The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

Most important election issues

22 Apr 2014

Q.  Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election?

 

Total

22 Apr 14

 

Vote ALP

Vote Lib/Nat

Vote Grn

Vote other

 

23 Jul 13

30 Jul 12

6 June 11

25 Jan 10

Management of the economy

54%

43%

75%

22%

44%

45%

64%

61%

63%

Ensuring a quality education for all children

27%

35%

18%

38%

20%

25%

26%

26%

23%

Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system

50%

54%

43%

62%

52%

42%

47%

49%

48%

Protecting the environment

13%

12%

7%

42%

14%

12%

11%

15%

16%

A fair industrial relations system

12%

17%

11%

8%

12%

10%

12%

8%

na

Political leadership

15%

11%

24%

6%

13%

21%

25%

17%

23%

Addressing climate change

10%

13%

4%

28%

9%

11%

9%

15%

16%

Controlling interest rates

9%

9%

11%

2%

7%

13%

9%

13%

15%

Australian jobs and protection of local industries

37%

39%

37%

18%

37%

39%

41%

32%

33%

Ensuring a quality water supply

4%

5%

3%

3%

5%

3%

3%

5%

12%

Housing affordability

17%

18%

16%

13%

19%

17%

13%

16%

14%

Ensuring a fair taxation system

20%

19%

20%

9%

23%

20%

18%

17%

14%

Security and the war on terrorism

5%

3%

8%

3%

5%

8%

5%

8%

9%

Treatment of asylum seekers

8%

5%

5%

32%

9%

14%

10%

5%

na

Managing population growth

9%

6%

10%

8%

16%

9%

8%

12%

na

54% of people surveyed rated management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 50% ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system, 37% Australian jobs and protection of local industries and 27% ensuring a quality education for all children.

Main changes since this question was asked last July – management of the economy up 9%, ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system up 8%, political leadership down 6% and treatment of asylum seekers down 6%.

Error: