11 march 2013, 110313, government, hospitals and health, ports, prisons, Private Sector, Schools, telecommunications, universities
Q. Which of the following are better run by the private sector and which are better run by Government?
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11 Mar 2013 |
31 Jan 2011 |
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|
Better run by private sector |
Better run by Government |
Don’t know |
Better run by private sector |
Better run by Government |
Don’t know |
|
| Electricity |
25% |
62% |
13% |
22% |
61% |
17% |
| Water |
19% |
69% |
12% |
15% |
70% |
16% |
| Trains, buses and ferries |
25% |
64% |
11% |
19% |
68% |
13% |
| Motorways |
23% |
66% |
11% |
17% |
70% |
13% |
| Community services such as child protection |
14% |
75% |
11% |
14% |
71% |
15% |
| Telecommunications (including broadband services) |
45% |
44% |
11% |
na |
na |
na |
| Hospitals and health services |
19% |
71% |
10% |
na |
na |
na |
| Schools |
21% |
69% |
10% |
na |
na |
na |
| Prisons |
17% |
73% |
11% |
10% |
76% |
15% |
| Universities |
27% |
61% |
12% |
20% |
64% |
16% |
| Ports |
22% |
60% |
19% |
na |
na |
na |
Most services listed were clearly thought to be better run by Government than the private sector.
The only exception was telecommunications where respondents were split 45% private sector, 44% Government.
The areas most preferred to be run by Government were – community services (75%), prisons (73%), hospitals and health services (71%), schools (69%) and water (69%).
Compared to the results when this question was asked in January 2011, preference for the private sector running services has increased a little – +6% for trains, buses and ferries and motorways and +7% for prisons and universities.
EMC, ER, Essential Report, government, Government run services, Private run services, Private Sector
Q. Which of the following are better run by the private sector and which are better run by Government?
| Better run by private sector | Better run by Government | Don’t know | |
| Electricity | 22% | 61% | 17% |
| Water | 15% | 70% | 16% |
| Trains, buses and ferries | 19% | 68% | 13% |
| Motorways | 17% | 70% | 13% |
| Community services such as child protection | 14% | 71% | 15% |
| Broadband services | 53% | 29% | 19% |
| Health insurance services | 48% | 37% | 15% |
| Property insurance | 55% | 27% | 19% |
| Prisons | 10% | 76% | 15% |
| Universities | 20% | 64% | 16% |
A substantial majority believed that the Government is better at running prisons (76%), community services (71%), water (70%) and motorways (70%). However, they are more likely to think that the private sector is better at running property insurance (55%), broadband services (53%) and health insurance (48%).
Although Liberal/National voters were a little more likely to favour the private sector on most issues, they also supported the Government running most services except for broadband services (63% private/24% Government), health insurance (59%/32%) and property insurance (65%/23%). Labor voters favoured the private sector to run broadband (44%/38%) and property insurance (50%/31%) but were split on health insurance (41% private/43% Government).
Support for Government run services was a little higher in NSW than in Victoria – e.g. electricity (64% NSW/59% Vic), water (73%/65%).