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  • Apr, 2013

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    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.

  • Apr, 2012

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    Means Testing Government Subsidies and Benefits

    Q. Do you think the Government subsidies and benefits (such as health insurance rebates, childcare rebates, age pensions) should be means tested (that is, reduced or not paid to people on higher incomes) or should people receive the same subsidies and benefits from the Government regardless of their income?

     

    Total

     

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Subsidies and benefits should be means tested

    68%

    79%

    63%

    74%

    People should receive the same subsidies and benefits regardless of income

    24%

    16%

    30%

    18%

    Don’t know

    8%

    5%

    7%

    8%

    68% agree that Government subsidies and benefits should be means tested and 24% think people should receive the same subsidies and benefits regardless of income.

    Means testing was supported by 77% of respondents aged 45+ and 60% of those aged under 45. 76% of those earning less than $600pw supported means testing compared to 65% of those earning $1,600+.

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  • Apr, 2011

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    Party Trust to Handle Benefits/pensions

    Q. Which party would you trust more to handle welfare issues like unemployment benefits and disability pensions?

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Labor Party 34% 75% 6% 53%
    Liberal Party 31% 4% 66% 8%
    No difference 25% 16% 21% 26%
    Don’t know 10% 55 6% 13%

    34% trust the Labor Party more to handle welfare issues and 31% trust the Liberal Party more. 25% think there is no difference.

    The Liberal Party is trusted more by people earning $1,600+ pw (40% to 29%) while those on incomes under $1,000 pw favor the Labor Party 39% to 22%.

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