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  • Feb, 2020

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    Returning to budget surplus

    Q. Before the 2019 Federal election, the Government promised the 2019-2020 budget would return to surplus. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about achieving a budget surplus?

      NET: Agree NET: Disagree Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Unsure
    It’s more important to spend money on bushfire recovery than fund the surplus 79% 11% 50% 30% 7% 5% 9%
    It’s understandable with the coronavirus impacting trade with China that the surplus won’t be achieved 65% 18% 25% 40% 12% 6% 17%
    The government was wrong to announce the budget ‘was back in the black’ before the last election 57% 24% 25% 32% 17% 7% 19%
    • Four in five (79%) agree that it’s more important to spend money on bushfire recovery than fund the surplus; 65% agree that it’s understandable with the coronavirus impacting trade on China that the surplus won’t be achieved; and over half (57%) agree that the government was wrong to announce the budget ‘was back in the black’ before the last election.
    • Coalition voters are least likely to agree that the government was wrong to announce the budget ‘was back in the black’ before the last election (44%); while Labor (70%) and Greens (68%) voters are most likely to agree.
  • Nov, 2011

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    Return to Surplus

    Q. Do you think it is more important for the Government to return the budget to surplus by 2012/13 as planned – which may mean cutting services and raising taxes – OR should they delay the return to surplus and maintain services and invest in infrastructure?

    April 4 Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Return to surplus by 2012/13, cut services, raise taxes 14% 13% 13% 19% 7%
    Delay return to surplus, maintain services, invest in infrastructure 69% 71% 76% 68% 82%
    Don’t know 17% 15% 11% 13% 11%

    13% support the return to surplus by 2012/13 if it means cutting services and raising taxes and 69% think the Government should delay the return to surplus and maintain services and investment. Opinions are unchanged since this question was asked in April.

    No more than 19% of any demographic or voter group supported the return to surplus by 2012/13.

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  • Nov, 2011

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    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.

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  • Apr, 2011

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    Federal Budget Surplus

    Q. Do you think it is more important for the Government to return the budget to surplus by 2012/13 as planned – which may mean cutting services and raising taxes – OR should they delay the return to surplus and maintain services and invest in infrastructure?

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Return to surplus by 2012/13 14% 16% 16% 9%
    Delay return to surplus 69% 72% 70% 72%
    Don’t know 17% 12% 13% 19%

    69% support delaying the return to surplus if it means cutting services and raising taxes – while 14% think it is more important to return to surplus by 2012/13.

    78% of those aged 45+ support delaying the return to surplus.

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