A majority of Australians support a complete halt to all immigration except for tourism, and just 22% would oppose such a policy, a new poll shows.
The Fox & Hedgehog survey from January 5 and 6 also had One Nation as the third largest party on 21% of the primary vote, behind to Coalition on 25% and Labor on 29%.
Asked whether they agreed or disagreed with the statement “There should be a pause to all migration to Australia other than tourists”, 32% strongly agreed, 22% agreed, 24% were neutral or unsure, 15% disagreed and 7% strongly disagreed.
The 1,608 respondents were also asked their opinion on the statement “The Australian political system is fundamentally broken”, and a total of 51% agreed, 27% were neutral or unsure, and 22% disagreed.
On a three-party preferred basis, 46% of voters opted for Labor, followed by the Coalition on 29% and One Nation on 25%. Reduced to two-party preferred, Labor beat the Coalition 53-47, Labor beat One Nation 56-44, and the Coalition beat One Nation 63-37.
Fox & Hedgehog founder and former Coalition strategist Michael Horner told The Daily Telegraph the results showed One Nation had become a genuine contender.
In dozens of seats, it could replace either Labor or the Coalition as the main challenger,” he said.
“When One Nation faces the Coalition, our data shows preferences mostly flow against it, as most Labor and Greens voters will opt for the Coalition over One Nation.
“But when One Nation faces Labor, the system flips. The result is that One Nation can win seats on a primary vote in the mid-20s when running against Labor, but would likely need a primary in the 30s to beat the Coalition.”
The poll came after a DemosAU survey conducted on the same dates had One Nation level with the Coalition on 23%, behind Labor’s 29% of the primary vote.
But a national Morgan poll from January 5 to 11 had the Coalition ahead on 30.5%, Labor on 30%, and One Nation on 15%.
Header image: Muslim men pray in the street in Lakemba, Sydney (Facebook).
