Most important factor in government regulation
Q. What should be the most important factor Governments consider in relation to regulating each of these issues – protecting rights and freedom, protecting people’s health and safety or managing the cost to taxpayers (e.g. health costs of drug/alcohol/tobacco use)?
|
Protecting rights and freedom |
Protecting people’s health and safety |
Managing the cost to taxpayers |
Don’t know |
|
| Wearing seatbelts in cars |
5% |
89% |
3% |
3% |
| Wearing bike helmets |
6% |
88% |
3% |
3% |
| Personal use of recreational drugs |
14% |
64% |
13% |
10% |
| Smoking in public places |
16% |
70% |
8% |
6% |
| Buying and consuming alcohol |
18% |
64% |
11% |
7% |
| Shopping hours |
48% |
13% |
16% |
23% |
| Cigarette packaging |
15% |
65% |
10% |
10% |
| Junk food advertising |
13% |
70% |
8% |
9% |
| Gambling, poker machines |
22% |
46% |
20% |
12% |
| Films (i.e. censorship) |
51% |
21% |
8% |
19% |
| The internet |
56% |
21% |
7% |
16% |
| Making public statements which other people might find offensive |
54% |
18% |
5% |
23% |
For most of the areas listed above, the majority of respondents thought the most important factor for Governments to consider was ‘protecting people’s health and safety’.
The areas where respondents thought that is was more important to consider ‘protecting rights and freedoms’ were the internet (56%), making statements which other people might find offensive (54%), films (51%) and shopping hours (48%). ‘Managing the cost to tax payers’ was not considered to be an important factor by most respondents.
Most Important Factor in Government Regulation
Q. What should be the most important factor Governments consider in relation to regulating each of these issues – protecting rights and freedom, protecting people’s health and safety or managing the cost to taxpayers (e.g. health costs of drug/alcohol/tobacco use)?
|
Protecting rights and freedom |
Protecting people’s health and safety |
Managing the cost to taxpayers |
Don’t know |
|
| Wearing seatbelts in cars |
5% |
91% |
3% |
2% |
| Wearing bike helmets |
6% |
89% |
3% |
2% |
| Personal use of recreational drugs |
18% |
61% |
12% |
9% |
| Smoking in public places |
19% |
67% |
9% |
5% |
| Buying and consuming alcohol |
25% |
58% |
11% |
6% |
| Shopping hours |
55% |
11% |
16% |
19% |
| Cigarette packaging |
16% |
61% |
14% |
8% |
| Junk food advertising |
16% |
66% |
11% |
8% |
| Films (i.e. censorship) |
59% |
19% |
7% |
15% |
| The internet |
62% |
18% |
6% |
15% |
For most of the areas listed above, the majority of respondents thought the most important factor for Governments to consider was ‘protecting people’s health and safety’.
The three areas where respondents thought that is was more important to consider ‘protecting rights and freedoms’ were ‘the internet’ (62%), ‘films’ (59%) and ‘shopping hours’ (55%).
‘Managing the cost to tax payers’ was not considered to be an important factor by most respondents.
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Essential Report
In this week's report:
- Federal government response to Covid-19
- State government response to Covid-19
- Views towards reopening international borders
- Views towards state border closures
- Comprehension and confidence in PM’s plan to ‘safely reopen’ Australia
- Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine
- Necessity of mandatory vaccinations in specific situations
- Views towards easing restrictions for fully vaccinated people
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