Q. If cost savings need to be made in the budget, in which area should spending cuts be made?
% | |
Defence and national security | 20% |
Social security and welfare | 15% |
Industry and employment | 7% |
Community services | 6% |
Infrastructure, transport and energy | 4% |
Health | 3% |
Education | 2% |
None of these | 32% |
Don’t know | 11% |
20% of people think that if savings need to be made in the budget, cuts should be made to defence and national security, 15% think cuts should be made to social security and welfare and 7% think that cuts should be made to industry and employment. There is little support for cuts to health (3%) or education (2%). 32% think that cuts should be made to none of the areas listed.
Green (38%) and Labor (25%) voters were more likely to support cuts to defence and national security. Coalition voters were more likely to support cuts to social security and welfare (20%) and community services (9%).
People aged 18 – 24 (28%) year olds and 25 – 34 (26%) were more likely to support cuts to defence and national security.