The Coalition’s primary vote has fallen to 22% in the latest Guardian Essential poll, while the survey also found majority support for reducing Australia’s annual migrant intake.
The September poll, conducted among 1,022 people last week, recorded a four-point fall in the Coalition’s primary vote from August. Labor’s primary vote rose from 26% to 29%, while One Nation reached 25%, up from 23%.
The immigration findings were mixed. While 46% of respondents said immigration was positive for Australia, compared with 39% who viewed it negatively, 55% said they wanted the annual migrant intake reduced. A further 29% wanted the intake kept at its current level, while 16% wanted more migrants.
The survey also recorded majority support for several tighter migration measures. Seventy per cent supported forced deportation of people who overstay visas, 68% backed greater scrutiny of protection or asylum visas, and 62% supported preventing most international students from bringing family members to Australia.
A proposal from Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to make it harder for temporary migrants to move between visa categories to extend their stay was supported by 64% of respondents. Another 74% backed directing skilled worker visas towards industries experiencing shortages, including health and construction.
The poll also found that 70% of respondents who supported reducing immigration would still want lower migration even if enough homes and public services were provided to keep pace with population growth.
Peter Lewis, executive director of Essential Media, said the findings showed support for lower immigration alongside a growing view that immigration has made a positive contribution to Australia.
“The findings suggests it is important not to be dragged into a zero sum game here; most people want immigration slowed down with clear rules, rather than to stop it altogether,” Lewis said.
The results come as the federal government considers changes to several migration settings and as One Nation pushes for a substantial reduction in temporary migration. The Coalition has not yet finalised its migration policy, although opposition leader Angus Taylor has proposed linking immigration numbers to new housing construction.
Australia By Aussie previously covered the wider immigration debate, including discussion of migration settings, housing, wages and worker concerns, in its earlier coverage of the issue.
The latest poll provides a snapshot of public opinion at the time of the survey and does not itself establish the causes of changes in party support or attitudes towards immigration.
Source: The Guardian
