Essential Report
Attitude towards Australia first hiring
Q. Last weekend Kristina Kenneally, a NSW senator, called for the federal government to reduce the number of temporary migrant worker visas permitted after the Covid-19 outbreak. She argues that Australian businesses should prioritise training and hiring Australians for roles, rather than seeking temporary workers to fill skill-shortages.
To what extent, do you support or oppose this idea of “Australia first” hiring?
Gender | Age Group | ||||||
Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | ||
Strongly support | 41% | 36% | 46% | 27% | 42% | 53% | |
Somewhat support | 26% | 28% | 23% | 25% | 26% | 25% | |
Neither support, nor oppose | 21% | 21% | 21% | 30% | 24% | 10% | |
Somewhat oppose | 6% | 7% | 4% | 10% | 3% | 5% | |
Strongly oppose | 6% | 8% | 5% | 9% | 5% | 6% | |
TOTAL: Support | 67% | 64% | 70% | 52% | 68% | 78% | |
TOTAL: Oppose | 12% | 15% | 9% | 18% | 8% | 12% | |
Base (n) | 1,067 | 532 | 535 | 341 | 341 | 385 | |
Federal Voting Intention | ||||
Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
Strongly support | 41% | 44% | 23% | 61% |
Somewhat support | 22% | 31% | 26% | 21% |
Neither support, nor oppose | 24% | 15% | 34% | 12% |
Somewhat oppose | 7% | 4% | 7% | 4% |
Strongly oppose | 6% | 5% | 10% | 2% |
TOTAL: Support | 63% | 75% | 50% | 82% |
TOTAL: Oppose | 13% | 10% | 17% | 7% |
Base (n) | 306 | 418 | 86 | 143 |
- Kristina Kenneally’s “Australia first” hiring approach is supported by 67% of participants; women (70%), those over 55 (78%), Coalition (75%) and other party voters (82%) are more likely to support this approach than men (64%), 18-34 year olds (52%) and Greens voters (50%).

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