Most Australians Accept Muslim Immigration, Though They Overestimate Muslim Population

More than half of Australians would disagree with an immigration policy that excluded Muslims from the intake, an Essential poll has shown.

But the poll also found most Australians dramatically overestimate the number of Muslims in Australia, and this was negatively affecting their views on Islamic migration.

Fifty-five per cent of those polled said they would disagree with excluding Muslims from Australia's immigration intake. Twenty-five per cent said they wanted Muslims excluded. The other 20 per cent did not know or did not want to answer. Fifty-seven per cent mistakenly believed Islam was the fastest-growing religion, and 57 per cent accordingly were concerned about the number of Muslims in Australia.

According to the census, Hinduism is the fastest-growing religion, and Muslims make up only 1.7 per cent of the population. When told this, people's concern about Islamic migration fell by 7 per cent.

Two-thirds of people were positive about multiculturalism in Australia.

A clear majority, 61 per cent, who believe some politicians raise issues of race and religion to generate more votes. Just 27 per cent said those politicians were genuinely concerned about Australia's future.