MORE than a third of Australians say the economy is the most important issue in deciding who they will vote for at the election - up from the quarter who put it at the top before the 2007 election.

Nominated by 35 per cent in the Age/Nielsen poll, the economy was followed by health and hospitals (27 per cent); 19 per cent nominated education, 10 per cent the environment, 5 per cent industrial relations and 3 per cent interest rates.

But there was a sharp difference between Labor and Coalition voters, with 51 per cent of Coalition voters nominating the economy. Labor supporters' first priority was health and hospitals (29 per cent).

People were asked to choose the issue most important for their vote from the economy, health and hospitals, education, the environment, industrial relations, and interest rates. With Coalition voters, the economy was clearly out in front. More than twice as many nominated it as chose the next most popular issue - health and hospitals (25 per cent).