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Asylum Seekers

15 Jun 2010

Q. Which of the following comes is closest to your view?

Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
All asylum seekers arriving in Australia by boat should be sent back to the country they came from even if they are genuine refugees 31% 26% 38% 22%
Asylum seekers arriving by boat should only be allowed to stay in Australia if they are found to be genuine refugees 59% 67% 56% 66%
All asylum seekers arriving in Australia by boat should be allowed to stay 4% 4% 2% 10%
Don’t know 6% 3% 4% 2%

59% agreed with the statement that “asylum seekers arriving by boat should only be allowed to stay in Australia if they are found to be genuine refugees” and 31% agreed that “all asylum seekers arriving in Australia by boat should be sent back to the country they came from even if they are genuine refugees”. Only 4% (including 10% of Greens voters) agreed that “all asylum seekers arriving in Australia by boat should be allowed to stay”.

Women were more likely to think genuine refugees should be allowed to stay (61% compared to 57% of men). 28% of those aged 55+ thought all asylum seekers should be sent back compared to 33% of those aged under 55.

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