The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

Processing Asylum Seekers

16 May 2011

Q.  The Government has announced two possible agreements with Malaysia and Papua New Guinea on asylum seekers. Under these agreements, asylum seekers arriving by boat in Australia will be sent to either Malaysia or PNG for processing, and in return Australia will take a fixed number of refugees from Malaysia.

Do you support or oppose the Government’s plan to send asylum seekers arriving by boat in Australia to PNG and Malaysia?

Total Vote Labor Vote Liberal/ National Vote Greens
Total support 40% 55% 40% 29%
Total oppose 40% 25% 49% 53%
Strongly support 11% 16% 12% 5%
Support 29% 39% 28% 24%
Oppose 20% 16% 19% 33%
Strongly oppose 20% 9% 30% 20%
Don’t know 19% 20% 12% 17%

Respondents were divided over the Government’s plan to send asylum seekers arriving by boat in Australia to PNG and Malaysia – 40% support and 40% oppose. Labor voters were more likely to support the plan (55%) while Greens voters were most likely to oppose it (53%).

There were no substantial differences by demographic groups.

Error: