Q. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements about asylum seekers and refugees?
| Total agree | Total disagree | Strongly agree | Agree | Neither agree nor disagree | Disagree | Strongly disagree | Don’t know | Nov 2015 | Aug 2016 | Nov 2016 | ||
| Asylum seekers should be deported to their country of origin if their asylum claims are unsuccessful | 67% | 12% | 36% | 31% | 16% | 7% | 5% | 6% | – | – | – | |
| When the Manus Island detention centre is closed, those who cannot be safely relocated to another country should be brought to Australia | 32% | 40% | 10% | 22% | 19% | 15% | 25% | 8% | – | – | – | |
| The government is too tough on asylum seekers | 25% | 53% | 11% | 14% | 16% | 20% | 33% | 5% | 25% | 21% | 23% |
67% thought that asylum seekers should be returned to their country of origin if their asylum claims were unsuccessful. Those most likely to think this were other party/independent voters (79% disagree), Liberal/National voters (79%) and those aged 65+ (78%). Those most likely to disagree were Greens voters (44% disagree), Victorians (18%) and those with a university degree (16%).
32% thought that asylum seekers and refugees who cannot be safely relocated to another country after Manus Island is closed should be brought to Australia. Those most likely to think this were Greens voters (69% agree), ALP voters (41%) and those aged 18-24 (37%). Those most likely to disagree were those aged other party/independent voters (54% disagree), Liberal/National voters (53%) and those aged 55-64 (52%).
25% thought that the government is too tough on asylum seekers, up 2% from when this question was last asked in November 2016. Those most likely to think this were Greens voters (68% agree), ALP voters (36%) and those aged 25-34 (35%). Most likely to disagree were other party/independent voters (75% disagree), those aged 65+ (71%) and Liberal/National voters (68%).