Exclusive poll reveals issues of most concern to Queenslanders

An exclusive poll for The Courier-Mail has revealed the challenges facing new Premier Steven Miles in turning around Labor’s fortunes.

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Cost of living and crime will be the two battleground issues to decide next year’s state election, a new poll reveals.

Almost seven out of 10 Queenslanders ranked cost-of-living, crime, health or housing as the most important issue to influence their vote.

A UComms poll of 1911 residents for The Courier-Mail last Thursday and Friday – the first since Steven Miles became Premier after the shock resignation of Annastacia Palaszczuk – has revealed the challenge facing Mr Miles in turning around Labor’s fortunes.

Cost of living continues to dominate the conversation in the state’s southeast, with 23.3 per cent of poll respondents highlighting it as the most important issue when deciding who to vote for.

Skyrocketing crime was a close second among those in the southeast, with 19.7 per cent identifying it as the top issue, followed by health (12.5 per cent) and housing (11.7 per cent).

In regional Queensland crime dominates, with 28.3 per cent of those polled labelling it the most important issue to them, followed by cost of living (19.9 per cent), health (10.3 per cent) and housing (9.4 per cent).

Other issues including government, environment, transport, economy and education were considered top issues among a handful of those polled, receiving between 8 per cent and 6 per cent of the vote across the state.

The Labor government and the LNP Opposition have been making passionate pitches to voters to prove they are the party set to tackle cost-of-living, crime and housing frustrations.

Mr Miles, in his first major policy announcement as the new leader, announced the cost of registering a car in Queensland would not increase next financial year.

The $70m hip-pocket relief measure was set to save the average person about $15.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli, in a pitch at young voters, vowed to help them into their own home with the party eyeing tax relief and incentives to unlock housing supply.

Australia’s central bank in December wanted it may need to deliver another cash rate increase if inflation remains to high, in what would be a devastating blow for already struggling homeowners.

In a further sign of housing stress, an annual report by SGS Economics and National Shelter in November found rental affordability in greater Brisbane had plunged to its lowest ever level.

People on low incomes were bearing the brunt with median rents now $553 a week, sucking up about 28 per cent of average household income.

Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon said on Wednesday next year’s election was not at the forefront of the government’s priorities.

“Our focus right now is getting through this weather event,” she said.

“You’ve seen the Premier and the Deputy Premier (Cameron Dick) come to the Gold Coast yesterday, you’ve seen him in far north Queensland, you’ve seen him announce a whole range of additional measures, things that we know are a priority for Queenslanders.

“We’re focused on Queenslanders every day, not polls.”

Mr Dick, asked if the leadership shake-up would have an impact on Labor’s fate at the election next October, said the decision was ultimately a matter for Queenslanders.

He also noted the government had made its plans in each of its priority areas very clear.

“Cost of living, renewable energy and our clean energy future, housing supply, health care and crime and community safety, they are our focus as a government,” he said.