NAB has released it first annual pulse check on the big issues facing Australia today.

The cost of living is clearly the big issue. Other important concerns include: access to healthcare; employment and jobs; the economy; and terrorism/security. Conversely, concerns over indigenous issues, infrastructure and transport and taxation are lowest.

Other key findings:

• Cost of living is the biggest issue across all demographics, except for Australians over 50, where access to healthcare is the biggest issue.
• However, there were notable differences across demographics in terms of the relative importance of each issue.
• Cost of living is a much bigger issue for Tasmanians.
• Access to healthcare is also a bigger issue in Tasmania as well as SA/NT.
• Employment/jobs are more important in Tasmania, Victoria & SA/NT where unemployment has also been higher.
• West Australians are most concerned about terrorism/security, while Victorians see law and order as a much bigger issue than in the other states.
• Women rate cost of living, access to healthcare and an ageing population as a much bigger issues than do men.
• The economy and terrorism are more important concerns for men.
• Australians aged between 30-49 view employment/jobs and housing affordability as bigger issues, but more young people identified with education and income inequality.
• Access to healthcare was a relatively bigger issue for those earning less than $35,000 and for the unemployed.

The survey was undertaken during mid to late-November 2014.

For further analysis download the full report.

• Biggest Issues Facing Australia Today: Special Report (PDF, 115KB)

Also see:

• NAB Quarterly Australian Wellbeing Index – Q4 2014 (PDF, 127KB)