Q. Which of the following are better run by the private sector and which are better run by Government?
Better run by private sector | Better run by Government | Don’t know | |
Electricity | 22% | 61% | 17% |
Water | 15% | 70% | 16% |
Trains, buses and ferries | 19% | 68% | 13% |
Motorways | 17% | 70% | 13% |
Community services such as child protection | 14% | 71% | 15% |
Broadband services | 53% | 29% | 19% |
Health insurance services | 48% | 37% | 15% |
Property insurance | 55% | 27% | 19% |
Prisons | 10% | 76% | 15% |
Universities | 20% | 64% | 16% |
A substantial majority believed that the Government is better at running prisons (76%), community services (71%), water (70%) and motorways (70%). However, they are more likely to think that the private sector is better at running property insurance (55%), broadband services (53%) and health insurance (48%).
Although Liberal/National voters were a little more likely to favour the private sector on most issues, they also supported the Government running most services except for broadband services (63% private/24% Government), health insurance (59%/32%) and property insurance (65%/23%). Labor voters favoured the private sector to run broadband (44%/38%) and property insurance (50%/31%) but were split on health insurance (41% private/43% Government).
Support for Government run services was a little higher in NSW than in Victoria – e.g. electricity (64% NSW/59% Vic), water (73%/65%).