Government's tax reform messaging failing

The Turnbull government must work harder on the reason for tax reform with many voters believing it is just about balancing the budget.

The Turnbull government's message on why there needs to be tax reform has failed to get through to voters who believe the main reason is to balance the budget rather than growing the economy.

The latest Essential Research survey found 58 per cent thought one of the main reasons for reform was to address the budget deficit and 30 per cent believed it was to maintain government health and education services.

Almost two thirds of respondents rejected the idea of raising the GST, while 38 per cent supported the idea if it reduced income taxes.