Essential Report
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%).
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.
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).
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%.
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).
Preferred Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?
| May’21 | Apr’21 | Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 | Sep’20 | Aug’20 | Jul’20 | Jun’20 | |
| Scott Morrison | 50% | 47% | 52% | 52% | 51% | 50% | 53% | 50% | 49% | 52% | 50% | 53% |
| Anthony Albanese | 24% | 28% | 26% | 24% | 25% | 24% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 22% | 27% | 23% |
| Don’t know | 26% | 25% | 22% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 24% | 25% | 25% | 26% | 23% | 24% |
| 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 |
| Men | May’21 | Apr’21 | Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 |
| Scott Morrison | 54% | 53% | 52% | 54% | 53% | 54% | 54% | 52% |
| Anthony Albanese | 26% | 29% | 30% | 28% | 28% | 29% | 28% | 29% |
| Don’t know | 20% | 18% | 19% | 19% | 19% | 17% | 19% | 19% |
| Women | ||||||||
| Scott Morrison | 47% | 42% | 53% | 51% | 48% | 47% | 51% | 47% |
| Anthony Albanese | 22% | 26% | 23% | 21% | 22% | 19% | 20% | 22% |
| Don’t know | 31% | 32% | 24% | 29% | 31% | 34% | 28% | 31% |
| May’21 | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
| Scott Morrison | 50% | 32% | 83% | 29% | 34% |
| Anthony Albanese | 24% | 41% | 7% | 46% | 22% |
| Don’t know | 26% | 26% | 9% | 25% | 44% |
| Base (n) | 1,092 | 371 | 400 | 109 | 111 |
- Half (50%) of participants believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (47% last month).
- Just under a quarter (24%) would prefer the Opposition Leader (28% in April). Just over a quarter (26%) of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
- Preference for Morrison has increased among women to 47% (from 42% last month). Preference is unchanged among men (54% and 53%).
- 41% of Labor voters believe Albanese would make the better PM, a notable drop from levels last month (50%). Just over a third (32%) now think Morrison would make the better leader (27% last month) and about a quarter (26%) don’t know.
Federal Budget expectations
Q. The Federal Budget will be announced on Tuesday 11th In general, do you expect the Federal Budget will be good or bad for the following?
| May’21 | Oct’20 | |||||||
| TOTAL: Very Good / Good | Neither good, nor bad | TOTAL: Very bad / Bad | Don’t know | TOTAL: Very Good / Good | Neither good, nor bad | TOTAL: Very bad / Bad | Don’t know | |
| People who are well off | 53% | 28% | 8% | 12% | 51% | 30% | 10% | 8% |
| Big business | 51% | 30% | 9% | 11% | 53% | 26% | 12% | 9% |
| Small business | 44% | 28% | 17% | 11% | 44% | 26% | 23% | 7% |
| The economy overall | 41% | 33% | 16% | 10% | 34% | 27% | 32% | 7% |
| Australian families | 38% | 33% | 19% | 10% | 33% | 31% | 29% | 7% |
| Women | 34% | 36% | 18% | 12% | – | – | – | – |
| Average working people | 32% | 32% | 25% | 10% | 30% | 29% | 34% | 6% |
| Younger Australians | 31% | 35% | 23% | 12% | 29% | 31% | 33% | 8% |
| People on lower incomes | 30% | 27% | 33% | 11% | 30% | 23% | 40% | 6% |
| Older Australians | 29% | 28% | 32% | 11% | 31% | 28% | 34% | 7% |
| You personally | 23% | 40% | 27% | 10% | 25% | 36% | 31% | 8% |
- Over half of people think the upcoming budget will be good / very good for those who are well off (53%) and about half (51%) think it will benefit big business. This is consistent with levels for these measures last budget (51% and 53% respectively).
- Notably, more people now think the upcoming budget will be good / very good for the economy overall (41% from 34% in October) and Australian families (38% from 33%) than the last announcement in October.
- People on lower incomes (33%) and older Australians (32%) are most expected to be worse off following the announcement.
| TOTAL:
Very good / Good |
Total | Federal Voting Intention | |||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| People who are well off | 53% | 60% | 47% | 70% | 62% |
| Big business | 51% | 57% | 49% | 62% | 57% |
| Small business | 44% | 40% | 60% | 32% | 40% |
| The economy overall | 41% | 33% | 61% | 26% | 34% |
| Australian families | 38% | 32% | 54% | 29% | 38% |
| Women | 34% | 31% | 46% | 30% | 33% |
| Average working people | 32% | 25% | 47% | 26% | 34% |
| Younger Australians | 31% | 25% | 44% | 23% | 27% |
| People on lower incomes | 30% | 20% | 45% | 23% | 34% |
| Older Australians | 29% | 25% | 38% | 35% | 26% |
| You personally | 23% | 16% | 32% | 22% | 26% |
- 23% expect to be better off following the budget announcement.
- 32% of Coalition voters think they personally will have a good budget. This is higher than Labor (16%), Greens (22%) and those voting for a minor/independent party (26%).
Most important areas for increased funding
Q. How important to you is it that each of the following areas receives increased funding in the upcoming Federal Budget?
| TOTAL: Very important / Important | Quite important | TOTAL: Not very important / Not at all important | |
| Improving the quality of aged care | 74% | 20% | 6% |
| Services and facilities to improve women’s safety | 60% | 30% | 10% |
| Promoting the local manufacture of Covid-19 vaccines | 59% | 27% | 14% |
| Incentives and support for small businesses | 57% | 34% | 9% |
| Early childhood education and care | 55% | 28% | 18% |
| Energy transition from fossil fuels to renewables | 51% | 31% | 19% |
| Reducing the national deficit | 48% | 34% | 18% |
- Improving the quality of aged care is seen by the majority of Australians to be an important / very important area to receive increased funding in the upcoming Federal Budget (74%). Services and facilities to improve women’s safety (60%) comes next, closely followed by promoting the local manufacture of Covid-19 vaccines (59%).
- Reducing the national deficit (48%) and funding for the energy transition from fossil fuels to renewables (51%) are seen as the least important areas for funding.
| TOTAL: Very important / Important | Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | TOTAL:
Labor, Greens, Other |
||||||
| Improving the quality of aged care | 74% | 77% | 74% | 78% | 76% | 77% | ||||
| Services and facilities to improve women’s safety | 60% | 63% | 58% | 72% | 62% | 64% | ||||
| Promoting the local manufacture of Covid-19 vaccines | 59% | 61% | 65% | 56% | 54% | 59% | ||||
| Incentives and support for small businesses | 57% | 52% | 64% | 58% | 53% | 53% | ||||
| Early childhood education and care | 55% | 60% | 51% | 58% | 54% | 59% | ||||
| Energy transition from fossil fuels to renewables | 51% | 53% | 46% | 74% | 49% | 56% | ||||
| Reducing the national deficit | 48% | 43% | 58% | 35% | 48% | 43% | ||||
| Base (n) | 1,092 | 371 | 400 | 109 | 111 | 591 | ||||
- Compared to all other voters, Coalition voters are more likely to think incentives and support for small businesses is an important / very important area for increased funding (53% to 64% respectively), however they are less likely to think the same for early childhood education and care (59% to 51% respectively).
- Coalition voters are more likely to see reducing the national deficit as an important area for increased funding compared to all other voters (58% to 43% respectively).
COVID-19 RESEARCH
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