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%).
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.
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.
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%).
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
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In this week's report:
- Federal government response to Covid-19
- State government response to Covid-19
- Views towards reopening international borders
- Views towards state border closures
- Comprehension and confidence in PM’s plan to ‘safely reopen’ Australia
- Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine
- Necessity of mandatory vaccinations in specific situations
- Views towards easing restrictions for fully vaccinated people
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