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Statements about Covid-19 Outbreak in Aged Care
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?
| TOTAL: AGREE | TOTAL: DISAGREE | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | Unsure | |
| Authorities failed to prepare an adequate Covid-19 strategy to deal with outbreaks in aged care facilities | 77% | 14% | 38% | 39% | 11% | 3% | 9% |
| Hygiene and care standards in private care homes are poor which has contributed to the spread of Covid-19 | 71% | 17% | 32% | 39% | 13% | 4% | 12% |
| Covid-19 has entered and spread through aged care facilities because of community transmission from friends and families of residents | 67% | 19% | 24% | 42% | 13% | 6% | 14% |
| The impact of Covid-19 in aged care facilities has been worsened by long-term underfunding of the aged care sector | 70% | 18% | 34% | 26% | 14% | 4% | 12% |
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||
| TOTAL: AGREE | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | Liberal + National | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
| Authorities failed to prepare an adequate Covid-19 strategy to deal with outbreaks in aged care facilities | 77% | 77% | 77% | 69% | 78% | 83% | 82% | 79% | 79% | 73% |
| Hygiene and care standards in private care homes are poor which has contributed to the spread of Covid-19 | 71% | 73% | 69% | 62% | 70% | 78% | 74% | 74% | 63% | 73% |
| Covid-19 has entered and spread through aged care facilities because of community transmission from friends and families of residents | 67% | 72% | 62% | 69% | 72% | 61% | 68% | 73% | 68% | 58% |
| The impact of Covid-19 in aged care facilities has been worsened by long-term underfunding of the aged care sector | 70% | 70% | 70% | 69% | 71% | 70% | 77% | 68% | 85% | 67% |
| Base (n) | 1,068 | 513 | 555 | 317 | 370 | 381 | 313 | 447 | 96 | 118 |
- There is acknowledgement in the community of a range of factors that have contributed to the spread of Covid-19 within aged care facilities. 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.
- Similar numbers also agree that the hygiene and care standards in private care homes has contributed to the spread of (71%) and that community transmission from friends and families of residents has also contributed to the spread (67%).
Support for Measures to Limit Covid-19 Outbreak
Q. To what extent would you support or oppose the following measures to limit the spread of Covid-19 in the community?
| TOTAL: SUPPORT | TOTAL: OPPOSE | Strongly support | Somewhat support | Neither support nor oppose | Somewhat oppose | Strongly oppose | |
| All aged care facility residents who are diagnosed with Covid-19 are automatically transferred to a public hospital | 63% | 17% | 35% | 28% | 20% | 10% | 7% |
| Any person diagnosed with Covid-19 is required to quarantine in a dedicated facility and not isolate from home | 52% | 23% | 27% | 24% | 25% | 14% | 9% |
| The closure of international borders to all foreign travellers and returning Australian citizens | 65% | 18% | 39% | 26% | 17% | 10% | 8% |
| Any person diagnosed with Covid-19 must wear a tracking bracelet while self-isolating to ensure they don’t leave their homes | 60% | 20% | 31% | 29% | 20% | 11% | 10% |
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||
| TOTAL: SUPPORT | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | Liberal + National | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
| All aged care facility residents who are diagnosed with Covid-19 are automatically transferred to a public hospital | 63% | 63% | 63% | 49% | 62% | 78% | 65% | 67% | 60% | 57% |
| Any person diagnosed with Covid-19 is required to quarantine in a dedicated facility and not isolate from home | 52% | 52% | 52% | 44% | 51% | 60% | 55% | 53% | 47% | 43% |
| The closure of international borders to all foreign travellers and returning Australian citizens | 65% | 63% | 68% | 51% | 65% | 78% | 68% | 69% | 56% | 61% |
| Any person diagnosed with Covid-19 must wear a tracking bracelet while self-isolating to ensure they don’t leave their homes | 60% | 60% | 60% | 45% | 61% | 71% | 63% | 62% | 47% | 59% |
| Base (n) | 1,068 | 513 | 555 | 317 | 370 | 381 | 313 | 447 | 96 | 118 |
- Around two-thirds of people support the closure of international borders to all foreign travellers and returning Australian citizens (65%), with similar numbers also supporting the transfer to a public hospital of all aged care facility residents who are diagnosed with Covid-19 (63%) and the compulsory wearing of a tracking bracelet during self-isolation for people diagnosed with Covi-19 (60%).
- Just over half of people support the requirement for any person diagnosed with Covid-19 is required to quarantine in a dedicated facility and not isolate from home (52%). Support for this proposition is lowest among those aged 18-34 (44%) and Greens voters (47%).
Coronavirus concerns
Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Australia?
| 24/08 | 10/08 | 27/07 | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | |
| Very concerned | 40% | 50% | 43% | 36% | 25% | 28% | 27% | 32% | 30% | 33% | 34% |
| Quite concerned | 46% | 40% | 44% | 48% | 50% | 45% | 48% | 49% | 49% | 47% | 49% |
| Not that concerned | 10% | 7% | 9% | 12% | 21% | 23% | 21% | 15% | 16% | 16% | 14% |
| Not at all concerned | 4% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% |
| Base (n) | 1,068 | 1,010 | 1,058 | 1,054 | 1,079 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 |
- Concern about Covid-19 has eased this week with 40% very concerned about the threat (down from 50% earlier in the month).
Government funding for gas pipelines
Q. To what extent do you support or oppose the use of taxpayer money to fund a gas pipelines in Australia?
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | Liberal + National | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Strongly oppose | 13% | 15% | 11% | 13% | 16% | 11% | 17% | 7% | 29% | 19% |
| Somewhat oppose | 14% | 14% | 14% | 17% | 15% | 10% | 17% | 11% | 22% | 11% |
| Neither support, nor oppose | 32% | 27% | 37% | 36% | 28% | 33% | 34% | 29% | 29% | 36% |
| Somewhat support | 16% | 19% | 13% | 10% | 17% | 20% | 12% | 24% | 8% | 15% |
| Strongly support | 11% | 17% | 5% | 10% | 10% | 13% | 9% | 16% | 7% | 9% |
| Unsure | 14% | 9% | 19% | 14% | 14% | 14% | 10% | 13% | 6% | 11% |
| TOTAL: Oppose | 27% | 28% | 26% | 29% | 31% | 21% | 35% | 18% | 51% | 29% |
| TOTAL: Support | 27% | 36% | 18% | 21% | 27% | 33% | 21% | 40% | 15% | 24% |
| Base (n) | 1,068 | 513 | 555 | 317 | 370 | 381 | 313 | 447 | 96 | 118 |
- Overall, support and opposition towards government funding for gas pipelines is equal (both 27%). 32% neither support nor oppose and 14% are unsure on the issue
- Support for funding is highest among men (36%), those aged over 55 years (33%) and Coalition voters (40%).
Performance of Scott Morrison
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Scott Morrison is doing as Prime Minister?
| Aug’20 | Jul’20 | Jun’20 | May’20 | Apr’20 | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | Jan’20 | Dec’19 | Nov’19 | Oct’19 | Sep’19 | |
| TOTAL: Approve | 66% | 63% | 65% | 64% | 59% | 41% | 39% | 40% | 45% | 45% | 47% | 49% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 23% | 27% | 26% | 27% | 31% | 49% | 52% | 52% | 43% | 41% | 38% | 36% |
| Don’t know | 11% | 10% | 8% | 9% | 10% | 10% | 9% | 8% | 13% | 13% | 15% | 15% |
| Base (n) | 1,010 | 1,054 | 1,059 | 1,093 | 1,069 | 1,096 | 1,056 | 1,081 | 1,035 | 1,075 | 1,088 | 1,093 |
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Strongly approve | 24% | 15% | 46% | 2% | 14% |
| Approve | 42% | 40% | 45% | 39% | 47% |
| Disapprove | 14% | 20% | 4% | 37% | 16% |
| Strongly disapprove | 9% | 15% | 2% | 17% | 10% |
| Don’t know | 11% | 10% | 4% | 5% | 14% |
| TOTAL: Approve | 66% | 56% | 91% | 40% | 61% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 23% | 35% | 6% | 54% | 26% |
| Base (n) | 1,010 | 311 | 413 | 78 | 94 |
- The Prime Minister’s approval rating is on par with the previous month, now at 66% compared to 63% in July.
- Approval of the Prime Minister among is at 91% among Coalition supporters, over half among Labor voters (56%) but lower among Greens voters (40%). 61% of those intending to vote for a minor party or independent candidate approve of the PM.
Performance of Anthony Albanese
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Anthony Albanese is doing as Opposition Leader?
| Aug’20 | Jul’20 | Jun’20 | May’20 | Apr’20 | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | Jan’20 | Dec’19 | Nov’19 | Oct’19 | Sep’19 | |
| TOTAL: Approve | 44% | 44% | 43% | 42% | 44% | 41% | 41% | 43% | 39% | 37% | 40% | 36% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 30% | 28% | 30% | 27% | 29% | 33% | 31% | 30% | 28% | 34% | 29% | 31% |
| Don’t know | 25% | 28% | 26% | 31% | 27% | 26% | 28% | 27% | 33% | 29% | 31% | 33% |
| Base (n) | 1,010 | 1,054 | 1,059 | 1,093 | 1,069 | 1,096 | 1,056 | 1,081 | 1,035 | 1,075 | 1,088 | 1,093 |
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Strongly approve | 11% | 22% | 6% | 8% | 2% |
| Approve | 33% | 47% | 31% | 46% | 15% |
| Disapprove | 20% | 13% | 28% | 15% | 26% |
| Strongly disapprove | 10% | 2% | 18% | 8% | 21% |
| Don’t know | 25% | 15% | 18% | 23% | 36% |
| TOTAL: Approve | 44% | 70% | 36% | 53% | 17% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 30% | 15% | 46% | 24% | 47% |
| Base (n) | 1,010 | 311 | 413 | 78 | 94 |
- The Opposition Leader’s approval rating is consistent this month, at 44%, the same in July (44%).
- Albanese’s approval among Labor voters remains relatively low at 70%, compared to Morrison’s approval among Coalition voters (91%).
Preferred Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?
| Aug’20 | Jul’20 | Jun’20 | May’20 | Apr’20 | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | Jan’20 | Nov’19 | Oct’19 | Sep’19 | Aug’19 | |
| Scott Morrison | 52% | 50% | 53% | 50% | 46% | 40% | 36% | 36% | 44% | 43% | 46% | 44% |
| Anthony Albanese | 22% | 27% | 23% | 25% | 27% | 35% | 36% | 39% | 28% | 28% | 25% | 28% |
| Don’t know | 26% | 23% | 24% | 25% | 27% | 25% | 28% | 25% | 29% | 29% | 29% | 28% |
| Base (n) | 1,010 | 1,054 | 1,059 | 1,093 | 1,069 | 1,096 | 1,056 | 1,081 | 1,075 | 1,088 | 1,093 | 1,096 |
| Federal Voting Intention | |||||
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
| Scott Morrison | 52% | 29% | 84% | 32% | 59% |
| Anthony Albanese | 22% | 45% | 7% | 37% | 9% |
| Don’t know | 26% | 26% | 9% | 30% | 31% |
| Base (n) | 1,010 | 311 | 413 | 78 | 94 |
- Half of participants believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (52% to 22%). Still a quarter (26%) of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
- Morrison is strongly favoured by Coalition voters, with 84% believing Morrison makes the better PM, compared to Albanese (7%).
- Less than half of Labor voters believe Albanese would make the better PM (45%) compared to Morrison (29%). 26% said they didn’t know who would make the better leader.
Most important issues when voting
Q. If a federal election were held today, how important would the following issues be in deciding which party you vote for?
| Very important | Quite important | A little important | Neither important nor unimportant | A little unimportant | Quite unimportant | Very unimportant | |
| Stop community transmission of Covid-19 as soon as possible | 62% | 18% | 7% | 7% | 2% | 1% | 4% |
| Manage the economy | 54% | 25% | 10% | 7% | 1% | 2% | 3% |
| Create jobs | 51% | 27% | 10% | 7% | 1% | 2% | 3% |
| Provide support for those in financial need | 42% | 31% | 14% | 7% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
| Reduce national debt | 34% | 28% | 17% | 12% | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Work with other countries’ leaders appropriately | 34% | 32% | 16% | 11% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
| Improve the education system | 33% | 31% | 19% | 11% | 3% | 2% | 2% |
| VERY IMPORTANT | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
| Stop community transmission of Covid-19 as soon as possible | 62% | 64% | 64% | 49% | 64% |
| Manage the economy | 54% | 54% | 66% | 29% | 63% |
| Create jobs | 51% | 53% | 54% | 33% | 57% |
| Provide support for those in financial need | 42% | 49% | 39% | 38% | 45% |
| Reduce national debt | 34% | 31% | 41% | 19% | 45% |
| Work with other countries’ leaders appropriately | 34% | 39% | 35% | 23% | 31% |
| Improve the education system | 33% | 39% | 28% | 28% | 27% |
| Base (n) | 1,010 | 311 | 413 | 78 | 94 |
- Stopping community transmission of Covid-19 as soon as possible is the most important issue at present with 62% of participants saying it’s ‘very important’ compared to more than half who said ‘manage the economy’ (54%).
- At this time, reducing the national debt (34%), working with international leaders (34%) and improving the education system (33%) were seen of lesser importance.
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Download this week's ReportEssential Report
Two Party Preferred:
Labor
45%
Coalition
48%
In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Top Federal Government priorities for 2021
- Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine
- Perceptions of change in the standard of living for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Changing views towards Australia Day
- Support towards a separate national day
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