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  • Feb, 2014

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    Other issue of most concern

    Q. And which of these other issues are you personally most concerned about?

     

    Total

     

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Vote other/

    indep-endent

     

    2 Sep 13

    19 Nov

    Climate change

    21%

    28%

    10%

    44%

    20%

    16%

    22%

    Border security

    21%

    11%

    36%

    6%

    15%

    30%

    21%

    Treatment of the aged

    20%

    21%

    21%

    8%

    22%

    17%

    18%

    Marriage equality

    11%

    14%

    9%

    20%

    8%

    9%

    9%

    Population growth

    10%

    12%

    8%

    10%

    14%

    12%

    14%

    Treatment of the disabled

    9%

    9%

    8%

    9%

    16%

    7%

    8%

    None of them

    5%

    4%

    5%

    5%

    4%

    5%

    4%

    Don’t know

    3%

    2%

    2%

    1%

    4%

    4%

    21% were most concerned about climate change, 21% were most concerned about border security, and 20% treatment of the aged.

    There has been little change since this question was asked in November.

    Border security (36%) was the main issue of concern to Liberal/National voters and 44% of Greens voters and 28% of Labor voters nominated climate change.

  • Sep, 2013

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    Other issue of most concern

    Q. And which of these other issues are you personally most concerned about?

     

    Total

     

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Border security

    30%

    20%

    48%

    5%

    Climate change

    16%

    23%

    5%

    45%

    Population growth

    12%

    10%

    13%

    4%

    Marriage equality

    9%

    11%

    4%

    24%

    Treatment of the aged

    17%

    21%

    16%

    12%

    Treatment of the disabled

    7%

    10%

    4%

    7%

    None of them

    5%

    3%

    7%

    4%

    Don’t know

    4%

    2%

    3%

    30% were most concerned about border security, 17% treatment of the aged and 16% climate change.

    Border security (48%) was the main issue of concern to Liberal/National voters and 45% of Greens voters nominated climate change.

  • Jul, 2012

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    Important election issues

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

     

    First

    Second

    Third

    Total

    30 Jul 12

    5 Dec 11

    6 June 11

    25 Jan 10

    Management of the economy

    38%

    16%

    10%

    64%

    62%

    61%

    63%

    Ensuring a quality education for all children

    5%

    10%

    11%

    26%

    22%

    26%

    23%

    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system

    10%

    19%

    18%

    47%

    47%

    49%

    48%

    Protecting the environment

    3%

    4%

    4%

    11%

    13%

    15%

    16%

    A fair industrial relations system

    4%

    3%

    5%

    12%

    11%

    8%

    *

    Political leadership

    11%

    7%

    7%

    25%

    18%

    17%

    23%

    Addressing climate change

    3%

    3%

    3%

    9%

    10%

    15%

    16%

    Controlling interest rates

    2%

    2%

    5%

    9%

    11%

    13%

    15%

    Australian jobs and protection of local industries

    13%

    15%

    13%

    41%

    36%

    32%

    33%

    Ensuring a quality water supply

    *

    1%

    2%

    3%

    4%

    5%

    12%

    Housing affordability

    3%

    5%

    5%

    13%

    13%

    16%

    14%

    Ensuring a fair taxation system

    4%

    7%

    7%

    18%

    16%

    17%

    14%

    Security and the war on terrorism

    1%

    1%

    3%

    5%

    4%

    8%

    9%

    Treatment of asylum seekers

    3%

    4%

    3%

    10%

    8%

    5%

    *

    Managing population growth

    2%

    3%

    3%

    8%

    8%

    12%

    *

    *Not asked

    64% of people surveyed rated management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 47% ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system and 41% Australian jobs and protection of local industries.

    Since December, there has been an increase in the importance of political leadership (+7%), Australian jobs and protection of local industries (+5%) and ensuring a quality education for all children (+4%).

  • Jun, 2011

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    Important election issues

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

    Total Labor Liberal/ National Green
    Management of the economy 61% 60% 76% 28%
    Ensuring a quality education for all children 26% 29% 24% 27%
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system 49% 50% 50% 51%
    Protecting the environment 15% 17% 10% 52%
    A fair industrial relations system 8% 12% 4% 4%
    Political leadership 17% 16% 20% 16%
    Addressing climate change 15% 23% 6% 45%
    Controlling interest rates 13% 15% 13% 6%
    Australian jobs and protection of local industries 32% 28% 36% 12%
    Ensuring a quality water supply 5% 5% 3% 7%
    Housing affordability 16% 16% 13% 16%
    Ensuring a fair taxation system 17% 14% 19% 16%
    Security and the war on terrorism 8% 4% 13% 1%
    Treatment of asylum seekers 5% 3% 5% 12%
    Managing population growth 12% 12% 12% 9%

    There were few substantial differences between voters on issues they considered important. Compared to the average, Labor voters are more likely to rate addressing climate change (23%) as important.

    Liberal/National voters attach more importance to management of the economy (76%) and security and the war on terrorism (13%) while Greens voters are more likely to nominate protecting the environment (52%), addressing climate change (45%) and treatment of asylum seekers (12%).

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  • Jan, 2011

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    Important election issues

    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 Total 11th Oct 10 Total 25th Jan 10
    Management of the economy 37% 18% 10% 65% 62% 63%
    Ensuring a quality education for all children 5% 10% 11% 26% 32% 23%
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system 13% 20% 16% 49% 48% 48%
    Protecting the environment 4% 3% 6% 13% 12% 16%
    A fair industrial relations system 2% 4% 4% 10% 11% *
    Political leadership 6% 5% 5% 16% 16% 23%
    Addressing climate change 3% 3% 4% 10% 11% 16%
    Controlling interest rates 5% 8% 8% 21% 17% 15%
    Australian jobs and protection of local industries 10% 8% 12% 30% 30% 33%
    Ensuring a quality water supply 1% 2% 3% 6% 6% 12%
    Housing affordability 5% 5% 6% 16% 17% 14%
    Ensuring a fair taxation system 4% 6% 8% 18% 16% 14%
    Security and the war on terrorism 1% 2% 2% 5% 6% 9%
    Treatment of asylum seekers 1% 2% 2% 5% 5% *
    Managing population growth 2% 5% 4% 11% 10% *

    *Not asked

    65% 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 30% Australian jobs and protection of local industries.

    Only 10% rate addressing climate change as one of their three most important issues and 6% rate ensuring a quality water supply.

    Over the past 12 months there has been an increase in the importance of controlling interest rates (from 15% to 21%) and a decrease in the importance of addressing climate change (from 16% to 10%).

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  • Jan, 2011

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    Important election issues

    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)

    Total Labor Liberal/ National Green
    Management of the economy 65% 63% 77% 47%
    Ensuring a quality education for all children 26% 33% 20% 24%
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system 49% 52% 47% 37%
    Protecting the environment 13% 12% 6% 42%
    A fair industrial relations system 10% 18% 5% 8%
    Political leadership 16% 11% 25% 14%
    Addressing climate change 10% 10% 5% 22%
    Controlling interest rates 21% 17% 22% 19%
    Australian jobs and protection of local industries 30% 33% 32% 18%
    Ensuring a quality water supply 6% 4% 6% 5%
    Housing affordability 16% 15% 13% 21%
    Ensuring a fair taxation system 18% 17% 19% 14%
    Security and the war on terrorism 5% 5% 8% 5%
    Treatment of asylum seekers 5% 3% 5% 15%
    Managing population growth 11% 8% 12% 9%

    Compared to the average, Labor voters are more likely to rate ensuring a quality education for all children (33%) and a fair industrial relations system (18%) as important.

    Liberal/National voters attach more importance to management of the economy (77%) and political leadership (25%) while Greens voters are more likely to nominate protecting the environment (42%), addressing climate change (22%) and treatment of asylum seekers (15%).

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  • Jan, 2011

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    Party best handling important election issues

    Q. And which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?

    Labor Liberal Greens Don’t know
    Management of the economy 33% 43% 2% 22%
    Ensuring a quality education for all children 39% 33% 4% 24%
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system 33% 33% 7% 27%
    Protecting the environment 16% 19% 40% 24%
    A fair industrial relations system 40% 30% 5% 25%
    Political leadership 28% 37% 4% 31%
    Addressing climate change 18% 20% 34% 28%
    Controlling interest rates 22% 40% 2% 35%
    Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries 36% 33% 4% 27%
    Ensuring a quality water supply 21% 28% 20% 31%
    Housing affordability 26% 30% 7% 37%
    Ensuring a fair taxation system 28% 35% 4% 32%
    Security and the war on terrorism 23% 37% 4% 36%
    Treatment of asylum seekers 20% 33% 12% 35%
    Standing up for regular Australian working families 41% 27% 6% 25%
    Managing population growth 21% 36% 7% 37%
    Making sure Australian working people got fair treatment at their workplace 41% 29% 6% 25%

    Labor is trusted most to handle a fair industrial relations system (40%), ensuring a quality education for all children (39%) and standing up for regular Australian working families (41%).

    The Liberals are trusted most to handle management of the economy (43%), controlling interest rates (40%), political leadership (37%) and security and the war on terrorism (37%).

    In October, Labor was considered substantially better to handle 5 of the issues surveyed and Liberals 5 issues – compared to this survey where Labor leads on 4 issues and Liberals on 8 issues. The Liberals have now established a lead on political leadership (+9%), water supply (+7%), and taxation (+7%).

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  • Oct, 2010

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    Important election issues

    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)

    Total Labor Liberal Green
    Management of the economy 62% 59% 74% 46%
    Ensuring a quality education for all children 32% 37% 26% 23%
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system 48% 53% 47% 43%
    Protecting the environment 12% 12% 8% 27%
    A fair industrial relations system 11% 18% 6% 14%
    Political leadership 16% 16% 17% 10%
    Addressing climate change 11% 15% 4% 35%
    Controlling interest rates 17% 11% 22% 12%
    Australian jobs and protection of local industries 30% 34% 27% 15%
    Ensuring a quality water supply 6% 4% 8% 13%
    Housing affordability 17% 12% 16% 20%
    Ensuring a fair taxation system 16% 12% 20% 16%
    Security and the war on terrorism 6% 3% 8% 2%
    Treatment of asylum seekers 5% 3% 5% 10%
    Managing population growth 10% 7% 13% 9%

    Labor voters are more likely to rate ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system (53%), ensuring a quality education for all children (37%) and a fair industrial relations system (18%) as important.

    Liberal/National voters attach more importance to management of the economy (74%) and controlling interest rates (22%) while Greens voters are more likely to nominate addressing climate change (35%) and protecting the environment (27%).

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