Poll claims medical research is big issue

Yet another public opinion poll has found that Australians want a substantial increase in funding for medical research.

The latest poll, commissioned by Research Australia, found that 49 per cent of Australians would have been positively influenced in their vote at last weekend's federal election by a government or opposition commitment to increase health and medical research funding.

And with both the government and opposition promising to spend billions on new initiatives if elected, the poll found that 46 per cent of Australians would like to see surplus government funds channelled into medical research.

Commenting on the results of Research Australia's third annual poll, CEO Dr Christine Bennett said the results sent a clear message that Australians see health and medical research as a national priority, and an area in which they would like to see a significant increase in government spending.

She said the annual polls over the past three years had consistently demonstrated that most Australians wanted to see an increase in government investment, and were willing to contribute funds themselves -- or forgo tax cuts if the funds were spend on health and medical research.

"Good health is incredibly important to Australians," Dr Bennett said. "The survey shows health and medical research is a top issue in the minds of Australians today. It holds promise and hope for a better and healthier future."