A report from Australia Online Chinatown states that a new opinion poll shows half of Australians believe the current level of immigration is reasonable, but two-thirds believe that refugees arriving by boat should be sent back.
The Roy Morgan survey found that 46% of people think the annual intake of 170,000 permanent immigrants should be maintained. Among those surveyed in mid-March, about 39% said the number of immigrants should be reduced, while 11% expressed a desire for an increase.
However, when it comes to refugees, respondents' attitudes are much clearer. 64% said that refugees arriving by boat should be sent back and should apply through normal refugee channels. Only 26% were satisfied with the current system, while another 10% either want a different system or are unsure about what should be done.
This survey was released amid ongoing debates between the federal government and the opposition regarding population issues.
Opposition Immigration Spokesman Scott Morrison had to tone down his calls to reduce immigration after he faced challenges from the Labor Party, major corporations, and some colleagues.
Tony Burke, the new Minister for Population tasked with developing solutions to address Australia’s population growth, acknowledged that his work would have little practical impact on determining the specific population number for 2050.
