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  • May, 2021

    Views towards national deficit and spending

    Q. Which of the following approaches to debt and spending is closer to your view?

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Australia needs to spend whatever it takes to help the economy recover, and worry about how to repay the debt later 20% 24% 16% 26% 21% 13% 19% 21% 23% 14%
    It’s ok for Australia to spend whatever it takes to help the economy recover, but there needs to be a clear plan for how we will repay the debt in the future 65% 63% 66% 61% 63% 70% 66% 67% 64% 62%
    Now is the time to start repaying some of the debt 16% 14% 18% 14% 16% 17% 15% 12% 13% 25%
    Base (n) 1,100 539 561 341 379 380 369 410 105 112
    • The majority (65%) think it’s ok for Australia to spend whatever it takes to help the economy recover, but there needs to be a clear plan for how we will repay the debt in the future. While accordance with this view is high across all age groups, those over 55 are more likely than younger cohorts to think this (70% to 62% those under 55).
    • 20% think Australia needs to spend whatever it takes to help the economy recover, and worry about how to repay the debt later. Those most likely to follow this view include men (24%), those aged 18-34 (26%), Greens voters (23%).
  • May, 2021

    Confidence in federal government’s long-term plans

    Q. Please indicate which is closest to your view about the federal government’s plan for each of the following issues:

      I’m confident the federal government has a long-term plan, and it’s clear to me what this plan is I’m confident the federal government has a long-term plan, but it hasn’t been communicated well I’m not confident the federal government has a long-term plan
    The Covid-19 vaccine rollout 25% 42% 32%
    Establish quarantine facilities 21% 38% 41%
    Reduce the national deficit 16% 43% 41%
    Reduce Australia’s carbon emissions 18% 35% 47%
    Reform and fund the aged care system 22% 39% 39%
    Reopen international borders 21% 40% 39%
    • There is uncertainty about the federal government’s long-term plans, or a perception that these plans have not been communicated clearly to the public.
    • 41% aren’t confident there’s a long-term plan for reducing the national deficit; 43% are confident a plan exists but don’t think it’s been communicated well.
    • 41% are also not confident the federal government has a long-term plan to establish quarantine facilities, with 38% confident there is a plan, but it hasn’t been communicated well.
    • Over a third (32%) are not confident the federal government has a long-term plan for the Covid-19 vaccine rollout. 42% are confident they have a long-term plan, but think it hasn’t been communicated well. Only a quarter (25%) are confident there is a long-term plan and are clear on what it is.
    • Nearly half (47%) are not confident the federal government has a long-term plan for reducing Australia’s carbon emissions. Over a third (35%) think there is a plan but it hasn’t been communicated well. Only 18% are confident and clear on this plan.
  • May, 2021

    Views towards early federal election

    Q. Some have suggested that the Prime Minister might call an early election later in 2021. It is not due until 2022.

    Which of the following is closer to your view?

      May’21 Feb’21
     
    An early federal election in 2021 will be good for Australia, because a lot has changed since the last election 39% 42%
    It would just be opportunism for the Prime Minister to call an early election, and the federal election should stay in 2022 61% 58%
    Base (n) 1,100 1,092

     

    Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    An early federal election in 2021 will be good for Australia, because a lot has changed since the last election 39% 39% 39% 47% 39% 31% 41% 37% 36% 43%
    It would just be opportunism for the Prime Minister to call an early election, and the federal election should stay in 2022 61% 61% 61% 53% 61% 69% 59% 63% 64% 57%
    Base (n) 1,100 539 561 341 379 380 369 410 105 112
    • There is no significant difference in views towards an early federal election compared to when this question was asked in February.
    • Most (61%) still think it would just be opportunism for the Prime Minister to call an early election, and the federal election should stay in 2022. 39% think an early federal election in 2021 will be good for Australia, because a lot has changed since the last election.
  • May, 2021

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    Quarantine facilities: Federal vs state government responsibility

    Q. There have been growing calls to build new Covid-19 quarantine facilities across the country to more safely quarantine returning travellers.

    Which of the following statements about these quarantine facilities is closest to your view?

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    It should be the federal government’s responsibility to build and manage quarantine facilities across the country 63% 62% 63% 57% 63% 67% 67% 56% 70% 64%
    It should be each state government’s responsibility to build and manage quarantine facilities within their borders 37% 38% 37% 43% 37% 33% 33% 44% 30% 36%
    Base (n) 1,100 539 561 341 379 380 369 410 105 112
    • Most (63%) think it should be the federal government’s responsibility to build and manage quarantine facilities across the country. Coalition voters are less likely to think this compared to all other voters (56% to 67%).
  • May, 2021

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    Federal government response to Covid-19

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

      24/05 12/04 15/03 01/03 15/02 01/02 30/11 16/11 02/11 05/10 21/09 07/09 24/08
    Very poor 6% 7% 5% 6% 5% 4% 6% 5% 5% 5% 5% 8% 6%
    Quite poor 12% 10% 7% 8% 7% 11% 8% 9% 10% 12% 13% 12% 11%
    Neither good nor poor 25% 21% 18% 24% 19% 19% 19% 18% 24% 22% 21% 22% 22%
    Quite good 40% 40% 39% 39% 42% 42% 41% 41% 39% 39% 40% 40% 40%
    Very good 18% 22% 31% 23% 27% 25% 26% 26% 22% 21% 21% 18% 22%
    TOTAL: Poor 18% 17% 12% 14% 12% 14% 13% 15% 15% 18% 18% 19% 17%
    TOTAL: Good 58% 62% 70% 62% 69% 67% 67% 67% 61% 60% 61% 59% 61%
    Base (n) 1,100 1,368 1,124 1,074 1,109 1,092 1,034 1,010 1,063 1,066 1,081 1,076 1,068
    • Since peaking at 70% in March, positive rating of the federal government’s handling of Covid-19 has dropped off; falling to 58% this month which is the lowest rating seen since March last year.
  • May, 2021

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    State government response to Covid-19

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

    TOTAL: Good 24/03 12/04 15/03 01/03 15/02 01/02 30/11 16/11 02/11 05/10 21/09 07/09 24/08
    NSW 68% 73% 75% 72% 72% 71% 76% 75% 68% 65% 67% 57% 59%
    VIC 63% 58% 62% 49% 59% 61% 60% 59% 55% 45% 47% 50% 47%
    QLD 68% 72% 75% 73% 76% 78% 72% 71% 69% 69% 68% 66% 73%
    SA 71% 75% 85% 78% 79% 80% 70% 76% 77% 81% 81% 74% 65%
    WA 77% 84% 91% 85% 88% 80% 83% 82% 81% 83% 84% 87% 84%
    • Positive rating of state governments’ response to the Covid-19 outbreak has decreased in all states except for Victoria since last month.
    • The rating of the VIC government has risen to 63% (from 58% last month). This is the highest rating since June last year.
    • While still high, positive rating of the WA and SA governments has decreased to 77% and 71% respectively (from 84% and 75% last month).
    • Positive rating of the NSW and QLD governments has also decreased to 68% respectively (from 73% and 72% last month).
  • May, 2021

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    Performance of Scott Morrison

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

    May’21 Apr’21 End Mar’21 Mid Mar’21 Feb’21 Jan’21 Dec’20 Nov’20 Oct’20 Sep’20 Aug’20 Jul’20 Jun’20
    TOTAL: Approve 58% 54% 57% 62% 65% 61% 62% 66% 63% 64% 66% 63% 65%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 32% 37% 35% 29% 28% 30% 28% 25% 27% 28% 23% 27% 26%
    Don’t know 10% 9% 8% 8% 7% 9% 11% 9% 10% 8% 11% 10% 8%
    Base (n) 1,092 1,368 1,100 1,124 1,109 1,084 1,071 1,010 1,082 1,076 1,010 1,054 1,059

     

    TOTAL: Approve May’21 12 Apr’21 29 Mar’21 15 Mar’21 Feb’21 Jan’21 Dec’20 Nov’20
    Men 62% 61% 65% 65% 65% 62% 68% 65%
    Women 55% 46% 49% 59% 65% 59% 56% 67%
    TOTAL: Disapprove                
    Men 31% 32% 30% 28% 28% 32% 25% 28%
    Women 34% 42% 40% 30% 28% 29% 30% 23%
    • The Prime Minister’s approval rating has risen to 58% (from 54% in April). This is similar to the level at the end of March.
    • Approval of the PM among women has increased from 46% to 55%, while disapproval has fallen from 42% to 34%.
  • May, 2021

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    Performance of Anthony Albanese

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

    May’21 Apr’21 Mar’21 Feb’21 Jan’21 Dec’20 Nov’20 Oct’20 Sep’20 Aug’20 Jul’20 Jun’20
    TOTAL: Approve 39% 39% 41% 40% 42% 43% 40% 44% 44% 44% 44% 43%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 35% 34% 32% 33% 33% 29% 33% 29% 29% 30% 28% 30%
    Don’t know 25% 27% 27% 27% 25% 28% 27% 27% 27% 25% 28% 26%
    Base (n) 1,092 1,368 1,124 1,109 1,084 1,071 1,010 1,082 1,076 1,010 1,054 1,059

     

      Total Federal Voting Intention
    Labor Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Strongly approve 9% 13% 8% 5% 11%
    Approve 30% 45% 21% 42% 27%
    Disapprove 24% 17% 32% 21% 22%
    Strongly disapprove 12% 2% 22% 5% 22%
    Don’t know 25% 22% 17% 27% 18%
    TOTAL: Approve 39% 59% 29% 47% 38%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 35% 20% 54% 26% 44%
    Base (n) 1,092 371 400 109 111
    • The Opposition Leader’s approval rating is now at 39%, consistent with the level last month (39%).
    • Approval of the Opposition Leader has risen to 59% among Labor voters (from 55% in April) and is at 29% among Coalition voters (33% in April).
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