What really matters – Part III

What message should John Howard be heeding from Australian voters? A
new Morgan Poll on what we think are the key issues facing our nation
and the world has some answers:

Only 12% of Australians now think that
collectively, Terrorism, Wars, Security and Safety are the most important
problem facing Australia, down from 21% in October 2005…

Now Australians most often mention Government
and Human issues (25% up 11%) such as Government and the Political System (7%
down 2%), Immigration (5% up 4%) and Intolerance (3% up 3%) as the most
important problem facing Australia. Government and Human issues are
followed by Economic issues (20% up 6%), Terrorism, Wars, Security and Safety
(12% down 9%) and Social issues (11% up 8%) as the most commonly cited problems
for Australia.

The nuts
and bolts of the polling break down like this:

It would be
interesting to see how petrol prices rate a few weeks on. Gary Morgan comments
“Australians’ domestic concerns have changed significantly since October last
year, when the London Terrorist attacks and the Bali Bombings were still fresh
in their minds”.

We’re in
the second half of the term of this Government. That focus on health issues,
social issues, human issues and environmental issues is interesting. Relaxed
and comfortable – but feeling the first signs of bed sores?

A lot can happen in 3 months.

3 months is a long time in 2020. Join us to make sense of it all.

Get you first 12 weeks of Crikey for just $12. Cancel anytime.

Peter Fray
Editor-in-chief of Crikey

12 weeks for $12