Australians are concerned that last week's federal budget raises the chance of interest rates being lifted, and just one quarter believe they will be better off.The results of a new poll in today's Australian Financial Review shows people aren't convinced the budget will help them much with the cost of living, despite government relief measures such as the $300-per-household power bill discount.The survey of 1056 voters also found that 39 per cent of people believe the large spending measures in last Tuesday's budget will increase the chances of an interest rate rise, while 28 per cent thought it would have no effect, and only 11 per cent felt it would reduce the chance of another rate rise.
Almost half of voters believe the federal budget will have no effect on their financial standing, a new poll shows. (Nine)The result seems to be in line with Treasury forecasts that the budget will help reduce inflation but won't help reduce the cash rate.The poll also revealed that despite the $7.8 billion cost-of-living package, $1.9 billion in increased rent assistance and cheaper medicines unveiled by the Treasurer, voters were largely unexcited.Just 24 per cent thought their "household will be financially better off", while almost half, or 46 per cent, believed the budget would make no difference and 23 per cent said their household would be worse off.The budget had little impact on the standing of the two major political parties on voters.Labor and the Coalition were each tied at 50 per cent on a two-party-preferred basis, the same result as a similar poll one month ago.Labor's primary vote picked up 1 per cent in a month to 32 per cent while the Coalition's was unchanged at 40 per cent,But the contest would be neck and neck between the major parties if a federal election was held today.
