Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Scott Morrison is doing as Prime Minister?

• The Prime Minister’s approval rating is consistent with last month, now at 64% compared to 66% in August.
• Approval of the Prime Minister among is at 91% among Coalition supporters, around half among Labor voters (51%) and Greens voters (47%).

Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Anthony Albanese is doing as Opposition Leader?

• The Opposition Leader’s approval rating remains consistent for the third consecutive month at 44%.
• Albanese’s approval among Labor voters has fallen from 70% in July to 62% in August. The proportion of Labor voters who strongly approve of his performance has dropped from 22% to 15%. Labor voters are now more likely to say they are unsure of his performance, which has increased from 15% to 25%. Those that disapprove remains consistent from last month (15% in August, 14% in September).

Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?

• Half of participants believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (49%), while a quarter would prefer the opposition leader. A further quarter (26%) of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
• Morrison is strongly favoured by Coalition voters, with 85% believing Morrison makes the better PM, compared to Albanese (9%).
• Less than half of Labor voters believe Albanese would make the better PM (46%). 25% of Labor voters said they didn’t know who would make the better leader.

Q. Overall, how would you rate the Government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?

• Participants’ rating of the Federal Government’s handling of Covid-19 crisis slips for the fourth consecutive week. From a high of 73% positive rating in May, 59% now say the Government’s handling has been good.

Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?

• Positive rating of the NSW Government’s continues to slide, with another -2%pts movement this week to 57%. This is down from a high of 70% in June.
• Positive rating of the Victorian Government remains steady at 50%, though the majority of this survey was completed before the announcement of the lock-down extension in Victoria on Sunday 6^th
• Positive rating of the Queensland state government’s handing dropped to 66% this week from 73% a fortnight ago.

Q. In response to the Covid-19 outbreak, what do you expect will happen to the restriction levels in your local area over the next two months?

• A general expectation of an easing of restrictions in the next two months suggests Australians feel the worst effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have passed. Just 15% think tighter restrictions will be required in the next two months and 42% expect an easing of restrictions.
• The expectation of easing restrictions is highest in Victoria (60%), as this state currently has the strictest requirements. The majority of this survey was completed before the announcement of the lock-down extension in Victoria on Sunday 6^th

Q. In your opinion, who is most responsible for the recent Covid-19 outbreaks and spread of the virus within aged care facilities?

• Responsibility for the outbreaks in aged care is shared between Federal and state governments, an aged care providers. Consistent with results a fortnight ago, 42% say the providers hold the most responsibility (42% in last poll), 31% identify the Federal government (no change from 28%) and 28% the state governments (from 30%).
• Women, people aged over 55 and Coalition voters are most likely to hold aged care providers responsible, while Labor voters are more likely to say the Federal government has the most responsibility (42%).

Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the recent Covid-19 outbreaks and spread of the virus within aged care facilities?

• Perceptions of the causes of the spread of Covid-19 within aged care facilities are consistent with previous results. A majority of people believe that there was insufficient preparation from authorities (77% agreement) and that long-term underfunding of aged care facilities has worsened the impact (72%)
• Similar numbers also agree that the hygiene and care standards in private care homes has contributed to the spread of (69%) and that community transmission from friends and families of residents has also contributed to the spread (67%).