13 Mar 2017

Cost of living and jobs concern Fiji ahead of 2018 polls

2:25 pm on 13 March 2017

A national public opinion poll in Fiji shows the cost of living and jobs are the top election issues facing the country.

Fiji is due to hold an election by September next year.

A house in Jittu Estate on the outskirts of Suva, Fiji

A house in Jittu Estate on the outskirts of Suva, Fiji Photo: RNZI/Sally Round

Tebbutt Research conducted the poll of 1001 adults in conjunction with the Fiji Times early last month.

People were asked what the top three election issues would be looking forward to the 2018 elections.

The Fiji Times reported the cost of living was ranked the number one issue by 46 percent of those polled, followed by employment with 32 percent of those polled.

The newspaper reported the results showed tremendous uniformity across the nation, no matter people's gender, age, ethnicity or location.

Wages, infrastructure and poverty were also among the top five issues raised.

Crime was ranked higher by women than wages, the third highest polling issue overall.

Jittu Estate near Suva, Fiji

Jittu Estate near Suva, Fiji Photo: RNZI / Sally Round

The Times reported there were also significant demographic differences around land issues, political stability and jobs.

Rural respondents mentioned land twice as often as those in urban locations.

Seven point three percent of indigenous Fijians polled mentioned political stability compared to 1.8 percent of those of Indian descent.

The poll recorded 15 percent of those questioned were unsure what the issues would be, and two per cent declined to answer.

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