Australians are confronting a convergence of political discontent and street mobilisation, with new polling suggesting frustration over migration, housing and everyday costs, just as “March for Australia” rallies prepare to draw crowds on 31 August.
An ABC-commissioned YouGov survey in Western Sydney found that 86 per cent of voters want Australia’s immigration intake reduced. Almost half said they supported migration in principle but believed numbers must fall until housing and infrastructure pressures ease, while 40 per cent favoured sharper cuts. Only 14 per cent said levels should remain as they are. According to ABC’s 7.30, nearly three-quarters of respondents could not name a single major party policy they felt would improve their lives.
Those results speak to a broader national unease. Rising grocery bills, soaring rents and mortgage stress are driving dissatisfaction. Forty-three per cent of Western Sydney voters told pollsters they were worse off than three years ago, with 67 per cent saying they were either barely getting by or going backwards.
Working from home has also emerged as a frontline issue. Seventy-nine per cent of those surveyed said Australians should have the right to work remotely at least one day a week where possible, reflecting the heavy commuting burden in outer suburbs. “Productivity mixed with family, it’s a good balance,” one finance worker told 7.30. “It doesn’t make sense in 2025 that we’re in the old mindset that we need to be in an office to be productive.”
These findings arrive as debate intensifies over the 31 August rallies, which are being promoted across major cities. Organisers say they want to highlight national pride and call for lower migration, while critics fear extremist groups could hijack the events. The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) has called for calm and warned against scapegoating migrants, while police in several states are monitoring the plans closely.
After the ABC survey revealed strong voter concerns about immigration, housing and cost of living, The Indian Sun is now testing the pulse of its own readers across Australia. Our National Survey 2025 invites you to share your views on these issues, along with workplace rights and the government’s decision to bring forward a policy allowing first home buyers to purchase with just a five per cent deposit from October. We want to know whether you think such measures genuinely help households, risk worsening affordability, or make little difference at all.
This is a moment where voices matter. Western Sydney’s polling highlights the depth of dissatisfaction, but we want to hear how Australians everywhere are experiencing these pressures. Are you feeling better or worse off than three years ago? Do you see value in current party policies, or do you believe they are failing to address core concerns?
Readers can take part in The Indian Sun National Survey 2025 by following this link: Click here to take the survey
Your responses will remain confidential, and you can choose to provide a quote for our coverage or remain anonymous.
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