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Solomon in the NT, incorporating Darwin and Palmerston, is one of the Labor Party’s most marginal seats — requiring only a 0.2% swing to be returned to the CLP (Coalition).

Since the ALP was elected in 2007, the most important issues in this seat have been:

• Improving health services and hospitals 22%
• Reducing the taxes you pay 22%
• The needs of families 18%
• Open and honest government 18%
• The environment 18%
• Education 16%
• Managing the economy 15%

Labor is seen as better than the Coalition on the issues of:

• Improving health services and hospitals (43% vs 26%)
• Reducing the taxes you pay (37% vs 33%)

• The needs of families (31% vs 22%)
• Open and honest government (28% vs 20%)
• Education 16% (44% vs 28%)

The Greens are seen as best for the environment (46%) but the CLP (Coalition) is seen as marginally better than Labor (22% vs 20%).

The CLP (Coalition) is seen as better than the ALP on the issues of:

• Managing the economy (41% vs 35%)
• Defence and national security (45% vs 28%)

If ‘they had an accident’ 70% of electors believe the local hospital would provide the treatment they need. (This is slightly below the Australian average).

Demographically Solomon electors are:

• Evenly divided on gender — 50% men 50% women,
• Younger — 33% of electors are under 35 , 66% under 50, (so there are lots of Gen Y issues-one third of electorate are Gen Y),
• Affluent — 32% of electors are in the top 20% socio-economically, and the average household income is around $105,000 (higher than say Bennelong — ex-PM John Howard’s old electorate).

There is an interesting divide in Solomon, with professional and managerial occupations over-represented (28%) and blue collar occupations over-represented (28%) and little in the middle — less white collar.

Attitudinally Solomon is generally socially progressive and optimistic— not surprising given the younger affluent demographic.

But there is an undercurrent of discontent — a group we call “ a fairer deal”  typified by the feeling that they “get a raw deal out of life” is over- represented in Solomon. This is a small group nationally (around 2-3% of electors — but it is 5% in Solomon).

On some social issues:

Crime — 73% believe “Crime is a growing problem in my community."

Aboriginal issues- 55% say “Aboriginal culture is an essential component of Australian society.” This is some 20% lower than the national average.

Environment — 73% say “At heart I’m an environmentalist”; and 86% believe “If we don’t act now we’ll never control our environmental problems.”

There is also an interesting thread of innovation and optimism in the seat of Solomon. When asked about the most important political issue, “Innovative approaches to solving Australia’s problems” is mentioned by 11% of electors. This is 50% higher than the national average. And when it comes to helping others some 62% “prefer to support longer term development and projects rather than crisis or emergency appeals."

Although the seat was won by the ALP by only a small margin at the 2007 election, since then the ALP has enjoyed a strong level of support in Solomon, averaging a two party preferred vote of 59% to the Coalition’s 41%.

Since the ALP came to power in December 2007 Roy Morgan Research has surveyed over 50,000 electors across Australia and asked them about their attitudes to a range of issues, including what they see as the important political issues and which party would be better for each issue.

Some 724 people were interviewed in the Northern Territory electorate of Solomon, of whom 542 were enrolled to vote.

For further information:

Michele Levine:      Office +61 3 9224 5215   Mobile +61 411 129 093

Gary Morgan:         Office +61 3 9224 5213   Mobile +61 411 129 094

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