Essential Report
Return to Surplus
Q. Do you think it is more important for the Government to return the budget to surplus by 2012/13 as planned – which may mean cutting services and raising taxes – OR should they delay the return to surplus and maintain services and invest in infrastructure?
April 4 | Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
Return to surplus by 2012/13, cut services, raise taxes | 14% | 13% | 13% | 19% | 7% |
Delay return to surplus, maintain services, invest in infrastructure | 69% | 71% | 76% | 68% | 82% |
Don’t know | 17% | 15% | 11% | 13% | 11% |
13% support the return to surplus by 2012/13 if it means cutting services and raising taxes and 69% think the Government should delay the return to surplus and maintain services and investment. Opinions are unchanged since this question was asked in April.
No more than 19% of any demographic or voter group supported the return to surplus by 2012/13.

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- Performance of Scott Morrison
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- Preferred Prime Minister
- Views towards re-electing the federal Coalition government
- Party trust to handle issues
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