The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Apr, 2021

    ,

    Performance of Anthony Albanese

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

    Apr’21 Mar’21 Feb’21 Jan’21 Dec’20 Nov’20 Oct’20 Sep’20 Aug’20 Jul’20 Jun’20 May’20
    TOTAL: Approve 39% 41% 40% 42% 43% 40% 44% 44% 44% 44% 43% 42%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 34% 32% 33% 33% 29% 33% 29% 29% 30% 28% 30% 27%
    Don’t know 27% 27% 27% 25% 28% 27% 27% 27% 25% 28% 26% 31%
    Base (n) 1,368 1,124 1,109 1,084 1,071 1,010 1,082 1,076 1,010 1,054 1,059 1,093

     

    Total Federal Voting Intention
    Labor Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Strongly approve 9% 12% 9% 11% 9%
    Approve 29% 44% 24% 30% 17%
    Disapprove 23% 21% 28% 21% 23%
    Strongly disapprove 12% 1% 21% 5% 22%
    Don’t know 27% 22% 17% 32% 29%
    TOTAL: Approve 39% 55% 33% 41% 26%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 34% 22% 49% 27% 45%
    Base (n) 1,368 483 471 123 165
    • The Opposition Leader’s approval rating is now at 39%, a slight dip from last month’s level (41%).
    • Approval of the Opposition Leader has fallen to 55% among Labor voters (from 60% in March) and is 33% among Coalition voters (30% in March.
  • Apr, 2021

    , , ,

    Preferred Prime Minister

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

      Apr’21 Mar’21 Feb’21 Jan’21 Dec’20 Nov’20 Oct’20 Sep’20 Aug’20 Jul’20 Jun’20 May’20
    Scott Morrison 47% 52% 52% 51% 50% 53% 50% 49% 52% 50% 53% 50%
    Anthony Albanese 28% 26% 24% 25% 24% 24% 25% 26% 22% 27% 23% 25%
    Don’t know 25% 22% 24% 25% 26% 24% 25% 25% 26% 23% 24% 25%
    Base (n) 1,368 1,124 1,109 1,084 1,071 1,010 1,082 1,076 1,010 1,054 1,059 1,093

     

    Men Apr’21 Mar’21 Feb’21 Jan’21 Dec’20 Nov’20 Oct’20
    Scott Morrison 53% 52% 54% 53% 54% 54% 52%
    Anthony Albanese 29% 30% 28% 28% 29% 28% 29%
    Don’t know 18% 19% 19% 19% 17% 19% 19%
    Women              
    Scott Morrison 42% 53% 51% 48% 47% 51% 47%
    Anthony Albanese 26% 23% 21% 22% 19% 20% 22%
    Don’t know 32% 24% 29% 31% 34% 28% 31%

     

    Apr’21   Federal Voting Intention
    Total Labor Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Scott Morrison 47% 27% 80% 28% 41%
    Anthony Albanese 28% 50% 10% 45% 20%
    Don’t know 25% 24% 9% 26% 39%
    Base (n) 1,368 483 471 123 165
    • Just under half (47%) of participants believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese, a drop since last month (52%) and the lowest figure seen in the last 12 months.
    • 28% would prefer the Opposition Leader (no change from 26% in March). A quarter (25%) of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
    • Preference for Morrison has dropped among women from 53% last month to 42% in April. Preference is unchanged among men (52% and 53%).
    • Half (50%) of Labor voters believe Albanese would make the better PM, consistent with levels last month (49%). Just under a third (27%) think Morrison would make the better leader and about a quarter (24%) don’t know.
  • Apr, 2021

    Federal government response to Covid-19

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

      12/04 15/03 01/03 15/02 01/02 30/11 16/11 02/11 05/10 21/09 07/09 24/08 10/08
    Very poor 7% 5% 6% 5% 4% 6% 5% 5% 5% 5% 8% 6% 7%
    Quite poor 10% 7% 8% 7% 11% 8% 9% 10% 12% 13% 12% 11% 8%
    Neither good nor poor 21% 18% 24% 19% 19% 19% 18% 24% 22% 21% 22% 22% 21%
    Quite good 40% 39% 39% 42% 42% 41% 41% 39% 39% 40% 40% 40% 40%
    Very good 22% 31% 23% 27% 25% 26% 26% 22% 21% 21% 18% 22% 24%
    TOTAL: Poor 17% 12% 14% 12% 14% 13% 15% 15% 18% 18% 19% 17% 16%
    TOTAL: Good 62% 70% 62% 69% 67% 67% 67% 61% 60% 61% 59% 61% 63%
    Base (n) 1,368 1,124 1,074 1,109 1,092 1,034 1,010 1,063 1,066 1,081 1,076 1,068 1,010
    • Rating of the federal government’s handling of Covid-19 has dropped back down to 62% (from 70% mid-March). This is consistent with levels at the start of March.
  • Apr, 2021

    State government response to Covid-19

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

    TOTAL: Good 12/04 15/03 01/03 15/02 01/02 30/11 16/11 02/11 05/10 21/09 07/09 24/08 10/08
    NSW 73% 75% 72% 72% 71% 76% 75% 68% 65% 67% 57% 59% 61%
    VIC 58% 62% 49% 59% 61% 60% 59% 55% 45% 47% 50% 47% 49%
    QLD 72% 75% 73% 76% 78% 72% 71% 69% 69% 68% 66% 73% 68%
    SA 75% 85% 78% 79% 80% 70% 76% 77% 81% 81% 74% 65% 72%
    WA 84% 91% 85% 88% 80% 83% 82% 81% 83% 84% 87% 84% 86%
    • Positive rating of state governments’ response to the Covid-19 outbreak has decreased in all states in the last month.
    • While still high, the rating of the SA and WA governments have witnessed the largest drops in the last month – from 85% to 75% for the SA government and 91% to 84% for the WA government.
    • Positive rating of the VIC government has dipped back down to 58% (from 62% a month ago). This is consistent with levels in February.
    • Rating of the NSW and QLD governments are now at 73% and 72% respectively.
  • Apr, 2021

    ,

    Confidence in Labor government handling of Covid-19 pandemic

    Q. If a Labor government under Anthony Albanese had been in power, how confident are you that they would have done a good job at dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic?

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other  
    Very confident 15% 21% 10% 13% 21% 12% 24% 10% 19% 14%  
    Fairly confident 29% 27% 30% 33% 30% 24% 42% 22% 32% 22%  
    Not that confident 24% 25% 23% 25% 21% 25% 18% 30% 25% 20%  
    Not confident at all 14% 14% 13% 7% 10% 23% 3% 25% 5% 23%  
    Unsure 18% 12% 24% 22% 18% 16% 13% 12% 20% 21%  
    TOTAL:  Confident 44% 49% 40% 46% 51% 36% 65% 32% 50% 35%  
    TOTAL:  Not Confident 37% 39% 36% 32% 31% 48% 21% 56% 29% 44%  
    Base (n) 1,368 669 699 426 460 482 483 471 123 165  
    • 44% of Australians are confident that if a Labor government under Anthony Albanese had been in power, they would have done a good job at dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. 37% are not confident about this and 18% are unsure.
    • Labor voters are the most confident about this compared to other voters (65%). They are followed by Greens voters (50%). Coalition voters and minor and independent party voters are the least likely to be confident in this (32% and 35% respectively).
    • Those aged 18-34 and 35-43 are more confident that a Labor government would have done a good job a dealing with Covid-19 than those over 55 (46% and 51% to 36% respectively).
  • Apr, 2021

    ,

    Satisfaction with speed of Covid-19 vaccine rollout

    Q. Which of the following best describes your view on how quickly Australians are being vaccinated against Covid-19?

    They are being vaccinated…

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other  
    … much more quickly than I would like 13% 16% 10% 17% 18% 4% 10% 12% 16% 22%  
    … a bit more quickly than I would like 8% 8% 7% 12% 9% 2% 7% 10% 8% 6%  
    … at about the right speed 19% 18% 20% 24% 20% 13% 15% 21% 22% 14%  
    … a bit more slowly than I would like 25% 23% 26% 24% 19% 31% 23% 34% 19% 13%  
    … a lot more slowly than I would like 27% 28% 27% 15% 24% 42% 37% 19% 30% 30%  
    Unsure 9% 7% 11% 9% 11% 8% 8% 4% 6% 16%  
    TOTAL:  More quickly than I would like 20% 24% 17% 29% 27% 6% 16% 22% 24% 28%  
    TOTAL:  More slowly than I would like 52% 52% 53% 39% 43% 73% 60% 52% 49% 42%  
    Base (n) 1,368 669 699 426 460 482 483 471 123 165  
    • Just over half of Australians (52%) think Australians are being vaccinated against Covid-19 more slowly than they would like, with nearly a third (27%) feeling vaccinations are progressing a lot more slowly than they would like.
    • 20% think Australians are being vaccinated against Covid-19 more quickly than they would like and 9% are unsure.
    • Those over 55 are much more likely than younger cohorts to think the vaccine rollout is progressing more slowly than they would like (73% compared to 43% of those 35-54 and 39% those 18-34).
    • Labor voters are the most likely voters to think the vaccine rollout is progressing more slowly than they would like (60% compared to 52% Coalition voters, 49% Greens voters and 42% independent and minor party voters).
  • Apr, 2021

    ,

    Party most responsible for slow vaccine rollout

    Q. Which do you think is MOST responsible for Australians being vaccinated more slowly than you would like?

    [Asked only to those who think Australians are being vaccinated against Covid-19 a bit / a lot more slowly than they would like]

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    The federal government 42% 45% 39% 36% 51% 40% 57% 24% 44% 49%
    State and territory governments 7% 8% 7% 16% 7% 4% 5% 11% 5% 13%
    International supply chains 24% 29% 20% 24% 19% 28% 17% 35% 20% 17%
    Unavoidable delays in the production of vaccines 18% 13% 22% 15% 18% 19% 15% 22% 22% 16%
    Unsure 8% 6% 11% 9% 6% 9% 6% 8% 8% 5%
    Base (n) 713 356 357 165 194 354 291 242 61 72
    • The largest cohort within the group of those who think Australians are being vaccinated against Covid-19 more slowly than they would like, think the federal government is most responsible for this (42%).
    • About a quarter (24%) place the onus on international supply chains, followed by 18% who feel unavoidable delays in the production of vaccines are the main reason for the slow progress of the vaccine rollout in Australia.
    • Only 7% think state and territory governments are most responsible and 8% are unsure.
    • Those most likely to place responsibility on the federal government for Australians being vaccinated more slowly than they would like include those aged 35-54 (51%) and Labor voters (57%).
    • Coalition voters are the most likely to think international supply chains are most responsible for the delays (35%).
  • Apr, 2021

    , ,

    Views towards progress of Covid-19 vaccine rollout

    Q. As you may be aware, distribution of the Covid-19 vaccines is primarily the responsibility of the federal government.

    Scott Morrison promised in January this year that 4 million Australians would be vaccinated against Covid-19 by the end of March. This target was shifted out in March to 4 million Australians by April 26th. As of April 2nd, 750,000 Australians have been vaccinated. 

    How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

      TOTAL: Agree TOTAL: Disagree Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree
    I’m confident that 4 million Australians will be vaccinated against Covid-19 by April 26th 19% 55% 6% 13% 26% 24% 31%
    The federal government needs to step up and take more responsibility for ensuring Australians are vaccinated against Covid-19 as quickly as possible 56% 17% 28% 29% 27% 10% 7%
    Delays in the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines are due to circumstances outside the federal government’s control, and there’s nothing more they could have done about it 47% 26% 15% 32% 27% 17% 10%
    The slower than expected rollout indicates that the federal government is not doing as good a job as they claimed 48% 25% 21% 27% 27% 16% 9%

     

    TOTAL: Agree Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    I’m confident that 4 million Australians will be vaccinated against Covid-19 by April 26th 19% 25% 13% 22% 28% 7% 14% 27% 21% 13%
    The federal government needs to step up and take more responsibility for ensuring Australians are vaccinated against Covid-19 as quickly as possible 56% 58% 55% 51% 56% 61% 65% 53% 62% 54%
    Delays in the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines are due to circumstances outside the federal government’s control, and there’s nothing more they could have done about it 47% 51% 43% 41% 50% 48% 37% 66% 36% 39%
    The slower than expected rollout indicates that the federal government is not doing as good a job as they claimed 48% 50% 46% 45% 51% 47% 59% 37% 61% 49%
    Base (n) 1,368 669 699 426 460 482 483 471 123 165
    • Well over half (56%) of Australians agree the federal government needs to step up and take more responsibility for ensuring Australians are vaccinated against Covid-19 as quickly as possible. Labor voters and those over 55 are the most likely to agree with this (65% and 61% respectively).
    • Just under half (48%) agree the slower than expected rollout indicates that the federal government is not doing as good a job as they claimed. Labor voters and Greens voters are most likely to follow this view (59% and 61%).
    • However, just under half as well (47%) agree the delays in the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines are due to circumstances outside the federal government’s control, and there’s nothing more they could have done about it. The majority of Coalition voters align with this view (66%).
    • Only 19% are confident that 4 million Australians will be vaccinated against Covid-19 by the end of the month.
Error: