ARE AUSTRALIANS
ALIGNED WITH THE
GOVERNMENT’S
COMPASSIONATE
IMMIGRATION POLICY
FOR PALESTINIANS
AND GAZANS?

About the study

Immigration2Australia commissioned a survey of an independent, nationally representative panel of 1003 Australians to find out if the population is aligned with the Federal Government’s current compassionate immigration policy for Palestinians and Gazans seeking refugee status in Australia, after being caught up in the Israel-Hamas war.

Australia has granted more than 2500 Visitor visas to Palestinians since 7 October 2024. The Government has now introduced a unique pathway for Gazan refugees, where applicants currently on visitor visas in Australia will be invited by Immigration Minister Tony Burke to apply for a three-year humanitarian visa. This gives refugees access to Medicare, working rights and housing in Australia. The three-year visa process involves case-by-case assessments, with the possibility of transitioning to a permanent visa in the future, depending on individual circumstances.

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Immigration2Australia asked respondents how they feel about accepting Palestinian and Gazan refugees into the country, and what type of visa refugees should be accepted on.

Should Australia grant refugee status to Palestinians from Gazans caught up in the Israel-Hamas war - and under which conditions?

• Yes, they should be granted refugee status in Australia and, given the humanitarian crisis, security screenings should be abolished. The number of Visas should be unlimited and so should the nature of their visa.
• Yes, they should be granted refugee status in Australia, but need full security screenings conducted first. Their Visas should expire once the security situation in Gaza stabilises.
• Yes, they should be granted refugee status in Australia, with extensive security checks, but their Visas should be indefinite.
• No, they should not be granted refugee status in Australia as the security risk is too high.

The survey found that 65 per cent of Australians do think Palestinians and Gazans caught up in the war should be able to seek refuge in Australia, with varying visa policies. 33 per cent want the visas to expire once the war in Gaza stablises.

The highest number of ‘yes’ responses (33%) was for the visas of Palestinians and Gazans to expire once the war in Gaza stabilises.

One fifth (20%) support indefinite visas for security-screened refugees, and just over one in 10 (12%) support no security screenings, unlimited visa periods and broad visa conditions. A further one third of respondents (35%) don’t think Palestinians and Gazans should be granted refugee status in Australia at all, citing security risks as a main concern.

RESULTS ACROSS AGE GROUPS

Respondents under age 30 are the most supportive, with 80 per cent wanting Palestinians and Gazans to obtain visas in Australia to some degree. This compares with 69 per cent of 30-49-year-olds and just 56 per cent of over-50s.

Among under-30s, the largest proportion (37%) believe that refugees should be allowed entry on the condition of security screenings, with visas expiring once the security situation in Gaza stabilises. A quarter (26%) believe that there should be no security screenings, visas should be unlimited in duration and nature.

In the 30-49 age group, the highest proportion of supporters (35%) would like Palestinians and Gazans to be subject to security screenings and be given temporary visas dependent on the situation in Gaza. One fifth (21%) would like them to be given indefinite visas but tight security checks, and 13 per cent would like unlimited visa conditions.

In contrast, respondents over age 50 (at 44%) are the most likely to say Palestinians and Gazans should not be granted refugee status in Australia. Conversely, just 5 per cent of this age group support the removal of security screenings and for unlimited visa conditions.

SHOULD Australia GRANT REFUGEE STATUS AND VISAS TO PalestinianS and Gazans caught up in the war - AND UNDER WHICH CONDITIONS? (by STATE.)

Across the five major states, Western Australia indicated highest support for Palestinian and Gazan refugees, at 67 per cent of respondents. However, respondents in this State gave lowest support (at 8%) for no security screenings and unlimited visa conditions.

In constrast, 38 per cent of South Australian respondents oppose granting refuge to Palestinians and Gazans at all.

NSW and WA respondents are most in favour (at 35%) of granting Palestinians and Gazans refugee status after security screenings, and with temporary visas until the situation in Gaza stabilises.

Victorian respondents are most in favour of Australia abolishing security screenings and providing unlimited visa conditions, at 14 per cent.

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DO THE FOUR statements below CHANGE your view?

Respondents were then asked to choose one of the same four answers, after reading the following four statements.

In March, The Palestinian Center for Policy & Survey Research found 71% of Palestine's population said the 7 October 7 attack on civilians in Israel was the right decision. A similar percentage supported 911 attacks in New York City on 11 September 2001.

Egypt (a neighbouring country to Gaza) and Jordan (whose population includes 2 million Palestinians) refuse to accept Palestinian refugees from Gaza, citing “security concerns”.

In Gaza, women face severe limitations on their civil rights. An Amnesty International survey revealed 59% of women experience violence. Homosexuals get an instant death penalty.

In 1992, Denmark took in 321 Palestinian refugees. The Danish Ministry for Immigration and Integration reported that by 2019, 64% of them had been convicted of a crime, and 34% of their children had been convicted of a crime.

Immigration2Australia found that Australians remained fairly empathetic to asylum seekers after reading the four statements, with support for granting refugee status dropping slightly from 65 per cent to 58 per cent. While Australians back humanitarian assistance for Palestinians, they believe strict visa limits are crucial.

Just under a third (31%) believe Palestinians from Gaza should be allowed entry with security screenings and temporary visas - a 1% drop from the previous question. A further 17 per cent support them receiving indefinite visas after extensive security checks - down 3 per cent from the previous question. And just 10 per cent favour granting unlimited visa conditions and without security screenings - just a 2 per cent drop.

RESULTS ACROSS AGE GROUPS

Respondents under 30 years of age remain the most supportive. However, a majority of this age group (37%) believe that visas should only be temporary, and require strict security screenings. This compares with 62 per cent of 30-49-year-olds (a 7% drop from the previous question) and just 43 per cent of over-50s (a 13% drop).

Among under-30s, 31 per cent believes that temporary visas should be granted with security screenings - a 6 per cent drop from the previous question. Three per cent fewer (at 23%) support no security screenings and unlimited visas.

In the 30-49 age group, 4 per cent fewer respondents (at 31%) would like Palestinians and Gazans to be subject to security screenings and be given temporary visas dependent on the situation in Gaza. One per cent fewer (at 20%) would like them to be given indefinite visas but tight security checks, and 11 per cent (a 2% drop) would like unlimited visa conditions.

In contrast, just 3 per cent of respondents over age 50 (a 2% drop) support the removal of security screenings and unlimited visa conditions. There is a 4 per cent drop in support of full security screenings and temporary visas, and a 7 per cent drop in support of security checks and indefinite visas.

After reading the four statements, what is your view now? (by state.)

All five major states saw an increase (5-11%) in the proportion of respondents who believe Palestinian and Gazan refugees should be denied entry into Australia, after reading the four statements. South Australians showed the least support for Australia providing refugee status and visas, at 51 per cent - while Victorians are the most supportive, at 59 per cent.

Queenslanders, however, showed the least support (at just 7% - a drop from 10% in the previous question) for removal of all security checks and for unlimited visa conditions - compared with 14 per cent of Victorians who expressed the same, a drop of just 1 per cent.

New South Wales and Queensland residents show the highest level of support for granting temporary visas after security screenings, at 33 and 32 per cent respectively - compared with just 27 per cent of Victorians. Western Australia and South Australia follow closely, with 32 per cent of respondents in each state supporting this approach.

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