Essential Report
Importance of Asylum Seeker Issue
Q. Is the issue of how Australia handles asylum seekers more or less important than issues such as managing the economy, education and health services? (This question has been commissioned by Network Ten)
Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Men | Women | Age
18-34 |
Aged
35-54 |
Aged 55+ | |
Total more or equally important | 50% | 49% | 53% | 56% | 48% | 52% | 48% | 50% | 55% |
A lot more important | 5% | 6% | 6% | 6% | 3% | 7% | 5% | 4% | 8% |
A little more important | 5% | 6% | 5% | 3% | 6% | 3% | 5% | 5% | 5% |
Equally important | 40% | 37% | 42% | 47% | 39% | 42% | 38% | 41% | 42% |
A little less important | 21% | 22% | 21% | 22% | 18% | 24% | 25% | 19% | 20% |
A lot less important | 23% | 23% | 25% | 19% | 28% | 18% | 20% | 26% | 23% |
Don’t know | 5% | 6% | 1% | 4% | 4% | 6% | 8% | 6% | 2% |
50% think that the issue of how Australia handles asylum seekers is more/equally important as issues such as managing the economy, education and health services – 44% think it is less important.
There were not substantial differences across voter and other groups – although Greens voters (56%) and those aged 55+ (55%) were a little more likely to think it was important.

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In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Views towards re-electing the federal Coalition government
- Party trust to handle issues
- Importance of Australia’s international reputation
- Scott Morrison’s impact on Australia’s international reputation
- Views towards Australia’s international reputation
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