A poll of more than 1400 people commissioned by The Australia Institute and published the week before the election found that 63% oppose the bipartisan policy that refugees who arrive in Australia by boat are sent to off-shore detention centres and will never be settled in Australia.
As well, 66% of respondents said it should be legal for doctors working in Australia's offshore detention regime to speak publicly about conditions in the camps and report any incidences of abuse to the police; and 61% said that Australia should accept New Zealand's offer to take 150 refugees from Manus Island and Nauru.
Only 27% said asylum seekers should never come to Australia under any circumstances; 35% said they should be settled in Australia if they are found to be genuine refugees; and 28% said processing should happen in Australia.
Like the article? Subscribe to Green Left now! You can also like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.