A clear majority of Australians back the decision to increase Australia’s intake of Syrian refugees, but most people also think the Abbott government has handled the issue poorly, according to new poll.
The poll, taken by Lonergan Research on Tuesday night, also found a majority of Australians still supported the government’s Operation Sovereign Borders asylum program, including its commitment to asylum seeker boat turnbacks and offshore detention.
Thousands of Australians have attended vigils around the country urging the government to allow additional Syrian refugees into the country in response to the images of mass refugee flight across Europe and of the body of Alan Kurdi washed up in Turkey, but as recently as Sunday prime minister Tony Abbott was insisting any additional Syrian refugees would have to come from within this year’s humanitarian intake of 13,750.
Asked by Lonergan Research whether Australia should increase its intake of refugees, 57% answered yes and 43% said no.
Asked to rate the Abbott government’s response to the refugee crisis in Syria and the Middle East, 54% said it was poor and 46% rated it as good.
But despite the rapidly changing sentiment regarding refugees from Syria a clear majority still backed the government’s overall asylum policies.
Asked whether they supported Operation Sovereign Borders, which includes turning back boats and offshore detention of asylum seekers, 54% per cent said they backed it and 46% were opposed. Both major parties went to the last election promising that no asylum seekers arriving by boat would be resettled in Australia and all would be processed offshore, and a Lowy Institute poll taken last year showed 71% of those surveyed backed the policy of turning back boats.
But voters’ views for or against the Coalition’s policy appear strongly held. Fifty-five per cent said the Liberal party’s stance on refugees and asylum seekers made them less likely to vote for them at the next election and 45% said the policy made them more likely to vote for the Coalition.
Chris Lonergan, the managing director of Lonergan Research, said: “A clear majority of Australians now support an increased intake of refugees, which suggests that compassion for true refugees now outweighs other concerns such as national security risks, or people taking advantage of the system.
“We believe that in addition to personal stories such as that of Alan Kurdi, the contrasting policies of different countries in Europe has allowed Australians to witness the human impact of both welcoming and discouraging government policies – which has caused many Australians to re-evaluate their views on what is appropriate here in Australia.”
Lonergan Research conducted voice automated telephone interviews with 1,109 voters on Tuesday night.
