Essential Report
Priorities for upcoming Federal Budget
Q. From the options below, which of the following initiatives should the government prioritise in the upcoming Federal Budget in October?
Please select your top three choices with 1 being the top priority, 2 being the second top priority and 3 being the third top priority.
Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||
TOTAL: TOP 3 | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | Liberal + National | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
Build more affordable housing | 60% | 57% | 64% | 60% | 57% | 64% | 66% | 54% | 61% | 56% |
Invest in renewable energy projects | 52% | 53% | 50% | 45% | 52% | 56% | 48% | 51% | 66% | 54% |
Invest in large-scale infrastructure projects (e.g. roads, transport networks, ports etc.) | 48% | 51% | 45% | 37% | 47% | 58% | 41% | 59% | 26% | 55% |
Extend JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments at current rate | 47% | 47% | 47% | 52% | 45% | 45% | 52% | 39% | 61% | 44% |
Directly fund jobs in aged care | 41% | 36% | 46% | 35% | 37% | 51% | 41% | 41% | 35% | 44% |
Establish a universally accessible early learning system | 27% | 29% | 25% | 38% | 31% | 13% | 29% | 24% | 33% | 27% |
Fast-track tax cuts for higher income earners | 25% | 28% | 23% | 33% | 31% | 13% | 22% | 31% | 20% | 21% |
Base (n) | 1,081 | 539 | 542 | 338 | 374 | 369 | 298 | 460 | 115 | 104 |
- Building more affordable houses was the most selected issue, with 60% rating this as a Top 3 priority for the Government in the next budget. Investing in renewable energy (52%), investment in large-scale infrastructure (48%) and the extension of JobKeeper and JobKeeper (47%) also rated highly.
- Fast-tracking tax cuts was considered a Top 3 priority for 25% of people.
- Coalition voters were more likely to select investment in renewable energy (51%) than the fast-tracking of tax cuts for higher income earners (31%) as a priority issue. Investment in large-scale infrastructure (59%), build affordable housing (54%) and investment in renewables (51%) were the most selected priorities among Coalition voters.

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