Themes

Immigration and refugees

Following two years of closed borders during the pandemic, Australians appear to be shifting towards more openness and immigration. Seven in ten Australians (68%) say ‘Australia’s openness to people from all over the world is essential to who we are as a nation’, a 15-point increase from 2018. Fewer Australians (31%) now say ‘if Australia is too open to people from all over the world, we risk losing our identity as a nation’, a ten-point decline over the past four years.

There is a significant difference across generations on this question. Eight in ten Australians aged 18–44 (79%) see openness as essential to Australia’s identity, while this is a view held by 58% of Australians aged over 45.

The number of Australians calling for reduced immigration also appears to have declined over the course of the pandemic. When asked about restarting Australia’s immigration program now that borders have reopened, 46% say that the number of immigrants allowed into Australia should be ‘around the same as pre-Covid levels’. A third of Australians (33%) say immigration should be ‘lower than pre-Covid levels’, and 21% say ‘higher than pre-Covid levels’. In 2019, prior to the pandemic, in response to a different question, 47% of Australians said immigration levels were ‘too high’, while 40% said the rate of immigration was about right.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, nine in ten Australians (90%) say they strongly or somewhat support ‘admitting Ukrainian refugees into Australia’.

25 questions match this theme

Immigration and refugees

Immigration and national identity

Next, indicate whether the first statement or the second statement comes closer to your own views, even if neither is exactly right:
Asked in
- 2022
- 2018
Data
Immigration and refugees

Post-pandemic immigration

Thinking now about the pause in Australia’s immigration during the pandemic. Now that borders have reopened, over the next 12 months, do you think the number of immigrants allowed into Australia should be:
Asked in
- 2022
Data
Security and defence

Australia’s response to the war in Ukraine

Thinking more about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, would you support or oppose Australia:
Asked in
- 2022
Data
Security and defence

Threats to Australia's vital interests

Do you see the following possible threat as a critical threat, an important but not critical threat, or not an important threat to Australia's vital interests in the next ten years?
Asked in
- 2022
- 2021
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2014
- 2009
- 2008
- 2006
Data
Covid-19 pandemic

Border closures for Australians

Currently, Australians are not permitted to leave the country without applying for a special exemption. Which one of the following best describes your view?
Asked in
- 2021
Data
Immigration and refugees

Attitudes to immigration

Thinking about immigration to Australia. Please say whether you personally agree or disagree with each of the following statements about immigration:
Asked in
- 2019
- 2016
Data
Immigration and refugees

Border protection and Australia's reputation

In your view, do Australia’s border protection policies help, hurt or make no difference to its international reputation?
Asked in
- 2019
Data
Immigration and refugees

Immigration rate

Do you personally think that the total number of migrants coming to Australia each year is too high, too low or about right?
Asked in
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2014
Data
Immigration and refugees

Nauru and Manus Island policy

And now about asylum seekers currently in Nauru and Manus Island detention centres. For those asylum seekers who have been determined to be refugees, please say which one of the following statements most closely represents your own view.
Asked in
- 2017
Data
Immigration and refugees

Asylum seekers

I am going to read you some statements about asylum seekers coming to Australia by boat. Please say whether you personally agree or disagree with the following policy ideas:
Asked in
- 2016
Data
Immigration and refugees

Australia's humanitarian policy options

Please say whether you personally agree or disagree with each of the following statements:
Asked in
- 2016
Data
Australian foreign policy

Important issues facing Australia

Please say whether you personally think each of the following is a very important issue, a somewhat important issue, or not an important issue facing Australia at the moment:
Asked in
- 2016
Data
Immigration and refugees

Asylum seeker policy

Please say whether you personally agree or disagree with the following policy ideas:
Asked in
- 2014
Data
Immigration and refugees

Australia's population

Now about the size of Australia’s population in the next 40 years or so. Which one of the following do you personally think would be the best target population for Australia in the next 40 years?
Asked in
- 2014
- 2010
Data
Immigration and refugees

Reasons for reducing immigration

Please say whether each of the following is a major reason, a minor reason or not a reason as to why you personally think there should be fewer migrants coming to Australia:
Asked in
- 2014
Data
Immigration and refugees

Attention on the asylum seeker issue

Is the right amount of attention being given to the issue of asylum seekers?
Asked in
- 2013
Data
Immigration and refugees

Unauthorised asylum seekers

Are you concerned about unauthorised asylum seekers coming to Australia by boat?
Asked in
- 2013
- 2011
- 2010
- 2009
Data
Immigration and refugees

Views of offshore processing

And are you personally in favour or against the offshore processing of unauthorised asylum seekers? And is that strongly or somewhat?
Asked in
- 2013
Data
Immigration and refugees

Criteria for new migrants

Please say whether you personally think each of the following is an important criteria or not an important criteria for determining which migrants should be allowed to come to Australia to live
Asked in
- 2012
Data
Immigration and refugees

Important criteria for new migrants

Which one is the most important criteria for determining which migrants should be allowed to come to Australia to live?
Asked in
- 2012
Data