 There have been quite a few opinion polls published regarding population policies - particularly about immigration, with some polls specifically referring to Asian immigration. Such opinion polls are to be welcomed, as they can provide an indication of the level of public feeling over immigration matters. However, there are three matters to be considered in regards to such polls: 1) their overall precision and validity; 2) the information given as background to the questions, and the wording of the actual questions themselves; and 3) whether the interviewees' answers reflect their actual beliefs (regarding their wariness of interviewers). These three matters are to be considered in regarding the accuracy of such polls. The general accuracy of opinion polls has been questioned many times. The best achievable opinion poll would be of 100% of the population; however, this being impractical, most opinion polls try to reflect the nation's feelings by interviewing usually between 1000 to 2000 people. Some regard this to be too small a sample to be truly accurate. However, in the opinion poll industry, such a figure is regarded as acceptable and accurate, particularly if the range of interviewees is spread through all major cities, as well as between city and country; different age levels; educational qualifications; political leanings; gender; with some weightings made to reflect population distribution. It is believed by some experts that face-to-face interviews are more accurate than telephone interviews. However, other experts maintain that not only can face-to-face interviewing take longer to conduct and to compile results, but can be less accurate due to geographic clustering of interviewees, a lack of centralised quality control, and a weighting towards the "stay at home" population. Phone-in polls, such as may be conducted by current affairs or news shows, are regarded as having little or no proper scientific accuracy.(1) The background to questions are extremely important. For instance, a question on Asian immigration that understates the level of such immigration could elicit a lower anti-immigration response. An example of this was the Morgan Gallup Poll regarding 1987/88 immigration, which understated Asian immigration by some 14.6% to 37.6%; i.e. stating it was 49 000, not 57 363 (settler immigration) or 78 461 (permanent and long-term immigration). Note: the figure of 48 553 (settler immigration) can be arrived at, if immigration from West Asia is subtracted from the total intake figure for Asia (see Volume Two regarding "tricks" used in official immigration statistics). There may well have been a distinct difference in the results of that opinion poll, if the interviewees were told that Asian immigration during the previous year amounted to 78 000 (not 49 000). There can also be a built-in bias to questions. For example, the AGB McNair poll on multiculturalism describes the policy thus: "This involves encouraging migrants to become Australians without having to give up their own culture"; such a policy (as described by the pollster) doesn't seem too objectionable, especially when what has been left out of the question is the most pertinent points of the multicultural doctrine: the official encouragement of the second generation - and later generations - to retain their forebears' culture (and thus not to become all-over Australians), the massive official funding of ethnic groups, the billions of dollars that the policy costs our country, ethnic influences over our immigration programme, and the ongoing destruction of the Australian identity and culture. If these factors were included in the question, then there is no doubt that the results would be very different. Also, definitions of terms may not be clear. For instance, the Irving Saulwick poll published by The Age on 27 August 1984 asked whether "Australia should accept as migrants... suitable migrants from any country". What does "suitable" mean? Among other possibilities, many people may regard it as meaning "White people" from "any country". The term is unclear. Also, in the same poll, the question was asked as to whether "Australia should accept as migrants.... Europeans only", which to many interviewees could mean "people from Europe, only", i.e. excluding Whites from other countries, such as New Zealand, South Africa, the U.S.A., etc.; and some may also have thought it to exclude people from Britain - as many people consider the U.K., or the British Isles, to be an entity separate from "Europe" (many use the term "Europe" to refer to continental Europe). The poll result may well have been quite different if the question was worded as "British-European-White people only" or especially as "predominantly British-European-White people only". In the current climate of "political correctness" - brought about by the government, major political parties, media, and academia - ordinary Australians are often becoming too wary, or afraid, to speak their minds on many issues, particularly regarding immigration, multiculturalism, and Asianisation. This wariness also extends to the answering of questions by opinion pollsters. Remember, these pollsters know where the interviewee lives and/or know their phone number, are complete strangers, cannot be trusted by the interviewees to be neutral or impartial regarding the questions at hand (interviewers are human, after all, and can be expected to have their own views and biases), and cannot be trusted to preserve the confidentiality of the interviewee (even if the pollster regards himself/herself as impartial, that perception cannot be expected to be shared by all interviewees). Research from the U.S.A. shows that "Americans are notoriously unreliable when answering questions related to race". For instance, in the 1989 campaign to elect a new Governor for the state of Virginia, it was found that
Such considerations reinforce the belief that anti-immigration results in opinion polls are likely to be much lower than such results should be in reality. 13 June 1979, The Age, p. 4. Poll by Irving Saulwick and Associates. 2000 people interviewed. "Recently a Greek couple was deported from Australia as illegal immigrants. It was said at the time that there may be many thousands of illegal immigrants in Australia. Do you think the government should: seek to find such people and deport them; deport such people if and when they are found; consider each case on its merits; or allow all such people who are currently in Australia to stay, provided they make themselves known to the authorities within a specified time?" Response %: Seek out illegal immigrants and deport them 17 Deport illegal immigrants if and when they are found 13 Consider each case on its merits 53 Allow all illegal immigrants to stay, provided they make them- selves known to the authorities 16 Don't know 1 "In the last year or two Australia has allowed about 10,000 refugees from Vietnam and other Indo-Chinese countries to settle in Australia each year. In future should we: accept more each year; accept about the same number each year; accept fewer each year; or accept no more?" Response %: Accept more each year 7 Accept about the same each year 23 Accept fewer each year 30 Accept no more 37 Don't know 3 13 September 1981, National Times, p. 28. Poll by ANOP. 1004 people interviewed; Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. The ideal Australian population mix: "Thinking of the sorts of people that will make up the Australian population in the future, in an ideal situation what would you prefer?" (A card was shown listing the three below). Response: %: Basically white English speaking backgrounds 55 Mainly European backgrounds 13 A mixture of races and cultures 30 Unsure 2 (Author's note: Total response favouring a population of those of British/European backgrounds was 68%). "Thinking about immigration as a whole, do you believe the Federal Government is letting too many people into Australia, or too few, or about the right number?" Response: %: Too many 45 Too few 11 About the right number 37 Unsure 7 "Referring now just to Asian immigration, do you believe the Federal Government is letting too many Asian people into Australia, or too few, or about the right number?" Response: %: Too many 48 Too few 8 About the right number 36 Unsure 8 19 May 1984, The Herald, p. 1. Poll by Australian Public Opinion Poll (The Gallup Method). 2053 people interviewed, nationwide, May 1984. "In 1984 about 90,000 migrants in total will be allowed to come and live in Australia, mostly relatives of previous migrants. Do you think this is: Too many migrants? Or too few migrants? Or about the right number?" Response: %: Too many 64 Too few 4 About right 27 Don't know 5 "An increasing proportion of migrants are coming from Asia compared with the United Kingdom and Europe. Do you approve or disapprove of this?" Response: %: Approve 30 Disapprove 62 Don't know 8 17 July 1984, The Bulletin, pp. 29-30. Poll by Morgan Gallup Poll (Finding No. 1203). About 2000 people interviewed, nationwide, June 1984. "People surveyed were told that in the next 12 months from July about 72,000 people will come to Australia to live permanently. People were then asked: In your opinion, are 72,000 people too few, too many or about right?" Response: %: Too many 62 About right 27 Too few 4 No opinion 7 Those who said "Too many" were asked "About how many do you favour in the next 12 months?"
Response: %:
None 20
1 - 9 999 2
10 000 - 19 999 4
20 000 - 29 999 3
30 000 - 39 999 11
40 000 - 49 999 2
50 000 - 59 999 4
60 000 - 69 999 *
70 000 - 79 999 *
80 000 - 89 999 -
90 000 - 92 999 -
Can't say 16
Total favour fewer 62
* = Fewer than 1 percent
"People were then told that of the 72,000 people who will come here in the next 12 months about 24,000 will be Asians who will be given permanent resident status in Australia. People were then asked: In your opinion, are 24,000 Asians too few, too many or about right?" Response: %: Too many 59 About right 30 Too few 4 No opinion 7 Those who said "Too many" were asked "About how many do you favour in the next 12 months?"
Response: %:
No Asians 23
1 - 9 999 10
10 000 - 19 999 14
20 000 - 23 000 1
Can't say 11
Total favour fewer 59
27 August 1984, The Age Poll by Irving Saulwick and Associates. 2000 people interviewed, nationwide, July 1984. "Australia should accept as migrants:" Response: %: Suitable migrants from any country 37 Those who have the skills we need 36 People who have relatives here 24 Refugees 18 People with money to invest here 15 Europeans only 6 Australia should not accept any migrants at the present time 34 Don't know/Not stated 2 27 August 1984, The Herald, pp. 1, 3. Poll by Australian Public Opinion Poll (The Gallup Method). 2182 people interviewed, nationwide, August 1984. "A decreasing proportion of migrants are coming from the United Kingdom and Europe compared with Asia. Do you approve or disapprove of this?" Response: %: Approve 28 Disapprove 60 Don't know 12 3 February 1988, The Australian, p. 2. Poll by Newspoll 1150 people, interviewed by telephone, nationwide, 29-31 January 1988. "Do you personally agree or disagree with these statements about Australia's immigration policy?": "Australia's immigration policy should favour Asian immigration because of our Pacific region location" Response: %: Agree 17 Disagree 75 Uncommitted 8 "Australia should hold a national referendum on immigration policy" Response: %: Agree 70 Disagree 22 Uncommitted 8 9 August 1988, The Australian, p. 1. Poll by Newspoll. 1150 people, interviewed by telephone, nationwide, 5-7 August 1988. "Do you agree or disagree with the recent statement by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Howard, that Asian immigration to Australia should be slowed down? If agree, is that strongly agree or only partly agree? If disagree, is that strongly disagree or partly disagree?"
Response: %:
Strongly agree 51
Partly agree 26
Total agree 77
Partly disagree 10
Strongly disagree 8
Total disagree 18
Neither/Don't know 5
27 September 1988, The Bulletin, p. 17. Morgan Gallup Poll (Finding No. 1755). 1277 people interviewed, Australia-wide, mid-August 1988. "People surveyed were told that last year about 143,000 people came to Australia to live permanently. They were then asked: In your opinion, were 143,000 people too few, too many, or about right?" Response: %: Too many 46 About right 42 Too few 7 No opinion 5 Those who said "Too many" were asked "About how many do you favour each year?"
Response: %:
None 8
1 - 39 999 5
40 000 - 59 999 7
60 000 - 79 999 9
80 000 - 142 999 7
Can't say 10
Total favour fewer 46
"The same people were then told that of the 143,000 people who came here last year, about 49,000 were Asians, who were then given permanent residential status in Australia. People were then asked: In your opinion were 49,000 Asians too few, too many or about right?" Response: %: Too many 57 About right 34 Too few 3 No opinion 6 Those who said "Too many" were asked "About how many do you favour each year?"
None 14
1 - 9 999 6
10 000 - 19 999 9
20 000 - 29 999 14
30 000 - 48 999 4
Can't say 10
Total favour fewer 57
12 September 1989, The Bulletin, p. 21. Poll by Morgan Gallup Poll 1071 people interviewed, nationwide, August 1989. "145 000 immigrants last year were:" Response: %: Too many 47 About right 41 Too few 8 No opinion 4 "55 00 Asian immigrants last year was:" Response: %: Too many 58 About right 33 Too few 3 No opinion 6 13 May 1990, The Sun, p. 2. Poll by Roy Morgan Research Centre. 818 people interviewed, 10 May 1990. "Present immigration program is seriously aggravating Australia's economic problems:" Response %: Strongly disagree 39 Mostly agree 27 Total agree 66 Mildly disagree 17 Strongly disagree 11 Total disagree 28 Can't say 6 "Attitude to reducing immigration in Australia's present difficult economic situation:" Response %: Favour immigration being stopped (only special cases) 18 Reduced significantly 51 Total favour reduce or stop 69 Oppose reduction in immigration 27 Can't say 4 "Attitude to Government limits on numbers of migrants from particular countries:" Response %: Yes, should 70 No, should not 28 Can't say 2 "The multi- function polis is:" Response %: Good idea 27 Bad idea 52 Can't say 21 "Overseas investors ownership of land in Australia?:" Response %: Should be allowed 27 Should not 67 Can't say 6 "Concerned about the level of Japanese ownership:" Response %: Concerned 77 Not concerned 21 Can't say 2 4 November 1991, The Age, p. 3. Poll by Irving Saulwick and Associates. 1000 people interviewed by telephone, nationwide, 23-24 October 1991. "Over the past four years Australia's intake of immigrants has averaged numbers 132,000 a year. The target for this financial year is 111,000. Do you think that Australia should take: more than 111,000 immigrants this year, about 111,000 immigrants, fewer than 111,000 immigrants, or take no immigrants this year?" Response %: More than 111,000 9 About 111,000 16 Fewer than 111,000 46 No immigrants 27 Don't know 2 Of those who preferred to take fewer than 111,000 the following question was also asked: "You say that you would prefer fewer than 111,000 immigrants this year. In taking this position, which of the following considerations concerns you most: unemployment at the present time, or population pressure on resources and the environment, or higher levels of immigration may lead to social tension?" Response %: Unemployment 76 Pressure on resources 13 Social tension 10 Don't know 1 "If you were choosing immigrants, who would you favour most: immigrants with money to invest, immigrants with skills we need, immigrants with family in Australia, or immigrants who are refugees?" Response %: With money to invest 15 With skills we need 56 With family here 14 Refugees 10 Don't know 5 "Which of these statements comes closest to your view: Australia is a country with rich resources and will benefit from immigration and a larger population; or immigration will lead to a growth in population that will put too much strain on Australia's land and resources?" Response %: We benefit 39 It strains resources 56 Don't know 5 19 June 1996, The Age, p. 2. Poll by AGB McNair. 2063 people interviewed by telephone, nationwide, 14-16 June 1996. "Do you feel that the current level of immigration to Australia is too high, too low or about right?" Response: %: Too high 65 Too low 3 About right 30 Don't know 3 "Do you feel that the current balance of migrants from different countries and regions to Australia is about right or do you feel that we receive too many migrants from a particular region or country?" Response: %: About right 35 Too many from regions 51 Don't know 14 "If too many. Which region(s) do you feel that we receive too many migrants from?" Response: %: Asia 88 Middle East 9 All 5 Other 3 Europe 3 UK, Ireland 2 New Zealand 1 Pacific 1 "Successive Australian governments have adopted a policy of multiculturalism. This involves encouraging migrants to become Australians without having to give up their own culture. Do you agree or disagree with this policy?" Response: %: Strong agree 21 Agree 40 Disagree 21 Strongly disagree 13 Neither agree nor disagree 5 Note: The built-in bias of the above question is clearly evident - see the introductory notes in the preface to this section. 4 October 1996, The Australian, p. 4. Poll by Newspoll. 1200 people, interviewed by telephone, nationwide, 27-29 September 1996. "Thinking now about immigration. Do you personally think that the total number of migrants coming into Australia each year is too high, too low or about right? If too high - is that a lot too high or a little too high? If too low - is that a lot too low or a little too low?" Response %: A lot too high 52 A little too high 19 Total too high 71 A little too low 1 A lot too low 1 Total too low 2 About right 20 Uncommitted 7 
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