Q. The Federal Government is currently running a budget deficit, but intends to return to surplus in 2012-13. Which of the following do you think is most responsible for the deficit?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Poor economic management by the Government | 23% | 5% | 43% | 8% |
| The cost of the Government’s GFC stimulus packages | 19% | 19% | 20% | 21% |
| Big companies not paying their fair share of taxes | 17% | 29% | 6% | 30% |
| Spending on big projects like the National Broadband Network | 14% | 8% | 18% | 10% |
| Lower tax revenues because of the Global Financial Crisis | 13% | 25% | 4% | 19% |
| Don’t know | 15% | 14% | 9% | 11% |
Overall, respondents believe the main reasons for the budget deficit are poor economic management by the Government (23%), the cost of the Government’s GFC stimulus (19%) and big companies not paying their fair share of taxes (17%).
Labor voters were most likely to blame big companies not paying their fair share of taxes (29%) and lower tax revenues because of the GFC (25%) while Liberal/National voters blame poor economic management by the Government (43%). Greens voters tended to blame big companies not paying their fair share of taxes (30%).