Views towards national deficit and spending

25 May 2021

Q. Which of the following approaches to debt and spending is closer to your view?

	Total	Gender			Age Group				Federal Voting Intention
	Total	Male	Female	18-34		35-54	55+	Labor		TOTAL: Coalition	Greens	TOTAL: Other
Australia needs to spend whatever it takes to help the economy recover, and worry about how to repay the debt later	20%	24%	16%	26%		21%	13%	19%		21%	23%	14%
It’s ok for Australia to spend whatever it takes to help the economy recover, but there needs to be a clear plan for how we will repay the debt in the future	65%	63%	66%	61%		63%	70%	66%		67%	64%	62%
Now is the time to start repaying some of the debt	16%	14%	18%	14%		16%	17%	15%		12%	13%	25%
Base (n)	1,100	539	561	341		379	380	369		410	105	112

The majority (65%) think it’s ok for Australia to spend whatever it takes to help the economy recover, but there needs to be a clear plan for how we will repay the debt in the future. While accordance with this view is high across all age groups, those over 55 are more likely than younger cohorts to think this (70% to 62% those under 55).
20% think Australia needs to spend whatever it takes to help the economy recover, and worry about how to repay the debt later. Those most likely to follow this view include men (24%), those aged 18-34 (26%), Greens voters (23%).

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