Essential Report
Outcomes of COP26 – Global and local impact
Q. How confident are you that the UN climate summit (COP26) will result in meaningful changes to address climate change and reduce emissions globally and locally (in Australia)? GLOBALLY
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | ||||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |||
| Very confident | 9% | 10% | 8% | 15% | 8% | 4% | 8% | 10% | 4% | 11% | |
| Fairly confident | 27% | 26% | 28% | 30% | 34% | 17% | 31% | 29% | 32% | 12% | |
| Not that confident | 34% | 32% | 36% | 32% | 29% | 41% | 39% | 32% | 32% | 37% | |
| Not confident at all | 18% | 23% | 13% | 10% | 16% | 27% | 13% | 19% | 22% | 29% | |
| Unsure | 13% | 9% | 16% | 13% | 13% | 11% | 9% | 9% | 10% | 10% | |
| TOTAL: Confident | 35% | 36% | 35% | 45% | 43% | 20% | 39% | 39% | 36% | 24% | |
| TOTAL: Not confident | 52% | 55% | 49% | 42% | 44% | 68% | 52% | 51% | 55% | 66% | |
| Base (n) | 1,089 | 534 | 555 | 336 | 374 | 379 | 354 | 401 | 106 | 125 | |
Q. How confident are you that the UN climate summit (COP26) will result in meaningful changes to address climate change and reduce emissions globally and locally (in Australia)? LOCALLY
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | ||||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |||
| Very confident | 9% | 11% | 8% | 14% | 10% | 5% | 11% | 12% | 4% | 6% | |
| Fairly confident | 28% | 28% | 27% | 31% | 32% | 22% | 24% | 38% | 17% | 27% | |
| Not that confident | 30% | 26% | 33% | 28% | 25% | 36% | 34% | 27% | 30% | 25% | |
| Not confident at all | 22% | 26% | 19% | 14% | 22% | 30% | 23% | 15% | 41% | 34% | |
| Unsure | 11% | 8% | 13% | 13% | 11% | 9% | 9% | 8% | 8% | 8% | |
| TOTAL: Confident | 37% | 40% | 35% | 45% | 42% | 26% | 35% | 50% | 21% | 32% | |
| TOTAL: Not confident | 52% | 52% | 52% | 42% | 47% | 65% | 56% | 42% | 72% | 59% | |
| Base (n) | 1,089 | 534 | 555 | 336 | 374 | 379 | 354 | 401 | 106 | 125 | |
- Around half of people are not confident that the COP26 summit will result in meaningful change – either globally or locally (both 52%).
- Those aged over 55 have less confidence in change due to COP26 (68% not confident in global change, 68% not confident in global change, 65% not confident in local change).
- People voting for the Greens are more confident that COP26 with result in global change than local change (36% to 21%).
Attitudes to climate change and COP26
Q. The UN climate summit (COP26) started on October 31 in Glasgow, Scotland. During the summit, world leaders are expected to develop the next emissions standards to slow global warming and keep temperature rise below 1.5C.
Australia is one of 200 countries expected to outline their emissions reduction goals for 2030.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
| TOTAL: Agree | 08/11 | 11/10 |
| Australian businesses have the opportunity to develop expertise in renewable energy and innovative technologies that other countries will demand | 71% | 64% |
| Australian manufacturing could benefit from cheap electricity if more solar and wind farms were built | 69% | 63% |
| Australia cannot afford to be locked out of the EU or other trade markets for failing to adopt a net zero emissions by 2050 target | 66% | 57% |
| Australia needs to follow other countries’ lead and make climate change a priority, or risk being left behind | 65% | 57% |
| TOTAL:
Agree |
TOTAL:
Disagree |
Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Neither agree nor disagree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | |
| Australian businesses have the opportunity to develop expertise in renewable energy and innovative technologies that other countries will demand | 71% | 6% | 35% | 35% | 23% | 4% | 2% |
| Australian manufacturing could benefit from cheap electricity if more solar and wind farms were built | 69% | 9% | 37% | 33% | 21% | 5% | 5% |
| Australia cannot afford to be locked out of the EU or other trade markets for failing to adopt a net zero emissions by 2050 target | 66% | 8% | 33% | 33% | 25% | 5% | 3% |
| Australia needs to follow other countries’ lead and make climate change a priority, or risk being left behind | 65% | 12% | 34% | 32% | 23% | 7% | 5% |
| TOTAL: Agree | Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | ||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Australian businesses have the opportunity to develop expertise in renewable energy and innovative technologies that other countries will demand | 71% | 70% | 72% | 59% | 70% | 81% | 75% | 74% | 75% | 64% |
| Australian manufacturing could benefit from cheap electricity if more solar and wind farms were built | 69% | 66% | 73% | 62% | 72% | 74% | 76% | 70% | 77% | 55% |
| Australia cannot afford to be locked out of the EU or other trade markets for failing to adopt a net zero emissions by 2050 target | 66% | 63% | 69% | 57% | 66% | 74% | 71% | 66% | 76% | 60% |
| Australia needs to follow other countries’ lead and make climate change a priority, or risk being left behind | 65% | 63% | 67% | 58% | 70% | 66% | 71% | 66% | 79% | 50% |
| Base (n) | 1,089 | 534 | 555 | 336 | 374 | 379 | 354 | 401 | 106 | 125 |
- Since the exposure of COP26, more people are engaged with both the opportunities and threats from the country not acting on climate change and reducing emissions.
- 71% now agree that Australian businesses have the opportunity to develop expertise in renewable energy and innovative technologies that other countries will demand, up from 64% last month. Similarly, agreement that Australian manufacturing could benefit from cheap electricity if more solar and wind farms were built has increased from 63% to 69%.
- At the same time, agreement with the risks of not acting have increased. 66% agree that Australia cannot afford to be locked out of the EU or other trade markets for failing to adopt a net zero emissions by 2050 target (up from 57% before the summit) and 65% agree that Australia needs to follow other countries’ lead and make climate change a priority, or risk being left behind.
- Those voting Labor and Greens are more likely than those voting Coalition or other to agree with the risks of not acting on climate change.
Federal voting intention
Q. If a federal election was held tomorrow, to which party would you give your first preference vote in the House of Representatives (Lower House)?
[If don’t know] Well which party are you currently leaning towards?
| This week
25/10 |
Two weeks ago
11/10 |
27/09 | 13/09 | 30/08 | 16/08 | 02/08 | 19/07 | 05/07 | |
| Liberal / Liberal Nationals / Country Liberals | 35% | 34% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 34% | 35% |
| Nationals | 2% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 2% |
| Total: Coalition | 37% | 36% | 38% | 38% | 38% | 37% | 38% | 37% | 37% |
| Labor | 36% | 34% | 36% | 34% | 36% | 36% | 35% | 36% | 36% |
| Greens | 10% | 9% | 9% | 8% | 10% | 9% | 9% | 10% | 8% |
| Pauline Hanson’s One Nation | 3% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 4% |
| Other/Independent | 8% | 8% | 6% | 8% | 6% | 6% | 6% | 6% | 5% |
| Undecided | 6% | 9% | 6% | 8% | 7% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 8% |
| 2 Party Preferred (2PP+) | |||||||||
| TOTAL: Coalition | 44% | 45% | 46% | 46% | 45% | 45% | 45% | 45% | 44% |
| Labor | 49% | 46% | 48% | 46% | 48% | 47% | 47% | 47% | 48% |
| Undecided | 6% | 9% | 6% | 8% | 7% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 8% |
Performance of State Premiers
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job <NAME> is doing as State Premier?
[Only asked in NSW, VIC, QLD, SA and WA]
| TOTAL: Approve | 25/10/21 | 16/11/20 | 02/11/20 | 19/10/20 |
| [Prior to Oct’21] Gladys Berejiklian
[Oct’21 onwards] Dominic Perrottet NSW |
47% | 75% | 68% | 67% |
| Daniel Andrews
VIC |
52% | 65% | 61% | 54% |
| Annastacia Palaszczuk
QLD |
66% | 65% | 65% | 62% |
| Steven Marshall
SA |
61% | 60% | 71% | 51% |
| Mark McGowan
WA |
82% | 87% | 78% | 84% |
| Base (n) | 1,781 | 1,036 | 1,063 | 1,082 |
- Approval of Dominic Perrottet among those in NSW is at 47%, however as he has just been in the job for a short period of time, there is a large number who are as yet unsure of him (25%). Last October, approval of Gladys Berejiklian was at 67%.
- Approval of Daniel Andrews among Victorians is at 52%, around the same level as last October (54%) but a drop from the level last November (65%).
- Approval of Steven Marshall among South Australians remains at 61%, around the same level as last November (60%).
- Approval of Annastacia Palaszczuk among Queenslanders and Mark McGowan among Western Australians remain at similar levels as last October at 66% and 82% respectively.
|
|
Dominic Perrottet NSW | Daniel Andrews
VIC |
Annastacia Palaszczuk
QLD |
Steven Marshall
SA |
Mark McGowan
WA |
| Strongly approve | 9% | 20% | 26% | 15% | 46% |
| Approve | 38% | 32% | 40% | 46% | 36% |
| Disapprove | 17% | 16% | 12% | 18% | 8% |
| Strongly disapprove | 11% | 24% | 15% | 8% | 5% |
| Don’t know | 25% | 9% | 7% | 13% | 5% |
| TOTAL: Approve | 47% | 52% | 66% | 61% | 82% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 28% | 40% | 27% | 27% | 13% |
| Base (n) | 352 | 275 | 217 | 443 | 441 |
- Nearly half (46%) of Western Australians strongly approve of the job Mark McGowan is doing as State Premier.
- About a quarter (26%) of Queenslanders strongly approve of the job Annastacia Palaszczuk is doing as State Premier.
- While 20% of Victorians strongly approve of the job Daniel Andrews is doing as State Premier, about a quarter (24%) strongly disapprove.
- A quarter (25%) of those in NSW are unsure about the job newly appointed State Premier Dominic Perrottet is doing.
Federal government response to Covid-19
Q. Overall, how would you rate the federal government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 25/10 | 11/10 | 27/09 | 13/09 | 30/08 | 16/08 | 02/08 | 19/07 | 05/07 | 07/06 | 24/05 | 12/04 | 15/03 | |
| Very poor | 12% | 12% | 12% | 16% | 16% | 13% | 16% | 13% | 12% | 10% | 6% | 7% | 5% |
| Quite poor | 19% | 18% | 18% | 20% | 20% | 22% | 19% | 19% | 17% | 14% | 12% | 10% | 7% |
| Neither good nor poor | 24% | 25% | 25% | 21% | 24% | 24% | 28% | 23% | 26% | 22% | 25% | 21% | 18% |
| Quite good | 32% | 32% | 34% | 28% | 29% | 32% | 28% | 32% | 33% | 38% | 40% | 40% | 39% |
| Very good | 14% | 13% | 11% | 15% | 10% | 9% | 10% | 14% | 11% | 15% | 18% | 22% | 31% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 31% | 30% | 30% | 35% | 36% | 35% | 35% | 31% | 30% | 24% | 18% | 17% | 12% |
| TOTAL: Good | 46% | 45% | 45% | 43% | 39% | 41% | 38% | 46% | 44% | 53% | 58% | 62% | 70% |
| Base (n) | 1,781 | 1,097 | 1,094 | 1,100 | 1,100 | 1,100 | 1,098 | 1,100 | 1,099 | 1,104 | 1,100 | 1,368 | 1,124 |
| TOTAL: Good | 25/10 | 11/10 | 27/09 | 13/09 | 30/08 | 16/08 | 02/08 | 19/07 | 05/07 | 07/06 | 24/05 | 12/04 | 15/03 |
| NSW | 50% | 48% | 48% | 41% | 34% | 34% | 39% | 49% | 44% | 62% | 56% | 66% | 69% |
| VIC | 34% | 37% | 39% | 39% | 35% | 37% | 33% | 39% | 40% | 42% | 57% | 55% | 65% |
| QLD | 46% | 50% | 44% | 43% | 45% | 44% | 40% | 46% | 48% | 54% | 56% | 63% | 69% |
| SA | 52% | 46% | 42% | 54% | 48% | 45% | 48% | 51% | 48% | 58% | 66% | 62% | 78% |
| WA | 46% | 49% | 48% | 51% | 51% | 53% | 37% | 51% | 42% | 49% | 56% | 65% | 75% |
- 46% of people rate the federal government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak as quite good or very good (similar to earlier this month), with 31% rating it as quite poor or very poor.
- The only state to record an improvement in positive rating of the federal government’s handling of Covid-19 is South Australia (52% from 46% earlier in October).
State government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| TOTAL: Good | 25/10 | 11/10 | 27/09 | 13/09 | 30/08 | 16/08 | 02/08 | 19/07 | 05/07 | 07/06 | 24/05 | 12/04 | 15/03 |
| NSW | 57% | 55% | 53% | 46% | 40% | 42% | 47% | 54% | 57% | 69% | 68% | 73% | 75% |
| VIC | 43% | 46% | 44% | 50% | 44% | 56% | 54% | 49% | 50% | 48% | 63% | 58% | 62% |
| QLD | 59% | 68% | 62% | 65% | 67% | 66% | 60% | 62% | 61% | 65% | 68% | 72% | 75% |
| SA | 66% | 67% | 55% | 67% | 76% | 68% | 73% | 68% | 67% | 67% | 71% | 75% | 85% |
| WA | 78% | 80% | 82% | 87% | 78% | 87% | 82% | 77% | 86% | 75% | 77% | 84% | 91% |
- Positive rating of the state government’s response to Covid-19 in NSW continues to increase (now 57%, up from 40% in August).
- Compared to earlier this month, positive rating has remained at a similar level in SA and WA, and decreased in VIC and most notably in QLD (now 59%, from 68%). This is the lowest rating in Queensland this year.
Immigration levels
Q. Do you think the levels of immigration into Australia over the past ten years have been…?
| Oct’21 | Jan’19 | Apr’18 | Oct’16 | |
| Much too low | 5% | 4% | 1% | 4% |
| A little too low | 11% | 7% | 4% | 8% |
| About right | 36% | 26% | 23% | 28% |
| A little too high | 17% | 23% | 27% | 22% |
| Much too high | 20% | 33% | 37% | 28% |
| Don’t know | 11% | 6% | 7% | 10% |
| TOTAL: Too low | 16% | 12% | 5% | 12% |
| TOTAL: Too high | 37% | 56% | 64% | 50% |
- Significantly fewer people now think levels of immigration into Australia over the last decade have been too high, compared to January 2019 and prior.
- Over a third (37%) of people now think immigration levels are too high, compared to 56% in January 2019, 64% in April 2018 and 50% in October 2016.
- This is driven by an increase of people who think immigration levels are about right (36% from 26% in January 2019).
- 16% of people now think immigration levels are too low.
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Much too low | 5% | 6% | 4% | 6% | 5% | 4% | 7% | 3% | 7% | 7% |
| A little too low | 11% | 12% | 10% | 14% | 8% | 12% | 13% | 9% | 16% | 11% |
| About right | 36% | 37% | 35% | 40% | 36% | 34% | 38% | 39% | 43% | 31% |
| A little too high | 17% | 16% | 17% | 16% | 17% | 17% | 16% | 21% | 9% | 13% |
| Much too high | 20% | 20% | 20% | 13% | 20% | 26% | 18% | 23% | 10% | 28% |
| Don’t know | 11% | 8% | 14% | 11% | 13% | 8% | 8% | 5% | 15% | 9% |
| TOTAL: Too low | 16% | 18% | 14% | 20% | 13% | 15% | 20% | 12% | 23% | 19% |
| TOTAL: Too high | 37% | 37% | 37% | 29% | 38% | 43% | 34% | 44% | 19% | 41% |
| Base (n) | 1,781 | 875 | 906 | 533 | 601 | 647 | 636 | 610 | 157 | 220 |
- Those aged over 55 are more likely than younger cohorts to think immigration levels are too high (43% to 38% of those aged 35-54, and 29% of those aged 18-34). A quarter (26%) of those over 55 think the levels are much too high.
- Among voters, Coalition voters (44%) are most likely to think immigration levels are too high, followed by minor and independent party voters (41%). Greens voters (19%) are least likely to think this. About a third (34%) of Labor voters think the levels are too high.
Views towards immigration
Q. The NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet recently called for an increase in Australia’s immigration levels.
To what extent 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 | |
| Increasing immigration levels would add more pressure on the housing system and infrastructure | 63% | 11% | 31% | 32% | 25% | 8% | 4% |
| Immigration is vital for Australia’s business and economy | 51% | 20% | 18% | 33% | 29% | 11% | 9% |
| Increasing immigration levels would equip businesses with the skilled workers they need to reopen as Covid-19 restrictions are eased | 50% | 22% | 16% | 33% | 28% | 13% | 9% |
| Increasing immigration levels would help to address Australia’s growing skills shortages as the population ages | 49% | 22% | 14% | 35% | 29% | 13% | 9% |
| Increasing immigration levels would create more competition for jobs and slow wage growth | 48% | 21% | 18% | 30% | 31% | 13% | 7% |
| TOTAL: Agree | Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | ||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Increasing immigration levels would add more pressure on the housing system and infrastructure | 63% | 62% | 64% | 54% | 65% | 70% | 66% | 65% | 59% | 64% |
| Immigration is vital for Australia’s business and economy | 51% | 54% | 48% | 53% | 50% | 50% | 56% | 54% | 60% | 39% |
| Increasing immigration levels would equip businesses with the skilled workers they need to reopen as Covid-19 restrictions are eased | 50% | 52% | 47% | 50% | 47% | 51% | 54% | 52% | 56% | 42% |
| Increasing immigration levels would help to address Australia’s growing skills shortages as the population ages | 49% | 51% | 46% | 48% | 46% | 52% | 53% | 51% | 57% | 39% |
| Increasing immigration levels would create more competition for jobs and slow wage growth | 48% | 51% | 45% | 50% | 50% | 46% | 51% | 48% | 45% | 51% |
| Base (n) | 1,781 | 875 | 906 | 533 | 601 | 647 | 636 | 610 | 157 | 220 |
- Older cohorts are more likely to agree than younger groups that increasing immigration levels would add more pressure on the housing system and infrastructure. 70% of those over 55 agree with this statement, compared to 65% of those aged 35-54 and 54% of those aged 18-34. Agreement with this statement is consistent across voters.
- Men are more likely than women to agree that immigration is vital for Australia’s business and economy (54% to 48% respectively).
- Minor and independent party voters are least likely to agree that immigration is vital for Australia’s business and economy (39%), that increasing immigration levels would equip businesses with the skilled workers they need (42%), and help to address Australia’s growing skills shortages as the population ages (39%).
| TOTAL: Agree | People who say the levels of immigration have been
too low |
People who say the levels of immigration have been
about right |
People who say the levels of immigration have been
too high |
| Increasing immigration levels would add more pressure on the housing system and infrastructure | 47% | 62% | 76% |
| Immigration is vital for Australia’s business and economy | 74% | 60% | 34% |
| Increasing immigration levels would equip businesses with the skilled workers they need to reopen as Covid-19 restrictions are eased | 77% | 58% | 34% |
| Increasing immigration levels would help to address Australia’s growing skills shortages as the population ages | 75% | 56% | 34% |
| Increasing immigration levels would create more competition for jobs and slow wage growth | 47% | 48% | 53% |
| Base (n) | 277 | 645 | 694 |
- Those who think immigration levels have been too high in the past decade are less likely to agree with the benefits and business need for immigration.
- Those who think immigration levels have been too low are more likely to agree that immigration is vital for business and economy (74% to 60% ‘about right’ and 34% ‘too high’), and that increasing immigration levels would equip businesses with the skilled workers they need (77% to 58% and 34%), and help to address Australia’s growing skills shortages as the population ages (75% to 56% and 34%).
- Those who think the levels are too high are more likely to think increasing levels would add more pressure on the housing system and infrastructure (76% to 47%).
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Essential Report
In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Views towards re-electing the federal Coalition government
- Party trust to handle issues
- Importance of Australia’s international reputation
- Scott Morrison’s impact on Australia’s international reputation
- Views towards Australia’s international reputation
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