The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Aug, 2020

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    Coronavirus concerns

    Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Australia?

      10/08 27/07 13/07 22/06 15/06 08/06 01/06 25/05 18/05 11/05 04/05
    Very concerned 50% 43% 36% 25% 28% 27% 32% 30% 33% 34% 32%
    Quite concerned 40% 44% 48% 50% 45% 48% 49% 49% 47% 49% 46%
    Not that concerned 7% 9% 12% 21% 23% 21% 15% 16% 16% 14% 18%
    Not at all concerned 3% 4% 3% 4% 4% 5% 4% 5% 4% 3% 4%
    Base (n) 1,010 1,058 1,054 1,079 1,087 1,073 1,059 1,087 1,073 1,067 1,093

     

    • Concern about Covid-19 has further increased with 50% of Australians ‘very concerned’, up from 43% last month.
    • Concern is higher among capital city residents (92%) compared to non-capital city residents (84%), and lower among those likely to vote for an independent or other party at an election (81%) than all other voters (91%).
  • Aug, 2020

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    Information about Covid-19

    Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the information you’ve received about the Covid-19 outbreak?

    NET: Agree 10/08 20/04 13/04 06/04 29/03 22/03
    I feel informed about the situation and the impact on me and my family 69% 66% 71% 70% 63% 64%
    I trust the Government to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 outbreak 66% 62% 65% 63% 56% 56%
    The information I’ve received has been clear and consistent 62% 55% 58% 52% 47% 51%
    I trust the media to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 outbreak 50% 41% 42% 51% 42% 35%
    Base (n) 1,010 1,051 1,068 1,069 1,086 1,034

     

      NET: Agree NET: Disagree Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree
    I feel informed about the situation and the impact on me and my family 69% 10% 29% 40% 21% 6% 4%
    I trust the Government to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 outbreak 66% 14% 28% 38% 20% 8% 8%
    The information I’ve received has been clear and consistent 62% 16% 22% 40% 22% 11% 5%
    I trust the media to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 outbreak 50% 23% 15% 35% 27% 14% 8%

     

    • Agreement with these statements has increased since April, with the greatest increase in trust in the media (was 41% now 50%).
    • Broadly, participants over 55 are more likely to agree with these statements than those aged 18-34 years old.
    • Men are more likely than women to disagree that they trust the Government to provide honest and objective information (18% compared to 10% disagree).
  • Aug, 2020

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    Uptake of Covid-19 vaccine

    Q. If and when a vaccine for Covid-19 becomes available, how long would you wait before taking it?

        Gender Age group
    Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+
    I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible 56% 60% 53% 50% 54% 64%
    I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away 35% 33% 37% 38% 37% 30%
    I’d never get vaccinated 8% 7% 10% 11% 9% 6%
    Base (n) 1,010 505 505 302 331 377

     

      Federal Voting Intention
    Labor Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible 66% 57% 43% 44%
    I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away 29% 36% 45% 34%
    I’d never get vaccinated 5% 7% 10% 21%
    Base (n) 311 413 78 94

     

  • Aug, 2020

    Truth in statements about Covid-19

    Q. How confident are you that the following statements about Covid-19 are true?

      TOTAL: True TOTAL: Not true Definitely true Probably true Probably not true Definitely not true Unsure
    It’s possible for people to have the virus and be contagious even if they don’t feel sick in any way 81% 12% 54% 27% 9% 3% 7%
    Masks trap the carbon dioxide people exhale close to their faces and make it harder to breathe in oxygen 33% 51% 11% 22% 23% 28% 16%
    It’s no more dangerous than a typical winter flu 32% 60% 15% 17% 15% 45% 9%
    You don’t need to wear a mask if you are physically distancing 29% 61% 8% 21% 26% 35% 10%
    The malaria drug, Hydroxychloroquine, has been shown to be a safe and effective treatment for Covid-19 20% 55% 7% 13% 21% 33% 26%

     

  • Aug, 2020

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    VIC: State Government response to Covid-19

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

    VICTORIA ONLY 10/08 27/07 13/07 22/06 15/06 08/06 01/06 25/05 18/05 11/05 04/05
    Very poor 16% 13% 14% 8% 6% 6% 4% 3% 3% 4% 3%
    Quite poor 14% 17% 12% 5% 5% 6% 7% 9% 10% 11% 8%
    Neither good, nor poor 21% 17% 25% 22% 13% 16% 17% 16% 15% 15% 17%
    Quite good 28% 34% 32% 38% 39% 38% 39% 37% 38% 34% 32%
    Very good 21% 19% 17% 26% 36% 34% 33% 36% 33% 37% 40%
    TOTAL: Poor 30% 30% 26% 13% 11% 12% 11% 11% 14% 14% 11%
    TOTAL: Good 49% 53% 49% 65% 75% 72% 71% 73% 71% 71% 72%
    Base (n) 499 239 281 261 275 275 275 275 267 275 275

     

    TOTAL: Good 10/08 27/07 13/07 22/06 15/06 08/06 01/06 25/05 18/05 11/05 04/05
    NSW 61% 62% 63% 70% 65% 67% 62% 65% 70% 70% 68%
    VIC 49% 53% 49% 65% 75% 72% 71% 73% 71% 71% 72%
    QLD 68% 67% 69% 64% 67% 68% 69% 74% 66% 70% 65%
    SA 72% 76% 79% 79% 76% 79% 70% 84% 80% 78% 76%
    WA 86% 82% 77% 75% 77% 84% 79% 83% 86% 83% 79%

     

    • Victorian’s rating of their State Government’s performance has decreased with only 49% of Victorians saying their Government’s performance has been good. This is on par with the results a month ago.
    • Western Australia (86%) have the highest state government ratings for handling the crisis.
  • Aug, 2020

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    VIC: Covid-19 outbreak impact on favourability

    Q. How has the Covid-19 outbreak affected your views of the following people…?

    VICTORIA ONLY Daniel Andrews Scott Morrison
    Much more favourable 24% 25%
    A little more favourable 20% 33%
    No difference 26% 27%
    A little less favourable 10% 7%
    Much less favourable 19% 8%
    TOTAL: More favourable 44% 58%
    TOTAL: Less favourable 29% 15%
    Base (n) 499 499

     

    • 58% of Victorians say they now have a more favourable opinion of Scott Morrison due to the Covid-19 outbreak, while 44% say the same for Daniel Andrews.
    • Victorians over 55 years old and capital city residents are more likely to say their opinion of Scott Morrison has become more favourable (65% and 60% respectively) than 18-34 year olds and non-capital city residents (51% and 49%).
    • Victorians over 55 years old are more likely to have a less favourable opinion of Daniel Andrews (40%) than 18-34 year olds (19%).
    • Perception of the State Government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak is tied to perceptions of Daniel Andrews – those who say their state’s response is poor are more likely to say their opinion of Daniel Andrews is now less favourable, and vice versa.
  • Aug, 2020

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    VIC: Attitudes to latest Victorian restrictions

    Q. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced new restrictions for the state designed to stop the spread of Covid-19. To what extent do you agree or disagree that with the following statements about the new restrictions?

    VICTORIA ONLY TOTAL: Agree TOTAL: Disagree Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree
    I have a good understanding of what I am and am not allowed to do under the current restrictions 79% 7% 46% 34% 13% 5% 2%
    The restrictions affecting my area seem appropriate 67% 15% 35% 32% 18% 9% 7%
    The restrictions affecting my area will be effective at stopping the spread of Covid-19 60% 13% 25% 35% 27% 8% 5%
    State & federal governments are doing enough to help people and businesses that are negatively affected by the restrictions 55% 19% 18% 37% 26% 14% 5%
    The changes won’t have much impact on my own lifestyle 43% 38% 15% 28% 19% 19% 19%
    [THOSE IN PAID WORK] The restrictions will have a negative effect on my work 41% 32% 16% 25% 27% 19% 13%

     

    • 79% of Victorians agree they have a good understanding of what they are (and are not) allowed to do under the current restrictions, while 67% agree that the restrictions are appropriate and 60% agree they will be effective at stopping the spread of Covid-19.
    • Only 43% of Victorians agree that the changes won’t have much impact on their lifestyle, while 41% of those in paid work agree that the restrictions will have a negative effect on their work.

     

     

    VICTORIA ONLY AND NET: AGREE   Gender Age group Location
    Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Capital Non-Capital
    I have a good understanding of what I am and am not allowed to do under the current restrictions 79% 76% 82% 64% 81% 89% 78% 83%
    The restrictions affecting my area seem appropriate 67% 67% 67% 57% 67% 74% 68% 64%
    The restrictions affecting my area will be effective at stopping the spread of Covid-19 60% 61% 59% 56% 62% 61% 61% 57%
    State & federal governments are doing enough to help people and businesses that are negatively affected by the restrictions 55% 52% 57% 39% 63% 60% 54% 57%
    The changes won’t have much impact on my own lifestyle 43% 44% 42% 43% 38% 46% 42% 45%
    [IN PAID WORK] The restrictions will have a negative effect on my work 41% 43% 40% 41% 41% 44% 44% 30%
    Base (n) 499 238 261 149 154 196 388 111

     

    • Victorians over 55 are more likely to agree that they have a good understanding of the restrictions (89%) and the restrictions are appropriate (74%), than those aged 18-34 years old (64% and 57%).
    • 18-34 year olds are least likely to agree that state & federal governments are doing enough to help people and businesses that are negatively affected by the restrictions (39%).
    • Melbourne residents are more likely than non-Melbourne residents to agree that the restrictions will have a negative effect on my work (44%, compared to 30%).
  • Aug, 2020

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    VIC: Support for Victorian restrictions

    Q. How strongly do you support or oppose the following restrictions currently in place in Melbourne?

    VICTORIA ONLY TOTAL: Support TOTAL: Oppose Strongly support Somewhat support Neither support nor oppose Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose
    Impose curfew between 8pm & 5am 72% 12% 51% 21% 15% 6% 6%
    Allow only 1 person at a time per household to leave and buy groceries 71% 16% 47% 26% 13% 8% 8%
    Require most shops close, and restrict the operations of many other businesses 70% 15% 42% 28% 15% 7% 8%
    Ban people from travelling more than 5km from their house 70% 15% 47% 23% 15% 7% 8%

     

    VICTORIA ONLY AND NET: SUPPORT   Gender Age group Location
    Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Capital Non-Capital
    Impose curfew between 8pm & 5am 72% 71% 74% 60% 73% 82% 72% 74%
    Allow only 1 person at a time per household to leave and buy groceries 71% 70% 72% 61% 73% 77% 69% 78%
    Require most shops close, and restrict the operations of many other businesses 70% 68% 72% 62% 72% 76% 70% 71%
    Ban people from travelling more than 5km from their house 70% 69% 72% 59% 75% 75% 68% 78%
    Base (n) 499 238 261 149 154 196 388 111

     

    • Victorians overwhelmingly support all the current restrictions – and support is strongest among those over 55 years old.
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