Key facts
- The Coalition's primary vote in the Guardian Essential poll dropped to 22%.
- 55% of Australians want the nation's annual migrant intake lowered.
- 70% of respondents support forced deportations of visa overstayers.
- 68% support greater scrutiny of protection or asylum visas.
- 62% support preventing most international students from bringing family members.
- 64% backed a proposal to make it harder for temporary migrants to extend their stay.
The Coalition's primary vote has fallen to its lowest-ever level of 22% in the latest Guardian Essential poll, despite a political debate on migration. The poll of 1,022 people found that while 46% of Australians view migration positively, 55% want the annual migrant intake reduced. Significant support exists for stricter migration measures, including 70% backing forced deportations of visa overstayers and 68% supporting greater scrutiny of asylum visas. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke's proposal to limit temporary visa extensions was supported by 64% of respondents, and 74% favored directing skilled worker visas to industries facing shortages. Peter Lewis, executive director of Essential Media, noted that while there's support for cutting immigration numbers, more people see immigration as positive, suggesting a desire for slowed migration with clear rules rather than a complete halt. Among those wanting reduced immigration, "refugees" and "family members" were most commonly cited for cuts. Angus Taylor has proposed linking immigration numbers to new housing construction, but 70% of respondents indicated they would still want immigration reduced even if housing and public services kept pace with population growth. Labor recently announced plans to align migration with budget forecasts, including changes to working holiday visas and partner applications, alongside stricter monitoring of visa overstayers. This follows One Nation's proposal to cut temporary migration by over 750,000 in three years with strict compliance measures. Experts like Abul Rizvi, a former deputy secretary of the immigration department, estimate Hanson's deportation model could cost billions and disrupt sectors like aged care and construction. The poll also showed One Nation's primary vote rising to 25%, while the Greens remained at 12%.