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Approval of Budget Items

14 May 2012

Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the following parts of the Federal budget?

 

Total approve

Total disapprove

Strongly approve

Approve

Disapprove

Strongly disapprove

Don’t know

Reduced spending on defence

48%

43%

14%

34%

28%

15%

10%

Increased spending on dental health

87%

8%

30%

57%

7%

1%

6%

Bonus payments to low-income families with children at school

60%

33%

16%

44%

20%

13%

7%

Returning the budget to surplus

61%

26%

15%

46%

19%

7%

14%

Tightening eligibility for parenting payments for single mothers

65%

25%

26%

39%

17%

8%

10%

Increasing tax on super contributions for people on high incomes

60%

31%

28%

32%

20%

11%

9%

Respondents were divided on reduced defence spending – 48% approved and 43% disapproved. Support for reduced defence spending was highest among those aged 18-34 (57%).

On all other items measured there was quite strong approval – in particular on increased spending on dental health (87%). Other items received at least 60% support – including 61% approval of returning the budget to surplus. 71% of Labor voters and 58% of Liberal/National voters approved the return to surplus.

Increasing tax on super contributions for people on high incomes was approved by 52% of those on incomes of $1,600+ pw and disapproved by 40%.

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