Spending by a Liberal Government
Q. If the Liberal Party won Government at the next election, do you think they would increase or decrease spending on the following areas or spend about the same as the Labor Government?
|
Increase spending |
Decrease spending |
Spend about the same |
Don’t know |
|
| Public schools |
22% |
30% |
33% |
15% |
| Private schools |
28% |
27% |
28% |
16% |
| Universities |
18% |
29% |
36% |
16% |
| Support for manufacturing industries |
26% |
23% |
32% |
19% |
| Pensions |
19% |
32% |
36% |
14% |
| Welfare support |
12% |
45% |
28% |
14% |
| Health and hospitals |
33% |
27% |
25% |
14% |
| The environment |
11% |
39% |
34% |
16% |
| Defence |
31% |
19% |
34% |
16% |
| Foreign aid |
8% |
41% |
33% |
18% |
| Public transport |
23% |
26% |
35% |
16% |
| Roads |
26% |
22% |
36% |
16% |
| Border security |
44% |
14% |
28% |
14% |
| The arts |
7% |
40% |
32% |
21% |
| Subsidies for business |
34% |
20% |
28% |
18% |
Overall, respondents were more likely to think a Liberal Government would reduce spending on welfare support, the arts, the environment, foreign aid, pensions, public schools and universities. They were more likely to think they would increase spending on border security, defence and subsidies for business.
Liberal voters thought a Liberal Government would be more likely to increase than decrease spending on public schools, manufacturing industries, pensions, public transport, health and hospitals, defence, roads, border security and subsidies for business.
Approval of Budget Items
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the following parts of the Federal budget?
|
Total approve |
Total disapprove |
Strongly approve |
Approve |
Disapprove |
Strongly disapprove |
Don’t know |
|
| Reduced spending on defence |
48% |
43% |
14% |
34% |
28% |
15% |
10% |
| Increased spending on dental health |
87% |
8% |
30% |
57% |
7% |
1% |
6% |
| Bonus payments to low-income families with children at school |
60% |
33% |
16% |
44% |
20% |
13% |
7% |
| Returning the budget to surplus |
61% |
26% |
15% |
46% |
19% |
7% |
14% |
| Tightening eligibility for parenting payments for single mothers |
65% |
25% |
26% |
39% |
17% |
8% |
10% |
| Increasing tax on super contributions for people on high incomes |
60% |
31% |
28% |
32% |
20% |
11% |
9% |
Respondents were divided on reduced defence spending – 48% approved and 43% disapproved. Support for reduced defence spending was highest among those aged 18-34 (57%).
On all other items measured there was quite strong approval – in particular on increased spending on dental health (87%). Other items received at least 60% support – including 61% approval of returning the budget to surplus. 71% of Labor voters and 58% of Liberal/National voters approved the return to surplus.
Increasing tax on super contributions for people on high incomes was approved by 52% of those on incomes of $1,600+ pw and disapproved by 40%.
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