, as new research shows the cost of living and housing affordability are by far the issues on which people want the government focused.Anthony Albanese must argue for the Voice while remain focussed on the cost of living.Amid flagging support for the Voice to parliament, which will be put to a referendum in the spring, the latest True Issues survey by JWS Research shows the cost of living remains firmly entrenched as the key concern with 75 per cent of respondents nominating it.
The next highest issue of concern is hospitals, healthcare and ageing, which sits on 58 per cent, followed by housing and interest rates, which has jumped from 46 per cent to 53 per cent since the last survey in February. Indigenous issues, including the Voice, was considered important by 10 per cent, meaning it rated 15th out of the 22 issues with which the respondents were prompted.
Given the close correlation between the cost of living and housing affordability, JWS director John Scales said managing voter concern was becoming a “huge issue” for the government. The survey of 1225 voters was taken in the first week of June. It also asks voters how the government is handling the key issues of concern. Of the 22 issues, it came last on the cost of living with a performance index of 29, and second last on housing and interest rates with an index of 30.The overall Yes vote had fallen from 51 per cent in February to 46 per cent in June, while the No vote had risen from 36 per cent to 43 per cent. Just 11 per cent remained undecided.