A poll conducted by the Lowy Institute has found that the majority of Australians, 62 per cent, support the move to grant 1,715 skilled migrant visas to the Roy Hill iron ore project. However, the vast majority, 81 per cent, is against direct foreign investment.

 

The poll also shows that people are particularly wary of Chinese investment, with 56 per cent of respondents saying they believe the Federal Government is allowing too much direct investment from our largest trading partner.

 

“These results reflect a general anxiety among Australians about the volatility of the global economy, and about the exposure of Australia’s economy to global forces,” said Executive Director Michael Wesley.

 

“We’re aware that much of the rest of the world looks at Australia as a land of comparative wealth, and we’re apprehensive about the possible downsides of that,” he added.

 

The poll found that 70 per cent of Australian’s credit the mining boom as the main reason why the economy has staved off recession, while only 41 per cent of respondents said they believed Government policy had anything to do with economy keeping stable.