The Ipsos Issues Monitor

The Ipsos Issues Monitor is an ongoing quantitative survey of Australians about the issues facing the nation, Australian states and territories and Australians’ local areas.

19 December 2024

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Latest edition | 2024 Ipsos Issues Monitors | 2016 - 2023 Compiled editions
About the Ipsos Issues Monitor | Technical notes

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Latest edition - National December 2024

As the year concludes, the Cost of Living remains the primary concern for Australians. Over three in five (65%) Australian residents consider the cost of living one of the main issues facing the nation in December 2024, marking a 3-point increase from the same period in 2023.

With mounting cost of living pressures, high interest rates throughout the year, and a persistent rental crisis, Housing maintained its position as the second most pressing issue for the second consecutive year, standing at 43% in December 2024. The highest concern for housing was recorded in May 2024 at 45%.

Healthcare ranks third at 29%, followed by the Economy at 27% in December 2024, both remaining at similar levels to those observed in December of the previous year (30% and 27%, respectively). Crime rounds out the top five concerns for December 2024, with increasing concern among the general population, reaching 26% in December 2024, an 8-point rise from the same period in 2023.

The year ends with a less favourable perception of the ALP as the most capable party to manage most of the top five issues facing the nation. Instead, the Coalition is viewed as the most competent in addressing issues related to the Cost of Living, the Economy, and Crime.

For more information on these survey findings or to request an interview with a representative from Ipsos Australia, please contact David Elliott

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2024 Ipsos Issues Monitors

2016 - 2023 Compiled editions

About the Ipsos Issues Monitor

The Ipsos Issues Monitor regularly takes the pulse of Australians on the issues of the day that effect our nation. An ongoing monthly quantitative survey that addresses social, political and economic areas of concern. Each month, Ipsos asks approximately 1,000 Australians to select the three most important topics facing Australia, their state/territory and their local area from a list of nineteen issues.*

*The Nineteen issues are: The Economy, Crime, Healthcare/Hospitals, Taxation, Petrol Prices, Race Relations, Education, Population, Unemployment, Cost of Living, Immigration, Drug Abuse, Environment, Transport, Personal Debt, Defence, Housing, Poverty and Indigenous Issues.

Technical notes

The Ipsos Issues Monitor is conducted monthly via online panel. Each month approximately 1000 Australian adults aged 18+ are asked to select the top three issues facing the nation within their state and local areas from a list of nineteen potential concerns. Data is weighted to match the profile of the population.

The precision of Ipsos online polls are calculated using a credibility interval with a poll of 1,000 accurate to +/- 3.5 percentage points and of 500 accurate to +/- 4.8 percentage points. For more information on the Ipsos use of credibility intervals, please visit www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/2017-03/IpsosPA_CredibilityIntervals.pdf

Polling Methodology Disclosure Statements

APC Quality Logo Ipsos believes in transparency around the polling we undertake. Further to this, and as a founding member of the Australian Polling Council, we are pleased to comply with the Council’s Code of Conduct, including making available a Methodology Disclosure Statement around each of the our published polls, including our Ipsos Issues Monitor. These statements can be accessed here.

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