LATEST TRUE ISSUES RESEARCH LOOKS AT POLICY APPROACHES AS WELL AS OUR REGULAR ISSUES TRACKING AS WE HEAD INTO A FEDERAL ELECTION
Cost of living remains clearly the number one issue as Australia prepares for a national election campaign and the economy continues to be weighed by pessimism despite the big focus this week on the RBA’s interest rates decision. In the first True Issues public opinion survey for 2025 we have tested a range of policies announced by the parties soon putting themselves forward to the electorate. We also look at some additional policy approaches that further illuminates the debate around how to respond to cost of living pressures and national perceptions around an ongoing crisis of affordability.
LATEST TRUE ISSUES RESEARCH: STANDARD OF LIVING PERCEPTIONS, AUSTRALIANS’ ENGAGEMENT WITH THE US ELECTION AND OUR REGULAR ISSUES TRACKING
As the national policy and political debate heat up as the year draws towards its end and talk of a Federal Election in the first half of next year increases, we have examined some important influences on the broader debate in a series of questions that extend beyond our regular and well-known issues tracking. Reaching beyond cost of living, we have taken a close look at the more complex and nuanced economic and social theme of living standards. A special report also unpacks public attitudes and reactions to the recent Presidential election results in the United States and how it has been received here in Australia.
LATEST TRUE ISSUES RESEARCH LOOKS AT POTENTIAL ECONOMIC REFORMS, ATTITUDES TO THE NDIS AND OUR REGULAR ISSUES TRACKING
Given our ongoing desire to contribute meaningfully to national public policy debates, we have again put together two additional special releases. One following up on our budget work earlier this year by now looking more closely at a range of potential tax and economic reforms. A separate report looks carefully at evolving public attitudes around the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Related research insights from these special reports and True Issues have been recently covered in the AFR, The Age and SMH newspapers, The Australian and on ABC’s Insiders program.
RESPONSES TO FEDERAL BUDGET, FUTURE MADE IN AUSTRALIA POLICY AND OUR REGULAR ISSUES TRACKING
Unprompted, a majority (58%) of adults continue to name cost of living in their top three most important issues or concerns, and eight in ten (80%) select cost of living in their top five from a prompted list.
Despite interest rates remaining on hold over the summer, even those who consider themselves ‘on a reasonable wage’ express concern about meeting increased costs for essentials like food, fuel, utilities and housing.
LIVING COSTS #1 VOTER CONCERN BUT IMMIGRATION AND BORDER CONTROL MOVE UP THE LIST
Unprompted, a majority (58%) of adults continue to name cost of living in their top three most important issues or concerns, and eight in ten (80%) select cost of living in their top five from a prompted list.
Despite interest rates remaining on hold over the summer, even those who consider themselves ‘on a reasonable wage’ express concern about meeting increased costs for essentials like food, fuel, utilities and housing.
GOVERNMENT RATINGS FALL AMID VOICE DEFEAT AND RISING LIVING COSTS
Government performance ratings fall in leadup to Voice defeat, amid ongoing concern about living costs and housing. Amid rising housing, food, fuel and energy costs, cost of living remains the most important issue Australians want the Federal Government to focus on (56% unprompted mentions, up from 43%, and 81% prompted mentions, up from 75%). This […]
GENERATIONAL DIVIDE PERSISTS OVER THE VOICE AS “NO” VOTES EDGE AHEAD
NO votes have continued their upward trend and now exceed the YES vote on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. Less than four in ten voters (36%) support an alteration to the Constitution that establishes an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice and plan to vote YES in the October 14th referendum. This is similar to 39% […]
MAJORITY NOW WANT HOUSING AND INTEREST RATES ADDRESSED AS COST OF LIVING BITES
Living costs and health remain leading prompted issues as concern about housing and interest rates continues to rise. Amid rising food and energy costs, and with continued interest rate rises plunging more households into mortgage stress, cost of living remains the most important issue Australians want the Federal Government to focus on (43% unprompted mentions, […]
THE YES CASE HAS WORK TO DO TO BRING A DOUBLE MAJORITY BACK WITHIN REACH
Voters more evenly split on an Indigenous Voice after further increase in the NO vote since February. NO votes have continued to increase and are now at a similar level to the total YES vote on establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. However, lack of information remains an issue.Just under four in ten […]
IMPROVED BUT STILL LIMITED KNOWLEDGE ABOUT PROPOSED INDIGENOUS VOICE TO PARLIAMENT YET SUPPORT CONTINUES TO OUTWEIGH OPPOSITION
Most Australians have heard of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament but understanding of the idea remains limited. When presented with the Government’s proposed three-point draft amendment to the Australian Constitution and referendum question, 42% of Australian voters say they would vote YES to change the Constitution to establish an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice […]
