The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Nov, 2020

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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 16/11 02/11 05/10 21/09 07/09 24/08 10/08 27/07 13/07 22/06 15/06 08/06
    NSW 75% 68% 65% 67% 57% 59% 61% 62% 63% 70% 65% 67%
    VIC 59% 55% 45% 47% 50% 47% 49% 53% 49% 65% 75% 72%
    QLD 71% 69% 69% 68% 66% 73% 68% 67% 69% 64% 67% 68%
    SA 76% 77% 81% 81% 74% 65% 72% 76% 79% 79% 76% 79%
    WA 82% 81% 83% 84% 87% 84% 86% 82% 77% 75% 77% 84%
    • Positive rating of the NSW Government has increased for the second time this month and now at 75%, and the highest rating we’ve seen in the past four months.
    • Ratings in Victoria also continue to improve, with 59% now rating the Victorian government’s response as good or very good.
    • Ratings in Queensland, SA and WA are consistent with recent results.
  • Nov, 2020

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    Speed of easing lockdown restrictions in Victoria

    Q. Overall, do you think Victoria has moved too quickly, too slowly or at about the right speed in terms of lifting lockdown restrictions?

    [ASKED IN VICTORIA ONLY]

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention Location  
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor Total: Coalition Capital Non-capital  
    Moved too quickly 7% 9% 5% 8% 9% 2% 3% 8% 7% 7%
    About the right speed 65% 60% 71% 62% 68% 65% 77% 55% 68% 58%
    Moved too slowly 28% 32% 24% 29% 22% 32% 20% 37% 26% 35%
    Base (n) 278 133 145 74 113 91 90 112 206 72
    • Victorians are generally satisfied with the speed of the easing of Covid-19 restrictions with 65% saying it’s about right. 28% think the government have moved too slowly and just 7% said they moved too quickly.
    • Those most likely to think the government has moved too slowly include men (32%), those aged 55+ (32%), people living in regional Victoria (35%) and Coalition voters (37%).
  • Nov, 2020

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    Trust in Federal Government

    Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the Federal Government?

    [% of participants who answered the question]

      TOTAL:

    Agree

    		 TOTAL:

    Disagree

    		 Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree
    Regardless of who is in power, I trust the Federal Government to do what is right 66% 34% 23% 43% 22% 12%
    As Australians we can always find ways to solve our country’s problems and get what we want 84% 16% 29% 55% 13% 3%
    The government should do more to solve the problems facing our country 91% 9% 53% 38% 7% 2%

     

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    TOTAL: Agree Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Regardless of who is in power, I trust the Federal Government to do what is right 66% 62% 70% 61% 71% 65% 60% 77% 56% 49%
    As Australians we can always find ways to solve our country’s problems and get what we want 84% 83% 85% 77% 87% 86% 80% 89% 79% 76%
    The government should do more to solve the problems facing our country 91% 90% 93% 86% 92% 94% 92% 90% 91% 88%
    • Almost unanimously, Australians agree that the government should do more to solve the problems facing our country (91%) however there is high levels of agreement that as Australians we can always find ways to solve our country’s problems and get what we want (84%).
    • Women are more likely than men to trust the Government to do what is right, regardless of who is in power (70% to 62%).
  • Nov, 2020

    Appropriateness of elected officials engaging in sexual relations with staff

    Q. Is it ever appropriate for elected officials to start engaging in sexual relations with their staff?

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Yes 18% 24% 13% 21% 16% 17% 13% 23% 22% 23%
    No 82% 76% 87% 79% 84% 83% 87% 77% 78% 77%
    Base (n) 1,010 479 531 250 383 377 323 404 80 122
    • The majority of people do not think it is ever appropriate for elected officials to start engaging in sexual relations with their staff (82%).
    • Men are more likely than women to think this practice is permissible (24% to 13%).
  • Nov, 2020

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    US politician favourability

    Q. How favourable or unfavourable do you feel towards each of the US politicians?

    TOTAL: Favourable After US election

    (16/11/20)

    		 Before US election

    (02/11/20)
    Donald Trump 21% 28%
    Joe Biden 59% 43%
    Base (n) 1,010 1,063

     

    TOTAL: Favourable TOTAL: Unfavourable Very favourable Somewhat favourable Somewhat unfavourable Very unfavourable Unsure Never heard of them
    Donald Trump 21% 72% 8% 12% 14% 58% 7% 1%
    Joe Biden 59% 24% 21% 38% 13% 11% 15% 2%
    • Since the US election, favourability of Donald Trump has fallen from 28% to 21%, while Joe Biden’s has increased from 43% to 59%.
  • Nov, 2020

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    US election statements

    Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the recent US election?

    TOTAL: Agree TOTAL: Disagree Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Unsure
    The Biden Presidency will be good for Australia 59% 14% 24% 34% 7% 7% 27%
    The Biden Presidency should improve the USA’s reputation 71% 15% 38% 33% 8% 7% 14%
    The main reason Donald Trump lost the election is that many people voted illegally 21% 62% 11% 10% 12% 50% 17%

     

    TOTAL: Agree Federal Voting Intention   Gender
    Labor Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other   Male Female
    The Biden Presidency will be good for Australia 65% 61% 69% 47%   62% 55%
    The Biden Presidency should improve the USA’s reputation 76% 72% 86% 62%   72% 70%
    The main reason Donald Trump lost the election is that many people voted illegally 18% 26% 17% 31%   27% 16%
    Base (n) 323 404 80 122   479 531
    • Most people think the Biden presidency will be good for Australia (59%) and it will restore the Reputation of the USA (71%).
    • Trump’s widely disputed allegations of voter fraud are not accepted in Australia, with just 11% strongly agreeing that the main reason Donald Trump lost the election is that many people voted illegally, and 10% somewhat agreeing.
  • Nov, 2020

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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?

      02/11 05/10 21/09 07/09 24/08 10/08 27/07 13/07 22/06 15/06 08/06 01/06
    Very poor 5% 5% 5% 8% 6% 7% 6% 6% 4% 3% 4% 5%
    Quite poor 10% 12% 13% 12% 11% 8% 11% 10% 8% 8% 8% 7%
    Neither good, nor poor 24% 22% 21% 22% 22% 21% 20% 20% 17% 16% 18% 20%
    Quite good 39% 39% 40% 40% 40% 40% 40% 40% 43% 42% 40% 39%
    Very good 22% 21% 21% 18% 22% 24% 24% 24% 27% 30% 30% 28%
    TOTAL: Poor 15% 18% 18% 19% 17% 16% 16% 16% 12% 11% 12% 12%
    TOTAL: Good 61% 60% 61% 59% 61% 63% 64% 64% 71% 72% 70% 68%
    Base (n) 1,063 1,066 1,081 1,076 1,068 1,010 1,058 1,054 1,079 1,087 1,073 1,059
    • Rating of the Federal Government’s handling of Covid-19 stays steady at 61% rating it very or quite good (60% last month).
  • Nov, 2020

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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 02/11 05/10 21/09 07/09 24/08 10/08 27/07 13/07 22/06 15/06 08/06 01/06
    NSW 68% 65% 67% 57% 59% 61% 62% 63% 70% 65% 67% 62%
    VIC 55% 45% 47% 50% 47% 49% 53% 49% 65% 75% 72% 71%
    QLD 69% 69% 68% 66% 73% 68% 67% 69% 64% 67% 68% 69%
    SA 77% 81% 81% 74% 65% 72% 76% 79% 79% 76% 79% 70%
    WA 81% 83% 84% 87% 84% 86% 82% 77% 75% 77% 84% 79%
    • Positive rating of the NSW Government has increased again this week, now at 68%, up from 57% in September and to high ratings seen in June.
    • Following the easing of lockdown restrictions and low numbers of new community transmissions, positive ratings in Victoria have increased 10%pts from 45% last month to 55%. This is the highest ratings have been in Victoria since June.
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