Why We Ran the Survey
The Indian Sun’s National Survey 2025 was launched to capture what readers themselves think about the most pressing issues shaping everyday life in Australia. Political parties argue over migration numbers and housing supply, and rallies like the planned “March for Australia” promise to take those arguments into the streets. But for families trying to pay mortgages, renters staring at rising leases, or workers juggling multiple jobs, the real question is how these policies play out at home.
We wanted clear answers. Should immigration be cut, maintained, or even lifted? Will the government’s new five per cent deposit scheme help first-home buyers or simply push prices higher? Are households better or worse off than three years ago? Can people still trust major parties to improve their lives? And what role does work flexibility—like the right to work from home—play in keeping families afloat?
The survey was launched not to settle these arguments but to provide a snapshot of what our diverse readership thinks, particularly as the rallies of 31 August loom.
Chavura’s Challenge
One of the historians cited by rally organisers, Dr Stephen Chavura, puts the debate in stark terms. “What my critics fail to appreciate is that the reason we are having this uncomfortable discussion about immigration and what it is to be Australian is because we have had an insanely irresponsible immigration system undergirded by the suicidal ideology of multiculturalism since at least as far back as the Howard government—actually earlier,” he wrote on X.
“If Anglo-Celtic and more broadly European Australia wasn’t being replaced in certain cities by Indians and Chinese this discussion wouldn’t be taking place. If we didn’t have a Muslim community dense and large enough to have an influence on our politics and foreign policy, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. If Australians weren’t being out-bid at home auctions by foreign nationals, or having to compete with foreign students in a tight rental market, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
“You want to reduce racial tension in Australia? Implement a sane immigration system.”
Chavura’s words are blunt, criticised as echoing “replacement” theories associated with extremism, yet they mirror fears that organisers of the rallies are tapping into.
Survey Findings at a Glance
- Immigration intake: 82 per cent want it lowered, echoing the ABC-YouGov poll of Western Sydney (86 per cent). Only 12 per cent support current levels.
- Top concerns: Cost of living came first, followed by housing affordability. Immigration was third, tied to the affordability debate. Health and Medicare trailed.
- Financial strain: More than 60 per cent said they are worse off than three years ago; fewer than 15 per cent felt better off.
- Workplace rights: Nearly 80 per cent support the right to work from home at least once a week.
- Housing policy: On the 5 per cent deposit scheme, a clear plurality said it would worsen affordability by pushing prices higher.
- Faith in politics: More than half said no major party policy would improve their lives; one third said “maybe.”
Political Reactions
The politics around migration have sharpened. In Queensland, LNP MP Fiona Simpson criticised the rallies as divisive, only for the large online account Aus Integrity (with more than 40,000 followers) to retort: “It is in fact a rally for ALL Australians, regardless of origin, heritage, creed, religion or colour to attend as Australians.” They insisted the movement was peaceful and unifying, accusing critics of falling for a “narrative.”
In New South Wales, Liberal Democrat MP John Ruddick backed the cause but went further, calling for a five-year pause on immigration. “During the pause, we can have a sober debate about what’s optimal going forward. One thing is certain—Australia’s current immigration program is way too large,” he said.
Inside Labor itself, members are tabling motions. Anil Fred, a software engineer and consultant, drafted one for his Tarneit branch urging outright condemnation of the rallies. His proposal reaffirmed the party’s “commitment to multiculturalism, diversity, and equal opportunity for all Australians, regardless of their origin.” Other branches are expected to follow.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan also weighed in, condemning extremist marches earlier this month as “disgraceful” and signalling that new anti-vilification laws are on the way. “No party should be engaging in divisive, hateful behaviour,” she said.
Community Reactions
Indian, Nepali and wider migrant groups have been quick to push back.
Virendra Khatana, President of the Association of Australian Rajasthanis, warned: “Protests about migration should focus on policy, not people. Singling out one group only fuels division and misunderstanding.” He argued that decades of under-investment in housing, not migration, lie at the root of cost pressures.
Sudhir Juneja of the Indian Community Centre urged people to ignore the noise. “The Indian community’s contribution to Australia is not going unnoticed and that’s bothering many protesting. Any economy needs people to sustain and keep the economy moving forward—Indian migrants are helping in Australia’s prosperity.”
The Non-Resident Nepali Association condemned the rallies outright, calling them “contrary to Australia’s values of inclusivity and social harmony.” Entrepreneur Vinay Nair added: “Instead of a rally against a specific group, imagine a gathering where we can all come together to show compassion and support for one another. We should be rallying for a stronger, more inclusive Australia.”
Everyday families expressed anxieties too. A Sydney father said his son asked if it was safe to cross the city on 31 August. “I told him nothing to worry, but I won’t be surprised if trouble breaks out in some pockets,” he said. Migrant workers raised practical fears. One Uber driver in Melbourne said he would avoid working that day to stay safe; another said he would keep driving because his mortgage left him no choice, even though he feared being targeted.
Activist Drew Pavlou struck a cautionary tone: “The August 31 rally could be a unifying moment, but only if extremists are kept away. Otherwise leftists will successfully demonise the cause, and you will set the cause of patriotism back a generation.”
What Our Readers Said in Their Own Words
Our survey didn’t just count votes. We also asked for reflections. A few stood out:
“Important topic. Cost of living and housing are destroying families.”
“Australia needs a leader.”
“A nation’s strength rests on unity, fairness, and respect.”
The comments reinforce what the numbers show: Australians are under pressure but wary of turning neighbours into scapegoats.
The Battle Over Narratives
These debates are not confined to the rallies. In Victoria, One Nation has rolled out anti-immigration billboards in Mildura, Stawell and Bairnsdale. Each blames high migration for the rental crisis. Northern Victoria MP Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell said she had “no idea” the messaging would be so blunt, calling it unsuitable for regions dependent on migrant workers.
Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the billboards as “divisive.” Prime Minister Albanese, while not addressing the rallies directly, recently promoted the new first-home buyer scheme, saying: “Too many people feel the dream of home ownership is out of reach. So Labor’s making it easier.” Economists, however, warned it risks pushing prices higher.
Online, hostility has been growing. In Indian community forums, posters likening the risk to the Cronulla riots of 2005 have circulated widely. Others complain that hate-spreading accounts are being allowed to fester without intervention from authorities or platforms.
Beyond the Rallies
The Indian Sun’s survey shows a population frustrated by affordability pressures and sceptical of politics, but also unwilling to let debates descend into neighbour-against-neighbour hostility. Calls for lower migration are strong, but so too is the recognition that migrants fill critical jobs, pay taxes, and sustain services.
The rallies of 31 August will likely show both sides of that divide. But our readers’ voices cut through the noise. They want affordable homes, stable costs, fair wages, and a politics that listens. They want a debate about numbers and infrastructure, not one that blames a family at a bus stop or a driver behind the wheel.
As one respondent put it: “Australia needs a leader.”
The Indian Sun will continue to track these debates and publish the full survey results in our upcoming eMag.
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Dear Reader,The Indian Sun exists for one reason: to tell stories that might otherwise go unheard.
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