Skip to main content
View cart (0 items)My Account Join NCOSS

NEW POLL: REGIONAL NSW WANTS ACTION ON HEALTH CARE AND SAYS NOT ENOUGH BEING DONE ON KEY SOCIAL ISSUES

  • 76 per cent of residents outside metropolitan Sydney want health care prioritised
  • 65 per cent of residents outside metropolitan Sydney said inequality has increased or stagnated, compared to 54.5 per cent for metropolitan Sydney

Regional NSW is crying out for a greater focus on health care investment from the next NSW Government, according to a new poll commissioned by social services peak body, NCOSS.

The poll reveals 76 per cent of regional NSW residents believe building more hospitals and health facilities should be a top priority of the next NSW Government.

As well as this, the poll found that residents living outside metropolitan Sydney were more likely to say inequality has increased or stagnated compared to their city counterparts, and more needed to be done on key social issues.  

NCOSS CEO, Joanna Quilty, said those outside Sydney resoundingly said greater investment in health care should be a priority of the next NSW Government.

“It is clear that the people of NSW, particularly in regional areas, want a better deal when it comes to accessing essential services, like health care,” Ms Quilty said.

“For many people outside Sydney, access to health care is limited and for people on low-incomes the barriers are even greater.

“This research shows that for many people outside metropolitan Sydney, there is a feeling they are being left behind on essential services when compared to their city counterparts.”

According to the poll, those outside metropolitan Sydney were more likely to say that the Government is not doing enough on a range of measures including, affordable housing, homelessness, suicide prevention and supporting women impacted by domestic violence.

The polling found that:

  • 69 per cent of residents outside metropolitan Sydney said the NSW Government is not doing enough to alleviate homelessness, compared with 57.5 per cent of metro residents
  • 65 per cent of residents outside metropolitan Sydney said the NSW Government is not doing enough to support social and community housing measures, compared with 51 per cent of metro residents
  • 57 per cent of residents outside metropolitan Sydney said the NSW Government is not doing enough to provide mental health services, compared with 48.5 per cent of metro residents
  • 60 per cent of residents outside metropolitan Sydney said NSW Government is not doing enough to provide services for families who are struggling, compared with 51 per cent of metro residents
  • 52 per cent of residents outside metropolitan Sydney said the NSW Government is not doing enough to support suicide prevention programs, compared with 44.5 per cent of metro residents
  • 55 per cent of residents outside metropolitan Sydney said the NSW Government is not doing enough to support women who are subject to domestic violence, compared with 43.5 per cent of metro residents

NCOSS works with and for people experiencing poverty and disadvantage in NSW to make positive change in our communities.

To find out more about NCOSS’s policy platform, visit: www.ncoss.org.au/policy/ncoss-2019-election-platform-no-child-in-poverty

For more information on NCOSS, go to www.ncoss.org.au

Media contact: Nick Trainor 0407 078 138

Background

The Essential Research poll was of 544 NSW residents.