FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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1 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Roy Morgan Research Pty. Ltd. A.B.N Quality System Certified to AS/NZS ISO 9001 Australians believe Economic & Financial Issues are the biggest problems facing Australia (49%, up 14%) and the World (48%, up 9%) In August, Australians believe Economic & Financial issues are the most important set of problems facing Australia (49%, up 14% since July ) and the World (48%, up 9%) according to the latest Roy Morgan Research. Australian views on Problems facing Australia Finding No Available on Website: On August 21, When asked about the most important problem facing Australia, Economic & Financial issues are named by 49% of Australians (up 14% since July ). This includes the Economy, Economic problems and Interest Rates 21% (up 10%), Unemployment 11% (up 1%), Cost of Living 4% (unchanged) and Poverty and the Gap between the rich and poor 3% (up 2%). In this latest survey disapproval of the Carbon Tax was mentioned by less than 1%. A group of issues labelled Government Policy/ Immigration/ Human Rights are named by 17% (down 1%) of Australians including the related government policy issues of Refugees and Asylum seeker problems 12% (down 1%) and Immigration/ Immigration policy 2% (unchanged)and Human Rights (1%, up 1%). Politics and Leadership was named by 8% (down 8%) as the most important problem facing Australia. Some 9% of Australians (unchanged) mentioned a social issue as the most important problem facing Australia. The two most important Social Issues mentioned were Education 3% (unchanged) and Social apathy/ Family breakdown/ Selfishness/ Moral decline (2%, down 1%). Environmental issues are mentioned by 7% (unchanged) of Australians as the most important problem facing Australia. The most important Environmental Issues mentioned are Climate Change/ Global Warming 4% (unchanged) and Other Environmental issues 2% (unchanged). Analysing by State shows the biggest problems according to people in NSW are The Economy/ Economic problems and Interest rates (20%), Refugees and Asylum seeker problems (12%) and unemployment (12%). The biggest problems according to people in Victoria are The Economy/ Economic problems and Interest rates (17%), Refugees and Asylum seeker problems (12%) and Unemployment (11%). The biggest problems according to people in Queensland are The Economy/ Economic problems and Interest rates (28%), Unemployment (14%) and Refugees and Asylum seeker problems (12%). In Western Australia the biggest problems are The Economy/ Economic problems and Interest rates (21%), Refugees and Asylum seeker problems (14%), and Politics and Leadership (9%). According to people in South Australia the biggest problems are The Economy/ Economic problems and Interest rates (23%), Refugees and Asylum seeker problems (15%) and Unemployment (11%) while according to the people in Tasmania the biggest problems are Unemployment (26%), The Economy/ Economic problems and Interest rates (19%), Politics / Leadership (12%) and Refugees and Asylum seeker problems (9%). 401 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000 GPO Box 2282U, Melbourne, Victoria, 3001, Australia Tel: (03) Fax: (03) (03) melbourne@roymorgan.com Website: Offices also in: Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, London, Auckland, and USA

2 Australian views on Problems facing the World The biggest World problems are clearly Economic & Financial issues (48%, up 9% since July ), however, this remains well below the peak of 51% reached over four years ago in May Within the broad group of Economic issues 23% (up 10%) mentioned the Economy/ Economic problems/ Interest rates ahead of Poverty and the Gap between rich and poor 12% (unchanged), Unemployment (5%, up 3%), Overpopulation (4%, unchanged) and financial problems/ Money issues (2%, down 2%). Environmental issues (mentioned by 17% of Australians, down 5%) are the next biggest problem facing the World today the most important issue is still Climate Change/ Global warming 10% (down 2%) followed by Famine/ Food shortages 4% (unchanged) and other Environmental Issues 3% (down 2%). Terrorism/ Wars/ Security and Safety are mentioned by 10% (up 2%). Government Policy/Politics/Leadership (8%, down 5%) is next followed by Social Issues (7%, down 1%) as the most important problem facing the World. Michele Levine, CEO Roy Morgan says: Economic & Financial issues remain clearly the most important set of problems facing Australia (49%, up 14% since mid-july) and the World (48%, up 9%) on the eve of the Australian Federal Election according to Australians. Australians go to the polls on the first Saturday of September. The significant Economic & Financial issues facing Australia include Economy/ Economic problems/ Interest rates (21%, up 10%), Unemployment (11%, up 1%) and Cost of living issues/ Rising prices/ Inflation (4%, unchanged) In addition a further 17% (down 1%) of Australians mentioned Government Policy/ Immigration/ Human Rights as the most important set of problems facing Australia, 9% (unchanged) mentioned Social issues and 8% (down 8%) mentioned Politics/ Leadership the lowest this set of problems has been since former Prime Minister Julia Gillard initially challenged and took the job of Prime Minister more than three years ago in June The most important Economic & Financial issues facing the World include Economy/ Economic problems/ Interest rates (23%, up 10%), Poverty and the gap between rich and poor (12%, unchanged) and Unemployment (5%, up 3%). An additional 17% (down 5%) of Australians mentioned Environmental issues including most prominently Climate Change/ Global warming (10%, down 2%) and 10% (up 2%) mentioned Terrorism/ Wars/ Security/ Safety in the news as the Syrian Civil War continues to claim many lives, now estimated at over 100,000 lives lost over the past two years as the most important problems facing the World. These findings come from a special Roy Morgan telephone survey conducted in Australia on attitudes towards issues facing Australia and the World in the future. In Australia, a cross-section of 656 men and women aged 14 or over were interviewed by telephone on the nights of August 12/13,. Respondents were asked: Firstly, what do you think is the most important problem facing the World today? and What do you think is the most important problem facing Australia today? The research conducted was both qualitative (in that people were asked to use their own words) and quantitative (in that the open-ended responses were analysed and coded so that the results could be counted and reported as percentages). For further information: Gary Morgan: Office Mobile Michele Levine: Office Mobile

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4 Most Important Problem Facing Australia Australia July Oct Jan May July Nov Jan Apr July Aug % % % % % % % % % % The Economy/ Economic problems/ Interest rates Cost of living issues/ Rising prices/ Inflation Financial problems/ Money issues General Taxation Mining Tax, Resource Tax etc Banks/ Bank interest rates * * - 1 Housing affordability * * * * - * 1 * * * (SUB TOTAL) TOTAL Financial Issues/ Cost of living Unemployment Poverty, & Gap between rich and poor Foreign ownership & investment/ Selling our assets General Infrastructure/ Energy, Water, Internet etc. * * * * 1 * 1 Globalisation/Fairer world trade * * * 1 * * 1 Homelessness/ Lack of housing Over-population * Over reliance on Mining Industry/ Impact of Mining * 1 1 Approve Carbon Tax * 1 - Disapprove Carbon Tax * 1 - * Total Carbon Tax * 1 1 * Transport/ Transport infrastructure/ Road & rail * * * * 1 1 * Farming/ Cut food imports and support our farmers * * 1 * 1 - TOTAL Economic/ Financial issues (INCLUDING Carbon Tax) Refugees and Asylum seeker problems Immigration/ Immigration policy Human rights (Including gay rights) * * * * - * * 1 * 1 Racism/Racial tensions 1 * * 1 Aboriginal Issues/ Health/ Rights 1 * * 1 * * Industrial relations reforms/ Strikes * * * * Multiculturalism/ Integration/ Assimilation 1 * * 1 1 * Religion/ Religious fundamentalism 1 1 * * * 1 1 * 1 * Intolerance/Discrimination - * * * 1 * 1 1 * - (SUB TOTAL) Govt. Policy/ Immigration/ Human Rights Politics/ Leadership TOTAL Govt. Policy/ Politics/ Leadership Educational issues Social apathy/family breakdowns/ Selfishness/Moral decline Crime/ Law & Order * 1 1 Drugs and drug abuse * * * Greed/ Materialism 1 * * * Anger/Violence/Aggression * * 1 * * * Youth issues (Homelessness/ Apathy etc.) * 1 1 * 1 * Corporate Greed - * 1 * * - - * - - Corruption - * * - * * - TOTAL Social Issues Climate Change/ Global warming Other Environmental issues Approve Carbon Tax * 1 - Disapprove Carbon Tax * 1 - * Total Carbon Tax * 1 1 * Water conservation * 1 * 1 * * Climate change concerns are exaggerated - * * - * - Drought * - * * * * - * - - Famine/ Food shortages * 1 - * * * 1 * * - Natural disasters Floods, Earthquakes * * 1 * * * Pollution/ Rubbish 1 * * * * * - TOTAL Environmental Issues (EXCLUDING Carbon Tax) TOTAL Environmental Issues (INCLUDING Carbon Tax) Other health issues Hospitals * * 1 1 TOTAL Health Issues Sustainable management of natural resources Energy crisis 1 1 * * * 1 * * * * Petrol prices * - - * * - * * * * Depletion of fossil fuels * - * 1 * * TOTAL Energy Crisis/ Depletion of Fossil Fuels/Petrol Price Relations with other countries * - * 1 * 1 * * * * Security, Safety * 1 - * * 1 * 1 1 * Terrorism * * * * * * - Wars and conflicts 1 * * 1 * * * 1 * - World Peace TOTAL Terrorism/Wars/Security/Safety Ties to the USA - - * * * - 1 * - - Other * Can t say TOTAL *Less than 1%.

5 Most Important Problem Facing Australia Australia Aug STATES CITY/COUNTRY NSW VIC QLD WA SA TAS# CITY COUNTRY % % % % % % % % % The Economy/ Economic problems/ Interest rates Cost of living issues/ Rising prices/ Inflation * Financial problems/ Money issues General Taxation Mining Tax, Resource Tax etc Banks/ Bank interest rates * 1 Housing affordability * (SUB TOTAL) TOTAL Financial Issues/ Cost of living Unemployment Poverty, & Gap between rich and poor Foreign ownership & investment/ Selling our assets General Infrastructure/ Energy, Water, Internet etc Globalisation/Fairer world trade Homelessness/ Lack of housing Over-population Over reliance on Mining/ Impact of Mining Disapprove Carbon Tax * Total Carbon Tax * Transport/ Transport infrastructure/ Road & rail * * * Farming/ Cut food imports and support our farmers TOTAL Economic/ Financial issues (INCLUDING Carbon Tax) Refugees and Asylum seeker problems Immigration/ Immigration policy Human rights (Including gay rights) * Racism/Racial tensions * Aboriginal Issues/ Health/ Rights * * - Industrial relations reforms/ Strikes * * Multiculturalism/ Integration/ Assimilation * * 1 Religion/ Religious fundamentalism * * * Intolerance/Discrimination (SUB TOTAL) Govt. Policy/ Immigration/ Human Rights Politics/ Leadership TOTAL Govt. Policy/ Politics/ Leadership Educational issues Social apathy/family breakdowns/ Selfishness/Moral decline Crime/ Law & Order Drugs and drug abuse Greed/ Materialism Anger/Violence/Aggression * * - Youth issues (Homelessness/ Apathy etc.) * Corporate Greed Corruption TOTAL Social Issues Climate Change/ Global warming Other Environmental issues Disapprove Carbon Tax * Total Carbon Tax * Water conservation * * * 1 Climate change concerns are exaggerated Drought Famine/ Food shortages Natural disasters Floods, Earthquakes Pollution/ Rubbish * - TOTAL Environmental Issues (EXCLUDING Carbon Tax) TOTAL Environmental Issues (INCLUDING Carbon Tax) Other health issues Hospitals TOTAL Health Issues Sustainable management of natural resources * 1 Energy crisis * * - Petrol prices * * - Depletion of fossil fuels TOTAL Energy Crisis/ Depletion of Fossil Fuels/Petrol Price Relations with other countries * * - Security, Safety * Terrorism Wars and conflicts World Peace TOTAL Terrorism/Wars/Security/Safety Ties to the USA Other * * - Can t say TOTAL *Less than 1%. #Sample sizes under 50 should be treated with caution.

6 Most Important Problem Facing the World The World July 2011 Oct 2011 Jan May July Nov Jan Apr July Aug % % % % % % % % % % The Economy/ Economic problems/ Interest rates Financial problems/ Money issues Cost of living issues/ Rising prices/ Inflation * General Taxation Mining Tax, Resource Tax etc. * - * * - * 1 * * * Housing affordability * - * * Banks/ Bank interest rates * * * - * * (SUB TOTAL) TOTAL Financial Issues/ Cost of living Poverty, & Gap between rich and poor Unemployment Over-population Globalisation/Fairer world trade * * - 1 * * 1 Foreign ownership & investment/ Selling our assets * * - - * * General Infrastructure/ Energy, Water, Internet etc * Homelessness/ Lack of housing * * * * * * * 1 1 * Approve Carbon Tax * * * Disapprove Carbon Tax * * * * * Total Carbon Tax * * * * * Farming/ Cut food imports and support our farmers * * * * - Transport/ Transport infrastructure/ Road & rail - - * - 1 * - - * - TOTAL Economic/ Financial issues (INCLUDING Carbon Tax) Climate Change/ Global warming Famine/ Food shortages Other Environmental issues Pollution/ Rubbish Climate Change concerns are exaggerated * * * * Approve Carbon Tax * * * Disapprove Carbon Tax * * * * * Total Carbon Tax * * * * * Water conservation * * * 1 * 1 * * * * Drought * * - - Natural disasters Floods, Earthquakes 1 1 * * - * * TOTAL Environmental Issues (EXCLUDING Carbon Tax) TOTAL Environmental Issues (INCLUDING Carbon Tax) Wars and conflicts World Peace Security, Safety * - * 1 - * * 2 * 1 Terrorism Relations with other countries * * - - * * 1 * - * TOTAL Terrorism/Wars/Security/Safety Refugees and Asylum seeker problems * Immigration/ Immigration policy * * * * * * 1 * - 1 Religion/ Religious fundamentalism Human rights (Including gay rights) * - * * 1 * * 1 1 * Intolerance/Discrimination * * 1 1 * * Multiculturalism/ Integration/ Assimilation * - - * - * * 1 - * Racism/Racial tensions * * * * * * * * 1 * Aboriginal Issues/ Health/ Rights * * (SUB TOTAL) Govt. Policy/ Immigration/ Human Rights Politics/ Leadership TOTAL Govt. Policy/ Politics/ Leadership Social apathy/family breakdowns/ Selfishness/Moral decline Greed/ Materialism Crime/ Law & Order * Drugs and drug abuse * 1 * * * 1 1 Educational issues * * * Anger/Violence/Aggression 1 * * Corporate Greed * * 1 * - - Corruption * 1 * * * 1 1 * * - Youth issues (Homelessness/ Apathy etc.) * 1 1 * * - 1 * * - TOTAL Social Issues Sustainable management of natural resources Energy crisis 1 * 1 1 * 1 * - 1 * Petrol prices - * * 1 * - * - - * Depletion of fossil fuels * * * - * * - TOTAL Energy Crisis/ Depletion of Fossil Fuels/Petrol Price Other health issues Hospitals * - * * - * * * - * TOTAL Health Issues Ties to the USA - * * Other * Can t say TOTAL *Less than 1%.

7 Most Important Problem Facing the World The World Aug STATES CITY/COUNTRY NSW VIC QLD WA SA TAS# CITY COUNTRY % % % % % % % % % The Economy/ Economic problems/ Interest rates Financial problems/ Money issues Cost of living issues/ Rising prices/ Inflation * * 1 General Taxation Mining Tax, Resource Tax etc. * Housing affordability Banks/ Bank interest rates (SUB TOTAL) TOTAL Financial Issues/ Cost of living Poverty, & Gap between rich and poor Unemployment Over-population Globalisation/Fairer world trade * Foreign ownership & investment/ Selling our assets * * 1 General Infrastructure/ Energy, Water, Internet etc. * * * Homelessness/ Lack of housing * * - Disapprove Carbon Tax * * - Total Carbon Tax * * - Farming/ Cut food imports and support our farmers Transport/ Transport infrastructure/ Road & rail TOTAL Economic/ Financial issues (INCLUDING Carbon Tax) Climate Change/ Global warming Famine/ Food shortages Other Environmental issues Pollution/ Rubbish Climate Change concerns are exaggerated * * - Disapprove Carbon Tax * * - Total Carbon Tax * * - Water conservation * * Drought Natural disasters Floods, Earthquakes TOTAL Environmental Issues (EXCLUDING Carbon Tax) TOTAL Environmental Issues (INCLUDING Carbon Tax) Wars and conflicts World Peace Security, Safety Terrorism * Relations with other countries * * - TOTAL Terrorism/Wars/Security/Safety Refugees and Asylum seeker problems Immigration/ Immigration policy 1 * Religion/ Religious fundamentalism Human rights (Including gay rights) * 1 * Intolerance/Discrimination * - * * Multiculturalism/ Integration/ Assimilation * * - Racism/Racial tensions * * - Aboriginal Issues/ Health/ Rights (SUB TOTAL) Govt. Policy/ Immigration/ Human Rights Politics/ Leadership TOTAL Govt. Policy/ Politics/ Leadership Social apathy/family breakdowns/ Selfishness/Moral decline Greed/ Materialism Crime/ Law & Order Drugs and drug abuse Educational issues Anger/Violence/Aggression * * 1 Corporate Greed Corruption Youth issues (Homelessness/ Apathy etc.) TOTAL Social Issues Sustainable management of natural resources Energy crisis * * - Petrol prices * * - Depletion of fossil fuels TOTAL Energy Crisis/ Depletion of Fossil Fuels/Petrol Price Other health issues Hospitals * * - TOTAL Health Issues Ties to the USA Other * * - Can t say TOTAL *Less than 1%. #Sample sizes under 50 should be treated with caution.