Essential Report
Budget Surplus
Q. How important is it that the Government returns the budget to surplus?
Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Vote other | ||
Total important | 71% | 63% | 87% | 49% | 78% | |
Total not important | 19% | 28% | 9% | 43% | 13% | |
Very important | 31% | 21% | 47% | 8% | 38% | |
Somewhat important | 40% | 42% | 40% | 41% | 40% | |
Not very important | 15% | 23% | 7% | 33% | 11% | |
Not at all important | 4% | 5% | 2% | 10% | 2% | |
Don’t know | 10% | 9% | 4% | 8% | 9% |
71% thought that returning the budget to surplus was important. Those most likely to think this were Liberal/National voters (87% important), those earning over $104,000 (78%) and those working full time (76%).
19% thought that returning the budget to surplus was not important. Those most likely to think this were Greens voters (43% not important) and ALP voters (28%).

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Essential Report
In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Views towards re-electing the federal Coalition government
- Party trust to handle issues
- Importance of Australia’s international reputation
- Scott Morrison’s impact on Australia’s international reputation
- Views towards Australia’s international reputation
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