Aussies vote: Here’s what you want to see in the Federal Budget

The 2021-22 Federal Budget is set to be released on Tuesday, with a recent survey finding some surprising statistics on exactly where Australians think the money should be going.

This year’s budget will outline the next phase of the government’s plan for post-pandemic economic stimulus and reform, with gender equality (such as superannuation and childcare), jobs creation, infrastructure, aged care and energy and resources all expected to feature heavily. 

Finder surveyed 960 Australians, asking respondents to select what they believe the top three priorities for the upcoming budget should be. It released the results on Monday.

Overall, job creation and employment came out as the top priority (55 per cent). The survey found Gen Z (58 per cent) was the most concerned with job creation, followed by 55 per cent of Gen Xers and Baby Boomers. With many people losing their jobs throughout the pandemic, Graham Cooke, head of consumer research at Finder, says it’s no surprise it was ranked the highest priority for all age groups.

Second to job creation and employment was mental health, with 25 per cent of all respondents saying the government should be investing more in mental health services. According to Cooke, the added support would help take the pressure off the healthcare system and free up healthcare waiting lists.

“Finder’s results show that employment and jobs creation is a major priority for Australians, many of whom faced the prospect of redundancy or being laid off last year,” he said. “We also want to see increased funding to mental health services to help take the pressure off providers and free up waiting lists.”

There was a three-way tie for the third spot on the list, with older Australians, the environment and small business all ranking equal third (24 per cent respectively) among the nation’s top economic priorities.

After the shocking findings from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, Cooke said that addressing the state of aged care is clearly a priority for most Australians, however, the survey found that Baby Boomers were seven times (49 per cent) more likely to prioritise older Australians than Gen Xers (7 per cent).

The state of the environment was another major concern for Australians, and surprisingly it was Baby Boomers who were more concerned about the environment than their younger counterparts. Cooke said it was an indication of a shift in thinking for the older demographic. The survey found 28 per cent of Baby Boomers included the environment in their top three priorities, compared to just 21 per cent of Gen Z, and 22 per cent of Millennials.

“Environmental protection, not an issue the current government tends to prioritise, ranks very highly on the list – especially with older Australians,” Cooke said. “This may indicate a shift in the thinking of this demographic. Interest in environmental issues is growing.”

Cooke said, unlike last year’s budget, the 2021-22 budget would be based on a “rosier economic outlook,” however it would also be dependant on whether or not our international borders open in the next year.