A good Christian like Kevin Andrews no doubt doesn’t swear. Instead, he’ll no doubt be saying “Goodness gracious me” with the news that almost half of all Australian electors believe Dr Mohamed Haneef should be able to return from India.

Forty seven per cent of voters think Haneef should be allowed to return to Australia, while 39% disagree and 15% are undecided, a special telephone Roy Morgan survey conducted after the Federal Court’s decision has found.

Unsurprisingly, Coalition voters were far more likely to say Haneef should not be allowed to return to Australia (57%) than say he should (29%).

Fifty-seven per cent of Labor voters agree with Haneef being allowed to return to Australia while only 29% disagree.

Both the Government and opposition have taken a hard-line on Haneef. The Morgan Poll suggests many of their supporters have been unimpressed with their response to the matter.

Greens voters strongly support Haneef, with 62% believing his visa should be reinstated.

“Although, the Federal Government and the Labor opposition still seek to cancel Dr Mohamed Haneef’s visa, almost half of Australian electors believe Haneef should be allowed to return to Australia,” pollster Gary Morgan says.

“Many people are wary of the Government’s mishandling of the situation and believe that Dr Haneef’s innocence is sufficient reason for his visa to be reinstated.”

This special telephone Morgan Poll was conducted on the nights of August 20/21, 2007, with an Australia-wide cross section of 633 electors. Respondents were asked: “The Federal Court reinstated Dr Haneef’s visa, allowing him to return to Australia. Do you think Dr Haneef should be allowed to return to Australia or not?”