Most Australians say the nation has enough people, survey shows

Most Australians say the nation already has enough people with little support for a return to pre-pandemic migration intake.

Most Australians do not support further immigration amid congestion concerns.

The Albanese government risks alienating voters by pushing ahead with progressive policies and high immigration levels, says a new report.

A national survey of 3000 people found that about two-thirds of voters thought the nation had enough people, and only 18 per cent wanted a return to pre-pandemic “Big Australia” migration intakes.

But Labor’s policies look set to go further and possibly reach a net overseas migration level of 300,000 in 2022-23, compared to an average 248,000 in the three years before Covid.

The Australian Population Research Institute report said the survey results showed Australians were worried about policies that would add 4.9 million people — or a city the size of Melbourne — to the national population over the next decade.

Only 18 per cent of Australians want a return to pre-pandemic population growth. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Report authors Dr Katharine Betts and Dr Bob Birrell said the survey reflected concerns about rapid city growth causing congestion, overcrowded hospitals, escalating house prices and environmental damage.

“For example, 82 per cent (of those saying Australia was big enough) agreed with the proposition that ‘adding more people will push up the price of housing’,” they said.

The report, Driving Without a Licence, Voters’ Views on Labor’s Immigration Agenda, will be released on Wednesday.

While left-of-centre parties Labor and the Greens had 53 per cent support from university graduates, the report said a majority of voters did not share Labor’s “progressive values agenda”.

“For example, only 25 per cent agreed with the proposition that ‘a woman is anyone who identifies as a woman, regardless of sex at birth’,” it said.

“Second, most voters do not endorse Labor’s neoliberal agenda. For example, 70 per cent think Australia should support local manufacturing by providing tariff protection.”

Concerns about congestion, pressure on health services and house prices drive attitudes to immigration. Picture: Getty Images

The survey also revealed widespread financial pressure on households as 45 per cent of respondents said they were just getting by, or finding it quite difficult or very difficult.

“We conclude that there is a high level of dissent from Labor’s progressive values, its neoliberal policies, and its population growth agenda,” the report authors said.

“There is also a reservoir of financial discontent which could fuel political mobilisation from parties either to the left or to the right of Labor.”

The report noted that the federal government had moved to deal with rising energy prices and Treasurer Jim Chalmers had recently admitted that to stay in power Labor would have to listen to the public’s concerns.

“However, it has shown no sign of moderating its progressive values agenda. Nor is it listening to voters concerns about its Big Australia policy,” it concludes.

“Rather, it is pressing ahead with this policy despite the evidence that this will add to the scale of economic insecurity... Big Australia will add massively to housing needs at time when there are serious shortages, especially in the rental market.”