Are Australians willing to accept more refugees? New poll results revealed

How exactly do Australians feel about refugees?

According to new research findings, almost three in four Australians do not want to see the country to take in more refugees despite the current crisis in the Middle East and Europe.

SBS reports that the new poll reveals only 28 per cent think the number of humanitarian arrivals Australia accepts should be increased from the current figure of 13,750. An additional 12,000 refugees will be taken from the Syrian conflict.

The poll, conducted by ­Essential Research, also found that 59 per cent of those surveyed believe immigration to Australia has been too high over the last decade.

Only 38 per cent said they agreed that, ‘accepting refugees is something a wealthy nation like Australia should do to support poorer nations.’

However, the poll results weren’t entirely against immigration, with 62 per cent saying that they believe multiculturalism and diversity has made Australia a better place.

The results also outline one of the key voter sentiments ahead of the Federal Election, with 41 per cent saying they would ‘trust’ the Liberal Party to have the right policies on immigration, compared to just 28 per cent who would ‘trust’ the Labor Party.

Recently, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said, “Illiterate and innumerate” refugees would take Australian jobs or “languish” on the dole and use free health services provided by Medicare,” responding to criticisms by conservative Sky News presenter Paul Murray when he made the comments about a Greens idea to boost the refugee intake to 50,000.

Dutton also said, “These people would be taking Australian jobs, there’s no question about that.”

“For many of them that would be unemployed, they would languish in unemployment queues and on Medicare and the rest of it so there would be huge cost and there’s no sense in sugar-coating that, that’s the scenario,” said Dutton.

Do you think Australia is in a position to take in more refugees?