Meet the perfect election candidate

There is an election candidate who knows exactly what issues matter most to you. There’s one tiny hitch.

Introducing the perfect candidate, someone whose election bid covers all the issues and priorities you consider important.

This is the candidate who knows you are worried about the cost of living, the state of health services, and honesty in government.

Sounds great, but unfortunately this candidate doesn’t exist, except in the digital world.

The not-for-profit Australian Futures Project has used data gathered by pollster Roy Morgan to create the ideal political contender — according to your top issues.

And the exercise allows voters to compare the policies of actual candidates in their seat with the digital one by going to the website, theperfectcandidate.org.au, or following @TPCandidate on Twitter.

They might discover that while they are not particularly worried about income tax rates, their real candidates have put them to the top of the policy list.

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“The Perfect Candidate might not be a real person, but they are a real voice of the people. They listen and learn from the Australian public — evolving as they do,” Australian Futures Project executive director Ralph Ashton said.

“Politicians aren’t focused on what Australians really care about. And you can’t blame voters for switching off. The public has stopped listening because the politicians stopped listening. If politicians want to engage with Australians in a meaningful conversation, they need to focus on solutions to the big issues.

“Our intention is to empower Australians to better understand politics, so they can ultimately shift the national conversation from short-term problems to long-term solutions.”

An Australian Futures Project and Roy Morgan data exercise in the 2018 calendar year found 53 per cent of voters wanted day-to-day living costs kept down; while “open and honest government” was second biggest concern for voters aged over 65, and high on the list of those aged 18 to 25.

The needs of families are particular concerns for voters aged 25 to 34 and 34 to 49.

Data collected over 30 months by the two organisations identified the following voter priorities:

1. Keeping day to day living costs down (47.8 per cent)

2. Improving health services and hospitals (31 per cent)

3. Open and honest government (25.6 per cent)

4. Global warming and climate change (22.9 per cent)

5. Managing the economy (21.7 per cent)

6. Improving education (20.8 per cent)

7. Reducing crime and maintain law and order (20.7 per cent)

8. Reducing unemployment (14.6 per cent)

9. Managing immigration and population growth (14.4 per cent)

10. Reducing the taxes you and your family pay (13.9 per cent).