climate change, environment, Greenhouse gases, loss of native habitat, Pollution, protecting the environment, quality water supply, Water
Q. Which of these do you think is the most important environmental problem facing Australia today?
Q. And which would you say is the second most important?
| Most important | Second most important | Total | |
| Water supply | 33% | 20% | 53% |
| The health of rivers and waterways | 17% | 21% | 38% |
| Pollution | 14% | 17% | 31% |
| Climate change | 16% | 14% | 30% |
| Loss of native habitat | 8% | 11% | 19% |
| Logging of native forests | 4% | 8% | 12% |
| Greenhouse gases | 2% | 6% | 8% |
| Don’t know | 6% | 2% | 6% |
Water supply (53%) and the health of rivers and waterways (38%) were considered the most important environmental problems facing Australia today.
Younger respondents were more likely to nominate climate change (36% of aged under 45) while 47% of those aged 45+ nominated the health of rivers and waterways. Water supply was the top issue for all segments except Green voters who nominated climate change as their most important issue (51%).
Australian jobs, climate change, Election Issues, management of the economy, protection of local industries, quality education for all children, quality of Australia’s health system, quality water supply
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 10th May 10 | Total 25th Jan 10 | |
| Management of the economy | 38% | 15% | 9% | 62% | 62% | 63% |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children | 6% | 12% | 14% | 32% | 19% | 23% |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 14% | 21% | 13% | 48% | 50% | 48% |
| Protecting the environment | 3% | 4% | 5% | 12% | 13% | 16% |
| A fair industrial relations system | 3% | 5% | 3% | 11% | 10% | * |
| Political leadership | 6% | 5% | 5% | 16% | 12% | 23% |
| Addressing climate change | 4% | 3% | 4% | 11% | 12% | 16% |
| Controlling interest rates | 4% | 6% | 7% | 17% | 16% | 15% |
| Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 8% | 10% | 12% | 30% | 29% | 33% |
| Ensuring a quality water supply | 1% | 3% | 2% | 6% | 7% | 12% |
| Housing affordability | 5% | 4% | 8% | 17% | 17% | 14% |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system | 4% | 5% | 7% | 16% | 17% | 14% |
| Security and the war on terrorism | 1% | 2% | 3% | 6% | 7% | 9% |
| Treatment of asylum seekers | 1% | 2% | 2% | 5% | * | * |
| Managing population growth | 2% | 3% | 5% | 10% | 14% | * |
*Not asked
62% of people surveyed rate management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 48% ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system, 32% ensuring a quality education for all children and 30% Australian jobs and protection of local industries.
Only 11% rate addressing climate change as one of their three most important issues and 6% rate ensuring a quality water supply. The major change since the previous survey in May, was an increase in the importance of ensuring a quality education for all children from 19% to 32%.