A majority of voters believe the federal government has been too soft on asylum seekers — but many don’t trust the Coalition on the issue, or think both sides are the same.
In a warning to Labor it could again be out-muscled on the issue, and a call to Tony Abbott to maintain his harder line as more boats arrive, a poll from Essential Research shows 65% of voters believe the government is “too soft” on asylum-seekers.
Just 18% believe Labor has the right approach, according to the online poll of more than 1000 voters conducted last week.
On the question of which party is most trusted to handle the issue, the Liberal party emerges ahead of Labor — 34% favour Abbott’s rhetoric compared to Labor’s approach on 23%. However, almost 30% said there was no difference between the parties, including a large number of Labor voters.
And there is more good news for the ironman of Australian politics, with voters seemingly not turned off by Tony Abbott’s Speedo-clad athletic achievements. On the question of whether the opposition leader is “spending too much time on activities not related to his job”, 45% believe he has the balance right.
Just 32% said Abbott was spending too much time away from politics, according to the poll.
Voting intentions remain unchanged from last week’s figures, with the two-party preferred split of Labor leading the Coalition 54% to 46% — an eight-point break early in an election year.
Essential Research also posed the question of housing prices and the cause of inflation, with most believing there is a shortage of housing in the market. A third (33%) raised this as the primary cause of price rises, ahead of overseas buyers (19%) and low interest rates (11%).
The community is evenly divided over the direction of house prices — 28% want house prices to drop; 28% want to see them rise, and 34% hope the market stays the same.
I am not in the least surprised that 65% of voters consider that the government is too soft on asylum seekers. They have been a political football since the Howard years. It would be nice to see a little leadership from all the politicians in Canberra, not a bunch of dog whistle blowers.
This country managed to absorb all the boat people from Viet Nam without any major hiccups; take a look at who the Deputy Governor of South Australia is for starters, or the young Australian of the years of yester year.
Why not comment on the health poll at the same time? From Essential Research’s web site right now, the question was:
Which party do you trust most to deliver better health care for people like you and your family – the Labor Party the Liberal Party?
Results:
Labor Party 45%
Liberal Party 25%
Don’t know 30%
We can’t all have a refugee as a neighbour, but we all have health concerns. Nuff said.
STEPHEN MARTIN – Wouldn’t it be a positive change if just one so-called journalist would ask the real questions re asylum seekers and then print or speak the truth. That over 95% arrive by plane and those who come by boat are less than 5%? It’s just criminal the way both political parties try to increase their electoral positions by using the misery of others. Why doesn’t the federal and state govts raid backpacker hostels and other places for those 50,000 to 60,000 people who are in the country at any given time. I get sick to death of the lies and nonsense at the expense of traumatized people. It’s a disgrace!
Boat people are perfect cover-up for the politicians on all sides. If you have nothing to offer to your hol polloi you show them a huge shadowy enemy.
What would they otherwise offer in the field of water supply, alternative energy, fighting incredible poor education standards, equal opportunity for the indigenous people, usury of the banks, support for young families, child abuse, tax reform and plenty others… ?
Rena: And an immediate start on nuclear base load power? To show my hand, again, I believe that this is inevitable, once the sh_t hits the fan.