The Scanlon Foundation’s 2015 Mapping Social Cohesion survey asked 1500 Australians: ‘Which of the following four statements comes closest to your view about the best policy for dealing with asylum seekers trying to reach Australia by boat?’
Australia currently has temporary protection visas (residence) for asylum seekers found to be genuine refugees, however, asylum seekers who attempt to reach Australia by boat are not eligible for any Australian visas.
The Mapping Social Cohesion report’s author, Professor Andrew Markus from Monash University, said Australians’ opinions towards the treatment of asylum seekers had not changed between the 2014 and 2015 surveys, despite negative news coverage in some sections of Australia’s media focussing on the Nauru and Manus Island detention centres, including allegations of rape and child abuse.
"On a number of issues to do with immigration, asylum and cultural diversity, people do have opinions," Professor Markus told SBS.
Surveys by the Scanlon Foundation between 2010 and 2012 have tested what Australians think motivates asylum seekers to try and reach Australia by boat.
Many Australians do not think people who seek asylum by taking a boat journey to Australia are actual refugees.
The survery revealed Australians commonly thought people came to Australia by boat "for a better life" (46 per cent), they "are queue jumpers" (11 per cent), followed by "facing persecution" (18 per cent) and "desperation" (19.2 per cent).
However, data from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection showed a large majority (89 per cent) of processed and determined claims for asylum by people who arrived by boat were granted protection visas as refugees.
The Scanlon Foundation's report said Australians generally supported refugees coming to Australia, indicating it was "boat people" they were upset about, not refugees.
Scanlon Foundation surveys between 2010 and 2012 asked respondents for their views on Australia’s Humanitarian Program, which was explained as resettling "refugees who have been assessed overseas and found to be victims of persecution and in need of help".
Between 67 and 75 per cent of respondents indicated they supported that program.
"On the basis of earlier findings, it is likely that negative opinion reflects views on mode of arrival, not on providing opportunities for refugee resettlement," Professor Markus said in the report.
Australia resettles a proportionally large number of refugees per capita under its Humanitarian Program compared to other nations, however, fewer than one per cent of the world’s refugees are resettled each year. The vast majority of refugees and asylum seekers arrive in countries without invitation or pre-approval.
Australians do not always agree on asylum policy
Younger Australians were more likely than their elders to support the permanent residence option for boat arrivals, while older Australians supported boat turnbacks, survey responses reveal.
Question - Which of the following four statements comes closest to your view about the best policy for dealing with asylum seekers trying to reach Australia by boat?
That does not mean young Australians support permanent residence.
“Perhaps the main point here is that even amongst those who are aged 18-24, support for eligibility for permanent residence (for boat arrivals) is at 39 per cent,” Professor Markus told SBS. “That is a minority.”
The negative image of jumping the queue
Pamela Curr, a detention advocate who works with the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre, said Australians had been bombarded with negative messages about asylum seekers.
"You read the tabloid media and the constant message has been, 'these people are queue jumpers'," Ms Curr told SBS.
“The bottom line is that negative message has been fed into the Australian people for the last 15 years."
