The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Sep, 2020

    , ,

    Performance of Scott Morrison

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

    Sep’20 Aug’20 Jul’20 Jun’20 May’20 Apr’20 Mar’20 Feb’20 Jan’20 Dec’19 Nov’19 Oct’19
    TOTAL: Approve 64% 66% 63% 65% 64% 59% 41% 39% 40% 45% 45% 47%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 28% 23% 27% 26% 27% 31% 49% 52% 52% 43% 41% 38%
    Don’t know 8% 11% 10% 8% 9% 10% 10% 9% 8% 13% 13% 15%
    Base (n) 1,076 1,010 1,054 1,059 1,093 1,069 1,096 1,056 1,081 1,035 1,075 1,088

     

      Total Federal Voting Intention
    Labor Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Strongly approve 22% 8% 41% 9% 23%
    Approve 42% 43% 50% 38% 32%
    Disapprove 16% 24% 5% 24% 22%
    Strongly disapprove 12% 20% 2% 19% 17%
    Don’t know 8% 5% 2% 10% 6%
    TOTAL: Approve 64% 51% 91% 47% 55%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 28% 44% 7% 43% 39%
    Base (n) 1,076 321 390 108 138
    • The Prime Minister’s approval rating is consistent with last month, now at 64% compared to 66% in August.
    • Approval of the Prime Minister among is at 91% among Coalition supporters, around half among Labor voters (51%) and Greens voters (47%).
  • Sep, 2020

    , ,

    Performance of Anthony Albanese

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

    Sep’20 Aug’20 Jul’20 Jun’20 May’20 Apr’20 Mar’20 Feb’20 Jan’20 Dec’19 Nov’19 Oct’19
    TOTAL: Approve 44% 44% 44% 43% 42% 44% 41% 41% 43% 39% 37% 40%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 29% 30% 28% 30% 27% 29% 33% 31% 30% 28% 34% 29%
    Don’t know 27% 25% 28% 26% 31% 27% 26% 28% 27% 33% 29% 31%
    Base (n) 1,076 1,010 1,054 1,059 1,093 1,069 1,096 1,056 1,081 1,035 1,075 1,088

     

      Total Federal Voting Intention
    Labor Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Strongly approve 11% 15% 8% 8% 20%
    Approve 33% 47% 28% 42% 24%
    Disapprove 20% 12% 31% 18% 15%
    Strongly disapprove 9% 2% 15% 2% 15%
    Don’t know 27% 25% 17% 30% 27%
    TOTAL: Approve 44% 62% 36% 50% 44%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 29% 14% 47% 20% 30%
    Base (n) 1,076 321 390 108 138
    • The Opposition Leader’s approval rating remains consistent for the third consecutive month at 44%.
    • Albanese’s approval among Labor voters has fallen from 70% in July to 62% in August. The proportion of Labor voters who strongly approve of his performance has dropped from 22% to 15%. Labor voters are now more likely to say they are unsure of his performance, which has increased from 15% to 25%. Those that disapprove remains consistent from last month (15% in August, 14% in September).
  • Sep, 2020

    , , ,

    Preferred Prime Minister

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

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

     

        Federal Voting Intention
    Total Labor Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Scott Morrison 49% 29% 85% 27% 40%
    Anthony Albanese 26% 46% 9% 39% 29%
    Don’t know 25% 25% 6% 34% 31%
    Base (n) 1,076 321 390 108 138
    • Half of participants believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (49%), while a quarter would prefer the opposition leader. A further quarter (26%) of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
    • Morrison is strongly favoured by Coalition voters, with 85% believing Morrison makes the better PM, compared to Albanese (9%).
    • Less than half of Labor voters believe Albanese would make the better PM (46%). 25% of Labor voters said they didn’t know who would make the better leader.
  • Sep, 2020

    , , ,

    Government response to Covid-19

    Q. Overall, how would you rate the Government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?

      07/09 24/08 10/08 27/07 13/07 22/06 15/06 08/06 01/06 25/05 18/05
    Very poor 8% 6% 7% 6% 6% 4% 3% 4% 5% 4% 3%
    Quite poor 12% 11% 8% 11% 10% 8% 8% 8% 7% 6% 7%
    Neither good, nor poor 22% 22% 21% 20% 20% 17% 16% 18% 20% 16% 17%
    Quite good 40% 40% 40% 40% 40% 43% 42% 40% 39% 43% 41%
    Very good 18% 22% 24% 24% 24% 27% 30% 30% 28% 30% 32%
    TOTAL: Poor 19% 17% 16% 16% 16% 12% 11% 12% 12% 11% 11%
    TOTAL: Good 59% 61% 63% 64% 64% 71% 72% 70% 68% 73% 73%
    Base (n) 1,076 1,068 1,010 1,058 1,054 1,079 1,087 1,073 1,059 1,087 1,073
    • Participants’ rating of the Federal Government’s handling of Covid-19 crisis slips for the fourth consecutive week. From a high of 73% positive rating in May, 59% now say the Government’s handling has been good.
  • Sep, 2020

    , , ,

    State Government response to Covid-19

    Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?

    TOTAL: Good 07/09 24/08 10/08 27/07 13/07 22/06 15/06 08/06 01/06 25/05 18/05
    NSW 57% 59% 61% 62% 63% 70% 65% 67% 62% 65% 70%
    VIC 50% 47% 49% 53% 49% 65% 75% 72% 71% 73% 71%
    QLD 66% 73% 68% 67% 69% 64% 67% 68% 69% 74% 66%
    SA 74% 65% 72% 76% 79% 79% 76% 79% 70% 84% 80%
    WA 87% 84% 86% 82% 77% 75% 77% 84% 79% 83% 86%
    • Positive rating of the NSW Government’s continues to slide, with another -2%pts movement this week to 57%. This is down from a high of 70% in June.
    • Positive rating of the Victorian Government remains steady at 50%, though the majority of this survey was completed before the announcement of the lock-down extension in Victoria on Sunday 6th
    • Positive rating of the Queensland state government’s handing dropped to 66% this week from 73% a fortnight ago.
  • Sep, 2020

    , , , ,

    Expected restriction levels

    Q. In response to the Covid-19 outbreak, what do you expect will happen to the restriction levels in your local area over the next two months?

      07/09 24/08
     
    I expect restrictions will become tighter 15% 39%
    I expect no change to the restrictions 43% 39%
    I expect restrictions will have eased 42% 22%
    Base (n) 1,076 1,058

     

        State
      Total NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    I expect restrictions will become tighter 15% 19% 9% 20% 10% 9%
    I expect no change to the restrictions 43% 46% 31% 48% 42% 53%
    I expect restrictions will have eased 42% 35% 60% 32% 48% 38%
    Base (n) 1,076 352 275 215 88 99
    • A general expectation of an easing of restrictions in the next two months suggests Australians feel the worst effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have passed. Just 15% think tighter restrictions will be required in the next two months and 42% expect an easing of restrictions.
    • The expectation of easing restrictions is highest in Victoria (60%), as this state currently has the strictest requirements. The majority of this survey was completed before the announcement of the lock-down extension in Victoria on Sunday 6th
  • Sep, 2020

    , , , , ,

    Responsibility for Covid-19 Outbreak in Aged Care

    Q. In your opinion, who is most responsible for the recent Covid-19 outbreaks and spread of the virus within aged care facilities?

      07/09 24/08
     
    Federal Government 31% 28%
    State or Territory governments 28% 30%
    Aged Care providers 41% 42%
    Base (n) 1,076 1,068

     

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor Liberal + National Greens TOTAL: Other
    Federal Government 31% 36% 27% 37% 35% 22% 42% 23% 34% 34%
    State or Territory governments 28% 29% 28% 37% 27% 23% 26% 33% 31% 17%
    Aged care providers 41% 36% 45% 26% 38% 55% 32% 44% 35% 49%
    Base (n) 1076 524 552 326 365 385 321 390 108 138
    • Responsibility for the outbreaks in aged care is shared between Federal and state governments, an aged care providers. Consistent with results a fortnight ago, 42% say the providers hold the most responsibility (42% in last poll), 31% identify the Federal government (no change from 28%) and 28% the state governments (from 30%).
    • Women, people aged over 55 and Coalition voters are most likely to hold aged care providers responsible, while Labor voters are more likely to say the Federal government has the most responsibility (42%).
  • Sep, 2020

    , , ,

    Statements about Covid-19 Outbreak in Aged Care

    Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the recent Covid-19 outbreaks and spread of the virus within aged care facilities?

    TOTAL: AGREE 07/09 24/08
    Authorities failed to prepare an adequate Covid-19 strategy to deal with outbreaks in aged care facilities 77% 77%
    Hygiene and care standards in private care homes are poor which has contributed to the spread of Covid-19 69% 71%
    Covid-19 has entered and spread through aged care facilities because of community transmission from friends and families of residents 67% 67%
    The impact of Covid-19 in aged care facilities has been worsened by long-term underfunding of the aged care sector 72% 70%

     

      TOTAL: AGREE TOTAL: DISAGREE Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Unsure
    Authorities failed to prepare an adequate Covid-19 strategy to deal with outbreaks in aged care facilities 77% 15% 38% 39% 11% 4% 8%
    Hygiene and care standards in private care homes are poor which has contributed to the spread of Covid-19 69% 20% 30% 39% 15% 5% 11%
    Covid-19 has entered and spread through aged care facilities because of community transmission from friends and families of residents 67% 20% 26% 41% 15% 5% 13%
    The impact of Covid-19 in aged care facilities has been worsened by long-term underfunding of the aged care sector 72% 17% 36% 36% 12% 5% 11%

     

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    TOTAL: AGREE Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor Liberal + National Greens TOTAL: Other
    Authorities failed to prepare an adequate Covid-19 strategy to deal with outbreaks in aged care facilities 77% 77% 78% 66% 78% 86% 83% 79% 78% 79%
    Hygiene and care standards in private care homes are poor which has contributed to the spread of Covid-19 69% 71% 67% 58% 70% 78% 74% 72% 62% 77%
    Covid-19 has entered and spread through aged care facilities because of community transmission from friends and families of residents 67% 71% 63% 66% 74% 61% 67% 69% 70% 71%
    The impact of Covid-19 in aged care facilities has been worsened by long-term underfunding of the aged care sector 72% 71% 73% 64% 74% 76% 79% 71% 84% 69%
    Base (n) 1,076 524 552 326 365 385 321 390 108 138
    • Perceptions of the causes of the spread of Covid-19 within aged care facilities are consistent with previous results. A majority of people believe that there was insufficient preparation from authorities (77% agreement) and that long-term underfunding of aged care facilities has worsened the impact (72%)
    • Similar numbers also agree that the hygiene and care standards in private care homes has contributed to the spread of (69%) and that community transmission from friends and families of residents has also contributed to the spread (67%).
Error: