Essential Report
Important election issues
Q. Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election?
One | Two | Three | Total | 24 Jan 11 | 11 Oct 10 | 25 Jan 10 | |
Management of the economy | 34% | 18% | 9% | 61% | 65% | 62% | 63% |
Ensuring a quality education for all children | 6% | 10% | 10% | 26% | 26% | 32% | 23% |
Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 15% | 15% | 19% | 49% | 49% | 48% | 48% |
Protecting the environment | 4% | 6% | 5% | 15% | 13% | 12% | 16% |
A fair industrial relations system | 2% | 3% | 3% | 8% | 10% | 11% | * |
Political leadership | 6% | 6% | 5% | 17% | 16% | 16% | 23% |
Addressing climate change | 6% | 4% | 5% | 15% | 10% | 11% | 16% |
Controlling interest rates | 3% | 5% | 5% | 13% | 21% | 17% | 15% |
Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 9% | 11% | 12% | 32% | 30% | 30% | 33% |
Ensuring a quality water supply | 1% | 1% | 3% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 12% |
Housing affordability | 4% | 6% | 6% | 16% | 16% | 17% | 14% |
Ensuring a fair taxation system | 3% | 6% | 8% | 17% | 18% | 16% | 14% |
Security and the war on terrorism | 2% | 2% | 4% | 8% | 5% | 6% | 9% |
Treatment of asylum seekers | 1% | 2% | 2% | 5% | 5% | 5% | * |
Managing population growth | 2% | 4% | 6% | 12% | 11% | 10% | * |
*Not asked
61% of people surveyed rated management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 49% ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system and 32% Australian jobs and protection of local industries.
Since January, there has been an increase in the importance of addressing climate change (from 10% to 15%) and a decrease in the importance of controlling interest rates (from 21% to 13%).

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Essential Report
In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Views towards re-electing the federal Coalition government
- Party trust to handle issues
- Importance of Australia’s international reputation
- Scott Morrison’s impact on Australia’s international reputation
- Views towards Australia’s international reputation
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