approach to asylum seekers, asylum seekers, Essential Report, issues of importance, Network Ten
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.
Election Issues, issues of importance, level of concern
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 »
Australian jobs, climate change, economy, Education, environment, Health, Housing, Housing affordability, Interest rates, issues of importance, political leadership, tax, Terrorism, Water
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 »