%0 Journal Article %A Goot, Murray %D 2017 %T More 'relaxed and comfortable': public opinion on immigration under Howard %U https://bridges.monash.edu/articles/journal_contribution/More_relaxed_and_comfortable_public_opinion_on_immigration_under_Howard/4969781 %R 10.4225/03/590abe3dbb5be %2 https://ndownloader.figshare.com/files/8359382 %K Surveys %K Statistics %K 1959.1/480627 %K journal article %K Social policy %K Immigration %K 1039-4788 %K monash:63923 %K Attitudes %K Demography %K Employment %X In the last two years, polled opinion on immigration has shifted; whereas earlier surveys indicated that most Australians thought the migrant intake too high, surveys taken after the 1998 election and 1999 referendum point to a public which is more evenly divided. This paper sets out the evidence for this shift and defends its validity; it points to possible reasons for the change; and it explores the relationship between policy-making and public opinion on immigration, pursuing the implications for opponents of immigration who seek to base their case for lower population growth on opinion-poll data. Copyright. Monash University and the author/s %I Monash University