Essential Report
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Performance of Anthony Albanese
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Anthony Albanese is doing as Opposition Leader?
| May’20 | Apr’20 | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | Jan’20 | Dec’19 | Nov’19 | Oct’19 | Sep’19 | Aug’19 | Jul’19 | |
| TOTAL: Approve | 42% | 44% | 41% | 41% | 43% | 39% | 37% | 40% | 36% | 38% | 39% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 27% | 29% | 33% | 31% | 30% | 28% | 34% | 29% | 31% | 29% | 24% |
| Don’t know | 31% | 27% | 26% | 28% | 27% | 33% | 29% | 31% | 33% | 33% | 37% |
| Base (n) | 1,093 | 1,069 | 1,096 | 1,056 | 1,081 | 1,035 | 1,075 | 1,088 | 1,093 | 1,096 | 1,091 |
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Strongly approve | 7% | 12% | 4% | 6% | 4% |
| Approve | 35% | 51% | 30% | 39% | 27% |
| Disapprove | 19% | 13% | 28% | 12% | 21% |
| Strongly disapprove | 8% | 2% | 15% | 5% | 14% |
| Don’t know | 31% | 22% | 22% | 38% | 34% |
| TOTAL: Approve | 42% | 63% | 35% | 45% | 31% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 27% | 15% | 43% | 17% | 35% |
| Base (n) | 1,093 | 325 | 435 | 108 | 114 |
- The Opposition Leader’s approval rating has remained consistent this month, at 42% compared to 44% in April.
- Albanese’s approval among Labor voters remains relatively low at 63%, compared to Morrison’s approval among Coalition voters (92%).
Preferred Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?
| May’20 | Apr’20 | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | Jan’20 | Nov’19 | Oct’19 | Sep’19 | Aug’19 | Jul’19 | Jun’19 | |
| Scott Morrison | 50% | 46% | 40% | 36% | 36% | 44% | 43% | 46% | 44% | 44% | 43% |
| Anthony Albanese | 25% | 27% | 35% | 36% | 39% | 28% | 28% | 25% | 28% | 26% | 25% |
| Don’t know | 25% | 27% | 25% | 28% | 25% | 29% | 29% | 29% | 28% | 31% | 32% |
| Base (n) | 1,093 | 1,069 | 1,096 | 1,056 | 1,081 | 1,075 | 1,088 | 1,093 | 1,096 | 1,091 | 1,099 |
| Federal Voting Intention | |||||
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
| Scott Morrison | 50% | 25% | 84% | 23% | 53% |
| Anthony Albanese | 25% | 48% | 7% | 42% | 20% |
| Don’t know | 25% | 27% | 8% | 35% | 27% |
| Base (n) | 1,093 | 325 | 435 | 108 | 114 |
- 50% of participants believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (25%). Around a quarter (25%) of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
- Just under half of Labor voters believe Albanese would make the better PM (48%) compared to Morrison (25%). 27% said they didn’t know who would make the better leader.
Coronavirus concerns
Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Australia?
| 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | 13/04 | 06/04 | 29/03 | 22/03 | 09/03 | 10/02 | |
| Very concerned | 32% | 39% | 44% | 45% | 51% | 53% | 39% | 27% | 25% |
| Quite concerned | 46% | 44% | 43% | 43% | 37% | 35% | 43% | 36% | 43% |
| Not that concerned | 18% | 13% | 11% | 9% | 10% | 10% | 14% | 28% | 26% |
| Not at all concerned | 4% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 9% | 6% |
| Base (n) | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 | 1,068 | 1,069 | 1,086 | 1,034 | 1,096 | 1,057 |
| Age group | Location | |||||
| Total | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Capital | Non-Capital | |
| Very concerned | 32% | 27% | 34% | 34% | 34% | 27% |
| Quite concerned | 46% | 49% | 43% | 47% | 47% | 46% |
| Not that concerned | 18% | 18% | 20% | 15% | 16% | 22% |
| Not at all concerned | 4% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% |
| Base (n) | 1,093 | 341 | 372 | 380 | 734 | 359 |
- Concern about the threat of Covid-19 has lessened this again week, with 32% saying they are very concerned (down from 39% last week) and 46% saying they are quite concerned.
- Those aged 18-34 have a lower concern (24% not that/not at all concerned) to those aged over 55 (18%).
Likelihood of developing Coronavirus
Q. How likely do you think it is, that you will develop Covid-19?
| 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | 13/04 | 06/04 | 29/03 | 22/03 | 09/03 | |
| Very likely | 5% | 5% | 7% | 5% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 7% |
| Somewhat likely | 26% | 21% | 25% | 28% | 33% | 36% | 34% | 24% |
| Somewhat unlikely | 46% | 50% | 52% | 49% | 45% | 45% | 45% | 43% |
| Very unlikely | 23% | 23% | 17% | 18% | 14% | 12% | 13% | 26% |
| Base (n) | 1.093 | 1,054 | 1,051 | 1,068 | 1,069 | 1,086 | 1,034 | 1,096 |
| Age group | Location | |||||
| Total | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Capital | Non-Capital | |
| Very likely | 5% | 8% | 5% | 1% | 5% | 3% |
| Somewhat likely | 26% | 31% | 28% | 20% | 29% | 19% |
| Somewhat unlikely | 46% | 38% | 43% | 57% | 43% | 54% |
| Very unlikely | 23% | 23% | 25% | 22% | 23% | 24% |
| Base (n) | 1.093 | 341 | 372 | 380 | 734 | 359 |
- The likelihood of catching Covid-19 has remained steady this week, with 31% saying they are very/somewhat likely to contract the virus (27% last week).
Government response to Covid-19
Q. Overall, how would you rate the Government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | 13/04 | 06/04 | 29/03 | 22/03 | |
| Very poor | 4% | 4% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 11% | 9% |
| Quite poor | 9% | 9% | 10% | 12% | 15% | 21% | 20% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 20% | 17% | 21% | 20% | 21% | 24% | 26% |
| Quite good | 38% | 44% | 42% | 40% | 37% | 34% | 33% |
| Very good | 28% | 26% | 23% | 23% | 21% | 11% | 12% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 14% | 13% | 15% | 17% | 21% | 31% | 29% |
| TOTAL: Good | 66% | 70% | 65% | 63% | 58% | 45% | 45% |
| Base (n) | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 | 1,068 | 1,069 | 1,086 | 1,034 |
| Gender | Age Group | Location | |||||||
| Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Capital | Non-Capital | ||
| Very poor | 4% | 6% | 3% | 5% | 6% | 3% | 5% | 4% | |
| Quite poor | 9% | 10% | 8% | 14% | 9% | 6% | 10% | 7% | |
| Neither good, nor poor | 20% | 21% | 20% | 32% | 22% | 9% | 20% | 21% | |
| Quite good | 38% | 36% | 40% | 37% | 39% | 39% | 38% | 39% | |
| Very good | 28% | 28% | 28% | 12% | 25% | 44% | 27% | 30% | |
| TOTAL: Poor | 14% | 16% | 11% | 19% | 14% | 8% | 15% | 11% | |
| TOTAL: Good | 66% | 63% | 68% | 49% | 64% | 82% | 65% | 69% | |
| Base (n) | 1,093 | 539 | 554 | 341 | 372 | 380 | 734 | 359 | |
State Government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | 13/04 | |
| Very poor | 4% | 4% | 5% | 5% |
| Quite poor | 8% | 9% | 9% | 11% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 18% | 17% | 20% | 20% |
| Quite good | 38% | 41% | 39% | 38% |
| Very good | 31% | 30% | 26% | 26% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 12% | 13% | 14% | 16% |
| TOTAL: Good | 70% | 70% | 66% | 64% |
| Base (n) | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 | 1,068 |
| State | |||||||
| Total | NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | ||
| Very poor | 4% | 5% | 3% | 6% | 3% | 2% | |
| Quite poor | 8% | 8% | 8% | 9% | 7% | 5% | |
| Neither good, nor poor | 18% | 19% | 17% | 21% | 13% | 14% | |
| Quite good | 38% | 45% | 32% | 43% | 31% | 30% | |
| Very good | 31% | 23% | 40% | 22% | 45% | 48% | |
| TOTAL: Poor | 12% | 13% | 11% | 15% | 10% | 7% | |
| TOTAL: Good | 70% | 68% | 72% | 65% | 76% | 79% | |
| Base (n) | 1,093 | 352 | 275 | 220 | 85 | 106 | |
- Across the country, the overall perception of states’ handling of the crisis is in line with government rating their own state’s handling as Very/Quite good (70% states, 66% federal). Rating of the state government in NSW increased from 63% to 68%, while in Victoria, the rating decreased from 77% to 72%.
Easing restrictions
Q. When do you think governments should start to ease the restrictions on travel and gatherings to allow offices, shops, restaurants, other workplaces, and public spaces to start operating again?
| 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | |
| As soon as possible | 10% | 10% | 9% |
| Within the next 1 to 2 weeks | 9% | 7% | 6% |
| Within the next month | 21% | 18% | 14% |
| By the end of next month | 15% | 15% | 13% |
| It is too soon to consider easing restrictions | 37% | 42% | 49% |
| Unsure | 8% | 8% | 10% |
| Base (n) | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 |
| Gender | Age Group | Location | |||||||
| Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Capital | Non-Capital | ||
| As soon as possible | 10% | 12% | 9% | 11% | 13% | 8% | 10% | 12% | |
| Within the next 1 to 2 weeks | 9% | 11% | 7% | 12% | 9% | 7% | 9% | 10% | |
| Within the next month | 21% | 21% | 20% | 26% | 18% | 18% | 22% | 17% | |
| By the end of next month | 15% | 15% | 15% | 12% | 17% | 17% | 16% | 14% | |
| It is too soon to consider easing restrictions | 37% | 32% | 42% | 28% | 37% | 44% | 36% | 38% | |
| Unsure | 8% | 8% | 7% | 10% | 7% | 6% | 7% | 9% | |
| Base (n) | 1,093 | 539 | 554 | 341 | 372 | 380 | 734 | 359 | |
- People are becoming increasingly open to easing the lockdown restrictions. Those who think it’s too soon to lift restrictions has fallen from 49% two weeks ago to 37%.
- One in five people think restrictions should be eased within the next month (21%).
- Those aged over 55 are least likely to consider easing restrictions (44% say it’s too soon, compared to 28% of those aged 18-34).
- Women are more likely than men to think it’s too soon to consider lifting restrictions (42% to 32%).
Opening schools following Covid-19
Q. Which of the following is closest to your views on the reopening of schools?
| Parent/Guardian Status | ||||
| Total | I am a parent/guardian of
school-aged children |
I am not a parent/guardian of school-aged children | ||
| Schools should only open for children of essential workers | 32% | 36% | 30% | |
| Schools should re-open for all children | 45% | 44% | 46% | |
| Schools should remain closed with all teaching conducted online | 23% | 20% | 24% | |
| Base (n) | 1,093 | 291 | 802 | |
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Download this week's ReportEssential Report
Two Party Preferred: 14 May 2019
Labor
51.5%-0.5
Coalition
48.5%+0.5
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