The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Jul, 2021

    , ,

    Speed of NSW lockdown

    Q. Overall, do you think NSW moved too quickly, too slowly or at about the right speed in terms of enforcing lockdown restrictions?

    [ASKED TO RESPONDENTS IN NSW ONLY]

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Moved too quickly 10% 9% 11% 14% 9% 7% 9% 8% 9% 21%
    About the right speed 51% 50% 51% 51% 50% 51% 41% 62% 49% 44%
    Moved too slowly 39% 41% 38% 35% 41% 41% 50% 30% 43% 35%
    Base (n) 553 268 285 147 203 203 182 226 41 44
    • Half of NSW residents think the state government imposed Covid-19 lockdowns at the right speed (51%), 39% think the decision was too slow and 10% think it was made too quickly.
    • Coalition voters are most likely to think the government acted at the right speed (62%), while Labor and Greens voters are most likely to say it was too slow (50% and 43%).
  • Jul, 2021

    ,

    Time for Covid-19 milestones to occur for NSW

    Q. How long do you think it will take for the following to occur in NSW?

    [ASKED TO RESPONDENTS IN NSW ONLY]

    Two weeks up to one month One month up to six months Seven months up to one year One to two years More than two years Never
    The Covid-19 outbreak in NSW is controlled 50% 18% 7% 10% 7% 7%
    The lockdown in Greater Sydney is lifted 76% 13% 5% 3% 2% 2%
    The lockdown in other affected areas in NSW is lifted (e.g. Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour) 77% 11% 4% 3% 2% 2%
    Interstate travel will be allowed without restriction 38% 26% 12% 11% 8% 5%
    Quarantine will no longer be required after interstate travel 32% 20% 13% 15% 12% 7%
    The Covid-19 vaccine rollout will be completed in NSW 14% 14% 28% 24% 12% 8%

     

    • Most participants in NSW expect the lockdown restriction to be eased in the next month (76% in Sydney and 77% in other areas of NSW).
    • Most think interstate travel will be allowed either within the next month (38%) or within 6 months (26%). A similar proportion also think there will be no quarantine requirements after this time (32% within the month, 20% within 6 months).
    • 28% think the vaccine rollout will not be completed in under a year, 24% think it will take 1-2 years and 12% think it will take over 2 years.
  • Jul, 2021

    ,

    Effect of Covid-19 lockdowns on adults and children

    Q. Thinking about Covid-19 lockdowns across Australia, to what extent are you concerned about the effect of these lockdowns on the following?

    TOTAL: Concerned TOTAL:

    Not concerned

    		 Very concerned Moderately concerned Not that concerned Not concerned at all Base (n)
    My mental wellbeing 50% 50% 19% 31% 28% 21% 1,099
    My personal relationships 39% 61% 15% 25% 32% 28% 1,099
    My work-life balance

    [ASKED ONLY TO THOSE STILL IN PAID WORK SINCE COVID-19]

    		49% 51% 18% 31% 34% 17% 507
    My child(ren)’s mental wellbeing

    [ASKED ONLY TO THOSE WHO HAVE DEPENDENT CHILDREN]

    		 59% 41% 27% 33% 23% 17% 433
    My child(ren) developing behavioural issues

    [ASKED ONLY TO THOSE WHO HAVE DEPENDENT CHILDREN]

    		 49% 51% 21% 29% 27% 23% 433
    My child(ren) falling behind in their learning at school

    [ASKED ONLY TO THOSE WHO HAVE DEPENDENT CHILDREN]

    		 55% 45% 23% 32% 22% 23% 433
    • Half of people say the Covid-19 lockdowns are giving them concern for their mental health (50% either very, or moderately concerned). There is less concern for the effect on personal relationships (39% concerned).
    • Of those in paid employment, 49% say they are concerned that the Covid-19 lockdowns are impacting their work-life balance.
    • Among those with dependent children in the household, 59% say they are concerned for the mental wellbeing of their children, 55% are concerned their children are falling behind at school, and 49% are concerned about their children developing behavioural issues.
  • Jul, 2021

    ,

    Economic expectations post Covid-19

    Q. Which of the following is closer to your expectations of what will happen to the economy following the Covid-19 situation?

      Jul’21 Dec’20 Apr’20
    The economy will rebound within 2-3 months and grow just as strong or stronger than before Covid-19 19% 18% 13%
    The economy will be impacted for 6-12 months or longer and will stagnate or show slow growth thereafter 41% 43% 49%
    Covid-19 will have long lasting impact on the economy and the country will fall into a lengthy recession 26% 22% 28%
    Unsure 13% 17% 10%
    Base (n) 1,099 1,071 1,054

     

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    The economy will rebound within 2-3 months and grow just as strong or stronger than before Covid-19 19% 23% 15% 17% 18% 22% 14% 29% 16% 15%
    The economy will be impacted for 6-12 months or longer and will stagnate or show slow growth thereafter 41% 45% 38% 44% 39% 42% 45% 44% 45% 25%
    Covid-19 will have long lasting impact on the economy and the country will fall into a lengthy recession 26% 23% 29% 26% 29% 24% 29% 17% 31% 49%
    Unsure 13% 9% 17% 13% 14% 12% 12% 10% 8% 11%
    Base (n) 1,099 539 560 341 373 385 404 388 87 114
    • Most people expect the economy to recover in 6-12 months following the impact of Covid-19 (41%), with a further 19% thinking it will recover in the next 2-3 months.
    • Expectations of a quick recovery in the next 2-3 months is highest among men (23%), older people aged over 55 (22%) and Coalition voters (29%).
    • There has been an increase in the proportion of people expecting a lengthy recession following the pandemic. 26% now expect this scenario, up from 22% last December.
  • Jul, 2021

    Past six months

    Q. [JUL’21] Thinking about the past six months, has it been a good or bad year so far for each of the following?

    Q. [PREVIOUS MONTHS] Thinking about the last 12 months, has it been a good or bad year for each of the following?

      TOTAL: Good TOTAL:

    Bad

    		 NET 2020 NET 2019 NET 2018 NET 2017 NET 2016 NET 2015 NET
    The Australian economy 20% 48% -28 -47 -13 +6 +11 -19 -11
    Australian politics in general 20% 39% -20 -7 -20 -50 -36 -53 -41
    The Australian Government 24% 38% -13 -7 -7 -41 – – –
    Large companies and corporations 32% 22% +10 -5 +23 +9 +22 +5 +5
    Small business 12% 64% -52 -43 -12 +6 -2 -22 -12
    Trade unions 15% 22% -7 -9 -11 -1 -7 -18 -27
    The average Australian 18% 43% -26 -32 -4 -1 -6 -18 -14
    Your personal financial situation 25% 28% -4 -4 -2 0 +1 -8 -6
    Your workplace 23% 16% +7 +4 +14 +28 +34 +12 +14
    You and your family overall 32% 22% +10 +4 +19 +28 +27 +12 +21
    The planet 27% 37% -11 -4 -29 -19 -22 -32 –
    Women 24% 24% 0 – – – – – –
    • Since the start of the year, people think the economic situation has improved (moving from NET -47 in Dec’20 to -28). Other groups whose situation has improved include large businesses and corporations (NET score up from -5 to +10).
    • People think the situation has deteriorated in 2021 for politics (down from -7 to -20), the government (-7 to -13), small businesses (-43 to -52) and the planet (-4 to -11).
  • Jul, 2021

    ,

    Support and priority of Indigenous Issues

    Q. What is your view about the following issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and whether they should be a priority for the government to address?

    TOTAL: Support Jul’21 Jun’19 Feb’18
    Meet the ‘Close the Gap’ indigenous health, education and employment targets 69% 74% 75%
    Include aboriginal recognition in the constitution 69% 70% 70%
    Establish an indigenous ‘voice’ to advise the Parliament 66% 66% 68%
    Agree a treaty with indigenous Australia 61% 59% 59%
    Australia to become a republic 43% 43% 46%
    Change the date of Australia Day 37% 30% 27%

     

    TOTAL: Support TOTAL: Support Support, and should be a priority Support, but not a high priority Don’t support Not sure
    Meet the ‘Close the Gap’ indigenous health, education and employment targets 69% 34% 35% 15% 15%
    Include aboriginal recognition in the constitution 69% 31% 38% 17% 14%
    Establish an indigenous ‘voice’ to advise the Parliament 66% 29% 37% 19% 15%
    Agree a treaty with indigenous Australia 61% 27% 33% 22% 17%
    Australia to become a republic 43% 17% 26% 34% 23%
    Change the date of Australia Day 37% 17% 20% 50% 12%
    • There is majority support to meet the ‘Close the Gap’ targets (69%), inclusion of aboriginal recognition in the constitution (69%), and establishment of an Indigenous ‘voice’ to advise Parliament (66%). Support for these changes is consistent with 2019.
    • Support for Australia to become a republic is greater than opposition (43% to 34%) with 23% unsure on the issue.
    • Support for changing the date of Australia day is now at 37%, an increase from 30% in 2019.
  • Jul, 2021

    ,

    Perceptions of change in the standard of living for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

    Q. In your opinion, over the past 10 years, have things got better or worse for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia, or have things stayed much the same?

      Jul’21 Jan’21 Jun’19
    A lot better 18% 18% 18%
    A little better 30% 30% 28%
    Stayed much the same 33% 32% 36%
    A little worse 6% 7% 5%
    A lot worse 3% 3% 3%
    Don’t know 11% 11% 10%
    TOTAL: Better 48% 48% 46%
    TOTAL: Worse 9% 10% 8%
    Base (n) 1,099 1,084 1,097
    • Nearly half (48%) believe things have got better for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples over the last 10 years, unchanged since January this year (48%).
    • About a third (33%) state that in their opinion, conditions have stayed much the same for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders over the past 10 years, while 9% believe things have got worse. Both figures are consistent with perceptions from the start of the year.
      Total Labor Coalition Greens NET: Other
    A lot better 18% 13% 27% 13% 22%
    A little better 30% 28% 36% 28% 24%
    Stayed much the same 33% 40% 24% 39% 34%
    A little worse 6% 7% 4% 9% 7%
    A lot worse 3% 3% 2% 3% 7%
    Don’t know 11% 9% 8% 7% 7%
    TOTAL: Better 48% 41% 62% 41% 46%
    TOTAL: Worse 9% 10% 6% 12% 13%
    Base (n) 1,099 404 388 87 114
    •  Coalition voters are the most likely to think things have got better for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the last decade (62% compared to 41% Labor voters, 41% Greens voters and 46% minor/independent party voters).
  • Jul, 2021

    ,

    Indigenous Recognition Referendum

    Q. If a referendum was held to include recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Constitution, would you vote for or against?

      Jul’21 Jun’19 Sep’16  Jul’15 Aug’14
    Vote for 57% 57% 58% 61% 58%
    Vote against 16% 18% 15% 16% 10%
    Don’t know 27% 25% 28% 23% 32%
    Base (n) 1,099 1,097 1,005 1,006 1,008

     

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Vote for 57% 59% 55% 60% 58% 52% 64% 52% 79% 47%
    Vote against 16% 19% 13% 13% 16% 19% 12% 21% 9% 22%
    Don’t know 27% 22% 32% 27% 27% 28% 24% 27% 12% 31%
    Base (n) 1,099 539 560 341 373 385 404 388 87 114
    •  Over half (57%) of voters said they would vote for the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Constitution. This is three times as many that said they would vote against (16%). Support and opposition towards this issue has remained relatively constant since 2014.
    • A quarter said they did not know how they would vote in such a referendum (27%).
    • There is majority support for a referendum among both men and women, all age groups and those intending to vote for a major political party.
Error: