More 'relaxed and comfortable': public opinion on immigration under Howard

In the last two years, polled opinion on immigration has shifted; whereas earlier surveys indicated that most Australians thought the migrant intake too high, surveys taken after the 1998 election and 1999 referendum point to a public which is more evenly divided. This paper sets out the evidence for this shift and defends its validity; it points to possible reasons for the change; and it explores the relationship between policy-making and public opinion on immigration, pursuing the implications for opponents of immigration who seek to base their case for lower population growth on opinion-poll data. Copyright. Monash University and the author/s