The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Nov, 2020

    , , ,

    US Presidential Nominee Attributes

    Q. Which of the following describe your opinion of the Democratic American Presidential nominee?

    Donald Trump Joe Biden Difference
    Aggressive 72% 15% +57
    Arrogant 73% 18% +55
    Intolerant 63% 19% +44
    Erratic 67% 23% +44
    Narrow-minded 62% 22% +42
    More dishonest than other politicians 54% 21% +33
    Out of touch with ordinary people 60% 28% +32
    Visionary 29% 34% -5
    Hard-working 37% 48% -11
    Good in a crisis 22% 33% -11
    A capable leader 29% 41% -12
    Intelligent 36% 50% -14
    Someone who will strengthen the US relationship with Australia 27% 42% -15
    Understands the problems facing America 32% 51% -19
    • Donald Trump is seen to be aggressive (72% describing the president as this), arrogant (73%) and erratic (67%).
    • Joe Biden is more likely than his opponent to be seen as understanding the problems facing America (51%), intelligent (50%) and hard-working (48%).
    • 42% of people think Joe Biden is someone who will strengthen the US relationship with Australia, compared to 27% who think Donald Trump would do the same during a second term as president.
  • Nov, 2020

    , ,

    US Relations Statements

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

    TOTAL: Agree TOTAL: Disagree Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Unsure
    It is important for the Prime Minister to have a good relationship with the US President, whoever they might be, for the good of the nation 72% 18% 36% 36% 12% 6% 10%
    The Trump Presidency has diminished the USA’s reputation 65% 21% 43% 23% 13% 8% 14%
    The US is less relevant to Australia’s interests than it has been in the past 54% 31% 19% 35% 22% 9% 15%
    The Trump Presidency has been good for Australia 32% 48% 13% 19% 21% 27% 20%
    • Regardless of the result on Tuesday, almost three-quarters of people agree that it is important for the Prime Minister to have a good relationship with the US President, whoever they might be, for the good of the nation (72%).
    • 65% agree that the Trump Presidency has diminished the USA’s reputation and just 32% agree that the Trump Presidency has been good for Australia.
  • Oct, 2020

    ,

    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?

    Q       This week

    19/10

    		 Last week

    12/10

    		 Two weeks ago

    05/10

    		 21/09 07/09 24/08 10/08
    Liberal / Liberal Nationals / Country Liberals 36% 38% 37% 38% 35% 36% 36%
    Nationals 3% 3% 3% 3% 2% 3% 2%
    Total: Coalition 39% 40% 39% 41% 38% 39% 38%
    Labor 35% 33% 34% 31% 32% 35% 34%
    Greens 9% 9% 9% 10% 10% 9% 9%
    Pauline Hanson’s One Nation 3% 3% 5% 4% 3% 4% 4%
    Other/Independent 7% 5% 6% 5% 9% 6% 5%
    Undecided 8% 9% 7% 9% 8% 7% 10%
                   
    2 Party Preferred (2PP+)              
    TOTAL: Coalition 48% 47% 47% 49% 45% 47% 46%
    Labor 45% 44% 46% 42% 47% 45% 44%
    Undecided 8% 9% 7% 9% 8% 7% 10%

     

  • Oct, 2020

    , ,

    Performance of Scott Morrison

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

    Oct’20 Sep’20 Aug’20 Jul’20 Jun’20 May’20 Apr’20 Mar’20 Feb’20 Jan’20 Dec’19 Nov’19
    TOTAL: Approve 63% 64% 66% 63% 65% 64% 59% 41% 39% 40% 45% 45%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 27% 28% 23% 27% 26% 27% 31% 49% 52% 52% 43% 41%
    Don’t know 10% 8% 11% 10% 8% 9% 10% 10% 9% 8% 13% 13%
    Base (n) 1,082 1,076 1,010 1,054 1,059 1,093 1,069 1,096 1,056 1,081 1,035 1,075

     

      Total Federal Voting Intention
    Labor Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Strongly approve 23% 10% 43% 13% 20%
    Approve 40% 35% 46% 41% 39%
    Disapprove 15% 24% 6% 13% 21%
    Strongly disapprove 12% 24% 2% 21% 13%
    Don’t know 10% 7% 3% 12% 7%
    TOTAL: Approve 63% 45% 89% 54% 58%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 27% 48% 8% 34% 35%
    Base (n) 1,082 352 421 84 123
    • The Prime Minister’s approval rating is consistent with last month, now at 63% compared to 64% in September.
    • Approval of the Prime Minister among is at 89% among Coalition supporters and just under half among Labor voters (45%). More Greens and independent/other party voters approve of the Prime Minister, than disapprove.
  • Oct, 2020

    , ,

    Performance of Anthony Albanese

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

    Oct’20 Sep’20 Aug’20 Jul’20 Jun’20 May’20 Apr’20 Mar’20 Feb’20 Jan’20 Dec’19 Nov’19
    TOTAL: Approve 44% 44% 44% 44% 43% 42% 44% 41% 41% 43% 39% 37%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 29% 29% 30% 28% 30% 27% 29% 33% 31% 30% 28% 34%
    Don’t know 27% 27% 25% 28% 26% 31% 27% 26% 28% 27% 33% 29%
    Base (n) 1,082 1,076 1,010 1,054 1,059 1,093 1,069 1,096 1,056 1,081 1,035 1,075

     

      Total Federal Voting Intention
    Labor Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Strongly approve 10% 15% 7% 16% 11%
    Approve 33% 50% 27% 27% 30%
    Disapprove 20% 12% 30% 16% 19%
    Strongly disapprove 10% 1% 18% 4% 19%
    Don’t know 27% 21% 18% 36% 20%
    TOTAL: Approve 44% 65% 34% 43% 41%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 29% 13% 47% 21% 38%
    Base (n) 1,082 352 421 84 123
    • The Opposition Leader’s approval rating remains consistent for the fourth consecutive month at 44%.
    • Albanese’s approval among Labor voters is steady at 65% following the decline from 70% to 62% between July and August. The proportion of Labor voters who strongly approve of his performance remains at 15%.
  • Oct, 2020

    , , ,

    Preferred Prime Minister

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

      Oct’20 Sep’20 Aug’20 Jul’20 Jun’20 May’20 Apr’20 Mar’20 Feb’20 Jan’20 Nov’19 Oct’19
    Scott Morrison 50% 49% 52% 50% 53% 50% 46% 40% 36% 36% 44% 43%
    Anthony Albanese 25% 26% 22% 27% 23% 25% 27% 35% 36% 39% 28% 28%
    Don’t know 25% 25% 26% 23% 24% 25% 27% 25% 28% 25% 29% 29%
    Base (n) 1,082 1,076 1,010 1,054 1,059 1,093 1,069 1,096 1,056 1,081 1,075 1,088

     

        Federal Voting Intention
    Total Labor Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Scott Morrison 50% 25% 82% 32% 48%
    Anthony Albanese 25% 50% 8% 38% 20%
    Don’t know 25% 24% 10% 29% 32%
    Base (n) 1,082 352 421 84 123
    • Half of participants believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (50%), while a quarter would prefer the opposition leader. A further quarter (25%) of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
    • Morrison is strongly favoured by Coalition voters, with 82% believing Morrison makes the better PM, compared to Albanese (8%).
    • Half of Labor voters believe Albanese would make the better PM (50%, up from 46% in September). 24% of Labor voters said they didn’t know who would make the better leader.
  • Oct, 2020

    , , , , , , ,

    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]

     

     

    		 Gladys Berejiklian

    NSW

    		 Daniel Andrews

    VIC

    		 Annastacia Palaszczuk

    QLD

    		 Steven Marshall

    SA

    		 Mark McGowan

    WA
    Strongly approve 27% 25% 23% 16% 53%
    Approve 41% 29% 39% 36% 31%
    Disapprove 14% 16% 12% 14% 6%
    Strongly disapprove 9% 24% 15% 5% 1%
    Don’t know 11% 6% 10% 29% 10%
    TOTAL: Approve 67% 54% 62% 51% 84%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 22% 40% 28% 20% 7%
    Base (n) 352 274 217 82 105
    • Mark McGowan in WA has the highest approval of State premiers, with 84% approving of his leadership, and just 7% disapproval.
    • Victorian Dan Andrews has the lowest approval rating (54% approval, with 40% disapproval). He maintains approval among Labor voters (78% approval), but majority of Coalition voters in Victoria disapprove of his leadership (54%).
    • Gladys Berejiklian has a high approval rating compared to other state premiers (67%). She has a majority approval among Coalition voters (83%), Labor voters (57%) and other parties (60%).
    • 62% of Queenslanders approval of the job Annastacia Palaszczuk is doing ahead of the election later this month. 28% disapprove of the Queensland premier, driven by high disapproval ratings among Coalition voters (37%).
  • Oct, 2020

    , ,

    Federal Government led by Labor or Coalition better at…

    Q. Do you think a Federal Government led by Labor or the Coalition would be better at…?

      Coalition Labor Neither
    Reducing national debt 42% 28% 30%
    Managing the economy 44% 31% 25%
    Creating jobs 39% 38% 23%
    Helping those who’ve lost work because of Covid-19 get back into the workforce 38% 40% 22%
    Supporting those in financial need 35% 42% 23%
    Improving the financial situation of women 31% 38% 31%
    • A Coalition government is thought to be better than Labor at governance issues such as reducing national debt (42% to 28%) and managing the economy (44% to 31%).
    • Elements where Labor is seen to do a better job than the Coalition is in supporting those in financial need (42% to 35%) and improving the financial situation for women (38% to 31%).
    • Both parties are seen to be equally competent to create jobs (39% Coalition, 38% Labor) and helping those who have lost work due to Covid-19 (38% Coalition, 40% Labor).
Error: