The 2015 Australian Federal Budget was the eight in a row which contained a budget deficit. The deficit grew 7% to $37.4 billion. A $4.4 billion family aid package, a $5.5 billion small business package and slowing mineral exports were the largest contributors to the increased deficit. The largest cuts were made to foreign aid which decreased by 29% from 2014. Proponents of deficit reduction argue that governments who do not control budget deficits and debt are at risk of losing their ability to borrow money at affordable rates. Opponents of deficit reduction argue that government spending would increase demand for goods and services and help avert a dangerous fall into deflation, a downward spiral in wages and prices that can cripple an economy for years.
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No, and do the following
- decrease benefits and salaries of upper echelon of politicians
- reduce military spending
- increase taxes to the wealthy
- increase taxes on large multinationals corporations
- focus on ending tax evasion in the wealthy. Ending tax evasions in lower income earners will be a drain on resources and not a good roi
@9ZNMKQBNew Liberal1mo1MO
Public spending is key to the economy and focus should instead be placed on ending tax evasion and cutting down on any and all means of financial loopholes.
@9WY6V9W2mos2MO
No, defund military and fund diplomacy and foreign aid; focus on ending tax evasion; increases taxes on wealthy and large multinational corporations; and end the tax-free status of the mining industry/stop wasting money on new mines
@9TQ6P2F3mos3MO
No, crack down on tax evasion, and increase taxes on the wealthy, and medium and large corporations instead
@9PLHYF26mos6MO
Reduce foreign aid spending. Focus on gettting Australia back on track first before we end up being another 3rd world country.
No, reduce military spend, focus on ending tax evasion from the top 10%, increase the tax on wealthy individuals and corporations
No, reform the tax code and cut the submarine deal
@8D84DB94yrs4Y
No, reduce military spending, and tax the rich and corporations
@9F9VNPV1yr1Y
Yes, by reducing benefits for high level government officials, lowering military spending if there is no threat to the country. Through a tax reform system of lowering the income tax, instating a progressive LVT and removing all existing tax loopholes for large corporations.
@9DNJPSJ1yr1Y
The Government wastes so much money they should look at all areas of waste and cut that out not just make decisions that are popular
@96FVK5J2yrs2Y
Yes, but don't defund the Ministry of Defence or Emergency Services, and also raise taxes
@98LDNWJ2yrs2Y
Yes and reduce goverment bloat
@937PQG53yrs3Y
No, increase taxes on large corporations and cut spending to military
No focus on the multimillionaires and massive corporations
@933XRTF3yrs3Y
Yes. Politicians should take a pay cut
@933XSVN3yrs3Y
No, but ban pork barreling and force corporations to pay back the money they took from job keeper.
@933MBX83yrs3Y
Yes by reducing the benefits and pensions of politicians, higher tax on large corporations and high income earners
@932F3QZ3yrs3Y
Pretty much all of the "No, ...etc" answers. Reduce military, tax the rich and corpros and all of that
@92N8XWQ3yrs3Y
Public spending that isn’t immediate yes
@92N3D7W3yrs3Y
No, focus on reducing military spending, increasing taxes on the wealthy, and ending tax evasion
@92J8K3Z3yrs3Y
Yes, as long as the country is not cutting corners of safety procedures and building stabilities
@92GZY6Q3yrs3Y
No, instead drop ex gov workers per sions to that of the normal pension rate
Yes increase public spending, but change spending habits to conform to local government areas needs
@92GC2DN3yrs3Y
Reduce spending on activities that don’t have wealth generating potential/ impacts
@92FTSY73yrs3Y
Reduce arts & sport keep safety of sging population & workforce
@92FDHGD3yrs3Y
legislation of weed to pay off debt
@92F7GSZ3yrs3Y
No, tax the wealthy and multinational businesses. Focus on tax evasion and misuse of government money in parliament and Centrelink. Schools, health systems and environment/preserving nature and out land should be the focus
@92D4TL93yrs3Y
I think Australians should be able to to have more of say when it comes to spending our money...Maybe a certain budget bracket eg 500 million needs to be voted on. Because already there is alot of rubbish our money is going on eg: advertising
@92D4BFV3yrs3Y
Yes as well as cutting the salaries and benefits of government officials.
Audit public spending. Find and reduce excess spending. Reduce politicians pension/bonuses and spending
I agree with a mix of the above answers including reducing military spending and increasing taxes on large corporations and the wealthy
No, increase tax on large multinational corporations and the super wealthy ($1m+ annual salary)
@92BKBGS3yrs3Y
Should remove overseas corporate tax havens that allow companies trading in Australia to avoid standard Australian tax rates
@9288L9G3yrs3Y
No, increase capital gains tax and close loopholes
@927JHLK3yrs3Y
Benefits/salaries to government officials cut, increase taxes on wealthy and large corporations
@927J3M93yrs3Y
Only from the elderly. Baby boomers are a bloated tick sucking this country dry.
@92747G33yrs3Y
No, increase taxes on large multinational corporations and the wealthy, and focus on ending tax evasion
@926Q2NW3yrs3Y
No, we should end tax evasion, increase taxes on multinational corporations and the wealthy
Yes, because they only line their pockets with the money
A combination of a farer tax system for the poor and supporting government businesses to drive profitable investments to pay off debt
No, stop subsidising dirty fuel and power companies.
Yes, but make it so that politicians are paid an average government wage or are paid according to the output of their election promises and international commitments
@8ZX6KMWLiberal Democrat3yrs3Y
Yes, except reducing national defence
@8ZQRRNS3yrs3Y
Perhaps we needed to strike a much greater balance between the economy and public health. I do not know the numbers of direct Covid deaths but I feel that if we looked at that and the amount of debt we have now incurred we might think it was an overreaction. Certainly reducing our military spending if we have to start somewhere.
Raise tax and minumum wage
@8ZQKYCX3yrs3Y
No, increase taxes on corporations that outsource
@8ZNJM743yrs3Y
yes, but not base load power or dams. [not green]
@8ZLMKPH3yrs3Y
From what I have seen & heard, the rich normally having a business/s can reduce their taxable income
with deductions which are truly personal use. Example, taken family members to dinner & claim as an expense. Use a 4wd company car for the purpose of holidays. All expense deductible
@8ZJJ6NH3yrs3Y
Spend wisely. Budget. Add growth with cuts or savings.. huh? Haha, dopes.
@8ZJ7F5X3yrs3Y
No, reduce tax loop holes for large businesses, reduce government benefits and salaries (politicians primarily) and reassess spending
@8ZFJLLYIndependent3yrs3Y
No, derive funding from other sources
it is inevitable that our nation will continuously be in a cycle of debt according to the pitchford thesis. thus no we should not make cuts to public spending
No. control future spending
@8Z7N3BJ3yrs3Y
Give less money to people on the doll and give them cards which only allow them to spend money on fuel food and bills
No, but by drastically reduce the benefits and salaries of government officials
@8Z24NYK3yrs3Y
Crack down on corruption. Bring down salaries of government officials
@8YZDDZX3yrs3Y
no keep public spending the same but work on tax evasion/fraud
A balanced budget and a vibrant economy wil do the job
Yes, but look at cost savings in activities that can be preformed by existupublic servants instead on contracting out
@8YRDTC4Independent3yrs3Y
I'm a qualified economist and expenditure isn't important, output per dollar of expenditure is
@8YML23V3yrs3Y
all the available “no” options, the money should be for the people, not for arseholes in suits to spend on travelling and tanks
@8YH6J3G3yrs3Y
Combination of no they should go after tax evasion including multinational corporations, reducing and or stopping giving government workers like the ministers pay raises and reevaluate where the spending is going
No, focus on tax evasion, reduce government officials, reduce military spending and tax the wealthy and large corporations more.
inflation should be the measure to cut public spending rather than debt
Yes, but make small contributions to paying off the national debt each year.
@8Y5X29L3yrs3Y
Increase the tax on the rich, focus on ending tax evasion, decreasing politicians salary and taxing large corporations more
No, increase taxes on large multinationals as well as reduce pay for government officials/politicians and reduce military spending.
@8XWMGKN3yrs3Y
Ban public banks (private
Prioritise and create efficacies of existing Siena’s rather can reduce it
Yes, as long as it isn't detrimental for the country and is used for something important.
@8XQKW673yrs3Y
This isn’t such a straightforward question. We need to stop throwing money at anything that doesn’t benefit the country and start focusing the national budget on ways to improve our citizens’ quality of life.
@8XNQ5FQ3yrs3Y
Stop spending money on useless things and instead on useful things
Yes, but have votes on what spending should be cut from.
@8X878BC3yrs3Y
Yes, focus on ending tax evasion and lowering political salaries.
Yes and No, it’s about balance and appropriate funding to the right sectors.
@8WNYMSL3yrs3Y
it depends on the circumstances.
stop giving out centre link
@Yods083yrs3Y
There are far too many government employees when comparing roles in the private sector, based on experience 3 to 1. But it is also difficult to terminate an unsuitable employee in the public sector. They can be paid a salary to sit in the staffroom reading the paper until they find another job. It’s an unproductive system and does not encourage staff to think differently and come up with improved solutions.
yes to a point then Q4, Q6
No, focus on turning Government assets profitable
@8W88YH53yrs3Y
They should cut their wages and reassess where money is going
No, but increase taxes so Australia can afford to support these people.
By both reducing benefits to governments officials that may perceive wage disparity and by taxing the wealthy and multinational corporations
@8VSVZMCConservatives3yrs3Y
Yes by cutting the amount given to government workers and dole.
Yes, in terms of future increases, force government programs to reduce wastage, like private sector has to.
Spend money on renewable energy and resources
No, cuts to public spending will negatively affect the economy, focus on ending tax evasion and increase taxes on large multinational corporations
government issues are irrelevant
No, but they could possibly focus on more specific people instead of the whole nation as a whole. This would mean that the people that actually need it are still getting it and the nation debt decreases.
@8V4FCYNIndependent3yrs3Y
The debt is irrelevant to the thrust of the question on public spending on services
No, become a cashless nation so everyone pays tax. No more cash jobs that avoid gst.
@8TS65G93yrs3Y
give money for the public to spend
@8TPFVBK3yrs3Y
Reduce the benefits & salaries of government officials, focus on ending tax evasion, increase taxes on the wealthy, increase taxes on large multinational corporations
I don't have an opinion, because I do not understand this topic enough
Yes, in regards to unnecessary government spending, e.g. military and government officials overspending and benefits. However, there should be equal emphasis on investigating and enforcing the end of tax evasion from the wealthy (individuals and businesses), as well as increasing those taxes for the wealthy (individuals and businesses).
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