Australians have developed a more favourable attitude towards migration since the Howard Government came to power in 1996, with anxiety about an ageing population driving the shift in sentiment.

Researcher Katharine Betts from Swinburne University also found that a reorientation of the migration program away from family reunion towards skilled migration and restrictions on new migrants' access to welfare contributed to the change.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19888290-2702,00.html