Public anxiety over immigration has surged dramatically in Australia, with new polling showing it has overtaken the economy and climate change as one of the nation’s top political issues.
A Freshwater Strategy survey released this week revealed that 22 per cent of voters now see immigration and asylum as one of the most pressing issues facing the country—double the figure recorded in early 2024.
The poll also found that support for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party has almost doubled, reaching 10 per cent, while backing for both major parties—Labor and the Coalition—has slightly declined since the May election.
Experts warn that the shift could mark a turning point in Australian politics, with attitudes toward migration increasingly shaped by housing shortages, rising living costs, and growing fears of social division.
Dr Mike Turner, director of Freshwater Strategy, said the results mirror a broader global trend. “We’re seeing the same political forces that have dominated debates in the US and Europe begin to take root here. The concern doesn’t stem from border security—Australia’s immigration system remains strong—but from the perception that migration is worsening housing affordability and straining communities,” he said.
Housing analysts from Macquarie University’s Housing and Urban Research Centre recently found that immigration is now viewed as the main cause of the housing crisis, ahead of economic or planning issues.
While Prime Minister Anthony Albanese continues to lead Opposition Deputy Leader Sussan Ley as preferred leader (48 per cent to 31 per cent), both remain unpopular overall, with negative net approval ratings.
The poll also showed that 52 per cent of voters believe Australia is heading in the wrong direction—an ominous sign for the Albanese government as economic pressures and migration anxieties continue to mount.
