Q. Do you think the Federal Labor Government is too tough or too soft on asylum seekers or is it taking the right approach?
| 12 July 10 | 4 April 10 | |
| Too tough | 10% | 6% |
| Too soft | 56% | 65% |
| Taking the right approach | 21% | 18% |
| Don’t know | 13% | 11% |
10% think the Government is too tough on asylum seekers, 56% too soft and 21% think they are taking the right approach. Since this question was asked three months ago, the percentage thinking the Government is too soft is down 9%, too tough up 4% and “the right approach” up 3%.
Among Labor voters 43% say they are too soft, 37% think they are taking the right approach and 11% think they are too tough. 81% of Liberal/National voters think they are too soft, 4% too tough and 10% taking the right approach. Greens voters are split – 38% think they are too tough, 28% too soft and 23% taking the right approach.
There are some differences of opinion by age – among the under 35’s, 46% think they are too soft, 14% too tough and 19% taking the right approach. Among those aged 55+, 66% think they are too soft, 8% too tough and 22% taking the right approach.