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  • Jun, 2014

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    Policies important to fostering equality

    Q. Which areas of government policy are most important to fostering equality in Australia? (select 2)

     

    Total

     

    First

    Second

     

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Vote Other

    Access to affordable health care

    60%

    32%

    28%

    69%

    53%

    54%

    60%

    A minimum wage that covers the basics of life

    45%

    22%

    23%

    44%

    49%

    53%

    46%

    Well resourced public schools

    28%

    12%

    16%

    26%

    30%

    34%

    35%

    A strong social welfare system

    24%

    12%

    12%

    37%

    13%

    33%

    19%

    Policies that ensure strong economic growth like cutting company tax

    20%

    11%

    9%

    8%

    38%

    4%

    17%

    Taxes that redistribute wealth across generations e.g. inheritance tax

    8%

    4%

    4%

    10%

    6%

    10%

    11%

    Don’t know

    7%

    7%

    7%

    5%

    7%

    3%

    7%

    The most important areas of Government policy in fostering equality in Australia were access to affordable health care (60%) and a minimum wage that covers the basics of life (45%).

    Labor voters were more likely to nominate a strong social welfare system (37%) while Liberal/National voters were more likely to favour policies that ensure strong economic growth like cutting company tax (38%).

  • Apr, 2013

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    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.

  • Jul, 2012

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    Funding Schools

    Q. Do you think all schools should get a similar increase in funding, public schools should receive a larger increase or private schools should receive a larger increase?

     

    Total

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    All schools should receive a similar increase in funding

    28%

    23%

    39%

    7%

    Public schools should receive a larger increase

    63%

    74%

    51%

    79%

    Private schools should receive a larger increase

    2%

    1%

    3%

    Don’t know

    7%

    2%

    6%

    13%

    63% think that public schools should receive a larger increase in funding, 2% think private schools should receive a larger increase and 28% think all schools should receive a similar increase.

    Labor voters (74%) and Greens voters (79%) showed strongest support for increased funding for public schools – although a majority (51%) of Liberal/National voters also supported it.

  • Feb, 2012

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    Funding for Elite private Schools

    Q. Do you think all schools should get an increase in funding or should some of the wealthy elite private schools not get an increase in funding?

     

    Total

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    All schools should receive an increase in funding

    23%

    17%

    31%

    11%

    Some wealthy elite private schools should not get an increase in funding

    73%

    78%

    68%

    83%

    Don’t know

    4%

    5%

    2%

    5%

    Only 23% think that all schools should receive an increase in funding and 73% think that some wealthy elite private schools should not get an increase.

    Highest support for all schools to receive an increase in funding came from Liberal/National voters (31%) and those on incomes over $1,600pw (28%).

    Highest support for wealthy elite private schools not receiving additional funding came from Greens voters (83%), Labor voters (78%) and people aged 45-64 (78%).

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