RESEARCH AUSTRALIA 2012 PUBLIC OPINION POLL RESULTS AUGUST 2012 1
Introduction and Overview Issues of specific interest for this 2012 poll included: The importance of health and medical research Who should fund health and medical research Government funding priorities Incentives that would encourage the public to donate more This public opinion polling was supported by funding from the Australian Government under the Health System Capacity Development Fund. 2
Research Methodology The survey was conducted as follows: Online by email invitation to a national panel. Conducted 19-28 June 2012. With a probability sample of n=1,052 Australians aged 18+ years. The maximum margin of error on a sample of approximately n=1,052 voters is +/-3.0% at the 95% confidence level for results near 50%. Margins of error will be greater for results based on sub samples. Variations of +/-1% between individual results and sub-totals is due to rounding. Results have been compared to relevant previous research where possible: 2009: online survey of n=806 nationally 2008: online survey of n=832 nationally 3
THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH AND MEDICAL RESEARCH 4
Health & Medical Research remains a top tier issue ranked 9 th out of an extensive list of 26 key issues Improving hospitals and the health care system Keeping the national economy strong Improving education standards and outcomes Improving national infrastructure Improving employment opportunities Doing more to keep prices and the cost of living down Providing strong leadership (NEW) Creating more skilled jobs and apprenticeships More research funding for health and medical research % rated 7-10 2008 2009 2012 94 91 91 85 87 87 84 83 86 86 83 85 77 80 84 88 80 84 82 78 78 81 82 80 80 Q: Firstly, please think about what priorities you think the Federal Government should be focusing on over the next 2 3 years. As you read through the following list of issues, please rate how important you personally think each issue is, as a priority for the Federal Government to be focusing on over the next 2 3 years. 2012 Total Base: n=1,052 5
H&MR more important than a national dental health program, border control and interest rates Increasing funding and programs for preventative health care Reducing crime and improving law and order Communicating definite plans and goals for Australia's future (NEW) Introducing a national dental health program (NEW) Maintaining a strong focus on domestic border control (NEW) Improving Australia's overseas trade and exports Doing more for regional and rural Australia Keeping home mortgage and business interest rates low % rated 7-10 2008 2009 2012 82 75 78 81 79 78 75 74 72 66 70 71 75 69 71 78 70 70 Q: Firstly, please think about what priorities you think the Federal Government should be focusing on over the next 2 3 years. As you read through the following list of issues, please rate how important you personally think each issue is, as a priority for the Federal Government to be focusing on over the next 2 3 years. 2012 Total Base: n=1,052 6
The global war on terror, climate change, a strong defence force, assistance for families and introducing a national disability insurance scheme all low priorities More focus and funding for scientific research and development Lowering taxes Helping the environment in practical ways Maintaining Australia's immigration and mandatory detention policies Introducing a national disability insurance scheme (NEW) Providing more help and assistance for families with children Maintaining a strong defence force for both military and peace-keeping operations 52 65 64 69 71 62 67 72 66 65 61 61 61 66 56 60 62 62 59 Taking action to address climate change (NEW) In cooperation with our allies, helping to fight the global war on terror 52 51 49 48 % rated 7-10 2008 2009 2012 Q: Firstly, please think about what priorities you think the Federal Government should be focusing on over the next 2 3 years. As you read through the following list of issues, please rate how important you personally think each issue is, as a priority for the Federal Government to be focusing on over the next 2 3 years. 2012 Total Base: n=1,052 7
Australians think H&MR funding currently derived from various sources, with Commonwealth Government and public thought to be the main sources The Commonwealth Government 60 Donations and grants from individuals, community groups and trusts Donations and grants from corporates and corporate foundations 49 52 Private business investment 42 State and Territory Governments 40 Overseas funding 20 Can't say 21 % Q: Thinking specifically about research funding for health and medical research in Australia. Of the following people, groups and organisations, which do you think: CURRENTLY fund health and medical research in Australia? Base: All respondents n=1,052 8
Primary responsibility for funding H&MR considered to lie with the Commonwealth Government The Commonwealth Government 57 64 Donations and grants from individuals, community groups and trusts 3 10 Donations and grants from corporates and corporate foundations 5 14 Private business investment 7 20 State and Territory Governments 11 49 Overseas funding Can't say 2 8 16 16 Most Responsible for Funding Total Responsibility for Funding % Q: Thinking specifically about research funding for health and medical research in Australia. Of the following people, groups and organisations, which do you think: Should be MOST responsible for funding health and medical research in Australia? / Should be the NEXT MOST responsible for funding health and medical research in Australia? Base: All respondents n=1052 9
Large divergence between perceptions of funding actuality versus responsibility The Commonwealth Government 60 64 Donations and grants from individuals, community groups and trusts 10 52 Donations and grants from corporates and corporate foundations 14 49 Private business investment 20 42 State and Territory Governments 40 49 Overseas funding 8 20 Currently Fund Can't say 16 21 Total Responsibility for Funding % 10
CHARITABLE DONATIONS 11
Most Australians donate to charity at least several (or even more) times a year, with a third giving >$100 4 or more times a year Donate to Charity 30 Amount Donated to Charity 2-3 times a year 30 Can't Say 10% Once a year 18 > $500 a year 9% Less than once a year 10 $101-$500 a year 26% $1-$100 a year 55% Never 6 Can't say 5 % Q: How often do you donate money to charities of any type welfare, hospitals, universities, health and medical research, arts, sports and disaster and emergency relief? Base: All respondents n=1,052 Q: And, on average, about how much money in total each year would you donate to all charities? Base: Respondents who donate to charity n=987 12
Most who donate (51%) give to Health & Medical Research at least once a year, but mostly <$100 Donate to Health & Medical Research Amount Donated 4 or more times a year 6 2-3 times a year 18 Can't Say 20% Once a year 27 > $500 a year 1% Less than once a year Never 17 18 $101-$500 a year 11% $1-$100 a year 68% Can't say 14 % Q: Thinking now specifically about funding for health and medical research in Australia. About how often do you personally donate money to health and medical research? Base: Respondents who donate to charity n=987 Q: And, on average, about how much money in total each year would you donate to health and medical research? Base: Respondents who donate to health and medical research n=823 13
Older, working, university educated Australians most likely to donate to charity, but aged carers particularly more so for H&MR donations Aged 55+ Working University Females Outer Metropolitan Aged carer Total Aged 35-54 Inner Metropolitan Illness/disability self or other in HH Males School/Tafe Regional/Rural Aged 18-34 Not Working % 47 47 53 52 51 51 50 50 50 53 53 52 56 58 65 79 79 78 77 76 76 75 74 73 83 83 83 82 81 81 Donate to chartity at least once a year Donate to H&MR at least once a year Q: How often do you donate money to charities of any type welfare, hospitals, universities, health and medical research, arts, sports and disaster and emergency relief? Base: All respondents n=1,052 Q: Thinking now specifically about funding for health and medical research in Australia. About how often do you personally donate money to health and medical research? Base: Respondents who donate to charity n=987 14
Government responsibility, support for other charities, financial inability and knowing where the $s are spent are most important reasons for non-support of H&MR I think it is a government responsibility 37 75 38 14 5 5 I support charities in other areas 37 74 37 13 7 6 I can't afford to make donations 36 69 33 18 11 2 I don't know where or how the money will be spent 27 69 42 19 5 7 I don't know which health and medical research organisations to donate to 16 48 32 25 20 6 I haven't been asked 14 37 23 29 27 7 Health and medical research already gets a lot of support 10 42 32 27 18 12 % Very important Somewhat important Not very important Not at all important Don't Know Q: How important are each of the following as reasons why you have not have donated to health and medical research? Base: People who never donate to health and medical research n=164 15
Most Australians agree they probably should be donating more to Health & Medical Research Definitely yes Can't say 6% 13% Total Yes = 52% No / Can t say = 48% No 35% Probably yes 46% Q: Do you think you should give more money than you currently do to funding health and medical research? Base: All respondents n=1,052 16
2 in 5 Australians would be more likely to donate to a Government supported Health & Medical Research fund TOTAL MORE LIKELY 40 Much more likely Somewhat more likely 10 29 Likelihood to donate 46% if currently donate to H&MR 28% if don t donate to H&MR About the same as now 39 TOTAL LESS LIKELY 12 Somewhat less likely 5 Much less likely 7 Can't say % 9 Q: There are currently many different charitable foundations in Australia raising money to fund research into specific health and medical issues. Normally each fund has to cover its own operating costs from the funds it raises. If there was a single large fund established and supported by the Australian Government that you could donate to, would you be more or less likely to donate to health and medical research? Base: All respondents n=1,052 17
Matching Government contributions would motivate majority to donate more, as would higher tax deductibility and an Independent Board The Government matches contributions made to the fund by the public 28 65 37 24 5 3 4 A higher tax donation is available for donations than is the case for donations to other charities and foundations 13 40 27 42 6 4 9 The fund has an independent Board 13 40 27 40 7 5 9 The Government covers the costs of establishing and operating the fund but does not contribute to the fund otherwise. The Government would still continue its current level of funding for health and medical research. 9 34 25 43 9 7 7 The Government makes an initial large contribution to the fund to get it started but makes no further contributions 8 26 18 45 12 11 6 % Much more likely Somewhat more likely About the same as now Somewhat less likely Much less likely Can't say Q: If there was a single large fund established and supported by the Australian Government that you could donate to, would you be more or less likely to donate to health and medical research based on the following considerations. Base: All respondents n=1,052 18
Questions? 19