Q. The Government proposes to means test the private health insurance rebate, with reductions beginning for a single person earning more than $80,000 or families on $160,000. Singles earning more than $124,000 and families on more than $248,000 will not receive any of the rebate. Do you support or oppose means testing the heath insurance rebate for people on higher incomes?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Income less than $31,200 | Income $31,200-$51,999 | Income $52,000-$83,199 | Income $83,200+ | |||
| Total support | 53% | 76% | 38% | 65% | 67% | 63% | 59% | 45% | ||
| Total oppose | 33% | 13% | 51% | 19% | 17% | 23% | 28% | 46% | ||
| Strongly support | 22% | 46% | 8% | 22% | 33% | 23% | 23% | 21% | ||
| Support | 31% | 30% | 30% | 43% | 34% | 40% | 36% | 24% | ||
| Oppose | 15% | 9% | 21% | 13% | 10% | 12% | 14% | 19% | ||
| Strongly oppose | 18% | 4% | 30% | 6% | 7% | 11% | 14% | 27% | ||
| Don’t know | 14% | 11% | 11% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 12% | 10% |
The majority of respondents support the means test on the private health insurance rebate for people on higher incomes (53%), with 33% opposed to the reform.
Those on low incomes of less than $31,200 per annum are the most likely to be in favour of the reform, with 67% supporting the means test. Conversely, those on higher incomes (earning $83,200+ per annum) are the most likely to oppose the means test, with 46% against it and 45% in favour of it.
Looking at the results by voting intention, those most likely to be against the reform are Coalition voters with the majority opposing the means test (51%), whilst Labor voters are the most likely to be in favour of it (76%). Greens voters trail 11 points behind Labor in favour of the reform at 65%.
Q. How much have you read and heard about the recent Federal Government changes concerning funding and delivery of health services?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| A lot | 8% | 10% | 8% | 16% |
| Something | 21% | 22% | 24% | 19% |
| A little | 36% | 38% | 37% | 32% |
| Nothing | 28% | 25% | 28% | 30% |
| Don’t know | 7% | 5% | 4% | 3% |
Only 29% say they have heard a lot or something about the recent Federal Government changes concerning funding and delivery of health services, 36% say they have heard a little and 28% have heard nothing.
Those most likely to have heard a lot/something were aged 55+ (39%).
Q. What impact do you think these changes will have on the delivery of health services in Australia?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Heard a lot / something | Heard a little | |
| A big impact | 15% | 17% | 12% | 21% | 24% | 7% |
| A moderate impact | 35% | 46% | 28% | 42% | 42% | 29% |
| A small impact | 27% | 22% | 32% | 15% | 19% | 34% |
| No impact | 10% | 3% | 15% | 6% | 11% | 10% |
| Don’t know | 13% | 11% | 12% | 16% | 4% | 20% |
* based on those who have heard a lot/something/a little.
Of those who had heard a lot/something/a little, 50% think the health system changes will have a big or moderate impact on the delivery of health services in Australia, 27% think they will have small impact and 10% think they will have no impact.
Those who have heard more about the changes are more likely to think they will have an impact – 66% of those who have heard a lot/something think they will have a big/moderate impact compared to 36% of those who have only heard a little.
Q. What impact do you think these changes will have on you and your family?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Heard a lot / something | Heard a little | |
| A big impact | 8% | 6% | 9% | 13% | 13% | 5% |
| A moderate impact | 23% | 32% | 19% | 20% | 30% | 18% |
| A small impact | 30% | 33% | 25% | 40% | 27% | 33% |
| No impact | 26% | 18% | 35% | 16% | 24% | 27% |
| Don’t know | 12% | 12% | 12% | 11% | 5% | 18% |
* based on those who have heard a lot/something/a little.
Respondents were less likely to think the changes will have an impact on their family. Of those who had heard a lot/something/a little, 31% think the health system changes will have a big or moderate impact on them, 30% think they will have small impact and 26% think they will have no impact.
43% of those who have heard a lot/something think they will have a big/moderate impact compared to 23% of those who have only heard a little.
Q. And from what you’ve read or heard, do you support or oppose these changes in the health care system proposed by the Federal Government?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Heard a lot / something | Heard a little | |
| Total support | 36% | 59% | 21% | 46% | 50% | 24% |
| Total oppose | 13% | 1% | 22% | 6% | 17% | 9% |
| Strongly support | 8% | 20% | * | 8% | 13% | 3% |
| Support | 28% | 39% | 21% | 38% | 37% | 21% |
| Neither support nor oppose | 36% | 28% | 41% | 27% | 27% | 44% |
| Oppose | 8% | 1% | 13% | 5% | 9% | 7% |
| Strongly oppose | 5% | - | 9% | 1% | 8% | 2% |
| Don’t know | 16% | 11% | 16% | 20% | 7% | 23% |
* based on those who have heard a lot/something/a little.
Of those who had heard a lot/something/a little, 36% support the changes and 13% oppose. Labor voters support the changes 50% to 1% oppose and Greens voters support them 46%/6%. 41% of Liberal/National voters neither support nor oppose, while 21% support and 22% oppose.
Those who have heard a lot/something are more likely to support the changes – 50% compared to 24% of those who have only heard a little.
Q. What are the three most important issues in Australia’s health system for you personally? (Number from 1 to 3)
| Total 3 most important
|
First | Second | Third | |
| Cost of health insurance | 44% | 19% | 11% | 14% |
| Quality of care in hospitals | 39% | 15% | 13% | 11% |
| Cost of primary care i.e. GP, specialists | 34% | 10% | 13% | 11% |
| Access to a GP | 32% | 14% | 11% | 7% |
| Cost of dental services | 32% | 9% | 11% | 12% |
| Access to emergency departments | 30% | 9% | 11% | 10% |
| Elective surgery waiting lists | 26% | 9% | 8% | 9% |
| Cost of hospital care | 19% | 4% | 8% | 7% |
| Availability of mental health services | 12% | 4% | 3% | 5% |
| Support for aged care | 12% | 3% | 4% | 5% |
| Don’t know | 5% | 5% | 1% | 1% |
The most important health issues were thought to be cost of health insurance (44%), quality of care in hospitals (39%) and cost of primary care (34%). Access to a GP (32%), cost of dental services (32%) and access to emergency departments were also important.
Those on lower incomes tended to give greater importance to access to a GP (37% of those earning under $1,000pw) and cost of dental services (42% of those earning under $1,000pw). 24% of those aged 55+ nominated support for aged care as important.
Q. Overall, which party do you think would be best at handling Australia’s health system?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| The Labor Party | 26% | 69% | 3% | 39% |
| The Liberal Party | 33% | 2% | 71% | 3% |
| No difference | 27% | 18% | 18% | 39% |
| Don’t know | 14% | 10% | 8% | 19% |
Opinions of party best to handle Australia’s health system very much follow voting preferences. Overall the Liberal Party is favoured over labor by 33% to 26%. 41% either don’t know or think there is no difference. 69% of Labor voters favour the Labor Party and 71% of Liberal/National voters favor the Liberals.
Men favour the Liberals 40% to 27% while women are more evenly divided – 25% Labor, 26% Liberal and 49% no difference/don’t know.
Those on incomes under $600pw favour Labor over the Liberals by 34% to 22% – all other income groups favour the Liberal Party.
Q. How important are the following in deciding which party you will vote for?
| Top priority | Very important | Quite important | Not so important | Don’t know | |
| Better at handling Australia’s economy | 37% | 48% | 10% | 1% | 4% |
| They have better policies on things like education and health | 31% | 47% | 16% | 1% | 4% |
| They are more capable of governing effectively than the other parties | 30% | 47% | 16% | 1% | 6% |
| They are more likely to represent the interests of all Australians | 30% | 45% | 18% | 3% | 5% |
| They will do things that help me and my family | 28% | 42% | 21% | 4% | 5% |
| They have better policies on things like national security and immigration | 24% | 42% | 22% | 6% | 5% |
| Better at looking after the interests people like me | 23% | 47% | 22% | 4% | 4% |
| They have better policies on things like industrial relations and supporting Australian workers | 23% | 44% | 24% | 4% | 5% |
| More trustworthy than the other parties | 22% | 44% | 21% | 5% | 8% |
| They have better policies on things like environment and climate change | 21% | 41% | 23% | 9% | 5% |
| They have a better leader | 16% | 40% | 28% | 8% | 7% |
| I always vote for them | 9% | 15% | 24% | 42% | 10% |
Key factors in deciding which party to vote for are handling the economy (37% top priority), policies on education and health (31%), capable of governing effectively (30%) and representing the interests of all Australians (30%). Comments »
Q. How important are the following in deciding which party you will vote for?
| Top priority | Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens |
| Better at handling Australia’s economy | 37% | 33% | 51% | 19% |
| They have better policies on things like education and health | 31% | 41% | 25% | 35% |
| They are more capable of governing effectively than the other parties | 30% | 30% | 35% | 18% |
| They are more likely to represent the interests of all Australians | 30% | 36% | 25% | 25% |
| They will do things that help me and my family | 28% | 32% | 27% | 17% |
| They have better policies on things like national security and immigration | 24% | 24% | 29% | 20% |
| Better at looking after the interests people like me | 23% | 27% | 21% | 22% |
| They have better policies on things like industrial relations and supporting Australian workers | 23% | 36% | 17% | 20% |
| More trustworthy than the other parties | 22% | 23% | 23% | 21% |
| They have better policies on things like environment and climate change | 21% | 26% | 13% | 46% |
| They have a better leader | 16% | 24% | 14% | 13% |
| I always vote for them | 9% | 11% | 11% | 6% |
The most important issues for Labor voters are policies on education and health (41% top priority), representing the interests of all Australians (36%), policies on industrial relations and supporting workers (36%) and doing things to help me and my family (32%).
For Liberal/National voters the key issues are handling the economy (51% top priority), capable of governing effectively (35%) and policies on national security and immigration (29%).
The major issue for Greens voters is policies on the environment and climate change (46%). Comments »
19
Important Issues
Q. Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election?
| First | Second | Third | Total | Total
10 May 10 |
Difference | |
| Management of the economy | 38% | 18% | 7% | 63% | 62% | +1% |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 16% | 20% | 19% | 55% | 50% | +5% |
| Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 7% | 8% | 9% | 24% | 29% | -5% |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children | 4% | 11% | 9% | 24% | 19% | +5% |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system | 4% | 6% | 8% | 18% | 22% | -4% |
| Protecting the environment | 5% | 5% | 5% | 15% | 13% | +2% |
| Political leadership | 6% | 3% | 4% | 13% | 12% | +1% |
| Housing affordability | 4% | 4% | 5% | 13% | 17% | -4% |
| Addressing climate change | 4% | 4% | 4% | 12% | 12% | - |
| Controlling interest rates | 3% | 5% | 4% | 12% | 16% | -4% |
| Managing population growth | 1% | 4% | 7% | 12% | 14% | -2% |
| Treatment of asylum seekers | 4% | 3% | 4% | 11% | * | |
| A fair industrial relations system | 2% | 4% | 5% | 11% | 9% | +2% |
| Security and the war on terrorism | 1% | 2% | 5% | 8% | 7% | +1% |
| Ensuring a quality water supply | 1% | 1% | 4% | 6% | 7% | -1% |
*Not asked in May 2010 poll
The most important election issues were management of the economy, the quality of the health system, jobs and local industry and a quality education for all children.
Since this issue was last polled in May, health and education have increased in importance (both +5%) and Australian jobs and protection of local industry declined 5%. Comments »
Q. And which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
| Labor | Liberal | Greens | Don’t know | |
| A fair industrial relations system | 45% | 24% | 5% | 26% |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children | 41% | 25% | 4% | 29% |
| Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 42% | 28% | 3% | 27% |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 38% | 27% | 4% | 31% |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system | 36% | 28% | 4% | 32% |
| Housing affordability | 30% | 24% | 4% | 41% |
| Political leadership | 33% | 30% | 5% | 33% |
| Ensuring a quality water supply | 23% | 23% | 22% | 32% |
| Managing population growth | 24% | 27% | 9% | 40% |
| Security and the war on terrorism | 25% | 30% | 3% | 42% |
| Management of the economy | 32% | 38% | 3% | 27% |
| Treatment of asylum seekers | 23% | 29% | 11% | 37% |
| Controlling interest rates | 28% | 35% | 2% | 35% |
| Addressing climate change | 18% | 16% | 36% | 29% |
| Protecting the environment | 17% | 13% | 47% | 23% |
Labor have a substantial lead over the Liberal Party as the best party to handle a fair industrial relations system (+21%), quality education for all (+16%), Australian jobs and protection of industries (+14%) and ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system (+11%).
The Liberal Party’s main strengths were controlling interest rates (+7%), treatment of asylum seekers (+6%) and management of the economy (+6%).
The Greens were thought to be the best party for protecting the environment (47%) and addressing climate change (36%). Comments »
Essential Report
Two Party Preferred: 05 March 12
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