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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/may/02/guardian-essential-poll-australians-back-jobseeker-increase-and-look-to-budget-for-cost-of-living-relief
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| Guardian Essential poll: Australians back jobseeker increase and look to budget for cost-of-living relief | Guardian Essential poll: Australians back jobseeker increase and look to budget for cost-of-living relief |
| (10 days later) | |
| Poll also suggests honeymoon glow has not worn off Anthony Albanese as support for Peter Dutton continues to slide | Poll also suggests honeymoon glow has not worn off Anthony Albanese as support for Peter Dutton continues to slide |
| New polling suggests half of Australian voters support raising jobseeker from $50 a day, significantly outnumbering the 28% who oppose a raise in the payment. | New polling suggests half of Australian voters support raising jobseeker from $50 a day, significantly outnumbering the 28% who oppose a raise in the payment. |
| The latest Guardian Essential poll of 1,130 voters also finds more than three-quarters (78%) of respondents want the government to provide cost-of-living support in the budget, as opposed to just 22% who favour reducing debt by cutting services. | The latest Guardian Essential poll of 1,130 voters also finds more than three-quarters (78%) of respondents want the government to provide cost-of-living support in the budget, as opposed to just 22% who favour reducing debt by cutting services. |
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| The poll was conducted from 26 to 30 April, as the Albanese government grappled with demands from its own MPs to raise jobseeker after a report from its own poverty experts called for a “substantial” increase in the “seriously inadequate” payment. | The poll was conducted from 26 to 30 April, as the Albanese government grappled with demands from its own MPs to raise jobseeker after a report from its own poverty experts called for a “substantial” increase in the “seriously inadequate” payment. |
| On Monday it was reported that the government is poised to increase jobseeker for people over 55 in next Tuesday’s budget. | On Monday it was reported that the government is poised to increase jobseeker for people over 55 in next Tuesday’s budget. |
| After being reminded a single person on jobseeker receives $347 a week or $50 a day, about 49% of respondents favoured a rise in the payment, with 23% strongly in support and 25% somewhat supporting a rise. | After being reminded a single person on jobseeker receives $347 a week or $50 a day, about 49% of respondents favoured a rise in the payment, with 23% strongly in support and 25% somewhat supporting a rise. |
| About 23% neither supported nor opposed a raise, while 28% opposed one. A majority of Labor voters (55%) approved of an increase in unemployment payments. | About 23% neither supported nor opposed a raise, while 28% opposed one. A majority of Labor voters (55%) approved of an increase in unemployment payments. |
| The sample was split in two during the poll, with half given an alternate wording asking if they supported a rise “to help those seeking employment to manage cost of living pressures”, which produced slightly greater support (51%). | The sample was split in two during the poll, with half given an alternate wording asking if they supported a rise “to help those seeking employment to manage cost of living pressures”, which produced slightly greater support (51%). |
| Respondents reported that they were not very informed about the budget, which will be delivered on 9 May. | Respondents reported that they were not very informed about the budget, which will be delivered on 9 May. |
| Asked if they understood the “purpose and significance” of the budget, about 60% said they were not informed, compared with 33% who were informed and 7% who were unsure. | Asked if they understood the “purpose and significance” of the budget, about 60% said they were not informed, compared with 33% who were informed and 7% who were unsure. |
| The respondents were split on whether the budget could “make a meaningful difference on cost of living” with 45% agreeing it could and 42% suggesting it could not. | The respondents were split on whether the budget could “make a meaningful difference on cost of living” with 45% agreeing it could and 42% suggesting it could not. |
| Only a third (33%) of respondents said they knew who the treasurer was and correctly named Jim Chalmers, while two-thirds either said they did not know or claimed to know but did not correctly name Chalmers. | Only a third (33%) of respondents said they knew who the treasurer was and correctly named Jim Chalmers, while two-thirds either said they did not know or claimed to know but did not correctly name Chalmers. |
| More respondents (41%) supported the job Chalmers was doing than disapproved (28%), although almost a third (31%) did not know. | More respondents (41%) supported the job Chalmers was doing than disapproved (28%), although almost a third (31%) did not know. |
| The poll found more respondents thought social spending was too low rather than too high, with health (56% thought it was too low; 8% too high), education and childcare (39% and 11%) and social security and welfare (38% and 17%) in particular perceived to be underfunded. | The poll found more respondents thought social spending was too low rather than too high, with health (56% thought it was too low; 8% too high), education and childcare (39% and 11%) and social security and welfare (38% and 17%) in particular perceived to be underfunded. |
| More respondents thought spending on national security and defence was too high (26%) than those who said it was too low (18%). | More respondents thought spending on national security and defence was too high (26%) than those who said it was too low (18%). |
| The Albanese government and Coalition have both spruiked increased defence spending in recent months including through the acquisition of Aukus nuclear submarines and the release of the defence strategic review. | The Albanese government and Coalition have both spruiked increased defence spending in recent months including through the acquisition of Aukus nuclear submarines and the release of the defence strategic review. |
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| On revenue measures, almost half of those surveyed said taxes on individuals were too high, including on super and savings (49%), property (48%) and income tax (46%). Those who said these were too low numbered in the single digits. | On revenue measures, almost half of those surveyed said taxes on individuals were too high, including on super and savings (49%), property (48%) and income tax (46%). Those who said these were too low numbered in the single digits. |
| But many respondents did want higher taxes on international corporations, with 48% reporting these were too low compared with 15% who said too high. | But many respondents did want higher taxes on international corporations, with 48% reporting these were too low compared with 15% who said too high. |
| As the government mulls changes to the petroleum resource rent tax, the poll found respondents split with 29% saying taxes on oil and gas companies were too high and the same proportion saying they were too low. | As the government mulls changes to the petroleum resource rent tax, the poll found respondents split with 29% saying taxes on oil and gas companies were too high and the same proportion saying they were too low. |
| Albanese’s approval rises slightly as Dutton’s slides | Albanese’s approval rises slightly as Dutton’s slides |
| The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, recorded a drop in disapproval this month, with those rating him negatively (scoring him 0 to 3 on a 10 point scale) down three points to 24%. Those who had a neutral view (scoring him 4 to 6) rose three points to 30%. | The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, recorded a drop in disapproval this month, with those rating him negatively (scoring him 0 to 3 on a 10 point scale) down three points to 24%. Those who had a neutral view (scoring him 4 to 6) rose three points to 30%. |
| Positive views (7 to 10) were up one point, to 41%, a movement within the margin of error but signalling a continued honeymoon for the Labor leader. | Positive views (7 to 10) were up one point, to 41%, a movement within the margin of error but signalling a continued honeymoon for the Labor leader. |
| The proportion of people who said the country was going in the right direction was up three points to 41%, while the proportion of those who said it was on the wrong track was down three to 38%. | The proportion of people who said the country was going in the right direction was up three points to 41%, while the proportion of those who said it was on the wrong track was down three to 38%. |
| Support for the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, continued to slide with those rating him positively down two points to 23%, neutral up one point to 34% and negative up two points to 35%. | Support for the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, continued to slide with those rating him positively down two points to 23%, neutral up one point to 34% and negative up two points to 35%. |
| Dutton’s performance was weaker among women, 21% of whom had a positive rating for him compared with 26% for men. Only half (50%) of Coalition voters rated him positively. | Dutton’s performance was weaker among women, 21% of whom had a positive rating for him compared with 26% for men. Only half (50%) of Coalition voters rated him positively. |
| There was also a gender disparity for Albanese, who had positive ratings from 46% of men and from 37% of women. | There was also a gender disparity for Albanese, who had positive ratings from 46% of men and from 37% of women. |