Guardian Essential poll: Coalition’s primary vote sinks to lowest ever as majority support hardline immigration ideas

A recent Guardian Essential poll reveals that Australia's primary vote for the Coalition has reached a historic low, with support for hardline immigration ideas surging. The opposition party, Labor, has also been struggling, holding its lowest-ever primary vote in the poll. Despite criticism of Labor's economic performance and other issues, the Coalition's primary vote has dropped four points to 22% since last month.

The poll, which surveyed 1,022 Australians, found that more than half of respondents want to reduce the nation's migrant intake and support hardline enforcement measures such as forced deportations. While 46% of Australians view immigration as positive for the country, 55% still desire to lower the annual migrant intake. Some One Nation and Coalition ideas, including forced deportation of people overstaying visas (70% support) and greater scrutiny of protection or asylum visas (68%), also have majority backing.

The poll suggests that while there is support for cutting immigration, a majority of people prefer slower immigration with clear rules rather than stopping it altogether.