A new national poll has revealed a dramatic shift in public sentiment on immigration, with a clear majority of Australians now saying the country’s intake is far too high and backing a temporary halt until infrastructure catches up.
A survey of 1,007 people commissioned by the Institute of Public Affairs and conducted by Dynata on September 13–14, reflects growing unease over mass migration.
A whopping 60 per cent of respondents say Australia’s immigration levels are too high, while just 7 per cent believe they are too low.
The remaining 33 per cent think the intake is ‘about right’.
The strongest opposition comes from older Australians, with 72 per cent of those aged 65 and over saying the intake is excessive.
But even among younger Australians, the concern is clear: 60 per cent of 18–24-year-olds agree the numbers are too high.
The poll also reveals deepening anxiety over the strain on public services and infrastructure.
The percentage of people supporting a pause on immigration until more schools, hospitals, roads, and houses are built had increased from 60 per cent in 2023 to 71 per cent in the latest survey.
A majority of Australians (60 per cent) think the nation’s annual immigration intake is too highÂ
Meanwhile, the majority of all age groups except ages 25-34 think migration levels are too high
There was also a growing concern that mass migration is eroding Australia’s social cohesion.
Two-thirds of Australians (67 per cent) believe large-scale migration makes the country more divided, with more than a third (37 per cent) saying they strongly agree.
Older Australians are the most likely to hold this view, three in four people aged 65 and over (75 per cent) say migration is driving social division.
Men are slightly more likely than women to support a pause on migration (73 per cent compared with 69 per cent) and to believe it is causing division (70 per cent versus 65 per cent).
The government is ignoring public concern about migration numbers and keeps pushing the numbers to new records.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, net permanent and long-term arrivals reached 379,870 between January and August, six per cent higher than the previous record set in 2024.
Over the 12 months to August, net arrivals climbed to 467,410,. another all-time high.
That is equivalent to importing a city the size of Canberra every year, despite infrastructure already being overwhelmed.
In the last 12 months to August, net arrivals reached a record 467,410, according to ABS dataÂ
Daniel Wild, Deputy Executive Director of the IPA, said the results show Australians are ‘deeply concerned’ about the impact of mass migration on their quality of life.
‘Australians are not anti-immigration,’ he said.Â
‘But they are demanding a sensible pause so we can catch up on the basics, housing, roads, schools, and hospitals.’
The poll comes amid growing tensions in the Liberal Party over mass migration.
Earlier in October, opposition home affairs spokesman Andrew Hastie quit the front bench because of a disagreement over climate change and migration policy.
The two issues are emblematic of a broader split between MPs who believe the Liberals need to stay in the political centre, and those who want the party to pursue a more conservative agenda.
The immigration headaches for the Liberals began when Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price accused the Labor government of engineering mass migration for political reasons, as new migrants are inclined to vote for parties offering the most government services.
As a result Senator Price was sacked from the Opposition’s front bench, and the subsequent departure of Mr Hastie exposed the deep divide on the issue among the Coalition’s ranks.
Share or comment on this article:
The real reason the majority of Aussies are now demanding a FREEZE on migration – and what they want done now before it’s too late