning with history — acknowledging both failures and achievements — while recommitting to the principles of freedom, responsibility, and national cohesion that have served Australia well. It will also require education systems that foster pride in the nation’s story, resilience in character, and a clear understanding of the sacrifices made by previous generations to secure the freedoms enjoyed today.

The survey serves as a wake-up call. Australia must decide what kind of nation it wants to be — one that instils in its young people a sense of gratitude, duty, and love of country, or one that risks becoming unrecognisable to those who built and defended it.

The choice, and its consequences, will shape Australia’s future in a dangerous and uncertain world.