Q. As for as you know how much is the weekly NewStart, which is the benefit paid to people who are out of work?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Vote other | ||
| Less than $250 per week | 23% | 25% | 21% | 28% | 24% | |
| Between $250 and $300 per week | 27% | 32% | 23% | 30% | 28% | |
| Between $300 and $400 per week | 10% | 11% | 11% | 12% | 10% | |
| More than $400 per week | 4% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 3% | |
| Don’t know | 36% | 28% | 41% | 27% | 34% |
50% think that the weekly Newstart benefit is less than $300. Only 14% think it is more than $300. There were not substantial differences between voter and demographic groups, although Liberal National voters were more likely to say “don’t know” (41%).
Q.The Newstart benefit for a single person with no children is about $270 per week. Do you think it is too high, too low or about right?
|
|
Total |
|
Aged 18-34 |
Aged 35-54 |
Aged 55+ |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
Inc. less than $600 pw |
Inc. $600
|
Inc. $1,000
|
Inc. $1,500
|
Inc. more than $2,000 pw |
| Too high | 9% | 14% | 8% | 6% | 6% | 12% | 4% | 12% | 4% | 4% | 10% | 11% | 15% | |
| Too low | 50% | 45% | 50% | 56% | 63% | 36% | 59% | 50% | 58% | 66% | 50% | 50% | 39% | |
| About right | 26% | 30% | 24% | 24% | 22% | 35% | 28% | 24% | 26% | 17% | 27% | 26% | 34% | |
| Don’t know | 15% | 11% | 18% | 14% | 9% | 17% | 9% | 14% | 11% | 13% | 14% | 13% | 13% |
50% think that the Newstart benefit is too low, 26% think it is about right and 9% think it is too high.
Those most likely to think it is too low were Labor voters (63%), Greens voters (59%) and incomes under $1,000 pw (62%).
Those most likely to think it is too high or about right were Liberal National voters (47%), aged 18-34 (44%) and incomes over $2,000 pw (49%).
Q. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
| Total agree | Total disagree | Strongly agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly disagree | Don’t know | |
| The Government’s has a responsibility to ensure every Australian has enough money to put a roof over their head and food on their table. | 77% | 16% | 35% | 42% | 13% | 3% | 7% |
| In Australia, no one should go without basic essentials like food, healthcare, transport and power. | 92% | 5% | 48% | 44% | 4% | 1% | 4% |
| I support an increase in Newstart, the benefit paid to unemployed people, as it has not been increased in real terms for 24 years. | 68% | 19% | 33% | 35% | 13% | 6% | 13% |
| A fair government would raise the rate of Newstart, Youth Allowance and related payments to ensure everybody has enough to live on while they look for paid work. | 70% | 20% | 33% | 37% | 14% | 6% | 11% |
| A responsible government would increase Newstart payments by a minimum of $10 a day to ensure every person can afford a roof over their head and food on the table | 64% | 21% | 32% | 32% | 15% | 6% | 15% |
Q. Thinking about yourself personally, what is the minimum you could comfortably live on per week (including rent/mortgage, food, energy and clothing)
| Total | Aged 18-34 | Aged 35-54 | Aged 55+ | Inc. less than $600 pw | Inc. $600- $1,000 pw |
Inc. $1,000- $1,500 pw |
Inc. $1,500- $2,000pw |
Inc. more than $2,000 pw | |
| Less than $300 per week | 6% | 10% | 4% | 6% | 9% | 5% | 3% | 10% | 7% |
| $300-$400 per week | 14% | 18% | 10% | 15% | 22% | 11% | 12% | 9% | 13% |
| $400-$500 per week | 19% | 19% | 15% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 23% | 18% | 12% |
| $500- $750 per week | 24% | 21% | 26% | 25% | 25% | 28% | 24% | 29% | 19% |
| $750- $1,000 per week | 15% | 14% | 19% | 12% | 7% | 18% | 12% | 16% | 21% |
| $1,000- $1500 per week | 7% | 5% | 9% | 6% | 3% | 4% | 11% | 7% | 11% |
| More than $1500 | 4% | 3% | 6% | 1% | – | 1% | 3% | 2% | 8% |
| Don’t know | 11% | 10% | 11% | 11% | 8% | 7% | 10% | 8% | 7% |
| Average | $660 | $600 | $740 | $595 | $515 | $610 | $680 | $640 | $765 |
Q. If a Federal Election was held today to which party will you probably give your first preference vote? If not sure, which party are you currently leaning toward? If don’t know – Well which party are you currently leaning to?
| Total | 1 week ago 15/5/18 | 2 weeks ago 8/5/18 | 4 weeks ago 24/4/18 | Election 2 Jul 16 | |||
| Liberal | 38% | 34% | 35% | 35% | |||
| National | 2% | 4% | 3% | 3% | |||
| Total Liberal/National | 40% | 38% | 38% | 37% | 42.0% | ||
| Labor | 36% | 36% | 37% | 36% | 34.7% | ||
| Greens | 10% | 10% | 10% | 11% | 10.2% | ||
| Nick Xenophon Team | 1% | 2% | 2% | 2% | |||
| Pauline Hanson’s One Nation | 8% | 7% | 6% | 8% | |||
| Other/Independent | 6% | 6% | 6% | 6% | 13.1% | ||
| 2 party preferred | |||||||
| Liberal National | 49% | 48% | 47% | 47% | 50.4% | ||
| Labor | 51% | 52% | 53% | 53% | 49.6% |
Q. The Government’s budget proposes to provide a tax cut of $530 for middle and lower income earners from next year, and then in seven years change the tax rates so that workers earning between $40,000 and $200,000 pay the same rate of tax. Labor proposes to provide a larger tax cut of $928 for middle and lower income earners, and ask those in the top tax bracket to pay a little more to help reduce the deficit. Which of these proposals do you prefer?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Vote other | ||
| The Government proposal | 33% | 15% | 63% | 17% | 28% | |
| The Labor proposal | 45% | 75% | 23% | 62% | 43% | |
| Don’t know | 22% | 95 | 14% | 21% | 29% |
45% prefer the Labor tax plan and 33% the Government’s plan.
All income groups except those earning $2,000+ pw strongly favour the Labor plan. Those earning more than $2,000 pw favour then Government plan 44% to 39%.
Q. Which long-term plan for Australia’s economy do you most support?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Vote other | ||
| Malcolm Turnbull’s plan to grow the economy by backing business to invest and create new jobs by cutting taxes for all Australian workers and businesses | 38% | 17% | 72% | 14% | 38% | |
| Bill Shorten’s plan to grow the economy by strengthening the middle class by investing in health care, education, infrastructure and tax cuts for middle and lower earners. | 44% | 73% | 18% | 73% | 41% | |
| Don’t know | 18% | 10% | 10% | 13% | 21% |
44% support the Labor plan for the economy and 38% support the Government’s plan.
All income groups except those earning $2,000+ pw strongly favour Labor plan. Those earning more than $2,000 pw split – Government plan 43% to Labor plan 42%.
Q. Would you support or oppose the following measures to cut Government spending?
| Total support | Total oppose | Strongly support | Support | Oppose | Strongly oppose | Don’t know | ||
| Not providing company tax cuts for large business | 60% | 22% | 26% | 34% | 15% | 7% | 18% | |
| Tightening negative gearing and capital gains tax concession for investors | 50% | 24% | 18% | 32% | 16% | 8% | 25% | |
| Preventing income splitting in family trusts | 42% | 22% | 14% | 28% | 16% | 6% | 35% | |
| Limiting tax credits on investments to people who pay tax | 42% | 27% | 12% | 30% | 18% | 9% | 32% | |
| Cutting spending on government agencies like ASIC | 36% | 39% | 11% | 25% | 26% | 13% | 24% | |
| Cutting spending on the ABC | 35% | 45% | 14% | 21% | 23% | 22% | 20% |
There was majority support for not providing tax cuts for large business (60%) and for tightening negative gearing and tax concessions for investors (50%). Respondents were also more likely to support preventing income splitting in family trusts (42% support/22% oppose) and limiting tax credits on investments to people who pay tax (42%/27%).
They were split on cutting spending on government agencies like ASIC (36%/39%) and more likely to oppose cutting spending on the ABC (35%/45%).