Essential Report
Tax reform
Q. Would you support or oppose the following tax reforms to pay off debt and raise more funds for Government services and infrastructure?
Total support | Total oppose | Strongly support | Support | Oppose | Strongly oppose | Don’t know | ||
Stop companies and wealthy people using legal loopholes in minimise tax payments by sending funds offshore | 86% | 8% | 58% | 28% | 5% | 3% | 7% | |
Force multinational companies to pay a minimum tax rate on Australian earnings | 82% | 9% | 48% | 34% | 6% | 3% | 9% | |
Introduce the “Buffett Rule” – which means that very high earners cannot reduce their income tax rate below 30%. | 71% | 12% | 34% | 37% | 8% | 4% | 17% | |
Increase the income tax rate for high earners | 61% | 27% | 26% | 35% | 21% | 6% | 11% | |
Remove superannuation tax concessions for high earners | 54% | 30% | 22% | 32% | 18% | 12% | 15% | |
Cap deductions for tax accounting fees to $3000 | 52% | 18% | 21% | 31% | 13% | 5% | 30% | |
Stop people using Family Trusts to split income among family members | 51% | 25% | 23% | 28% | 18% | 7% | 24% | |
Limit negative gearing and capital gains property investments | 50% | 27% | 19% | 31% | 17% | 10% | 22% | |
Increase the GST | 25% | 65% | 4% | 21% | 30% | 35% | 10% | |
Introduce an inheritance tax on deceased estates | 15% | 69% | 4% | 11% | 29% | 40% | 16% |
All tax reforms were supported by a majority of respondents, except for introducing an inheritance tax (69% oppose) and increasing the GST (65% oppose). The most supported reforms were stopping minimizing tax by sending funds offshore (86% support), forcing multinational companies to pay a minimum tax rate (82%) and introducing the “Buffet Rule” (71%).
Total support | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Vote Other | ||
Stop companies and wealthy people using legal loopholes in minimise tax payments by sending funds offshore | 86% | 87% | 86% | 86% | 89% | |
Force multinational companies to pay a minimum tax rate on Australian earnings | 82% | 84% | 85% | 80% | 83% | |
Introduce the “Buffett Rule” – which means that very high earners cannot reduce their income tax rate below 30%. | 71% | 71% | 71% | 79% | 77% | |
Increase the income tax rate for high earners | 61% | 70% | 53% | 68% | 65% | |
Remove superannuation tax concessions for high earners | 54% | 56% | 57% | 54% | 58% | |
Cap deductions for tax accounting fees to $3000 | 52% | 52% | 58% | 61% | 50% | |
Stop people using Family Trusts to split income among family members | 51% | 55% | 53% | 50% | 46% | |
Limit negative gearing and capital gains property investments | 50% | 54% | 50% | 61% | 47% | |
Increase the GST | 25% | 18% | 37% | 13% | 27% | |
Introduce an inheritance tax on deceased estates | 15% | 17% | 14% | 15% | 11% |

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