Galaxy poll backs Greens on refugees

Greens Acting Leader Adam Bandt has released polling of the Federal electorate of Melbourne showing strong support for the Greens' stance on refugee policy.

The poll shows people in Melbourne do not want the Greens to vote for the government's Malaysia people swap policy and want Parliamentarians to work on a different solution. The Coalition's policy of sending people to Nauru was also rejected. Fifty-eight percent of the electorate supported a post-Vietnam war style regional solution, as advocated by the Greens.

Over 80% of people supported helping refugees by bringing them to Australia and rejected sending them "offshore". A majority of voters also said that Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard had the same policy on refugees and that they were playing to racism and xenophobia by sending refugees offshore.

"Across the political spectrum, there is clearly very strong support in my electorate for the Greens stance on refugees," Mr Bandt said.

"As I continue to work towards a cross-party solution in meetings today, it is great to know that the Greens approach has the backing of my electorate."

"People want to see politicians working together and they like the post-Vietnam War style solution that the Greens have put on the table."

"It is also clear that my electorate strongly supports the stance we have taken in opposing Labor's Malaysia solution and Tony Abott's plan to reopen Nauru."

"We will continue to work for a New Regional Plan of Action that will save lives and uphold international law."

The Greens have outlined a New Regional Plan of Action in a submission to the Expert Panel. It includes processing and taking more refugees from camps in places like Indonesia and Malaysia, removing the incentive for people to get on boats. It is similar to the plan adopted by Malcolm Fraser in the years after the Vietnam War.

Download the poll results below