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  • Dec, 2014

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    Important issues

    Q. Which of the following issues are the most important for the Federal Government to address over the next 12 months?

     

    Total

     

    Most import-ant

    2nd most import-ant

    3rd most import-ant

     

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Vote Other

    Improving our health system

    47%

    14%

    18%

    15%

    53%

    46%

    34%

    44%

    Reducing unemployment

    37%

    12%

    13%

    12%

    38%

    33%

    30%

    43%

    Reducing the budget deficit

    32%

    16%

    8%

    8%

    15%

    60%

    14%

    20%

    Tax avoidance by big companies

    27%

    9%

    9%

    9%

    29%

    27%

    30%

    31%

    Protecting workers wages and conditions

    24%

    8%

    7%

    9%

    34%

    16%

    10%

    30%

    National security and terrorism

    23%

    8%

    7%

    8%

    16%

    35%

    6%

    32%

    More funds for education

    23%

    6%

    8%

    9%

    26%

    14%

    30%

    26%

    Housing affordability

    22%

    7%

    8%

    7%

    27%

    15%

    15%

    27%

    Addressing climate change

    20%

    9%

    7%

    4%

    25%

    8%

    60%

    11%

    Investing in public transport

    14%

    3%

    5%

    6%

    14%

    11%

    17%

    12%

    Protecting the environment

    13%

    3%

    5%

    5%

    15%

    5%

    45%

    11%

    Investing in roads

    10%

    3%

    2%

    5%

    6%

    15%

    4%

    12%

    Free trade agreements

    6%

    1%

    3%

    2%

    2%

    12%

    5%

    3%

    The most important issues for the Federal Government to address over the next 12 months were improving our health system (47%), reducing unemployment (37%), reducing the budget deficit (32%) and tax avoidance by big companies (27%).

    For Labor voters the most important issues were improving our health system (53%), reducing unemployment (38%) and protecting workers wages and conditions (34%). For Liberal/National voters the most important issues were reducing the budget deficit (60%), improving our health system (46%) and national security and terrorism (35%).

  • Apr, 2012

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    Reason for Budget Deficit

    Q. The Federal Government is currently running a budget deficit, but intends to return to surplus with the budget for 2012-13 to be announced next month. Which of the following do you think has been most responsible for the deficit over the last few years?

     

    Total 11/4/11

    Total 10/4/12

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Poor economic management by the Government

    23%

    28%

    7%

    48%

    7%

    Big companies not paying their fair share of taxes

    17%

    16%

    28%

    5%

    28%

    Lower tax revenues because of the Global Financial Crisis

    13%

    16%

    27%

    10%

    22%

    Spending on big projects like the National Broadband Network

    14%

    15%

    14%

    17%

    10%

    The cost of the Government’s GFC stimulus packages

    19%

    12%

    11%

    13%

    15%

    Don’t know

    15%

    14%

    13%

    8%

    18%

    Overall, respondents believe the main reasons for the budget deficit are poor economic management by the Government (28%), big companies not paying their fair share of taxes (16%) and lower tax revenues because of the Global Financial Crisis (16%).

    Since this question was asked 12 months ago, those blaming the Government for poor economic management has increased from 23% to 28% and those blaming the cost of the Government’s GFC stimulus packages has declined from 19% to 12%.

    Labor voters were most likely to blame big companies not paying their fair share of taxes (28%) and lower tax revenues because of the GFC (27%) while Liberal/National voters blame poor economic management by the Government (48%). Greens voters tended to blame big companies not paying their fair share of taxes (28%).

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  • Apr, 2011

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    Reason for Budget Deficit

    Q. The Federal Government is currently running a budget deficit, but intends to return to surplus in 2012-13. Which of the following do you think is most responsible for the deficit?

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Poor economic management by the Government 23% 5% 43% 8%
    The cost of the Government’s GFC stimulus packages 19% 19% 20% 21%
    Big companies not paying their fair share of taxes 17% 29% 6% 30%
    Spending on big projects like the National Broadband Network 14% 8% 18% 10%
    Lower tax revenues because of the Global Financial Crisis 13% 25% 4% 19%
    Don’t know 15% 14% 9% 11%

    Overall, respondents believe the main reasons for the budget deficit are poor economic management by the Government (23%), the cost of the Government’s GFC stimulus (19%) and big companies not paying their fair share of taxes (17%).

    Labor voters were most likely to blame big companies not paying their fair share of taxes (29%) and lower tax revenues because of the GFC (25%) while Liberal/National voters blame poor economic management by the Government (43%). Greens voters tended to blame big companies not paying their fair share of taxes (30%).

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