Essential Report
Download this week's Report
Government response to Covid-19
Q. Overall, how would you rate the Government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | |
| Very poor | 6% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 4% |
| Quite poor | 10% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 7% | 9% | 9% | 9% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 20% | 17% | 16% | 18% | 20% | 16% | 17% | 16% | 20% | 17% |
| Quite good | 40% | 43% | 42% | 40% | 39% | 43% | 41% | 39% | 38% | 44% |
| Very good | 24% | 27% | 30% | 30% | 28% | 30% | 32% | 32% | 28% | 26% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 16% | 12% | 11% | 12% | 12% | 11% | 11% | 13% | 14% | 13% |
| TOTAL: Good | 64% | 71% | 72% | 70% | 68% | 73% | 73% | 71% | 66% | 70% |
| Base (n) | 1,054 | 1,079 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 |
- Rating of the Federal Government’s handling of the crisis has declined from last month. 64% now rate the Governments response as good (Very good or quite good), down from 71% in June.
- Victoria has the lowest rating (60% rated very/quite good, down from 70% in June).
State Government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| All States | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 |
| Very poor | 7% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 4% |
| Quite poor | 11% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 7% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 9% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 18% | 17% | 17% | 17% | 20% | 17% | 17% | 16% | 18% | 17% |
| Quite good | 36% | 41% | 38% | 39% | 38% | 38% | 39% | 39% | 38% | 41% |
| Very good | 28% | 28% | 33% | 32% | 30% | 35% | 33% | 34% | 31% | 30% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 17% | 13% | 12% | 11% | 12% | 11% | 11% | 12% | 12% | 13% |
| TOTAL: Good | 64% | 69% | 71% | 71% | 68% | 73% | 72% | 73% | 70% | 70% |
| Base (n) | 1,054 | 1,079 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 |
| TOTAL: Good | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 |
| NSW | 63% | 70% | 65% | 67% | 62% | 65% | 70% | 70% | 68% | 63% |
| VIC | 49% | 65% | 75% | 72% | 71% | 73% | 71% | 71% | 72% | 77% |
| QLD | 69% | 64% | 67% | 68% | 69% | 74% | 66% | 70% | 65% | 67% |
| SA | 79% | 79% | 76% | 79% | 70% | 84% | 80% | 78% | 76% | 77% |
| WA | 77% | 75% | 77% | 84% | 79% | 83% | 86% | 83% | 79% | 76% |
- The positive rating of the State Government in Victoria has dropped from 65% in June to 49% this week. 17% think the Victorian government is doing a very good job (down from 26%) and those thinking they’ve done a quite good job has fallen from 28% to 32%.
- Southern Australia (79%) and Western Australia (77%) have the highest state government ratings at handling the crisis.
| VICTORIA ONLY | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 |
| Very poor | 14% | 8% | 6% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 3% |
| Quite poor | 12% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 7% | 9% | 10% | 11% | 8% | 6% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 25% | 22% | 13% | 16% | 17% | 16% | 15% | 15% | 17% | 14% |
| Quite good | 32% | 38% | 39% | 38% | 39% | 37% | 38% | 34% | 32% | 40% |
| Very good | 17% | 26% | 36% | 34% | 33% | 36% | 33% | 37% | 40% | 37% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 26% | 13% | 11% | 12% | 11% | 11% | 14% | 14% | 11% | 9% |
| TOTAL: Good | 49% | 65% | 75% | 72% | 71% | 73% | 71% | 71% | 72% | 77% |
| Base (n) | 281 | 261 | 275 | 275 | 275 | 275 | 267 | 275 | 275 | 272 |
- At the same time, those rating the Victorian state Government’s performance as very or quite poor has doubled from 13% in June to 26% this week.
Statements about Indigenous Australian history and protests
Q. Below are some statements about the history of Indigenous Australians and the recent protests. To the best of your knowledge, do you believe each of the following to true or false?
| TOTAL: True | TOTAL: False | Definitely true | Probably true | Probably false | Definitely false | Don’t know enough | |
| Indigenous Australians were generally not allowed to vote in Australia until the 1960s | 67% | 13% | 36% | 31% | 9% | 4% | 20% |
| In the 19th and early 20th century, thousands of Indigenous Australians and people from the Pacific Islands were forced to work in Australia in conditions that amounted to slavery | 58% | 19% | 28% | 30% | 13% | 6% | 23% |
| Indigenous Australians are much more likely to be stopped by police than the average Australians, regardless of whether or not they have done anything wrong | 55% | 29% | 21% | 34% | 18% | 11% | 16% |
| Many of the new cases of Covid-19 in Victoria have been from people who attended the Black Lives Matter protest | 42% | 37% | 14% | 28% | 20% | 18% | 20% |
| TOTAL: True | Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | ||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Indigenous Australians were generally not allowed to vote in Australia until the 1960s | 67% | 69% | 66% | 62% | 63% | 76% | 70% | 68% | 79% | 63% |
| In the 19th and early 20th century, thousands of Indigenous Australians and people from the Pacific Islands were forced to work in Australia in conditions that amounted to slavery | 58% | 59% | 56% | 59% | 56% | 58% | 62% | 55% | 76% | 54% |
| Indigenous Australians are much more likely to be stopped by police than the average Australians, regardless of whether or not they have done anything wrong | 55% | 56% | 53% | 57% | 55% | 53% | 61% | 48% | 76% | 56% |
| Many of the new cases of Covid-19 in Victoria have been from people who attended the Black Lives Matter protest | 42% | 46% | 39% | 45% | 41% | 41% | 38% | 52% | 22% | 44% |
| Base (n) | 1,085 | 533 | 552 | 335 | 374 | 376 | 339 | 417 | 92 | 126 |
| TOTAL: True | State | Education | ||||||
| NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | Secondary Education | Professional Qualification | University Education | |
| Indigenous Australians were generally not allowed to vote in Australia until the 1960s | 67% | 68% | 65% | 72% | 64% | 69% | 66% | 68% |
| In the 19th and early 20th century, thousands of Indigenous Australians and people from the Pacific Islands were forced to work in Australia in conditions that amounted to slavery | 58% | 59% | 62% | 62% | 47% | 54% | 55% | 63% |
| Indigenous Australians are much more likely to be stopped by police than the average Australians, regardless of whether or not they have done anything wrong | 56% | 59% | 48% | 53% | 48% | 50% | 52% | 61% |
| Many of the new cases of Covid-19 in Victoria have been from people who attended the Black Lives Matter protest | 43% | 41% | 49% | 40% | 34% | 42% | 46% | 40% |
| Base (n) | 352 | 275 | 218 | 88 | 109 | 258 | 378 | 428 |
- 42% of participants say it’s true (definitely or probably) that many of the new cases of Covid-19 in Victoria have been from people who attended the Black Lives Matter protest and 67% believe it’s true that Indigenous Australians were generally not allowed to vote in Australia until the 1960s.
- Over half of participants believe that in the 19th and early 20th century, thousands of Indigenous Australians and people from the Pacific Islands were forced to work in Australia in conditions that amounted to slavery (58%) or Indigenous Australians are much more likely to be stopped by police than the average Australians, regardless of whether or not they have done anything wrong (55%) is true.
- Men (46%), Coalition voters (52%) and high income earners (50%) are more likely to say that many of the new cases of Covid-19 in Victoria have been from people who attended the Black Lives Matter protest is true than women (39%), all other voters (37%) and high income earners (50%).
Pay for professionals
Q. Do you think the following workers are not paid enough, paid about right, or paid too much for the work they do?
| Not paid enough | Pay is about right | Paid too much | Unsure | |
| Nurses | 54% | 28% | 9% | 9% |
| Early childhood teachers | 45% | 32% | 11% | 13% |
| Primary and secondary school teachers | 40% | 37% | 11% | 11% |
| Tradespeople | 13% | 51% | 25% | 11% |
| Bankers | 4% | 28% | 57% | 10% |
| Lawyers | 3% | 24% | 64% | 9% |
| TOTAL: AREN’T PAID ENOUGH | Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | ||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Nurses | 54% | 50% | 59% | 44% | 49% | 68% | 62% | 48% | 69% | 59% |
| Early childhood teachers | 45% | 39% | 50% | 39% | 43% | 51% | 49% | 40% | 59% | 39% |
| Primary and secondary school teachers | 40% | 36% | 44% | 40% | 47% | 45% | 45% | 35% | 58% | 38% |
| Tradespeople | 13% | 13% | 13% | 17% | 12% | 11% | 15% | 11% | 14% | 16% |
| Bankers | 4% | 5% | 4% | 9% | 4% | 1% | 4% | 6% | 2% | 1% |
| Lawyers | 3% | 3% | 3% | 7% | 2% | 0% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3^% |
| Base (n) | 1,085 | 533 | 552 | 335 | 374 | 376 | 339 | 417 | 92 | 126 |
- Participants say that nurses (54%), early childhood teachers (45%) and primary/secondary school teachers (40%) aren’t paid enough; while tradespeople are paid about right (51%), bankers and lawyers are paid too much (57% and 64% respectively).
- Women, participants over 55 and Greens voters are more likely to say nurses (59%, 68% and 69% respectively), primary/secondary school teachers (44%, 45% and 58%) and early childhood teachers (50%, 51% and 59%) aren’t paid enough.
Statements about gender equality
Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about gender equality in Australia?
| TOTAL: Agree | TOTAL: Disagree | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | Unsure | |
| There should be laws that require equal salaries for men and women in the same position | 80% | 12% | 52% | 28% | 6% | 5% | 9% |
| Although there has been significant progress on gender equality there is still a long way to go | 71% | 20% | 34% | 37% | 14% | 6% | 9% |
| Work to achieve gender equality today benefits mostly well-to-do people | 56% | 25% | 21% | 35% | 17% | 8% | 20% |
| Gender equality has already been mostly achieved | 51% | 39% | 18% | 34% | 25% | 14% | 10% |
| Gender equality, meaning that men and women are equal, has come far enough already | 47% | 43% | 19% | 27% | 25% | 18% | 10% |
| TOTAL: AGREE | Total | Sep’18 | Change from Sep’18 | Mar’16 | |
| There should be laws that require equal salaries for men and women in the same position | 80% | 78% | +2 | 78% | |
| Although there has been significant progress on gender equality there is still a long way to go | 71% | 66% | +5 | 71% | |
| Work to achieve gender equality today benefits mostly well-to-do people | 56% | 45% | +11 | 39% | |
| Gender equality has already been mostly achieved | 51% | 47% | +4 | 41% | |
| Gender equality, meaning that men and women are equal, has come far enough already | 47% | 47% | 0 | 38% | |
| Base (n) | 1,085 | 1,030 | – | 1,001 |
| TOTAL: AGREE | Total | Gender | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Male | Female | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| There should be laws that require equal salaries for men and women in the same position | 80% | 75% | 85% | 83% | 80% | 90% | 74% |
| Although there has been significant progress on gender equality there is still a long way to go | 71% | 66% | 71% | 75% | 67% | 86% | 69% |
| Work to achieve gender equality today benefits mostly well-to-do people | 56% | 59% | 53% | 58% | 59% | 48% | 50% |
| Gender equality has already been mostly achieved | 51% | 61% | 42% | 45% | 64% | 29% | 50% |
| Gender equality, meaning that men and women are equal, has come far enough already | 47% | 57% | 36% | 42% | 55% | 33% | 43% |
| Base (n) | 1,085 | 533 | 552 | 339 | 417 | 92 | 126 |
- Agreement with gender equality statements is largely on par with Sep’18 – except work to achieve gender equality today benefits mostly well-to-do people which increased 11% (from 45% to 56%).
- Men are more likely that gender quality has been mostly achieved (61%) or has come far enough (57%); while women are more likely to agree that there should be laws that require equal salaries for men and women in the same position (85%) and although there has been significant progress on gender equality there is still a long way to go (77%).
- Coalition voters are more likely to agree with statements that gender quality has been mostly achieved (64%) or has come far enough (55%); while Greens voters are more likely to agree that there should be laws that require equal salaries (90%) and there is still a long way to go on gender equality (86%).
- 18-34 year olds are more likely to agree that has come far enough (54%) and work to achieve gender equality today benefits mostly well-to-do people (63%); than those over 55 (37% and 47% respectively).
Instruments played
Q. Do you play any of the following instruments in your home?
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Education | ||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Secondary Education | Professional Qualification | University Education | ||
| Piano or keyboard | 17% | 20% | 15% | 25% | 19% | 9% | 8% | 13% | 26% |
| Guitar | 17% | 24% | 11% | 25% | 21% | 7% | 9% | 13% | 26% |
| Violin or other stringed instrument | 7% | 9% | 5% | 13% | 7% | 1% | 3% | 6% | 10% |
| Drums or other percussion instrument | 7% | 10% | 4% | 12% | 8% | 1% | 5% | 3% | 11% |
| Saxophone or other wind or brass instrument | 6% | 8% | 4% | 10% | 8% | 1% | 1% | 4% | 11% |
| Other instrument | 5% | 6% | 4% | 7% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 5% | 5% |
| None of these | 66% | 57% | 73% | 48% | 63% | 84% | 81% | 72% | 51% |
| Base (n) | 1,085 | 533 | 552 | 335 | 374 | 376 | 258 | 378 | 428 |
- Two-thirds of participants don’t play an instrument in their home – those most likely to play any instrument are men (43%), 18-34 year olds (52%) and those with a university education (49%).
- Piano, keyboard and guitar (17% each) are the most commonly played instruments.
Frequency play instruments
Q. How regularly do you play this instrument / these instruments in your home?
| BASE: PLAY AN INSTRUMENT | Total | Gender | Age Group | |||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | ||
| Daily | 21% | 24% | 16% | 23% | 25% | 7% |
| More than once a week | 38% | 38% | 37% | 38% | 35% | 42% |
| 2-3 times a month | 20% | 20% | 21% | 24% | 21% | 10% |
| Once a month or less | 17% | 15% | 21% | 13% | 14% | 36% |
| Never | 4% | 3% | 5% | 3% | 5% | 5% |
| Base (n) | 381 | 225 | 156 | 172 | 149 | 60 |
- Two-fifths (38%) of participants play their instrument/s more than once a week, 21% play them daily and another 20% say they play 2-3 times per month.
- 5% of participants who can play an instrument, never play it.
- 18-54 year olds are more likely to play daily (24%) than participants over 55 (7%) – those over 55 tend to play once a month or less (36%, 13% 18-54).
Coronavirus concerns
Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Australia?
| 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | |
| Very concerned | 25% | 28% | 27% | 32% | 30% | 33% | 34% | 32% | 39% | 44% |
| Quite concerned | 50% | 45% | 48% | 49% | 49% | 47% | 49% | 46% | 44% | 43% |
| Not that concerned | 21% | 23% | 21% | 15% | 16% | 16% | 14% | 18% | 13% | 11% |
| Not at all concerned | 4% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 2% |
| Base (n) | 1,079 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 |
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Download this week's ReportEssential Report
Two Party Preferred:
Labor
47%
Coalition
45%
In this week's report:
Essential Tags
2PP
Abbott
ALP
Approval of opposition leader
Approval of Tony Abbott
asylum seekers
Australian economy
Better Prime Minister
Bill Shorten
budget
Carbon Tax
climate change
coronavirus
covid-19
economy
Education
Election
EMC
environment
ER
Essential Media
Essential Report
Federal Government
federal politics
federal politics voting intention
Gillard
Greens
Julia Gillard
kevin rudd
Labor
Labor Party
Liberal
Liberal Party
Liberals
media
mining
Nationals
peter lewis
Polling
polls
Prime Minister
tony abbott
two party preferred
voting
Voting intention
Recent Comments
