Government frontbencher Christopher Pyne says he's pleased the public appreciates the border protection policy.
The annual survey of attitudes on world affairs also shows 31 per cent of respondents think Australia's best friend in the region is China.
But at the same time 65 per cent think it's okay to spy on that country.
The most marked shift in public opinion is on global warming, with 45 per cent of Australians now seeing it as a serious and pressing problem, up nine points since 2012.
Australian Greens leader Christine Milne says Prime Minister Tony Abbott should take heed of the polling.
"People want the Australian government to take a lead on addressing climate change and Tony Abbott is going in reverse," Ms Milne said.
"He is going to have to talk to President Obama about climate change just as President Obama is moving to introduce new laws that will put pressure on the power stations in America to reduce their emissions, here we have Tony Abbott giving a wink, wink, nudge, nudge to coal fired power.
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