Critical services

CEDA national poll: law and order issues; higher minimum wage more important to Victorians

Reduced violence in homes and communities, tough criminal laws and criminal sentences and a higher minimum wage were all issues that rated more important to Victorians compared to other states in a nation-wide poll.

Reduced commuting times was surprisingly one of the least important areas to Victorians and Victorians were less concerned with regulation to stop welfare fraud than those in other states. One of the most contested areas was regular pay rises, with many Victorians rating it either as very important or not important at all.

The Victorian results, being released in Melbourne today, are part of a major national poll commissioned by CEDA for the report Community pulse 2018: the economic disconnect. 

The poll explored who has gained from Australia’s record run of economic growth; their most important issues personally and to the nation; and attitudes to work.
 
In releasing the Victorian results, CEDA Chief Executive Melinda Cilento said in line with the national results the majority of Victorians do not feel like they have gained, or don’t know if they have gained from economic growth.

On the national issues of greatest importance, Ms Cilento said Victorians were in line with the national results placing greatest importance on high quality and accessible public hospitals; strong regulation to limit foreign ownership of Australian land/assets; increased pension payments; high quality and choice of aged care services; and high quality and accessible public schools.

However, she said Victorians rated tough criminal laws and criminal sentences of greater importance than other states.

“In the top personal issues, reduced violence in homes and communities rated higher in Victoria than other states, along with a higher minimum wage, which suggests that Victorians are more concerned about law and order issues than other states,” she said.
 
“The other top personal issues again aligned nationally with reliable, low cost basic health services; reliable, low cost essential services; access to stable and affordable housing; affordable, high quality chronic disease services; rating as of high importance.

“Much like the other states, the expectation that government should provide the services fundamental to the quality of life in Australia remains strong.

“On the work front, Victorians place greater importance on job training and development and flexible conditions.

“Victorians are spending slightly longer commuting when compared with the national results but interestingly rated commuting times as unimportant.

“Perhaps major infrastructure works underway are helping reduce concern.

“In the workplace, Victorians are more optimistic about new technology in their job and less concerned technology will replace them when compared to the national results.”

Further state events where additional state-specific data will be released are planned for Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Sydney in July and August.

Read and download: Community pulse 2018: the economic disconnect.

Download Victorian results 
Download CEDA’s report Community pulse 2018: the economic disconnect. 
Watch the launch for Community pulse 2018: the economic disconnect report.

 

About CEDA

CEDA – the Committee for Economic Development of Australia – is an independent, not-for-profit membership organisation.

We identify policy issues that matter for Australia’s future. We work to drive policies that deliver better economic, social and environmental outcomes for Australia. We deliver on our purpose by: Leveraging insights from our members to identify and understand the most important issues Australia faces. Facilitating collaboration and idea sharing to invoke imaginative, innovative and progressive policy solutions. Providing a platform to stimulate thinking, raise new ideas and debate critical and challenging issues. Influencing decision makers in government, business and the community by delivering objective information and expert analysis and advocating in support of our positions. CEDA's membership spans every state and territory and includes Australia's leading businesses, community organisations, government departments and academic institutions. The organisation was founded in 1960 by leading economist Sir Douglas Copland, and his legacy of applying economic analysis to practical problems to aid the development of Australia continues as we celebrate 60 years of influence, reform and impact across the nation.;