Policies not leadership determined the way two thirds of voters cast their ballot at the 2019 election. Management of the economy topped the list of the most important issues followed by health and taxation.
Two thirds of voters cast their vote based on policy issues
Economic issues were the most important issue -43%- followed by health -22%- and environmental issues -21%
More people than ever before identified an environmental issue at their top concern, 11% more than at the 2016 poll
Government debt was seen as the most important election issue by only 2%
The importance of policy to 66% of voters was at the highest level since the 1998 election which had the Goods and Services Tax as the central policy debate.
Leadership, which has dominated politics for a decade, was nominated by only 7% as the issue they voted on. Parties (19%), candidates in the electorate (8%) were the other factors nominated.
Economic issues mattered most to voters with 24% - the highest number - citing management of the economy as the most important issue, 12% choosing taxation, 5% superannuation and 2% Government debt.
Health and Medicare continued to be a significant issue with 22% saying it was the most important.
The environment played a bigger role in the 2019 election. Around one in five voters identified an environmental issue as their top concern in the election.
11% nominated the environment as the major issue and 10% nominated global warming. Together that was more than double the number who chose an environmental issue as their top concern in 2016.