Would you fight for Australia? Aussies were asked that simple question - but had a series of surprising answers

An Australian who travelled around the country asking other Aussies if they would fight to defend the nation has received some surprisingly mixed answers. 

Surfer and journalist Fred Pawle took his camera and mic to locations including the NSW Central Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Byron Bay, the Gold Coast and Brisbane in recent weeks posing the question to people on the street. 

'My initial motivation was whether you would be able to judge the responses based on where you live, so which areas would be more or less likely to defend the country,' Mr Pawle told Daily Mail Australia.

He said the responses for the most part aligned with his expectations, with those in Melbourne - perhaps jaded at having endured the world's longest Covid lockdown - less inclined to fight than those in Sydney. 

'In Sydney the percentage of those saying they would defend the country was up around 80 per cent and in Melbourne it was around 60 per cent.

'I was pleasantly surprised by Byron Bay. If you live in paradise wouldn't you defend it? I had to debate a little to get it out of them, but most said they would.'

Mr Pawle said he wasn't entirely surprised that some were so open about admitting they wouldn't defend Australia given increasing polarisation in society. 

'The ''Greatest Generation'' won World War II 80 years ago through willpower, strength and unity - it can seem like those qualities are much less apparent than they were,' he observed. 

In the videos, many of the men who answered said they would not hesitate to pick up arms should the nation be attacked.

'I sure would. I live here,' replied one man in Brisbane. 

'100 per cent,' replied another. 'Best country in the world, mate.'  

Another young man from Byron Bay replied: 'Of course, but only for defence.

'If your mates were going but you stayed you wouldn't feel too good about yourself.'

'I'd be on the front line,' replied one First Nations man in Melbourne. 

But others said it would 'depend on the context' or they would choose not to fight - for varying reasons.

One Byron Bay local replied 'no' when asked if he would defend Australia but gave an emphatic 'absolutely' when asked whether he would fight for the idyllic coastal town.

'Who are we actually fighting for?' the man asked.

'Are we fighting for ourselves or for someone else who is going to turn around and do what the other guy is doing anyway?' 

Another Byron Bay resident said they 'don't believe in global politics and being a part of that soap opera'. 

'I'm against violence,' a third said.

One man with a British accent said he would 'just move somewhere else' if Australia introduced conscription.

'I just value my life more than any of that stuff.'

And one man said he didn't believe Australia 'in its current state' was worth defending.

Mr Pawle said when he asked a follow-up question about whether territory or values was a reason to fight, one person replied they weren't sure Australia was united in its values anymore.

'That is very concerning,' Mr Pawle said. 

But he also said he found it 'incredibly encouraging' that even though the country is divided, most people said they would defend this 'wonderful place'.

'Many said they would not go overseas to fight but for most, the answer of whether they would defend Australia at home was an easy yes.'

'It's an important question, the drums of war are beating, but a lot of people looked at me like ''why would you ask that?''.'

'NATO this week has called for stronger ties with Pacific nations. NATO is to keep communism out of Europe - why are they calling for stronger ties with Australia?

'Ukraine is resorting to grabbing young men off the street to get them to fight and the Australian government endorses that.

'Our Prime Minister phoned President Zelenskyy and congratulated him on the war effort and said Australia would support Ukraine as long as it takes.'

From Friday, 140 aircraft will fill the Northern Territory skies for three weeks as part of a biennial international air combat activity.

With 4,000 personnel from 20 nations taking part, the 2024 event will be the biggest in its 43-year history.

Participants will be exposed to complex scenarios while operating advanced equipment and battle systems, which exercise director Peter Robinson says will help build stronger ties with like-minded nations.

'Training with our partner nations demonstrates our commitment to the shared value of sustaining peace and stability across the region,' Air Commodore Robinson said.

For the Philippines, Spain, Italy and Papua New Guinea, it will be the first time their personnel and aircraft participate.

They will be joined by aircraft from France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand the UK and the US, alongside embedded personnel from Canada, New Zealand, Fiji and Brunei.

The exercise will be held as China continues to flex its military muscle in the region against the backdrop of a NATO summit in Washington, where the Indo-Pacific remains a key focus.