This report is based mainly on based on the Australian Election Study surveys, comprehensive post-election surveys of political opinion that have asked the same questions and used the same methodology. It shows that voters are less attracted by the symbols and methods of traditional politics, but that they remain interested in the contest and the election outcome. Health and education are by far the dominant issues that concern voters; with a prosperous economy, unemployment is now rarely an issue for voters. Labor leads as the preferred party on health and education (though their lead over Labor has declined on health); the Liberals are preferred on issues of economic management, such as interest rates and taxation.

With a booming economy and much lower levels of industrial conflict, the trade unions are viewed as much less of a concern by voters than at any time in the last 40 years. Indeed, since the late 1990s more voters have been concerned about the power of big business than about the unions.