The Salvation Army: Tasmanians reveal biggest social issues before election

In the run up to the election, a massive survey has revealed the biggest concerns of Tasmanians. SEE THE RESULTS.

Exclusive: Tasmanians say their biggest social policy concerns in the run up to the election are housing affordability and mental health.

Following years of fire, flood and a global pandemic, The Salvation Army asked 15,000 people across the country what the biggest social justice issues were in their electorate.

They were asked about their concerns for themselves, their families, loved ones and local communities – and how these issues would impact their personal decisions when they went to vote in next month’s federal election.

Tasmanians are concerned about housing affordability and mental health, a survey reveals.

Tasmanians also identified alcohol and drug misuse, homelessness, and family violence among top social justice issues that needed to be addressed.

The Division of Clark also identified climate change as a top issue, on par with homelessness at 33 per cent.

Research showed that Greater Hobart remained the least affordable capital city in Australia relative to income, and the rest of Tasmania was the least affordable region of the

other ‘rest of state’ areas considered.

High rents are a concern in Tasmania.

Tasmania was ranked number one out of all the states for the estimated proportion of the state’s households experiencing rental stress.

Tasmania also had an estimated social housing shortfall of 11,400 properties and there were an estimated 1600 people experiencing homelessness across the state.

More than 90,000 Tasmanians were currently living with a common mental health-related condition such as depression, anxiety or a substance use disorder, and a further 125,000 were at risk of developing a mental health condition.

Approximately half of all assaults in Tasmania in 2020 were Family Domestic Violence-related (47 per cent or 1600 victims).

Family violence is one of the social issues Tasmanians won’t action on.

Around two in five victims of sexual assault were family related (41 per cent or 110 victims).

“This is what the people of Australia are saying matters to them,” The Salvation Army’s Secretary for Mission, Captain Stuart Glover, said.

“If politicians are interested in knowing what people are thinking they should read this.

“This survey adds weight to issues, particularly around mental health and housing affordability.

“It’s not just in pockets, it’s everywhere.

“Our hope is that all candidates will take note of what people in their electorates are saying and have a response to that.”

Captain Stuart Glover of The Salvation Army. Photo: John McCutcheon / Sunshine Coast Daily

Nationally, the top five concerns were: Mental health (53.9 per cent), housing affordability (52.4 per cent), alcohol and drug misuse (42.6 per cent), family violence (35.4 per cent), homelessness (35.1 per cent).

To see all the results of The Salvation Army’s National Social Justice Stocktake Report (NSJSR), click here