We’ve got 99 problems: The issues that shaped Australia’s votes
The Australian Labor Party has won the 2022 federal election and Finder has the research on the issues most important to Australians.
A new nationally representative survey of 1,002 respondents revealed Australians hope the new government will improve the cost of living and inflation pressures (71%), healthcare (43%), housing affordability (41%) and climate change (35%).
Sarah Megginson, senior editor of money at Finder, said financial wellbeing was top of mind for many Aussie households.
"Aussie households are worried about their finances – they need a reprieve.
"Whether it's struggling to pay rent or mortgages, the cost of goods and services going up or trying to get into the housing market, there's no doubt Australians are doing it tough right now and these issues were a deciding factor in their vote.
"The rental market is cut-throat, the price of everyday staples is continuing to rise and this is putting a lot of pressure on Aussies finances.
"These issues are 'make or break' for some."
A quarter of Aussies (24%) admit aged care is an important topic to tackle during this new term, while 1 in 5 (20%) are concerned about employment.
The top 3 important issues for the country's youngest voters – gen Z – are cost of living (67%), housing affordability (54%) and climate change (34%).
Key issues for baby boomers are cost of living (69%), healthcare (56%) and aged care (54%).
Megginson said there are ways to make your money work harder for you as inflation continues to rise.
"If you're struggling to save money, shopping around for better deals on some of your regular expenses is a good place to start.
"Some savvy swaps – like switching your energy provider or refinancing your home loan – could save you thousands of dollars a year.
"It's critical to know what's going in and out of your account, so you can budget accordingly. Money management apps – like the Finder app – can help you see your income and expenses all in one place and figure out how much you can afford to spend.
"If your income stays the same as what it was last year, your buying power has gone down and you've effectively had a 5.1% pay cut. This is because, as the cost of living increases, your money will buy less than what it did last year," Megginson said.
The data shows 13% want to see more social support, while 11% feel strongly about education.
The research found 1 in 10 (10%) are passionate about support for small businesses, while 4% think there needs to be more regional development.
Other issues on the agenda for Aussies are support for migrants and refugees (4%), the tourism industry (1%) and supporting big businesses (1%).
A further 2% – equivalent to almost 400,000 Australians – admitted none of the issues mentioned are important to them.
Finder has analysed how Labor's major policies will impact Australians finances.
| Which of the following issues/topics are most important to you? | |
|---|---|
| Cost of living/inflation | 71% |
| Healthcare | 43% |
| Housing affordability | 41% |
| Climate change/the environment | 35% |
| Older Australians/aged care | 24% |
| Jobs/employment | 20% |
| Social support (e.g. rental assistance, Centrelink) | 13% |
| Education | 11% |
| Supporting small businesses | 10% |
| Regional development | 4% |
| Supporting migrants/refugees | 3% |
| None of these are important to me | 2% |
| Tourism industry | 1% |
| Supporting big businesses | 1% |
| Source: Finder survey of 1,002 respondents, May 2022 | |
| *Respondents could select up to 3 responses |
Labor wins the 2022 election: What does this mean for your wallet?