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Australian Opinion Leaders* identified Economic issues as the most important problem facing the World (29%) and Australia (24%). This is in marked contrast with most Australians surveyed by Roy Morgan Research who were about half as likely as Opinion Leaders to identify Economic Issues as important for the World (16%) and for Australia (14%).

Of those Opinion Leaders who identified Economic Issues as the most important issue a substantial majority see Poverty, Globalisation and Over-Population as the most pressing economic issue for the World (24% out of a total of 29% identifying Economic Issues). For Australia , Economic Problems and IR Reform were identified as the most important set of Economic Issues (17% out of a total of 24% identifying Economic Issues).

Australian Opinion Leaders are more circumspect about the problems of Terrorism, War and Security for the World than the Australian population at large. A recent Roy Morgan Survey of Australia’s Opinion Leaders found that only 15% identified Terrorism, Wars and Security -related problems as the most important problem facing the World today while more than half (52%) of all Australians aged 14 and over believed the same thing.

Only 5% of Australian Opinion Leaders identified Terrorism, Wars and Security -related problems as the most important problem facing Australia today. Four-times as many Australians (21%) aged 14 and over identified Terrorism, Wars and Security -related problems as the most important problem facing Australia .

Government and Human Issues are a key point of difference between Opinion Leaders and the Australian population generally. These differences are most pronounced when it comes to Australia : with almost twice as many Opinion Leaders (22%) as Australians (12%) believing Government and Human Issues were the most important issue. Internationally 8% of Opinion Leaders saw Government and Human Issues as the main problem compared with only 2% of Australians.

The bulk of Opinion Leaders who believed Government and Human Issues was the most important problem facing Australia believed that Government, Politics and Political Systems were the problem (17% out of a total 22%). Opinion Leaders also believe that Government, Politics and Political Systems were the main problem internationally as well (6% out of a total 8%).

More than twice as many Opinion Leaders (26%) as Australians (12%) saw Environmental Issues as the most important global problem. However, Opinion Leaders and the general population agree that the environment is an important problem for Australia ( Opinion Leaders -17% cf 15% of all Australians).

*The sample for the Opinion Leaders survey was drawn from the ‘top end’ of Roy Morgan Single Source - a well constructed Australia-wide sample of people of income $80,000+ or in the top occupational categories or have a degree, and included booster samples from Henry Thornton Readers, Crikey! Readers, Australian Institute of International Affairs Members, Marcus Oldham Associates, Davos Connection Associates and the Australian American Association Members.

For further information:

Gary Morgan :   Office (03) 9224 5213   Mobile 0411 129 094   Home (03) 9419 3242

Michele Levine :   Office (03) 9224 5215   Mobile 0411 129 093   Home (03) 9817 3066

Issues Facing The World and Australia

Respondents were asked: “Firstly, what do you think is the most important problem facing the world today?” and “What do you think is the most important problem facing Australia today?”

Most important problem facing	The World		Australia
	Australians Aged 14+ (%)	Opinion Leaders (%)	Australians Aged 14+ (%)	Opinion Leaders (%)
Terrorism	46	12	19	4
Wars and Conflicts	6	3	2	1
Total Terrorism/Wars/Security, Safety	52	15	21	5
Economic Problems	3	5	6	12
Industrial Relations Reforms	-	-	-	5
Total Industrial Relations and Economic Problems	3	5	6	17
Poverty; the Gap Between the Rich & Poor	10	18	4	4
Unemployment	*	-	2	1
Over-Population	1	3	*	*
Globalisation / Fairer World Trade	1	3	1	2
Total Other Economic Issues	12	24	7	7
Total Economic Issues	16	29	14	24
Religion, Religious fundamentalism	2	6	1	1
Water Conservation	1	1	8	5
Global Warming	4	11	2	4
Famine	-	1	-	-
Other Environmental Issues	7	13	4	8
Total Environmental Issues	12	26	15	17
Petrol Prices	1	*	6	2
Energy Crisis	1	2	1	1
Depletion of Fossil Fuels	*	2	1	*
Total Energy Crisis/Depletion of Fossil Fuels/Petrol prices	2	4	8	3
Bird 'flu	*	1	1	*
Other Health Issues	1	1	5	3
Total Health Issues	2	2	6	3
Corruption	*	1	*	1
Greed, Materialism	1	1	*	2
Drugs and Drug Abuse	*	-	1	*
Educational Issues	*	*	2	2
Total Social Issues	3	2	4	5
Government, Politics, Political System	1	6	9	17
Human Rights	*	*	1	2
Refugees, Refugee and Asylum Problems	-	*	1	*
Immigration, Immigration Policy	-	-	1	1
Intolerance	1	2	*	2
Total Other Government, Human Issues	1	2	3	5
Total Government, Human Issues	2	8	12	22
Other	8	6	14	17
Can’t Say	1	2	5	3

Most Important Issues Facing the World and Australia for Opinion Leaders by Industry

Industry	Most Important Issues Facing the World	Most Important Issues Facing Australia
Agriculture	1. Economic Issues (30%) 2. Terrorism, War and Security Related Issues (23%) 3. Environmental Issues (21%)	1. Economic Issues (28%) 2. Other (25%) 3. Environmental Issues (19%)
Business Services	1. Economic Issues (34%) 2. Environmental Issues (29%) 3. Terrorism, War and Security Related Issues (18%)	1. Economic Issues (33%) 2. Government and Human Issues (27%) 3. Other (19%)
Construction	1. Economic Issues (30%) 2. Environmental Issues (24%) 3. Terrorism, War and Security Related Issues (16%)	1. Environmental Issues (24%) 2. Economic Issues (24%) 3. Terrorism, War and Security Related Issues (14%)
Education	1. Economic Issues (31%) 2. Environmental Issues (29%) 3. Terrorism, War and Security Related Issues (17%)	1. Economic Issues (22%) 2. Environmental Issues (21%) 3. Other (20%)
Electricity, Gas & Water	1. Environmental Issues (29%) 2. Economic Issues (21%) 3. Terrorism, War and Security Related Issues (17%)	1. Environmental Issues (33%) 2. Energy Crisis, Depletion of Fossil Fuels and Petrol Prices (13%) 3. Economic Issues (13%) .
Finance & Insurance	1. Economic Issues (28%) 2. Terrorism, War and Security Related Issues (23%) 3. Environmental Issues (16%)	1. Economic Issues (25%) 2. Government and Human Issues (21%) 3. Environmental Issues (18%)
Health/Other community services	1. Environmental Issues (31%) 2. Economic Issues (25%) 3. Terrorism, War and Security Related Issues (16%)	1. Government and Human Issues (29%) 2. Economic Issues (20%) 3. Other (20%)
Manufacturing	1. Economic Issues (36%) 2. Environmental Issues (18%) 3. Terrorism, War and Security Related Issues (13%)	1. Economic Issues (31%) 2. Government and Human Issues (24%) 3. Environmental Issues (16%)
Media/ Communications	1. Economic Issues (32%) 2. Environmental Issues (27%) 3. Government Politics and Political Systems (11%)	1. Government and Human Issues (29%) 2. Other (22%) 3. Economic Issues (17%)
Mining	1. Economic Issues (36%) 2. Terrorism, War and Security Related Issues (13%) 3. Environmental Issues (13%)	1. Economic Issues (42%) 2. Government and Human Issues (26%) 3. Environmental Issues (13%)
Property	1. Religion and Religious Fundamentalism (23%) 2. Economic Issues (16%) 3. Environmental Issues (16%)	1. Government and Human Issues (32%) 2. Economic Issues (32%) 3. Social Issues (13%)
Public Administration & Defence	1. Environmental Issues (31%) 2. Economic Issues (27%) 3. Terrorism, War and Security Related Issues (11%)	1. Government and Human Issues (20%) 2. Economic Issues (20%) 3. Environmental Issues (19%)
Retail	1. Environmental Issues (29%) 2. Terrorism, War and Security Related Issues (25%) 3. Economic Issues (23%)	1. Government and Human Issues (27%) 2. Economic Issues (17%) 3. Other Issues (17%)
Tele-communications	1. Economic Issues (33%) 2. Terrorism, War and Security Related Issues (26%) 3. Environmental Issues (16%)	1. Economic Issues (33%) 2. Government and Human Issues (21%) 3. Other (19%)
Transport & Storage	1. Economic Issues (29%) 2. Terrorism, War and Security Related Issues (20%) 3. Environmental Issues (20%)	1. Economic Issues (31%) 2. Government and Human Issues (26%) 3. Environmental Issues (14%)
Wholesale	1. Economic Issues (33%) 2. Environmental Issues (24%) 3. Terrorism, War and Security Related Issues (24%)	1. Economic Issues (29%) 2. Environmental Issues (24%) 3. Terrorism, War and Security Related Issues (14%)

Opinion Leaders across all Industry Sectors have a remarkably similar perception of the most important issues facing the World and Australia . With only two exceptions all Industry Sectors identified Economic Issues; Environmental Issues ; and Terrorism, Wars and Security Issues, as their top three concerns .

Economic Issues are the primary concern across all Industry Sectors . All but five Sectors (Electricity, Gas and Water; Retail; Property; Public Administration and Defence; and the Health and Other Community Services Sectors) identify Economic Issues as their greatest concern. Apart from the Electricity, Gas and Water; Retail; and Property Sectors at least 25% of all Opinion Leaders in all Industry groups identify Economic Issues as of paramount global concern.

Typical responses from Opinion Leaders talking about Economic Issues in the World included:

“ Getting realistic prices for the food that we produce ” (Agriculture)

“ The liberalization of trade (globalization) and the associated inequality of income distribution ” (Manufacturing)

“ Global economic over-rationalisation —there is no such thing as a level playing field when countries can effectively dump their subsidised produce anywhere ” (Wholesale)

“ The Western world’s dependence on oil from Muslim nations —our money is supporting their fanaticism ” (Business Services)

The Environment is the second greatest concern across all Industry Sectors , identified as the top concern for four Sectors: Electricity, Gas and Water; Retail; Public Administration and Defence; and the Health and Other Community Services Sectors and as either the second or third concern for all others.

Typical responses from Opinion Leaders talking about Environmental Issues in the World included:

“ The energy crisis and how we will cope with massive overpopulation in areas where it is unsustainable ” (Agriculture)

“ A lack of policies on non-renewable resources and sustainable lifestyles ” (Mining)

“ Unsustainable and unjust exploitation of the global environment and its natural resources ” (Education)

“ The environment: the struggle to balance personal wants and economic needs against environmental destruction ” (Health and Other Community Services)

Economic and Environmental Issues are in the top three for all Industry Sectors.

Terrorism, War and Security Issues is the third greatest area of concern across all Industry Sectors . It is amongst the top three greatest global problems for all Industry Sectors bar two (Media and Communications; and Property). However it is not the most important issue for any industry Sector.

Typical responses from Opinion Leaders talking about Terrorism, War and Security Issues in the World included:

“ Too much concern about other people’s backyards: certain countries need to stop living other countries’ lives ” (Construction)

“ Intolerance and isolationism feeding ignorance, fear and aggression ” (Telecommunications)

“ Unwillingness to understand or account for the ‘terrorist’ threat and all associated spin dumbing down the debate into an ‘us vs. evil’ mentality ” (Public Administration and Defence)

Interestingly the Media and Communications and Property Sectors do not identify Terrorism as a top three concern. The Media and Communications Sector focuses instead on Government, Politics and Political Systems as a pressing international problem ranking it third (11%). A response from someone who believed that Government, Politics and Political Systems was the World ’s main problem was: “T he trend towards neo-liberal right-wing governments [is] creating social division and inequality ”. Another suggested that there was “ A lack of true leadership from the main Western nations ”.

Opinion Leaders working in the Property Sector believed that Religion and Religious Fundamentalism was the greatest single problem in the World . They were alone in this view. Respondents from this Sector were concerned about “ Fundamentalism and economic inequality —the two are invariably linked ”. Others commented on “ The problem between Islamic countries and non-Islamic countries ” and “ Muslim extremism and third world poverty ”.

Most Important Issue Facing the World

Analysis by Industry Sector, showing typical comments from respondents

Industry Sector	Issue 1	Issue 2	Issue 3
Agriculture	Economic Issues (30%) Comments : “Getting realistic prices for the food that we produce”, “Distorted trading markets” and “Unequal distribution of wealth leading to discontent”	Terrorism, War and Security Issues (23%) Comments : “Security issues with the rise of China ” and “The war on terror —because world leaders are doing stuff that has been done before and not worked. It’s hard to understand why they don’t try something different”	Environmental Issues (21%) Comments : “The energy crisis and how we will cope with massive overpopulation in areas where it is unsustainable” and “Climate change, renewable energy and sustainable farming practices”
Mining	Economic Issues (36%) Comments : “Alleviating poverty”, “Overpopulation”, “Economic inequality between different countries” and “Inequality between rich and poor”	Terrorism, War and Security Issues (13%) Comments : the “ USA ’s greed and arrogance is a major issue”, “The rising threat of Islamic fundamentalism” and “Conflict between the haves and the have-nots”	Environmental Issues (13%) Comments : “A lack of policies on non-renewable resources and sustainable lifestyles” and “Regulating human activity to that which is sustainable”
Manufacturing	Economic Issues (36%) Comments : “The liberalization of trade (globalization) and the associated inequality of income distribution”, “Economic inequality between the First and Third worlds” and “Inequality of resources between nations and peoples”	Environmental Issues (18%) Comments : “Overpopulation creating regional shortages of food, oxygen and energy. A lack of global planning” “Greenhouse gas emissions and climate change” and “Growing demand for no-renewable fuel”	Terrorism, War and Security Issues (13%) Comments : “ US foreign policy and its fallout”, “Neo-cons and in particular American imperialism” and “”Instability and uncertainty as a result of terrorism activities”
Electricity, Gas and Water	Environmental Issues (29%) Comments : “Developing an ecologically sustainable society”, “Greenhouse climate-change impacts —global warming” and “Resource over-exploitation/use resulting in climate change”	Economic Issues (21%) Comments : “Rising energy costs”, “Globalisation and overpopulation” and “The inequitable distribution of wealth”	Terrorism, War and Security Issues (17%) Comments : “Terrorism not how to stop it but how to deal with it”, “Muslim extremists” and the “Rise of both Muslim and Christian extremism amongst Governments”
Construction	Economic Issues (30%) Comments : “Consumerism as a reason for living”, “The wealth divide and the growing power of Western nations over their developing counterparts”, “fair return on effort not occurring —US and large corporations using inequitable monopoly power to gouge others who can’t afford to retaliate” and “The effect of international business interests on third world countries”	Environmental Issues (24%) Comments : “Environmental sustainability and the lack of a long term vision for the survival of our species beyond a couple of generations” and “Environmental degradation, particularly over-urbanisation, lack of effective public transport and the continued use of non renewable energy”	Terrorism, War and Security Issues (16%) Comments : “Too much concern about other people’s backyards: certain countries need to stop living other countries’ lives” and “Increased motivation for failed states with nuclear weapons”
Wholesale	Economic Issues (33%) Comments : “Global economic over-rationalisation —there is no such thing as a level playing field when countries can effectively dump their subsidized produce anywhere” and “Poverty and nobody caring —poor states existing like sweatshops for wealthy nations””	Environmental Issues (24%) Comments : “The deterioration of our environment”, “water availability” and “Global warming and people’s wellbeing”	Terrorism, War and Security Issues (24%) Comments : “There are many problems but the one that needs to be solved first is terrorism or really the causes of terrorism” and “The response to terrorism taking us in the wrong direction: by clamping down on freedoms we are giving the terrorists what they want”
Retail	Environmental Issues (29%) Comments : “Repairing the environment” “Environmental sensitivity and fairness” and “World natural events such as fires, floods and earthquakes”	Terrorism, War and Security Issues (25%) Comments : “Terrorism and anti-terrorism laws”, “Poorer countries embracing Islam” and “Zionist-Muslim conflict which is spreading worldwide”	Economic Issues (23%) Comments : “Poverty in third world countries and the over-consumption of resources by developed countries”, “Poverty caused by greed” and “2 billion out of 6 billion living in poverty”
Transport and Storage	Economic Issues (29%) Comments : “The massive divide between the rich and the poor both at the level of nations and at the intra-national level”, “The financial bankruptcy of the US ” and “Poverty and greed”	Terrorism, War and Security Issues (20%) Comment: “Extremists, terrorism and religion”, Middle East crisis” and “US’s colonial attitude towards the world”	Environmental Issues (20%) Comments: “Environmental degradation”, “global warming and overpopulation” and “Climate change and sustainability”
Telecommunications	Economic Issues (33%) Comments : “Globalisation’s ‘race for the bottom’”, “Underdevelopment in the Third world” and “Multinational corporations and the amazing power they to commits crimes and influence Government”	Terrorism, War and Security Issues (26%) Comments : “Intolerance and isolationism feeding ignorance, fear and aggression”, “Extremists, terrorism and religion” and “Terrorism and the enforced migrations of people hosting these refugees”	Environmental Issues (16%) Comments : “The need for a substitute for petroleum fuel”, “Management of global natural resources:” and “Declining fossil fuel reserves”
Media and Communications	Economic Issues (32%) Comments : “Economic imbalances in terms of development rates in Africa and Mid-East vs. Western growth” and “Economic imperialism”	Environmental Issues (27%) Comments : “Climate change as the most profound problem” and “sustainable growth vs. limited resources”	Government, Politics and Political Systems (11%) Comments : “The trend towards neo-liberal right-wing governments creating social division and inequality” and “A lack of true leadership from the main Western nations”
Finance and Insurance	Economic Issues (28%) Comments : “The divide between rich and poor countries: rich countries do not want to let poor countries into their club” and “Structural poverty —inequities between the first and third Worlds”	Terrorism, War and Security Issues (23%) Comments : “The US attempt to spread democracy from the barrel of a gun”, “Mounting tensions between the West and the Islamic world:” and “Extremist religious terrorism”	Environmental Issues (16%) Comments : “There are too many of us consuming too many resources to be sustainable in the long term” and “Climate change, environmental degradation and unsustainable population growth”
Property	Religion and Religious Fundamentalism (23%) Comments : “Fundamentalism and economic inequality —the two are invariably linked”, “Problems between Islamic and non-Islamic countries”, Islamic radicals” and “Muslim extremists”	Economic Issues (16%) Comments : “The distribution of the world’s resources” and “How to continue to build strong economies without losing our compassion for those who are not successful with in them”	Environmental Issues (16%) Comments : “Global warming and the environment generally” and “How to manage our dwindling natural resources”
Business Services	Economic Issues (34%) Comments : “The Western world’s dependence on oil from Muslim nations —our money is supporting their fanaticism” and “Need for genuine free trade so food, business and investment can get where it needs to be”	Environmental Issues (29%) Comments : “Lack of leadership from developed countries and poorer countries unable to afford cleaner technologies”, Global weather” and “Unrealistic resource utilisation”	Terrorism, War and Security Issues (18%) Comments : “The fear of terrorism, the way it is tackled, it is inflaming rather than reducing it” and the “Clash of fundamentalisms between the US , Israel and the Muslim world”
Public Administration and Defence	Environmental Issues (31%) Comments : “Over-population leading to unsustainable use of resources”, “Global warming and the depletion of fossil fuels”, “The environment and its long-term impact on starvation and poverty” and “Long-term sustainable energy requirements”	Economic Issues (27%) Comments : “Ensuring the equitable distribution of wealth and opportunity, in a global environment where self-interest dominates the agenda of all nations and non-state actors” and “Economic instability in Third world and developing nations”	Terrorism, War and Security Issues (11%) Comments : “Unwillingness to understand or account for the ‘terrorist’ threat and all associated spin dumbing down the debate into an ‘us vs. evil’ mentality”
Education	Economic Issues (31%) Comments : “Economic and environmental implications of the modernization of China and India ”, “The budget and current account deficits of the US ”, “Poverty and global inequality” and “Inequality of resources and opportunities”	Environmental Issues (29%) Comments : “Unsustainable and unjust exploitation of the global environment and its natural resources”, “Environmental instability and insecurity —dwindling resources and depleted environment” and “Unsustainable overconsumption”	Terrorism, War and Security Issues (17%) Comments : “International inequity which is causing frustration in poorer nations, making the easy recruiting grounds for terrorists and international crime”, “Terrorism and corrupt dictatorships” and “Neo-conservatism”
Health and Other Community Services	Environmental Issues (31%) Comments : “The environment: the struggle to balance personal wants and economic needs against environmental destruction” and “The environment and the way the Government puts more time and effort into material problems rather than living issues such as quantity and quality of water”	Economic Issues (25%) Comments : “Too few resources in the hands of too few people, to the detriment of the majority”, “Stock market crash”, “Trade barriers —EU and US shutting Third world trade” and “Global wealth imbalance”	Terrorism, War and Security Issues (16%) Comments : “Overtaking of moderate views by a culture of ‘isms’ —radicalism, fundamentalism, terrorism, racialism” and “Domination of all significant World and regional affairs by Military-Industrial complex”

On the home front there is less consensus across Industry Sectors on what the most important problems facing Australia are. There are seven sets of issues identified as amongst the top three concerns to Australia for all Industry Sectors compared to only five internationally. Issues that gained more prominence domestically for Opinion Leaders included Government and Human Issues; Energy; and Social Issues. The appearance of Government and Human Issues as the second most important problem facing Australia is the most marked change between Opinion Leaders ’ perceptions of problems at home as opposed to overseas.

Economic concerns remain the main concern for a clear majority of Industry Sectors . Of the 16 Industry Sectors, 9 including the Agriculture; Mining; Manufacturing; Wholesale; Transport and Storage; Telecommunications; Education; Business Services; and Finance and Insurance Sectors identify Economic Issues as the single greatest problem facing Australia . All industry Sectors hold Economic Issues amongst their top three concerns for Australia . No other set of issues shares this widespread recognition.

Typical responses from Opinion Leaders talking about Economic Issues in Australia included:

“ If the US gets a cold we get the ‘flu (financial not avian) ” (Agriculture)

“ A lack of investment in people through education and in prosperity through infrastructure ” (Electricity, Gas and Water)

“ Terrible taxation system forcing young professionals overseas to save money ” (Property)

Whilst Economic Issues remain the most prominent issues across all industry Sectors, a strong second are Government and Human Issues . The Health and Other Community Services; Media and Communications; Property; Public Administration and Defence; and Retail Sectors all hold Government and Human issues as the single greatest problem Australia faces. If we look closely at this finding we see that problems surrounding Governments, Politics and Political Systems far outweigh concerns over Human Rights, Refugees, Immigration and Intolerance (the only exception being the Wholesale Sector which sees both sets of problems as of equal concern).

Typical responses from Opinion Leaders talking about Government and Human Issues in Australia included:

“ Lack of leadership, backwards-looking economy, cronyism, lack of sustainable development ” (Business Services)

“ We do not have an effective Opposition Federally or in most States ” (Health and Other Community Services)

“ A move to the right politically with a drop in social responsibility and care for the social underclass ” (Manufacturing)

Environmental Issues remain a prominent concern for Opinion Leaders and the single greatest concern for those in the Construction and Electricity, Gas and Water Industries. Other industries to hold environmental concerns amongst their top three most prominent include: Agriculture; Mining; Wholesale; Transport and Storage; Finance and Insurance; Education; and Public Administration and Defence.

Typical responses from Opinion Leaders talking about Environmental Issues in Australia included:

  “ An unwillingness to take hard decisions to protect the environment ” (Construction)

  “ Declining non-renewable resources ” (Finance and Insurance)

  “ Resources are finite and research needs to be undertaken into sustainable living practices ” (Mining)

Terrorism, War and Security Issues drop away on the domestic front for Opinion Leaders and are only the third-ranked problem for two industry Sectors —Construction and Wholesale. No more than one in seven Opinion Leaders in any industry see terrorism as the main problem facing Australia .

Typical responses from Opinion Leaders talking about Terrorism, War and Security Issues in Australia included:

“ Not enough protection for our shores ” (Construction)

“ Getting involved in religious conflicts overseas ” (Construction)

“ The breakdown of law and order ” (Wholesale)

Most Important Issue Facing Australia

Analysis by Industry Sector, showing typical comments from respondents

Industry Sector	Issue 1	Issue 2	Issue 3
Agriculture	Economic Issues (28%) Comments : “If the US gets a cold we get the ‘flu (financial not avian)”, “Increasing divide between wealthy and working”, “Tax system, trade issues and poverty” and “Shortage of unskilled labour in our primary industries”	Other (25%) Comments : “The rural industry or lack thereof”, “The lack of community” and “The absence of any nuclear fuel debate”	Environmental Issues (19%) Comments : “Supplies of drinking and irrigation water”, “ The energy crisis and how we will cope with massive over-population in areas where it is unsustainable” and “Greenhouse gas pollution and global warming”
Mining	Economic Issues (42%) Comments : “To achieve a fair society while maintaining economic growth”, “Maintaining living standards in the face of economic competition”, “Lack of skilled labour due to incorrect wages, “Skill shortages and an education system that exacerbates the problem” and “Excessive household debt”	Government and Human Issues (26%) Comments : “ Australia being governed as an Economy only and not a Society and an Economy”, “Degradation of human rights”, “Right-wing ideology” and “Left-wing elitists who think they know better than the silent majority”	Environmental Issues (13%) Comments : “The lack of political will to address sustainability”, “Water”, “Global warming and water consumption” and “Resources are finite and research needs to be undertaken into sustainable living practices”
Manufacturing	Economic Issues (31%) Comments : “Taxation”, “Losing our ability to be self-sufficient —resources, employment, defence”, “Moving away from being an egalitarian, fair society”, “Current account deficit”, “Global competition, social inequality and job security” and “Taxation complexity”	Government and Human Issues (24%) Comments : “A move to the right politically with a drop in social responsibility and care for the social underclass” and “Government is so far isolated from the population that it has no motivation or capacity to lead the country”	Environmental Issues (16%) Comments : “Climate change and an unwillingness to invest aggressively in technological solutions to environmental asset exhaustion”, “Degradation of water systems” and “Environmental issues: water and agricultural practices”
Electricity, Gas and Water	Environmental Issues (33%) Comments : “Environmental degradation”, “Fresh water supply”, “How to save the river Murray ” “Global warming” and “Drought”	Energy Crisis, Depletion of Fossil Fuels and Petrol Prices (13%) Comments : “The inflationary effect of rising fuel costs”, “oil prices and inflationary potential” and “Dependence on expensive and non-renewable fuels”	Economic Issues (13%) Comments : “A lack of investment in people through education and in prosperity through infrastructure”, “A big, fat and lazy middle class that thinks they should get everything handed to the on a plate” and “A resources/agriculture-dominated economy”
Construction	Environmental Issues (24%) Comments : “Environmental degradation: -in Australia this is becoming increasingly symbolized through the city-country divide”, “Global warming and drought” and “An unwillingness to take hard decisions to protect the environment”	Economic Issues (24%) Comments : “Sustaining our economic growth”, “Impact of FTA: patents, copyrights will eventually cripple Australia ’s entrepreneurs” and “Poverty and debt”	Terrorism, War and Security Issues (14%) Comments : “Transition from a one superpower world to a multipolar world and the conflict between foreign policy and trade with a multipolar world”
Wholesale	Economic Issues (29%) Comments : “IR reforms” and “The total demise of a basis for manufacturing due to a massive switch to imports” and “We are not protecting and helping our Australian industries and businesses enough”	Environmental Issues (24%) Comments : “Global warming”, “The loss of land to exploitation”, “The over-consumption of non-renewable resources” and “Water availability”	Terrorism Issues (14%) Comments : “The breakdown of law and order” and “Terrorism”
Retail	Government and Human Issues (27%) Comments : “John Howard”, “The Right”, “Democratic breakdown and the resulting public apathy in the political process: and “A government that’s only agenda is to serve Big Business with no vision for the future of the country”	Economic Issues (17%) Comments : “The new IR laws will dramatically reduce people’s spending power and cripple the economy over a period of time”, “Nil productivity, importing everything we need” and “Inequality of wealth distribution”	Other (17%) Comments : “Putting profits ahead of people, the growing belief that might is right and that winning at all costs is more important than following a moral or ethic path in life” and “The Aboriginal problem”
Transport and Storage	Economic Issues (31%) Comments : “Long-term economic and social stability without consolidating a permanent underclass”, “Keeping economic momentum” and “Signing of free trade agreements”	Government and Human Issues (26%) Comments : “IR laws and Liberal Government ideology” and “Government push on individual rights and freedoms” and “John Howard’s threat to the IR system by his fascist ideologically driven hatred of the unions”	Environmental Issues (14%) Comments : “Unsustainable use of water”, “Environmental degradation” and “Global warming”
Telecommunications	Economic Issues (33%) Comments : “Future sustainability of our export industry based primarily on the continued export of raw materials” and “Consumer debt levels, exposing the average person to undue risk in the event of a market correction”	Government and Human Issues (21%) Comments : “Immigration from Muslim countries” and “The debasement of our culture and democracy by the Howard Government”	Other (19%) Comments : “Moving back to a more compassionate Government” “The growing social acceptance of the general highly conservative attitudes permeating our culture” and “Low living standards in Aboriginal communities”
Media and Communications	Government and Human Issues (29%) Comments : “Imbalance between citizen and Federal Government power”, “General public political apathy”, “Pettiness of our politicians, removal of safety nets, scrapping of civil liberties” and “The Coalition’s Senate majority and the arrogance of the Howard Government”	Other (22%) Comments : “A lack of a sense of community”, “A lack of a sense of social responsibility” and “Selfishness —everything else flows from that”	Economic Issues (17%) Comments : “Moving to a high-skills/high-wage economy and working culture”, “Teetering on the precipice of social and financial insecurity due to the Federal Government’s ideological desire to strip workers rights” and “House price bubble”
Finance and Insurance	Economic Issues (25%) Comments : “IR reform —why do we need to go down this path?”, “The taxation system and corresponding transfer payments”, Achieving economic reform and reducing inequality at the same time” and “Our mounting foreign debt and current account deficit, despite favourable terms of trade —reflecting poor economic fundamentals”	Government and Human Issues (21%) Comments : “Right-wing economic-driven politics” and “Governments pandering to business and religious groups and the resulting loss of economic and environmental sustainability”	Environmental Issues (18%) Comments : “Declining non-renewable resources” “Dealing with issues around the environment and management of our natural resources” and “Water”
Property	Government and Human Issues (32%) Comments : “John Howard and IR reforms”, “The diffusion of power through the three levels of Government” and “Poor governance and the Commonwealth/State/Territory/Local Government blame-game”	Economic Issues (32%) Comments : “Terrible taxation system forcing young professionals overseas to save money”, “Widening gap between the rich and the poor” and “How to handle the comedown from the economic boom”	Social Issues (13%) Comments : “Lack of universal educational opportunities”, “Quality of education” “Our role in world affairs” and “Managing the rise of Asia ”
Business Services	Economic Issues (33%) Comments : “The risk of an economic slowdown with our outdated IR system”, “Ensuring that we have the economic infrastructure to have a strong and flexible economy” and “The increasing gap between the rich and the poor”	Government and Human Issues (27%) Comments : “The Howard Government”, “Implementation of a Neo-con agenda leading to IR changes and a reduction in social supports” and “Lack of leadership, backwards-looking economy, cronyism, lack of sustainable development”	Other (19%) Comments : “Loss of compassion and fairness in a range of areas affecting everyday life”, “losing sight of the really important things in our lives —family, children friends- in pursuit of the almighty dollar” and “A culture of xenophobia coupled with greed”
Public Administration and Defence	Government and Human Issues (20%) Comments : “An undemocratic party political system disconnected with the community”, “Public apathy about politics and Government” and “A lack of mature political debate leading to knee jerk and populist policies”	Economic Issues (20%) Comments : “Radical work place changes”, “Economic inequality” “Losing global economic position due to a lack of innovation” and “Economic competitiveness”	Environmental Issues (19%) Comments : “Water, water, water…” “Environmental issues —particularly all things water” and “Securing access to water, air and land for the next generation”
Education	Economic Issues (22%) Comments : “Lack of international competitiveness and the Howard IR reform proposals”, “Housing affordability and the debt crisis” “High income tax rates” and “ Australia needs to be a high wage and high value/productivity economy”	Environmental Issues (21%) Comments : “Global warming and the tendency to adopt the US ’s attitudes to it”, “Environmental problems associated with population growth” and “Water salinity and scarcity”	Other (20%) Comments : “Not really knowing our place in the world”, “The breakdown of shared community values” and “A lack of engagement by citizens”
Health and Other Community Services	Government and Human Issues (29%) Comments : “John Howard”, “We do not have an effective Federal Opposition or in most States” and “Multiculturalism was good but we need to remember we are Australia and if people choose to live here they live adopt our way of life”	Economic Issues (20%) Comments : “High taxation”, “Inequity in the distribution of wealth”, “The IR changes will have a trickle down effect on just about every part of our lives” and “Petrol prices and interest rates”	Other (20%) Comments : “Loss of values, community and spirituality”, “Remoteness, isolation —we’re not really part of Asia or the rest of the world” and “Moral decay”

The on-line Roy Morgan Opinion Leaders Poll was conducted Australia-wide October 13-18 with 1,461 Opinion Leaders . The telephone Morgan Poll was conducted Australia-wide on the evenings of October 5/6, 2005, with 663 respondents aged 14 and over.

The Opinion Leaders sample was drawn from the ‘top end’ of Roy Morgan Single Source - a well constructed Australia-wide sample of people of income $80,000+ or in the top occupational categories, and included booster samples from Henry Thornton Readers, Crikey! Readers, Australian Institute of International Affairs Members, Marcus Oldham Associates, Davos Connection Associates and the Australian American Association Members.

The Morgan Poll is conducted by the ONLY Australian and New Zealand member of the Gallup International Association.

No other public opinion poll taken in Australia or New Zealand has this qualification.

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