The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Nov, 2011

    , , , , , , , , ,

    Measures Government should take to Return to Surplus

    Q. In order to meet their commitment to return to surplus in 2012-13, which measures should the Government take?

    April 4 Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Increase taxes for big corporations 63% 72% 81% 65% 86%
    Reduce tax breaks for high income earners 51% 59% 63% 57% 64%
    Reduce defence spending 32% 37% 32% 37% 67%
    Cut “middle class welfare” such as the Baby Bonus, first home buyers grant and Family Tax Benefit payments 36% 35% 31% 40% 29%
    Cut spending on unemployment and disability benefits 21% 21% 15% 28% 13%
    It does not need to return to surplus so quickly 38% 58% 65% 56% 61%

    The most favoured measures for returning the budget to surplus were increasing taxes for big corporations (72%) and reducing tax breaks for high-income earners (59%).

    Labor voters were more likely to support increasing taxes for big corporations (81%).

    Liberal/National voters were more likely to support cutting spending on unemployment and welfare benefits (28%), and cutting “middle class welfare” (40%).

    Since this question was last asked in April, support has increased for increasing taxes for big corporations (+9%) and reducing tax breaks for high income earners (+8%).

    However, the major change since April has been a substantial increase in support for the position that the Government does not need to return to surplus so quickly – up 20% to 58%. This position is supported by 65% of Labor voters and 56% of Liberal/National voters.

    Comments »

  • Apr, 2011

    , , , , , , , , , , , ,

    Measures to Return to Surplus

    Q. In order to meet their commitment to return to surplus in 2012-13, which measures should the Government take?

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Increase taxes for big corporations 63% 79% 51% 77%
    Reduce tax breaks for high income earners 51% 57% 46% 67%
    Cut “middle class welfare” such as the Baby Bonus, first home buyers grant and Family Tax Benefit payments 36% 33% 41% 39%
    Reduce defence spending 32% 36% 26% 51%
    Cut spending on unemployment and disability benefits 21% 15% 31% 11%
    It does not need to return to surplus so quickly 38% 39% 36% 57%

    Overall, the most favoured means of returning the budget to surplus were increasing taxes for big corporations (63%) and reducing tax breaks for high income earners (51%). Both these measures were strongly favoured by Labor and Greens voters.

    Although support was less strong, these two measures were also the most preferred among Liberal/National voters.

    Note, although 38% thought that the budget does not need to return to surplus so quickly, some of these respondents also agreed with some of the measures listed.

    Comments »

Error: