Key results

The Australia Institute surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,000 Australians about their attitudes towards tax and budget priorities.

• The results show that most Australians agree with positive statements about taxation, and would prefer additional government spending to tax cuts or deficit reduction.
• Seven in ten (69%) Australians agree with Oliver Wendell Holmes’ quote that ‘taxes are what we pay for a civilised society.’
• Six in ten (61%) agree with the broader statement that ‘tax is good.’
• Spending on government services like health and education was the single most popular priority, chosen by one in three (36%) of Australians. Decreasing the deficit and repaying debt was the least popular, chosen by just 9%.