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Little or no bounce for Federal Govt after budget

National polls released today show support for two of the Federal Government’s big budget measures, but both show the Coalition still trailing Labor by a significant margin.

May 15, 2017, updated May 15, 2017
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (left) and Treasurer Scott Morrison selling the budget outside Parliament House. Photo: AAP/Lukas Coch

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (left) and Treasurer Scott Morrison selling the budget outside Parliament House. Photo: AAP/Lukas Coch

The polls show voters back the need to raise the Medicare levy to 2.5 per cent from 2019 to pay for the national disability insurance scheme, as well as a new tax on the nation’s big five banks.

But the Coalition still trails Labor in both the Newspoll and the Fairfax-Ipsos poll on a two-party preferred basis – 47-53 per cent.

The Ipsos result is an improvement for the Coalition, but the gap has widened in Newspoll.

Overall, 45 per cent of those surveyed in the Newspoll, published in The Australian, think they will be worse off as a result of last week’s budget.

Health Minister Greg Hunt noted the mixed result, but highlighted voter support for a key measure.

“Most significantly there is very strong support for the NDIS, Medicare levy,” he told ABC radio.

“Australians understand that that’s fair.”

Hunt said it was an insurance measure for every Australian, who could find themselves affected by a disability.

Key Senate crossbencher Jacqui Lambie believes Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s position is safe following the results.

Turnbull has extended his lead over Opposition Leader Bill Shorten as preferred prime minister 44-31 per cent in Newspoll.

“I think that Bill is really going to have to turn this around,” she told the Seven Network about his popularity.

Senator Derryn Hinch welcomed support for the Medicare levy increase.

“It is no surprise that about 70 per cent of people think kicking the banks for $6 billion isn’t a bad thing to do,” he said.

Both polls have support for that measure at 68 per cent.

– with AAP

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