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Importance of reducing debt

13 Aug 2013

Q. Do you think it is more important to reduce Australia’s national debt or to maintain government spending on services and projects?

 

6
May 13

 

 

Total

Vote ALP

Vote Lib/Nat

Vote Greens

Australia’s debt higher

Australia’s debt about the same

Australia’s debt lower

More important to reduce debt

46%

48%

28%

72%

23%

76%

48%

37%

More important to maintain spending

40%

35%

51%

20%

60%

18%

32%

49%

Don’t know

14%

17%

21%

9%

17%

6%

20%

14%

48% think it is more important to reduce Australia’s debt and 35% think it is more important to maintain Government spending on services and projects. This represents a shift away from maintaining spending since this question was previously asked in May.

51% (down 10%) of Labor voters and 60% (up 1%) of Greens voters favour maintaining spending while 72% (up 5%) of Liberal/National voters think it is more important to reduce debt.

76% of those who think Australia’s debt is higher compared to other countries think we should reduce debt while 49% of those who think our debt is lower think we should maintain spending.

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