Roads vs public transport
Q: Do you think it is more important to expand public transport or more important to build new roads and freeways?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Vote Other | ||
| More important to expand public transport | 56% | 57% | 52% | 77% | 52% | |
| More important to build roads and freeways | 33% | 34% | 41% | 18% | 36% | |
| Don’t know | 11% | 9% | 7% | 5% | 12% |
56% think that it is more important to expand public transport and 33% think it is more important to build roads and freeways.
Those more supportive of expanding public transport were aged 18-24 (65%), people from Victoria (64%) and those with university education (66%).
Those more supportive of building roads and freeways were aged 35-44 (40%) and people from Queensland (41%).
Government Responsibilities
Q. Which of the following should be mainly the responsibility of the Federal Government and which should be mainly the responsibility of the State Governments – or should they have equal responsibility?
|
Mainly Federal |
Mainly State |
Both equally |
Don’t know |
|
| Improving the health system |
43% |
11% |
41% |
6% |
| Addressing climate change |
41% |
4% |
45% |
9% |
| Improving the education system |
40% |
14% |
40% |
6% |
| Industrial relations issues |
39% |
13% |
40% |
8% |
| Managing mining projects and mining profits |
39% |
20% |
32% |
9% |
| Managing the environment |
32% |
11% |
50% |
7% |
| Managing our water resources |
25% |
23% |
46% |
6% |
| Constructing new roads and highways |
21% |
33% |
41% |
6% |
| Investing in regional areas |
16% |
40% |
37% |
7% |
| Investing in public transport |
11% |
52% |
32% |
6% |
Issues which were considered mainly Federal responsibilities were the health system, climate change and education.
Public transport and regional investment were considered to be more the responsibilities of the State Governments.
The environment, managing water resources and constructing new roads and highways were more likely to be considered a shared responsibility.
Role of Government
Q. For each of the following issues, do you think the Government does too much, too little or just about the right amount:
|
Too much |
Too little |
About right |
Don’t know |
|
| Providing quality health care services |
2% |
74% |
19% |
5% |
| Protecting citizens from industrial and other kinds of pollution. |
10% |
43% |
36% |
11% |
| Making sure the banks and other large financial institutions operate honestly and treat their clients fairly |
3% |
62% |
28% |
6% |
| Making sure that the roads, bridges and other public transportation facilities are in good repair and safe. |
1% |
63% |
30% |
5% |
| Ensuring that there is adequate, affordable and accessible public transport. |
2% |
67% |
25% |
6% |
| Ensuring that our population is protected from crime, terrorism and other threats. |
5% |
47% |
41% |
7% |
| Providing a quality education system |
2% |
54% |
37% |
7% |
Respondents were more likely to think the Government does too little on each of the issues measured.
In particular, they think the Government does too little in terms of health care services (74%), adequate, affordable and accessible public transport (67%), roads, bridges and other public transportation (63%) and making sure the banks and other large financial institutions operate honestly and treat their clients fairly (62%).
Issues over which they were more divided were protecting citizens from industrial and other kinds of pollution (46% about right/too much) and ensuring that our population is protected from crime, terrorism and other threats (46% about right/too much).
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Essential Report
In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Views towards re-electing the federal Coalition government
- Party trust to handle issues
- Importance of Australia’s international reputation
- Scott Morrison’s impact on Australia’s international reputation
- Views towards Australia’s international reputation
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