More insights

High quality and accessible public hospitals

Australians care most about having access to affordable, quality healthcare. This includes public hospitals. The challenge for governments is to meet community expectations across the spectrum of healthcare services against the backdrop of fiscal constraints, escalating costs and rising expectations.

Strong regulation to limit foreign ownership of Australian land/assets

Reflecting community concerns about the foreign ownership of Commonwealth land and assets, Australians consider regulation to limit foreign ownership important. There is over $3 trillion of foreign investment and a rigorous foreign investment regime in Australia. We have the 14th highest amount of foreign direct inward investment in the world. Foreign investment plays an important role in supporting our economic growth by funding the gap between domestic savings and investment. There is a need to ensure that the public is well informed in debates about foreign investment.

Caring for an ageing population

Australians place importance on increased pension payments and high quality and choice of aged care services. There will be significant additional demands for aged care workers with workforce shortages predicted in the decades ahead. At the same time, community expectations regarding the quality and responsiveness of care is rising. Collaboration and new approaches across all levels of government, business and the community sector will be required to deliver outcomes in line with community expectations and value for money.

Tough criminal laws and criminal sentences

Australians want to be safe and secure. They place importance on tough criminal laws and criminal sentences at the national level. Developing more cost-effective approaches with better results will require significant community consultation and engagement given the importance to the community of criminal laws and sentencing.