06 May 2013, 060513, spending on services
Q. Do you think it is more important to reduce Australia’s national debt or to maintain government spending on services and projects?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Australia’s debt higher |
Australia’s debt about the same |
Australia’s debt lower |
|
| More important to reduce debt |
46% |
26% |
67% |
31% |
63% |
49% |
37% |
| More important to maintain spending |
40% |
61% |
23% |
59% |
28% |
33% |
51% |
| Don’t know |
14% |
14% |
10% |
11% |
9% |
18% |
12% |
46% think it is more important to reduce Australia’s debt and 40% think it is more important to maintain Government spending on services and projects.
61% of Labor voters and 59% of Greens voters favour maintaining spending while 67% of Liberal/national voters think it is more important to reduce debt.
63% of those who think Australia’s debt is high compared to other countries think we should reduce debt while 51% of those who think our debt is low think we should maintain spending.
budget, EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, Federal Budget, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, polls, spending on programs, spending on services
Q. Thinking about the next Federal Budget, overall do you think the Government should increase, maintain or cut spending on services and programs?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Increase spending | 15% | 16% | 13% | 20% |
| Maintain spending | 49% | 58% | 46% | 54% |
| Cut spending | 22% | 14% | 31% | 15% |
| Don’t know | 14% | 12% | 10% | 11% |
49% think the Government should maintain spending in the next Federal Budget, 22% think spending should be cut and 15% think it should be increased.
By voting intention, 74% of Labor voters and Greens voters think spending should be maintained or increased compared to 59% of Liberal/National voters. 31% of Liberal/National voters think spending should be cut.