Should the government make cuts to public spending in order to reduce the national debt?
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.
@8D84DB93yrs3Y
No, reduce military spending, and tax the rich and corporations
@96FVK5J1yr1Y
Yes, but don't defund the Ministry of Defence or Emergency Services, and also raise taxes
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
No focus on the multimillionaires and massive corporations
@933XRTF2yrs2Y
Yes. Politicians should take a pay cut
@933XSVN2yrs2Y
No, but ban pork barreling and force corporations to pay back the money they took from job keeper.
@933MBX82yrs2Y
Yes by reducing the benefits and pensions of politicians, higher tax on large corporations and high income earners
@932F3QZ2yrs2Y
Pretty much all of the "No, ...etc" answers. Reduce military, tax the rich and corpros and all of that
@92N8XWQ2yrs2Y
Public spending that isn’t immediate yes
@92N3D7W2yrs2Y
No, focus on reducing military spending, increasing taxes on the wealthy, and ending tax evasion
@92J8K3Z2yrs2Y
Yes, as long as the country is not cutting corners of safety procedures and building stabilities
@92GZY6Q2yrs2Y
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
@92GC2DN2yrs2Y
Reduce spending on activities that don’t have wealth generating potential/ impacts
@92FTSY72yrs2Y
Reduce arts & sport keep safety of sging population & workforce
@92FDHGD2yrs2Y
legislation of weed to pay off debt
@92F7GSZ2yrs2Y
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
@92D4TL92yrs2Y
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
@92D4BFV2yrs2Y
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)
@92BKBGS2yrs2Y
Should remove overseas corporate tax havens that allow companies trading in Australia to avoid standard Australian tax rates
@9288L9G2yrs2Y
No, increase capital gains tax and close loopholes
@927JHLK2yrs2Y
Benefits/salaries to government officials cut, increase taxes on wealthy and large corporations
@927J3M92yrs2Y
Only from the elderly. Baby boomers are a bloated tick sucking this country dry.
@92747G32yrs2Y
No, increase taxes on large multinational corporations and the wealthy, and focus on ending tax evasion
@926Q2NW2yrs2Y
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 Democrat2yrs2Y
Yes, except reducing national defence
@8ZQRRNS2yrs2Y
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
@8ZQKYCX2yrs2Y
No, increase taxes on corporations that outsource
@8ZNJM742yrs2Y
yes, but not base load power or dams. [not green]
@8ZLMKPH2yrs2Y
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
@8ZJJ6NH2yrs2Y
Spend wisely. Budget. Add growth with cuts or savings.. huh? Haha, dopes.
@8ZJ7F5X2yrs2Y
No, reduce tax loop holes for large businesses, reduce government benefits and salaries (politicians primarily) and reassess spending
@8ZFJLLYIndependent2yrs2Y
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
@8Z7N3BJ2yrs2Y
Give less money to people on the doll and give them cards which only allow them to spend money on fuel food and bills
@8YZDDZX2yrs2Y
no keep public spending the same but work on tax evasion/fraud
@8Y5X29L2yrs2Y
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.
@8XWMGKN2yrs2Y
Ban public banks (private
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