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  • Sep, 2020

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    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).
  • Jul, 2015

    Increasing GST or Medicare levy

    Q. If you had to choose, which of the following tax reforms to raise more funds for Government services and infrastructure would you favour? 

      Total   Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens Vote Other
    Increasing the GST 35% 29% 47% 34% 34%
    Increasing the Medicare levy 33% 40% 26% 39% 33%
    Don’t know 32% 31% 27% 27% 33%

    Given the choice of increasing the GST or increasing the Medicare levy, 35% favour increasing the GST and 33% favour increasing the Medicare levy. 32% could not choose.

    Labor voters favoured increasing the Medicare levy (40%) while Liberal/National voters favoured increasing the GST (47%).

    Those on low incomes (under $600 pw) favoured increasing the Medicare levy (45% to 22%) while those on higher incomes ($1,600+ pw) favoured increasing the GST (50% to 27%).

  • Dec, 2014

    Medicare rebate

    Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the recent Government announcement to drop the proposed $7 Medicare co-payment but reduce the doctor’s rebate by $5 and allow the doctor to bill non-concession card holders for that additional $5? 

     

    Total

     

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Vote other
    Total approve

    40%

    29%

    63%

    17%

    38%
    Total disapprove

    44%

    60%

    25%

    62%

    44%
    Strongly approve

    13%

    11%

    20%

    5%

    8%
    Approve

    27%

    18%

    43%

    12%

    30%
    Disapprove

    21%

    23%

    16%

    33%

    24%
    Strongly disapprove

    23%

    37%

    9%

    29%

    20%
    Don’t know

    17%

    10%

    12%

    20%

    19%

    Respondents were divided on approval of the recent change to charges for GP visits.

    40% approved of the recent Government announcement to drop the proposed $7 Medicare co-payment but reduce the doctor’s rebate by $5 and allow the doctor to bill non-concession card holders for that additional $5 and 44% disapproved.

    Those most likely to approve were Liberal/National voters (63%) and aged 65+ (50%).

    Those most likely to disapprove were Labor voters (60%), Greens voters (62%) and aged 45-54 (48%).

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