The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Mar, 2014

    , , , ,

    Where Government should reduce spending

    If “Reduce spending” or “both” –

    Q. In which of the following areas should the Government reduce spending?

     

    Total

     

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Vote other

     

    13 Aug 13

    Foreign aid

    79%

    72%

    83%

    56%

    92%

    76%

    The arts

    70%

    64%

    75%

    44%

    61%

    70%

    Private schools

    65%

    76%

    57%

    68%

    70%

    59%

    Subsidies for business

    61%

    59%

    62%

    70%

    57%

    59%

    Welfare support

    44%

    31%

    54%

    46%

    37%

    43%

    Support for manufacturing industries

    43%

    34%

    46%

    46%

    34%

    32%

    Defence

    38%

    47%

    31%

    68%

    36%

    34%

    The environment

    36%

    32%

    41%

    6%

    45%

    36%

    Border security

    23%

    33%

    12%

    60%

    27%

    18%

    Universities

    23%

    24%

    26%

    16%

    17%

    18%

    Public transport

    15%

    18%

    13%

    20%

    16%

    14%

    Roads

    12%

    15%

    9%

    12%

    16%

    12%

    Pensions

    12%

    13%

    12%

    6%

    13%

    9%

    Public schools

    9%

    8%

    10%

    8%

    13%

    9%

    Health and hospitals

    8%

    10%

    9%

    7%

    6%

    5%

    Of those who think spending should be reduced, 79% think spending on foreign aid should be reduced, 70% the arts, 65% private schools and 61% subsidies for business.

    The areas least likely to be nominated for spending cuts were health and hospitals, public schools, pensions and roads.

    Since this question was asked in August, the percentage thinking that spending on support for manufacturing industries should be reduced has increased from 32% to 43%.

  • Aug, 2013

    , , , , , ,

    Where Government should reduce spending

    If “Reduce spending” or “both” –

    Q. In which of the following areas should the Government reduce spending?

     

    Total

     

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Foreign aid

    76%

    72%

    82%

    43%

    The arts

    70%

    65%

    76%

    29%

    Subsidies for business

    59%

    65%

    57%

    58%

    Private schools

    59%

    63%

    56%

    38%

    Welfare support

    43%

    33%

    53%

    17%

    The environment

    36%

    22%

    49%

    12%

    Defence

    34%

    36%

    30%

    68%

    Support for manufacturing industries

    32%

    31%

    34%

    37%

    Border security

    18%

    18%

    17%

    43%

    Universities

    18%

    12%

    25%

    9%

    Public transport

    14%

    11%

    18%

    14%

    Roads

    12%

    10%

    11%

    33%

    Public schools

    9%

    7%

    12%

    12%

    Pensions

    9%

    6%

    11%

    15%

    Health and hospitals

    5%

    6%

    5%

    9%

    Of those who think spending should be reduced, 76% think spending on foreign aid should be reduced, 70% the arts, 59% subsidies for business and 59% private schools.

    The areas least likely to be nominated for spending cuts were health and hospitals, pensions and public schools.

Error: