The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

Most Important Issues

16 Oct 2019

Q. Which of the following issues are the most important for the Federal Government to address over the next 12 months?

  Total Change (Feb’19) Feb’19
Create jobs and reduce unemployment 36% +8 28%
Improve the health system 32% +1 31%
Reduce utilities bills 27% -4 31%
Protection of the environment 27% +11 16%
Improve wages and working conditions 24% +2 22%
Increase housing affordability 19% -6 25%
Limit the amount of migration to Australia 19% -5 24%
Promote renewable energy 19% +4 15%
Crack-down on tax avoidance by big companies 16% -6 22%
Provide tax cuts 15% +3 12%
Ensure the security of energy supply 13% +2 11%
Maintain strong border protection 12% -2 14%
Provide more money for education 11% -3 14%
Combat domestic crime 10% -1 11%
Combat international crime and terrorism 8% +2 6%
Increase the budget surplus 6%
Improve conditions for refugees and asylum seekers 6% 6%
Base (n) 1,088 1,085
  • The most important issues for the Federal Government to address over the next 12 months are seen to be creating jobs and reducing unemployment (36%), improving the health system (32%), reducing utility bills and protecting the environment (both 27%).
  • Protecting the environment saw an 11pt increase as an important issue for the Federal Government to address from February 2019 (from 16% to 27%).
Error: