The Australia Institute surveyed nationally representative samples of over 1,000 Australians each month from August about what they think the most important national political issue is right now.

• In every month, more Australians identified the economy as the most important national political issue than any other issue (between 37% and 48%).
• Health was second-most likely to be identified as most important in every month, but has steadily declined from 35% in August to 23% in December.
• Climate change was third-most likely to be identified as most important, and has steadily increased from 7% in August to 13% in December.