Q. Considering what you get from the Federal government, do you think you pay more than your fair share of taxes, less than your fair share, or about the right amount?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
Income less than $600 pw |
Income $600 – $1,000 pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600 pw |
Income $1,600+ pw |
|||
|
More than fair share |
40% |
46% |
41% |
27% |
48% |
25% |
34% |
43% |
47% |
||
|
Less than fair share |
11% |
14% |
9% |
10% |
12% |
9% |
8% |
14% |
11% |
||
|
About the right amount |
36% |
31% |
43% |
46% |
28% |
45% |
46% |
33% |
33% |
||
|
Don’t know |
13% |
10% |
7% |
17% |
12% |
22% |
12% |
10% |
8% |
36% think they pay about the right amount of tax, 40% think they pay more than their fair share and 11% think they pay less than their fair share. Those more likely to think they pay about the right amount were Greens voters (46%), incomes under $1,000 pw (46%) and aged 65+ (54%).
Those more likely to think they pay more than their fair share were Labor voters (46%), incomes over $1,600 pw (47%), full-time workers (50%), families with dependent children (49%) and aged 35-54 (48%).
Q. Which of the following statements comes closest to your overall view of the Federal tax system in Australia?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
Income less than $600 pw |
Income $600 – $1,000 pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600 pw |
Income $1,600+ pw |
|||
|
On the whole, the Federal tax system works pretty well and the Government should make only minor changes to make it work better |
39% |
38% |
46% |
34% |
35% |
36% |
33% |
38% |
44% |
||
|
There is so much wrong with the Federal tax system that the Government should completely change it |
41% |
43% |
40% |
45% |
57% |
40% |
46% |
46% |
38% |
||
|
Don’t know |
20% |
19% |
14% |
21% |
9% |
24% |
20% |
16% |
18% |
41% think that the tax system needs complete change and 39% think it only needs minor change. Those more likely to think it needs complete change were men (48%) and aged 65+ (56%).
Q. How much, if at all, does each of the following bother you about the Federal tax system? Do they bother you a lot, some, not too much, or not at all?
|
A lot |
Some |
Not too much |
Not at all |
Don’t know |
|
|
The amount you pay in taxes |
23% |
28% |
29% |
12% |
7% |
|
The complexity of the tax system |
28% |
34% |
26% |
5% |
7% |
|
The feeling that some wealthy people don’t pay their fair share |
54% |
22% |
14% |
5% |
5% |
|
The feeling that some poor people don’t pay their fair share |
12% |
17% |
26% |
38% |
7% |
|
The feeling that some corporations don’t pay their fair share |
59% |
22% |
12% |
2% |
5% |
|
Bothered a lot |
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
|
The amount you pay in taxes |
23% |
26% |
20% |
12% |
36% |
|
The complexity of the tax system |
28% |
27% |
28% |
23% |
40% |
|
The feeling that some wealthy people don’t pay their fair share |
54% |
58% |
48% |
65% |
65% |
|
The feeling that some poor people don’t pay their fair share |
12% |
16% |
12% |
2% |
13% |
|
The feeling that some corporations don’t pay their fair share |
59% |
62% |
54% |
71% |
72% |
|
Bothered a lot |
Total |
Income less than $600 pw |
Income $600 – $1,000 pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600 pw |
Income $1,600+ pw |
|
The amount you pay in taxes |
23% |
17% |
21% |
25% |
26% |
|
The complexity of the tax system |
28% |
35% |
31% |
35% |
23% |
|
The feeling that some wealthy people don’t pay their fair share |
54% |
62% |
60% |
64% |
46% |
|
The feeling that some poor people don’t pay their fair share |
12% |
8% |
10% |
14% |
14% |
|
The feeling that some corporations don’t pay their fair share |
59% |
71% |
62% |
67% |
52% |
59% are bothered a lot by the feeling that some corporations don’t pay their fair share of tax and 54% are bothered a lot by the feeling that some wealthy people don’t pay their fair share.
28% are bothered a lot by the complexity of the system, 23% by the amount of tax they pay and 12% by the feeling that some poor people don’t pay their fair share.
Those more likely to be bothered by the feeling that some corporations don’t pay their fair share were aged 55+ (77%), Greens voters (71%), incomes less than $600 pw (71%) and those not working (68%).
Those more likely to be bothered by the feeling that some wealthy people don’t pay their fair share were aged 45+ (65%), Greens voters (65%) and incomes $1,000-$1,600 pw (64%).
Those more likely to be bothered by the complexity of the tax system were aged 65+ (45%).
Those more likely to be bothered by the amount they pay were full-time workers (32%) and families with dependent children (30%). Those more likely to be bothered by the feeling that some poor people don’t pay their fair share were full-time workers (17%).
Q. Do you support or oppose the proposal to increase the tax on tobacco which would mean that a packet of 25 cigarettes will cost more than $40 by 2020?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
||
|
Total support |
67% |
67% |
70% |
67% |
72% |
|
|
Total oppose |
24% |
27% |
23% |
26% |
21% |
|
|
Strongly support |
39% |
39% |
38% |
39% |
51% |
|
|
Support |
28% |
28% |
32% |
28% |
21% |
|
|
Oppose |
9% |
9% |
10% |
12% |
8% |
|
|
Strongly oppose |
15% |
18% |
13% |
14% |
13% |
|
|
Don’t know |
8% |
6% |
7% |
8% |
8% |
67% support the proposal to increase the tax on tobacco which would mean that a packet of 25 cigarettes will cost more than $40 by 2020 and 24% oppose.
Those most likely to support the proposal were on incomes over $1,600 pw (74%) and university educated (75%).
Those most likely to oppose the proposal were on incomes under $600 pw (41%) and those who had not completed secondary school (31%).
Q. Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
|
Liberal |
Labor |
Greens |
Don’t know |
Difference |
Difference Oct 2015 |
|||
|
Management of the economy |
42% |
21% |
5% |
31% |
+21 |
+18 |
||
|
Ensuring a quality education for all children |
30% |
31% |
8% |
31% |
-1 |
-7 |
||
|
Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system |
30% |
30% |
8% |
32% |
– |
-5 |
||
|
Protecting the environment |
19% |
16% |
37% |
29% |
-21 |
-21 |
||
|
A fair industrial relations system |
28% |
34% |
6% |
32% |
-6 |
-11 |
||
|
Political leadership |
40% |
18% |
7% |
35% |
+22 |
+18 |
||
|
Addressing climate change |
21% |
18% |
30% |
32% |
-12 |
-12 |
||
|
Controlling interest rates |
36% |
18% |
5% |
40% |
+18 |
+14 |
||
|
Australian jobs and protection of local industries |
28% |
33% |
6% |
32% |
-5 |
-7 |
||
|
Ensuring a quality water supply |
24% |
19% |
23% |
34% |
+5 |
+5 |
||
|
Housing affordability |
26% |
28% |
8% |
39% |
-2 |
-7 |
||
|
Ensuring a fair taxation system |
30% |
25% |
7% |
37% |
+5 |
– |
||
|
Security and the war on terrorism |
41% |
18% |
5% |
36% |
+23 |
+22 |
||
|
Treatment of asylum seekers |
31% |
16% |
17% |
36% |
+15 |
+7 |
||
|
Managing population growth |
31% |
18% |
9% |
42% |
+13 |
+13 |
Note – Differences are calculated by subtracting Labor % from Liberal % – except for the two issues on which the Greens lead in which case it is Liberal minus Greens.
The Liberal Party is trusted more to handle security and the war on terrorism (+23), political leadership (+22), management of the economy (+21) and controlling interest rates (+18). The Labor Party is trusted more to handle a fair industrial relations system (-6) and Australian jobs and protection of local industries (-5).
Main changes since this question was asked in October have been an improvements for the Liberal Party on treatment of asylum seekers (up 8), ensuring a quality education (up 6), the health system (up 5), the industrial relations system (up 5) and the tax system (up 5).
Q. In general, do you think the policies of the Liberal/National Coalition and the policies of Labor favour the rich, favour the average Australian, favour the poor, or do they treat all groups equally?
|
Favour the rich |
Favour the average Australian |
Favour the poor |
Treat all groups equally |
Don’t know |
|
|
The policies of the Liberal/National Coalition… |
52% |
21% |
2% |
7% |
18% |
|
The policies of Labor… |
17% |
38% |
17% |
7% |
21% |
|
May 2014 |
Favour the rich |
Favour the average Australian |
Favour the poor |
Treat all groups equally |
Don’t know |
|
The policies of the Liberal/National Coalition… |
54% |
16% |
5% |
13% |
12% |
|
The policies of Labor… |
16% |
34% |
22% |
11% |
17% |
52% think that the policies of the Liberal/National Coalition favour the rich. 21% think they favour the average Australian, 2% think they favour the poor and 7% think they favour all groups equally.
38% think that the policies of Labor favour the average Australian. 17% think they favour the rich, 17% think they favour the poor and 7% think they treat all groups equally.
These figures have not changed substantially since May last year – although there has been a small move for both parties away from favouring the poor or treating all groups equally and towards favouring the average Australian.
Labor and Greens voters were more likely to think that the Liberal/National coalition favour the rich (73% and 83% respectively) and that Labor favour the average Australian (58% and 53%). 39% of Liberal National voters think the Liberal Party favours the average Australian, 32% favours the rich and 15% treats all groups equally.
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?
Q. If don’t know -Well which party are you currently leaning to?
Sample size = 1,771 respondents
|
First preference/leaning to |
Election 7 Sep 13 |
4 weeks ago 27/10/15 |
2 weeks ago 10/11/15 |
Last week 17/11/15 |
This week 24/11/15 |
|
|
Liberal |
41% |
41% |
41% |
41% |
||
|
National |
4% |
4% |
4% |
4% |
||
|
Total Liberal/National |
45.6% |
45% |
45% |
45% |
44% |
|
|
Labor |
33.4% |
35% |
35% |
36% |
35% |
|
|
Greens |
8.6% |
11% |
10% |
10% |
10% |
|
|
Palmer United Party |
5.5% |
1% |
1% |
1% |
1% |
|
|
Other/Independent |
6.9% |
8% |
10% |
9% |
9% |
|
2 Party Preferred |
Election 7 Sep 13 |
4 weeks ago 27/10/15 |
2 weeks ago 10/11/15 |
Last week 17/11/15 |
This week 24/11/15 |
|
|
Liberal National |
53.5% |
52% |
52% |
52% |
52% |
|
|
Labor |
46.5% |
48% |
48% |
48% |
48% |
NB. The data in the above tables comprise 2-week averages derived from the first preference/leaning to voting questions. Respondents who select ‘don’t know’ are not included in the results. The two-party preferred estimate is calculated by distributing the votes of the other parties according to their preferences at the 2013 election.
Q. Over the last few years, do you think that the threat of terrorism happening in Australia has increased, decreased or stayed much the same?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
Sep 2014 |
Mar 2015 |
Oct 2015 |
|||
|
Total increased |
76% |
81% |
84% |
60% |
75% |
57% |
75% |
75% |
||
|
Total decreased |
2% |
1% |
1% |
4% |
2% |
6% |
2% |
1% |
||
|
Increased a lot |
42% |
42% |
51% |
21% |
37% |
22% |
39% |
38% |
||
|
Increased a little |
34% |
39% |
33% |
39% |
38% |
35% |
36% |
37% |
||
|
Stayed about the same |
19% |
17% |
15% |
32% |
21% |
33% |
20% |
20% |
||
|
Decreased a little |
1% |
* |
* |
3% |
1% |
3% |
1% |
1% |
||
|
Decreased a lot |
1% |
1% |
* |
1% |
1% |
3% |
1% |
* |
||
|
Don’t know |
3% |
1% |
1% |
4% |
2% |
4% |
4% |
3% |
76% think that the threat of terrorism happening in Australia has increased – up 1% from when this question was asked in October. Those who think the threat has increased a lot has gone up 4% to 42%. 19% (down 1%) think it has stayed about the same and 2% (up 1%) think it has decreased.
Those most likely to think it has increased were Liberal/National voters (84%) and those aged 55+ (90%).