Approval of Overseas Workers
Q. The Federal Government recently gave approval to Gina Rinehart’s mining company to bring in 1,700 overseas workers. Do you approve or disapprove of overseas workers being brought in to work in Australia’s mining industry?
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
Total approve |
16% |
20% |
19% |
10% |
Total disapprove |
60% |
55% |
61% |
58% |
Strongly approve |
3% |
3% |
3% |
5% |
Approve |
13% |
17% |
16% |
5% |
Neither approve nor disapprove |
20% |
23% |
18% |
30% |
Disapprove |
25% |
27% |
25% |
30% |
Strongly disapprove |
35% |
28% |
36% |
28% |
Don’t know |
5% |
3% |
2% |
2% |
16% approve of the Government’s approval for Gina Rinehart’s mining company to bring in 1,700 overseas workers and 60% disapprove.
A majority of all voter groups disapproved.
Highest approval came from men (20%), full-time workers (20%) and respondents aged 65+ (21%).
Reason for Bringing in Overseas Workers
Q. Why do you think mining companies would bring in overseas workers for Australia’s mines?
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
Australia doesn’t have enough skilled workers |
18% |
20% |
18% |
19% |
Australians don’t want to work in the mining industry |
17% |
17% |
18% |
18% |
It is cheaper to bring in overseas workers |
59% |
60% |
58% |
58% |
Don’t know |
6% |
3% |
5% |
5% |
59% think that mining companies bring in overseas workers because it is cheaper, 18% think Australia doesn’t have enough skilled workers and 17% think Australians don’t want to work in the mining industry.
Views were similar across all voter and demographic groups.

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