Immigration and asylum seekers are the second biggest concern Australian voters have ahead of the 2013 General Election.
According to an Australia National University Poll, released today, immigration was voted as either the most important or second-most important issue facing the country at the moment, by 28 per cent of the 1,200 voters surveyed
The main issue of concern for Australian voters right now is the economy and jobs market, with more than half of the people surveyed listing the economy and jobs as one of the most important issues facing Australia. The number of people concerned by the economy has more than doubled since a similar poll was carried out ahead of the 2010 election.
Meanwhile, just 6 per cent of respondents cited the environment or global warming as an issue, down from around 12 per cent in 2010 while only 0.1 per cent mentioned carbon tax.
The Australian election is to take place on 7th September, with Conservative leader Tony Abbott currently the slight favourite to oust current Prime Minister Kevin Rudd from power.
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Abbott has already launched an attack on the current immigration system – especially where asylum seekers are concerned. “No self-respecting country can hand over part of its immigration control programme to people smugglers,” he said.
Rudd, however, has so far been keen to focus his policies largely on the economy.