Essential Report
Medicare tax increase
Q. It has been proposed that the Medicare levy could be increased from 2% to 2.65% to fund improvements to the aged care sector.
To what extent would you support or oppose this increase?
Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||
Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | Liberal + National | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
Strongly oppose | 15% | 17% | 13% | 10% | 22% | 12% | 11% | 13% | 11% | 37% |
Somewhat oppose | 17% | 18% | 16% | 23% | 16% | 13% | 17% | 18% | 23% | 13% |
Neither support, nor oppose | 32% | 28% | 36% | 38% | 28% | 31% | 31% | 28% | 33% | 29% |
Somewhat support | 23% | 24% | 22% | 21% | 22% | 27% | 28% | 27% | 17% | 13% |
Strongly support | 12% | 13% | 12% | 8% | 12% | 17% | 14% | 13% | 15% | 7% |
TOTAL: Oppose | 32% | 35% | 29% | 33% | 38% | 25% | 28% | 31% | 35% | 51% |
TOTAL: Support | 36% | 37% | 35% | 29% | 34% | 44% | 41% | 41% | 32% | 21% |
Base (n) | 1,076 | 524 | 552 | 326 | 365 | 385 | 321 | 390 | 108 | 138 |
- The proposal to increase the Medicare levy to help fund the aged care sector could be a polarising issue for Australians. Similar proportions say they support (36%) and oppose (32%) the proposal
- Support for increasing the levy is highest mong those aged over 55 years (44%).
- There is net support among voters of the two major parties – 41% support, 28% opposition among Labor voters and 41% support, 31% oppose among Coalition voters). Those voting for minor, or independent candidates generally oppose the proposal (51% oppose, 21% support).

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