The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Dec, 2020

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    Performance of Scott Morrison

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

    Dec’20 Nov’20 Oct’20 Sep’20 Aug’20 Jul’20 Jun’20 May’20 Apr’20 Mar’20 Feb’20 Jan’20
    TOTAL: Approve 62% 66% 63% 64% 66% 63% 65% 64% 59% 41% 39% 40%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 28% 25% 27% 28% 23% 27% 26% 27% 31% 49% 52% 52%
    Don’t know 11% 9% 10% 8% 11% 10% 8% 9% 10% 10% 9% 8%
    Base (n) 1,071 1,010 1,082 1,076 1,010 1,054 1,059 1,093 1,069 1,096 1,056 1,081

     

      Total Federal Voting Intention
    Labor Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Strongly approve 23% 12% 43% 7% 21%
    Approve 39% 36% 47% 35% 36%
    Disapprove 17% 27% 6% 25% 20%
    Strongly disapprove 11% 18% 1% 26% 16%
    Don’t know 11% 6% 3% 8% 7%
    TOTAL: Approve 62% 48% 90% 41% 57%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 28% 45% 7% 50% 35%
    Base (n) 1,071 356 406 102 107
    • The Prime Minister’s approval rating is now at 62%, a fall from 66% last month, but equivalent to approval in October.
    • Approval of the Prime Minister is at 90% among Coalition supporters (94% last month) and 48% among Labor voters (50% last month).
  • Dec, 2020

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    Performance of Anthony Albanese

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

    Dec’20 Nov’20 Oct’20 Sep’20 Aug’20 Jul’20 Jun’20 May’20 Apr’20 Mar’20 Feb’20 Jan’20
    TOTAL: Approve 43% 40% 44% 44% 44% 44% 43% 42% 44% 41% 41% 43%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 29% 33% 29% 29% 30% 28% 30% 27% 29% 33% 31% 30%
    Don’t know 28% 27% 27% 27% 25% 28% 26% 31% 27% 26% 28% 27%
    Base (n) 1,071 1,010 1,082 1,076 1,010 1,054 1,059 1,093 1,069 1,096 1,056 1,081

     

      Total Federal Voting Intention
    Labor Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Strongly approve 9% 13% 7% 11% 15%
    Approve 34% 48% 29% 30% 22%
    Disapprove 19% 14% 30% 20% 18%
    Strongly disapprove 10% 3% 17% 5% 17%
    Don’t know 28% 21% 17% 35% 29%
    TOTAL: Approve 43% 62% 36% 40% 36%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 29% 17% 47% 25% 35%
    Base (n) 1,071 356 406 102 107
    • The Opposition Leader’s approval rating is now 43% (40% in November) and about the same as ratings seen throughout the year.
  • Dec, 2020

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    Preferred Prime Minister

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

      Dec’20 Nov’20 Oct’20 Sep’20 Aug’20 Jul’20 Jun’20 May’20 Apr’20 Mar’20 Feb’20 Jan’20
    Scott Morrison 50% 53% 50% 49% 52% 50% 53% 50% 46% 40% 36% 36%
    Anthony Albanese 24% 24% 25% 26% 22% 27% 23% 25% 27% 35% 36% 39%
    Don’t know 26% 24% 25% 25% 26% 23% 24% 25% 27% 25% 28% 25%
    Base (n) 1,071 1,010 1,082 1,076 1,010 1,054 1,059 1,093 1,069 1,096 1,056 1,081

     

        Federal Voting Intention
    Total Labor Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Scott Morrison 50% 27% 84% 36% 53%
    Anthony Albanese 24% 46% 8% 34% 19%
    Don’t know 26% 28% 8% 31% 28%
    Base (n) 1,071 356 406 102 107
    • Half of participants believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (50%), while a quarter would prefer the opposition leader (24%). A further 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 (8%).
    • Over half of Labor voters believe Albanese would make the better PM (46%). 28% of Labor voters said they don’t know who would make the better leader.
  • Dec, 2020

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    Last 12 months

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

      TOTAL: Good TOTAL:

    Bad

    		 NET   Very good Good Neither good nor bad Bad Very bad Don’t know  
    The Australian economy 15% 62% -47   6% 9% 18% 39% 23% 3%  
    Australian politics in general 24% 31% -7   7% 17% 35% 23% 10% 7%  
    The Australian Government 27% 34% -7   8% 19% 31% 23% 10% 8%  
    Large companies and corporations 27% 32% -5   9% 18% 32% 26% 6% 9%  
    Small business 17% 60% -43   7% 10% 18% 34% 27% 5%  
    Trade unions 17% 26% -9   6% 11% 37% 19% 7% 20%  
    The average Australian 18% 50% -32   7% 11% 27% 38% 11% 6%  
    Your personal financial situation 26% 30% -4   7% 18% 40% 20% 9% 4%  
    Your workplace 21% 17% +4   7% 14% 33% 12% 5% 29%  
    You and your family overall 29% 25% +4   8% 21% 42% 18% 7% 4%  
    The planet 32% 36% -4   9% 23% 25% 20% 16% 7%  

     

      2020 NET 2019 NET 2018 NET 2017 NET 2016 NET 2015 NET 2014 NET 2013 NET
    The Australian economy -47 -13 +6 +11 -19 -11 -13 -13
    The Australian Government -7 -7 -41 – – – – –
    Australian politics in general -7 -20 -50 -36 -53 -41 -53 -62
    Large companies and corporations -5 +23 +9 +22 +5 +5 +14 -9
    Small business -43 -12 +6 -2 -22 -12 -28 -45
    Trade unions -9 -11 -1 -7 -18 -27 -18 -25
    The average Australian -32 -4 -1 -6 -18 -14 -23 -22
    Your personal financial situation -4 -2 0 +1 -8 -6 -11 -8
    Your workplace (workers) +4 +14 +28 +34 +12 +14 -5 +8
    You and your family overall +4 +19 +28 +27 +12 +21 +3 +18
    The planet -4 -29 -19 -22 -32 – – –
    • In a generally poor year, most aspects of society received a negative net score in 2020 (more people thinking it was a bad year, than good year).
    • 2020 has been a particularly poor year for the economy (-47), small businesses (-43) and the average Australian (-32).
  • Dec, 2020

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    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?

      14/12 27/04 20/04 13/04 06/04
    The economy will rebound within 2-3 months and grow just as strong or stronger than before Covid-19 18% 13% 11% 12% 11%
    The economy will be impacted for 6-12 months or longer and will stagnate or show slow growth thereafter 43% 49% 47% 49% 51%
    Covid-19 will have long lasting impact on the economy and the country will fall into a lengthy recession 22% 28% 30% 27% 29%
    Unsure 17% 10% 11% 11% 9%
    Base (n) 1,071 1,054 1,051 1,068 1,069

     

      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 18% 27% 10% 18% 22% 15% 15% 25% 13% 21%
    The economy will be impacted for 6-12 months or longer and will stagnate or show slow growth thereafter 43% 42% 44% 45% 38% 47% 47% 48% 46% 36%
    Covid-19 will have long lasting impact on the economy and the country will fall into a lengthy recession 22% 18% 25% 18% 25% 22% 25% 17% 32% 33%
    Unsure 17% 13% 20% 19% 15% 16% 13% 10% 10% 10%
    Base (n) 1,071 539 532 339 374 358 356 406 102 107
    • There is now more uncertainty about the future of the economy than earlier in the year. 17% say they are unsure how the economy will rebound following Covid-19, up from 10% in April.
    • 18% think the economy will rebound in the next 2-3 months (up from 13% in April) and 22% think Covid-19 will cause a long-term recession (down from 28%).
    • However most people think there will be some growth in the economy after 6-12 months (43%).
  • Dec, 2020

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    Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine

    Q. Once a vaccine for Covid-19 becomes available in Australia, how long would you wait before taking it?

      14/12 10/08
    I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible 43% 56%
    I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away 46% 35%
    I’d never get vaccinated 10% 8%
    Base (n) 1,071 1,010

     

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible 43% 53% 35% 35% 41% 53% 44% 48% 45% 42%
    I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away 46% 41% 51% 54% 48% 38% 52% 43% 44% 39%
    I’d never get vaccinated 10% 6% 14% 11% 11% 9% 5% 8% 11% 19%
    Base (n) 1,071 539 532 339 374 358 356 406 102 107
    • Fewer people say they would get a Covid-19 vaccine immediately than earlier in the year. 43% would get a vaccine as soon as possible, down from 56% in August. 46% would get vaccinated, but just not straight away (up from 35%) and 10% say they would never get vaccinated.
    • Those most likely to get the vaccine immediately include men (53%), those aged over 55 (53%).
    • Those voting for independent of minor parties are most likely to say they would never get a vaccine (19%).
  • Dec, 2020

    Size of Christmas gatherings

    Q. If you are hosting or attending a Christmas gathering this year, will there be:

      Total Gender Age Group
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+
    More people attending than in previous years 8% 14% 3% 12% 12% 2%
    About the same amount of people attending 34% 33% 34% 29% 32% 40%
    Less people attending than in previous years 24% 22% 25% 32% 22% 17%
    Not sure 12% 12% 13% 13% 14% 11%
    Not hosting or attending a Christmas gathering this year 22% 20% 24% 14% 20% 31%
    Base (n) 1,071 539 532 339 374 358
    • A quarter of people will be hosting or attending a smaller gathering than usual this Christmas, but more will either be hosting or attending the same size gathering as usual (34%) or more (8%).
  • Dec, 2020

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    Christmas gift spending

    Q. When considering your Christmas gift spending this year compared with previous years are you likely to:

      Total Gender Age Group
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+
    Spend more than usual 13% 18% 8% 16% 18% 5%
    Spend roughly the same as usual 48% 51% 46% 42% 45% 57%
    Spend less than usual 31% 26% 36% 30% 30% 32%
    Not sure 8% 6% 11% 12% 7% 6%
    Base (n) 1,071 539 532 339 374 358
    • Just under half of people intend to spend about the same amount as usual on Christmas gifts (48%), but 31% say they will spend less than usual.
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