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Three-quarters of voters say they will be worse off after budget Three-quarters of voters say they will be worse off after budget
(4 months later)
Tuesday’s budget was not well received by the public, with 75% of Australians saying they would be worse off because of it, and more people believing it would not help the economy, a poll on Sunday has shown.Tuesday’s budget was not well received by the public, with 75% of Australians saying they would be worse off because of it, and more people believing it would not help the economy, a poll on Sunday has shown.
However, despite overwhelming negativity towards the budget, the two-party preferred result in the News Corp Galaxy poll has swung only slightly towards the opposition.However, despite overwhelming negativity towards the budget, the two-party preferred result in the News Corp Galaxy poll has swung only slightly towards the opposition.
Labor leads by 53% to 47% on a two-party-preferred basis, the poll finds, representing a swing towards Labor of only 1%, but following a trend shown in Galaxy polls since the election last September. Both major parties polled 38% on the primary vote, compared to a 39% to 37% split in favour of the Coalition in the previous Galaxy poll in early May. Labor leads by 53% to 47% on a two-party-preferred basis, the poll finds, representing a swing towards Labor of only 1%, but following a trend shown in Galaxy polls since the election last September. Both major parties polled 38% on the primary vote, compared to a 39% to 37% split in favour of the Coalition in the previous Galaxy poll in early May.
Only 11% of people thought they would be better off financially after the budget. The poll found that only 41% thought it would be good for the economy, compared with 48% who thought it would have a negative effect. Only 11% of people thought they would be better off financially after the budget. The poll found that only 41% thought it would be good for the economy, compared with 48% who thought it would have a negative effect.
The Galaxy poll recorded that support for the Palmer United party continues to rise; its primary support has risen by 2% to 8%. Clive Palmer told Guardian Australia he did not know if this reflected a move towards his party, or voters’ disenchantment with the government. The Galaxy poll recorded that support for the Palmer United party continues to rise; its primary support has risen by 2% to 8%. Clive Palmer told Guardian Australia he did not know if this reflected a move towards his party, or voters’ disenchantment with the government.
“It’s probably a result of the fact that [prime minister] Tony Abbott has told a lot of lies to people and they resent it,” he said. “It’s probably a result of the fact that [prime minister] Tony Abbott has told a lot of lies to people and they resent it,” he said.
“If I went out to my shareholders and said these things, and they gave me money or voted for me on that basis, and then later on I behaved completely differently, I’d be charged with deceptive and misleading conduct and go to jail,” he said.“If I went out to my shareholders and said these things, and they gave me money or voted for me on that basis, and then later on I behaved completely differently, I’d be charged with deceptive and misleading conduct and go to jail,” he said.
Citing Australia’s AAA credit rating and low debt compared to other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, Palmer said the Commission of Audit report and statements by the government had been “created to justify these measures” and were “not warranted”. Citing Australia’s AAA credit rating and low debt compared to other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, Palmer said the Commission of Audit report and statements by the government had been “created to justify these measures” and were “not warranted”.
State and territory leaders are due to meet in Sydney on Sunday to discuss their response to the budget, which stripped $80bn from hospital and school funding over the next 10 years, after the government backed away from agreements made by Labor.State and territory leaders are due to meet in Sydney on Sunday to discuss their response to the budget, which stripped $80bn from hospital and school funding over the next 10 years, after the government backed away from agreements made by Labor.
Asked about the cuts on Sunday, Abbott said “money isn’t everything”. He dismissed suggestions that the government had broken its “unity ticket” promise on the Gonski education reforms.Asked about the cuts on Sunday, Abbott said “money isn’t everything”. He dismissed suggestions that the government had broken its “unity ticket” promise on the Gonski education reforms.
“We said we would honour the then government's commitments over the then [four-year] forward estimates,” he said on the ABC’s Insiders program. “We said that we weren't bound by their pie-in-the-sky promises for the out [beyond the forward estimates] years. We've just been absolutely upfront with the states.”“We said we would honour the then government's commitments over the then [four-year] forward estimates,” he said on the ABC’s Insiders program. “We said that we weren't bound by their pie-in-the-sky promises for the out [beyond the forward estimates] years. We've just been absolutely upfront with the states.”
The shadow treasurer, Chris Bowen, said the states had a right to be furious. "[There is] no justification for – without consultation, without warning – the commonwealth walking away from responsibilities to fund pensioner concessions, or schools and hospitals, and the states are rightly furious," Bowen said on Sky News.The shadow treasurer, Chris Bowen, said the states had a right to be furious. "[There is] no justification for – without consultation, without warning – the commonwealth walking away from responsibilities to fund pensioner concessions, or schools and hospitals, and the states are rightly furious," Bowen said on Sky News.
The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, said Abbott was forcing the states into a position whereby a rise in the GST was all but inevitable. “Abbott knows you can’t take $80bn from schools and hospitals without the states having to increase tax,” he told the Victorian ALP conference. The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, said Abbott was forcing the states into a position whereby a rise in the GST was all but inevitable. “Abbott knows you can’t take $80bn from schools and hospitals without the states having to increase tax,” he told the Victorian ALP conference.
There has been strong speculation that the move will force states to ask the federal government to increase the goods and services tax, something it has said it would not do. “I don’t propose changing the GST, because the GST is a state tax,” Abbott said.There has been strong speculation that the move will force states to ask the federal government to increase the goods and services tax, something it has said it would not do. “I don’t propose changing the GST, because the GST is a state tax,” Abbott said.
The GST is a federal tax, but the revenue raised by it goes to the states.The GST is a federal tax, but the revenue raised by it goes to the states.
“Why don’t you show the honesty,” Shorten said. “You know you want to increase the GST. At least [former Coalition prime minister] John Howard would come in the front door and ask for it.”“Why don’t you show the honesty,” Shorten said. “You know you want to increase the GST. At least [former Coalition prime minister] John Howard would come in the front door and ask for it.”