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Federal takeover of hospitals and health services

22 Mar 2010

Q. Do you support or oppose the Federal Government’s plan to take over the responsibility for funding hospitals and health services from the State Governments?

            %
Total support 58%
Total oppose 12%
Strongly support 25%
Support            33%
Neither support nor oppose 21%
Oppose            7%
Strongly oppose          5%
Don’t know 9%

Over half (58%) of those surveyed support the Federal Government’s plan to take over the responsibility for funding hospitals and health services from the State Governments, 12% oppose, 21% neither support nor oppose and 9% don’t know.

79% of Labor voters, 46% of Coalition voters and 55% of Green voters support a Federal takeover for funding of hospitals and health services from the State Governments.  27% of Coalition voters neither support nor oppose the plan and 22% oppose it. 

Males were more likely than females to support the plan (61% v 56%). 

Support for a Federal takeover was highest amongst 55 – 64 year olds (67%). 

People in NSW were more likely than those in other states to support a Federal takeover (64%). 55% of people in Queensland and 52% in Victoria support the plan. 

In February this year we asked the Australian public whether they support or oppose a Federal takeover of hospitals. We found that 58% supported a Federal takeover, 10% opposed it, 19% neither supported nor opposed and 13% didn’t know. 

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