Australians not impressed by Labor’s first full budget since election

Australians have had their say on Jim Chalmers’ first full budget since the election in a new Newspoll. See results and have your say.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has failed to impress Australian voters with Labor’s first full budget since the election.

Only 13 per cent of respondents in an exclusive Newspoll conducted for The Australian said they believed the government’s promise that the new budget would reduce inflation, with 39 per cent saying it would make inflation worse.

Only a third of voters believe the budget would help improve the economy and only 20 per cent of ­voters said they will be financially better off following the budget.

The budget’s $14bn cost-of-living package is aimed at easing pressure on the most vulnerable and what the Coalition refers to as the “working poor”, including a $40 fortnightly rise in JobSeeker and some other welfare payments.

Most Australian voters think the budget will have either a negative effect or no effect on the economy and inflation. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

Nevertheless, Dr Chalmers has embarked upon a five-day tour to sell the package to Australian voters.

While Dr Chalmers brought the budget back into surplus for the first time in 15 years, he has been challenged by economists who say that the budget could add to inflation.

The budget also funded the $11bn in aged care worker pay rises, as well as $3bn in energy bill relief.

Regarding the budget’s overall impact on the economy, 33 per cent of voters said it would be good overall – an improvement on last October’s budget, 29 per cent – but low by historical standards.

A total of 28 per cent said it would have a negative impact on the economy.

Younger voters viewed the budget more optimistically – 41 per cent of 18 to 34-year-olds – compared to just 25 per cent of 50 to 64-year-olds. One in five voters said they would be better off ­financially, with 36 per cent saying they would be worse off.

Older voters were resoundingly pessimistic. A mere 8 per cent of 50 to 64-year-olds believed they would be better off compared to 30 per cent of 18 to 34-year-olds. Among the over-65s, 17 per cent said they would be better off, with 23 per cent of 35 to 49-year-olds claiming the same.

The Coalition has gained one point in popular support, rising to 34 per cent and a two-point ­contraction in Labor’s two-party-preferred lead to 55-45 per cent.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s satisfaction level among Australian voters has risen four points. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The budget failed to produce an electoral lift for Labor, with its primary vote of 38 per cent unchanged since the last poll in April.

Both Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton saw improvements to their approval ratings

Mr Albanese’s satisfaction level jumped four points to 57 per cent while Mr Dutton’s recorded a three-point rise to 36 per cent.

Dr Chalmers has described the package as a traditional Labor budget that “helps Australians doing it tough and makes significant inroads in cleaning up the mess we inherited from the Coalition.

“Whether it’s our energy rebates, bulk-billing incentives or our energy efficiency package, I’ll travel right across Australia this week – including from Brisbane to Bennelong, and South Australia to Swan – to explain the broadbased benefits that our budget delivers,” he said.

Originally published as Australians not impressed by Labor’s first full budget since election