VOTERS have savaged Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s deficit tax plan as a “broken promise” that could cost him the next election.

An exclusive Galaxy poll commissioned by The Sunday Telegraph has found Mr Abbott would lose an election if it was held now, with two party-preferred support for the Coalition tumbling to 48 per cent since the September election. Labor’s two party-preferred support is now 52 per cent, according to Galaxy.

Nearly three-quarters of voters — 72 per cent — believe Mr Abbott’s debt tax is a “broken promise”, and it’s a fear shared by deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop and senior ministers, who are understood to have raised concerns at last Monday’s cabinet meeting. During the meeting, Ms Bishop, who was on a phone hook- up, warned “our people won’t like it”.

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News_Module: ADV PROMO - GALAXY ART

Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull kicked off this discussion on the levy, asking “What is this?”. But senior sources rejected claims Immigration Minister Scott Morrison and Welfare Minister Kevin Andrews were among those who asked for a “please explain’’.

One senior government source insisted that Mr Abbott “hates the idea’’ of the deficit levy but can’t see another way to spread the pain on to high income earners.

Cabinet will hold talks again on Wednesday.

“It’s not something that has been discussed anywhere near cabinet,” a senior minister said.

“Seriously, I read about it in your newspaper. It’s an expenditure review committee special. People were asking: ‘What the?’,” the minister added.

Senior sources said Mr Abbott had been “enigmatic” about the tax as his cabinet raised concerns over the deficit levy reports.

Some ministers insisted it was Treasurer Joe Hockey’s idea but was strongly supported by the PM. The Coalition’s primary vote has also taken a big hit, according to Galaxy, down from 45.5 per cent at the election to 39 per cent today.

But support is not transferring entirely to Labor, which remains stuck on a primary vote of 37 per cent.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has defended the tax hike for the top two income thresholds of $80,000 and $180,000 as the only way to ensure the rich share the pain.

“Now if we were to impose 100 per cent of that effort on the spending side then inevitably the only people who would be impacted are lower-income people who receive government payments,” Senator Cormann said.News_Image_File: Last week’s Sunday Telegraph story News_Image_File: Samantha Maiden story last month

“Our objective is to share the additional special effort.”

Despite the PM’s moves to quell a backbench revolt over paid maternity leave by capping payouts at $50,000, the Galaxy poll also found 65 per cent of voters disagreed with the scheme in the current budgetary environment.

Mining giant BHP, Australia’s biggest taxpayer, has also issued a warning to the Treasurer over the scheme and fears he will change diesel fuel rebates in the budget.

The poll, taken between April 30 and May 1, found older voters were particularly opposed to paid parental leave.

“The greatest support for … the paid parental leave scheme comes from voters aged 18 to 24 years,” Galaxy’s David Briggs said.

“Only 15 per cent of those aged 50 years and older believe the government should proceed with the scheme, 77 per cent do not believe it should proceed in the current economic environment.”

The Galaxy poll results are based on the opinions of 1391 voters and have been weighted to reflect the population.

NO MORE FREE RIDES FOR RETIRED MINISTERS

Exclusive, Samantha Maiden

FORMER politicians including Howard government ministers Peter Costello and Alexander Downer will be kicked off the Life Gold Pass free travel scheme under budget reforms.

The retrospective changes will insert a sunset clause banning MPs from travel three years after they retire. Spouses will no longer fly free with their partners and flights will also be slashed to five a year for long serving MPs and 10 for former ministers.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott is understood to have been angered by reports that former politicians were using the scheme to enjoy business class flights to holiday destinations including the Whitsundays and Lord Howe Island. The scheme was closed to new entrants in 2012 but eligible political retirees still fly free.

For the first time, a public interest test will apply to stop MPs using their entitlements to fly business class on holiday at the taxpayers’ expense.

According to Finance Department records, the biggest spenders on the Life Gold Pass in the six months to July, 2013, included former defence minister Robert Hill who spent $10,269 on flights for himself and $11,416 for his family.

Former finance minister Nick Minchin, who was recently appointed by the Abbott government as Australia’s Consul General in New York, booked $8617 flights for himself and $7000 in family travel.

Former Labor minister Laurie Brereton spent $11,242 in six months on himself and $8000 for his family. Former Labor minister Nick Bolkus booked $5000 in flights for himself and $2000 for family travel.

Changes will require legal reforms to which will be introduced this year.

Originally published as Voters ready to break PM over tax promise