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Tax Policy Comparison

26 Feb 2019

Q. For each of the following pairs of tax policies, please select which one you would prefer was implemented by the Government?

Pair Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+
1 Continue to allow property investors to claim negative gearing tax concessions 32% 33% 30% 24% 32% 38%
Invest in new social and community housing to ease rental costs 68% 67% 70% 76% 68% 62%
2 Continue to pay tax credits to people with shares who do not pay any income tax 39% 44% 35% 32% 40% 46%
Funding two days universal access to early learning for three and four year olds 61% 56% 65% 68% 60% 54%
3 Continue to allow people to split incomes through family trusts to minimise tax 35% 35% 37% 42% 35% 32%
Increase the Newstart allowance 65% 65% 63% 58% 65% 68%

Overall, there was a strong preference for investing in new social and community housing. (68% prefer) over continuing the practice of negative gearing (32% prefer), a strong preference for funding universal access to early learning for three and four year olds (61% prefer) over tax credits for those who do not pay income tax (39%), and a strong preference for increasing the Newstart allowance (65%) over allowing the use of family trusts to minimise tax (35%).

In each case, support for the former measure was highest amount Labor voters, Greens voters, and those aged 18-34, and the support for the latter measure was highest among Liberal/National voters.

Pair Total Labor Liberal + National Greens NET: Other
1 Continue to allow property investors to claim negative gearing tax concessions 32% 21% 47% 20% 31%
Invest in new social and community housing to ease rental costs 68% 79% 53% 80% 69%
2 Continue to pay tax credits to people with shares who do not pay any income tax 39% 29% 53% 26% 38%
Funding two days universal access to early learning for three and four year olds 61% 71% 47% 74% 62%
3 Continue to allow people to split incomes through family trusts to minimise tax 36% 23% 49% 26% 36%
Increase the Newstart allowance 64% 77% 51% 74% 64%
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