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  • Jun, 2011

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    Importance of Asylum Seeker Issue

    Q. Is the issue of how Australia handles asylum seekers more or less important than issues such as managing the economy, education and health services? (This question has been commissioned by Network Ten)

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens Men Women Age

    18-34

    Aged

    35-54

    Aged 55+
    Total more or equally important 50% 49% 53% 56% 48% 52% 48% 50% 55%
    A lot more important 5% 6% 6% 6% 3% 7% 5% 4% 8%
    A little more important 5% 6% 5% 3% 6% 3% 5% 5% 5%
    Equally important 40% 37% 42% 47% 39% 42% 38% 41% 42%
    A little less important 21% 22% 21% 22% 18% 24% 25% 19% 20%
    A lot less important 23% 23% 25% 19% 28% 18% 20% 26% 23%
    Don’t know 5% 6% 1% 4% 4% 6% 8% 6% 2%

    50% think that the issue of how Australia handles asylum seekers is more/equally important as issues such as managing the economy, education and health services – 44% think it is less important.

    There were not substantial differences across voter and other groups – although Greens voters (56%) and those aged 55+ (55%) were a little more likely to think it was important.

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  • Nov, 2010

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    Concern about Issues

    Q. How concerned are you personally about each of the following economic issues facing Australia today?

      Very concerned Somewhat concerned Not so concerned Not at all concerned Don’t know
    Petrol and energy prices 60% 32% 7% 1% 1%
    Excessive executive salaries 54% 27% 14% 4% 1%
    Affordability of housing 53% 31% 13% 2% 1%
    Not enough regulation of banks 53% 27% 15% 4% 2%
    Jobs going overseas 47% 33% 15% 4% 1%
    Food prices and inflation generally 45% 42% 10% 2% 1%
    Interest rates 44% 33% 17% 5% 1%
    The age pension 37% 34% 22% 5% 1%
    Not enough regulation of large corporations 36% 32% 24% 6% 2%
    Improving wages for low income earners 34% 40% 20% 4% 1%
    Taxation 32% 37% 26% 4% 1%
    Not enough superannuation 32% 37% 23% 7% 2%
    Government debt 31% 33% 26% 8% 2%
    Unemployment 26% 35% 30% 8% 1%

    More than half the respondents said they were very concerned about petrol and energy prices, excessive executive salaries, affordability of housing and regulation of banks.

    Petrol and energy prices were of most concern to people aged 55+ (69%).

    57% of those aged under 35 were very concerned about the affordability of housing.

    67% of people aged 55+ were very concerned about regulation of banks and 76% were very concerned about excessive executive salaries.

    Overall, there were not major differences between Labor and Liberal voters except for Government debt (Labor 16% very concerned, Liberal/National 49%). Comments »

  • Jan, 2010

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    Issues of importance

    Q. Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election? (Number from 1 to 3 where 1 is the most important, 2 the second most important, etc)

      One Two Three Total
    Management of the economy 36% 17% 10% 63%
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system  14% 17% 17% 48%
    Australian jobs and protection of local industries 8% 13% 12% 33%
    Political leadership 10% 7% 6% 23%
    Ensuring a quality education for all children 5% 8% 10% 23%
    Ensuring a fair taxation system 4% 5% 9% 18%
    Protecting the environment 4% 7% 5% 16%
    Addressing climate change 6% 5% 5% 16%
    Controlling interest rates 3% 6% 6% 15%
    Housing affordability 3% 4% 7% 14%
    Ensuring a quality water supply 3% 4% 5% 12%
    A fair industrial relations system 3% 4% 3% 10%
    Security and the war on terrorism 2% 4% 3% 9%

     63% of people surveyed rate management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 48% that rate ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system and 33% that rate Australian jobs and protection of local industries as one of their three most important issues.

     10% rate a fair industrial relations system as one of their three most important issues that would decide how they vote in a Federal election and 9% rate security and the war on terrorism.  Comments »

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