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New polling conducted by ReachTEL for The Australia Institute of the electorates represented by Malcolm Turnbull and Tony Abbott reveals strong opposition for cutting the tax rate, particularly for larger companies.

Both electorates registered more support for increasing the company tax rate than cutting it.

In the Prime Minister’s electorate of Wentworth 43% supported an increase of company taxes, 33% supported a cut and 14% said keep rates the same.

There was high support for cutting the tax rate for small companies (46%), but only 17% support for a cut for all businesses in Wentworth and 20% in Warringah.

“The economic as case for company tax cuts is not convincing. Estimates of a growth dividend have not been made and even the Prime Minister’s own electorate is not convinced,” Executive Director of The Australia Institute, Ben Oquist said.

“The plan to give $50 billion dollars in cuts is electoral poison. This research shows that even in blue ribbon Liberal seats, voters think that companies don’t pay enough tax.

“Significantly, there is support for cuts to small business rates. When that option was put to those surveyed as an option, support for cuts to all business, including larger companies, collapses to just 17% in the Prime Ministers electorate,” Oquist said.

“The reality is there are far better ways of allocating $50 billion that would benefit the economy, jobs and future prosperity. The public knows this too,” Oquist said.

Polling Results (723 in Warringah, 750 residents of Wentworth conducted 1 February 2017):

Warringah

Question: Do you think companies and corporations should be paying more or less company tax in Australia?

	Total	Female	Male	18 – 34	35 – 50	51 – 65	65+
More	39.4%	45.7%	32.5%	65.0%	30.4%	41.9%	36.7%
Less	34.4%	26.0%	43.9%	23.3%	33.9%	33.5%	38.3%
About the same	18.5%	18.6%	18.4%	8.3%	26.2%	16.5%	17.7%
Don’t know or not sure	7.6%	9.7%	5.3%	3.3%	9.5%	8.1%	7.3%

Question: Thinking about the overall company tax rate in Australia which is currently 30% for larger businesses and 28.5% for small business. Do you think the company tax rate should?

	Total	Female	Male	18 – 34	35 – 50	51 – 65	65+
Increase	10.8%	11.6%	9.9%	18.3%	8.3%	11.3%	10.1%
Stay the same	22.6%	21.1%	24.3%	20.0%	21.4%	23.4%	23.4%
Be cut for all businesses	20.9%	14.2%	28.4%	13.3%	15.5%	24.6%	23.0%
Be cut only for small businesses	45.7%	53.2%	37.4%	48.3%	54.8%	40.7%	43.5%

Wentworth

Question: Do you think companies and corporations should be paying more or less company tax in Australia?

	Total	Female	Male	18 – 34	35 – 50	51 – 65	65+
More	43.0%	48.0%	37.8%	46.5%	48.1%	38.2%	35.7%
Less	33.2%	23.1%	43.5%	25.2%	33.3%	36.3%	40.3%
About the same	13.7%	12.6%	14.9%	10.9%	11.4%	19.1%	15.6%
Don’t know or not sure	10.1%	16.3%	3.8%	17.3%	7.2%	6.4%	8.4%

Question: Thinking about the overall company tax rate in Australia which is currently 30% for larger businesses and 28.5% for small business. Do you think the company tax rate should?

	Total	Female	Male	18 – 34	35 – 50	51 – 65	65+
Increase	16.6%	17.1%	16.0%	25.7%	13.5%	14.6%	11.8%
Stay the same	19.9%	15.8%	24.1%	12.4%	20.7%	22.2%	26.1%
Be cut for all businesses	17.2%	11.3%	23.3%	13.9%	15.6%	18.4%	22.9%
Be cut only for small businesses	46.3%	55.8%	36.6%	48.0%	50.2%	44.9%	39.2%