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  • Jul, 2020

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    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?

        Gender State
      Total Male Female NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    I expect restrictions will become tighter 39% 35% 43% 53% 38% 37% 25% 16%
    I expect no change to the restrictions 39% 42% 37% 35% 40% 39% 44% 51%
    I expect restrictions will have eased 22% 23% 20% 12% 22% 24% 31% 33%
    Base (n) 1,058 538 520 352 239 220 88 110

     

    • Australians are preparing for a continuation, or tightening of restrictions over the next few months. 39% expect tighter restrictions in their local area and the same number do not expect any change to the current rules and guidelines. About one in five (22%) believe that restrictions will ease.
    • Women (43%) and residents of New South Wales (53%) are most likely to expect restrictions to become tighter; while men (35%) and Western Australia residents (16%) are less likely to expect this.
  • Jul, 2020

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    Time to return to normal

    Q. Thinking about the future, how long do you think it will take for the following to occur?

    LAST MONTH (22/06) Within the next six months Seven months up to one year One to two years More than two years Never
    A Covid-19 vaccine will be developed 11% 22% 43% 20% 4%
    Quarantine will no longer required after international travel 12% 27% 35% 22% 4%
    The housing market will return pre-pandemic levels 11% 22% 38% 25% 4%
    International travel will be allowed without restriction 10% 23% 39% 24% 4%
    Unemployment will return to pre-pandemic levels 8% 17% 37% 33% 6%
    The population will build resistance to Covid-19 through exposure (herd immunity) 8% 15% 31% 27% 20%
    Australia will pay off its national debt 5% 9% 12% 52% 22%

     

    • Expectations of the effect of the Covid-19 have lengthened in the past month, with more people now thinking the impacts will last for more than two years.
    • 32% expect it will be over two years before quarantine following international travel is removed (up from 22% last month). Similarly more people now think it will be over two years before housing prices (25% to 38%), unrestricted international travel (24% to 38%) and unemployment (33% to 48%) return to pre-Covid levels.
    • 26% do not think a population-wide resistance to the disease will ever be achieved.
  • Jul, 2020

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    Support for extension of JobKeeper and JobSeeker schemes

    Q. On Tuesday July 21st, the government announced that JobKeeper payments and the increase to JobSeeker will be extended to March 2021 but that the rates for each will be reduced in October, and again in January. Eligibility for JobKeeper will remain the same, meaning that casual workers will not receive support.

    To what extent do you support or oppose the changes to these schemes?

      TOTAL: Support TOTAL: Oppose Strongly support Somewhat support Neither support nor oppose Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose
    Businesses having to be re-tested for JobKeeper to ensure they are still eligible 69% 9% 37% 33% 22% 6% 2%
    The continuation of payments to March 2021 66% 12% 31% 35% 22% 8% 5%
    The reduction in the amount of payments 54% 21% 22% 33% 25% 12% 9%

     

        Voting intention
    NET: Support Total Labor NET: Coalition Greens NET: Other
    Businesses having to be re-tested for JobKeeper to ensure they are still eligible 69% 70% 76% 58% 72%
    The continuation of payments to March 2021 66% 72% 65% 78% 60%
    The reduction in the amount of payments 54% 49% 67% 33% 62%
    Base (n) 1,058 334 428 81 107

     

    • Extension of the JobKeeper and JobSeeker schemes receives support from a two-thirds majority (66%). While the reduction of payments is supported by just over half (54%), 21% oppose this decision.
  • Jul, 2020

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    Federal parliament sittings

    Q. Which of the following solutions would you prefer was used by the Federal parliament given the travel restrictions mean some MPs are not able to attend sessions in Canberra in person?

        Voting intention
      Total Labor NET: Coalition Greens NET: Other
    Parliament sitting face-to-face as normal with social distancing in place for those who can attend 17% 16% 20% 18% 20%
    Parliament sitting face-to-face with video conference for those who cannot attend in person 57% 59% 57% 64% 62%
    Parliament not sitting until travel restrictions are relaxed for all MPs 13% 15% 14% 8% 9%
    Unsure 13% 10% 9% 10% 10%
    Base (n) 1,058 334 428 81 107

     

        Gender Age group
      Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+
    Parliament sitting face-to-face as normal with social distancing in place for those who can attend 17% 21% 13% 21% 18% 12%
    Parliament sitting face-to-face with video conference for those who cannot attend in person 57% 55% 59% 46% 53% 72%
    Parliament not sitting until travel restrictions are relaxed for all MPs 13% 14% 12% 18% 13% 9%
    Unsure 13% 9% 16% 15% 16% 8%
    Base (n) 1,058 538 520 341 331 386

     

    The large majority of people want to see parliament continue to sit, either with social distancing measures, (17%), or using video conferencing options (57%). Only 13% would prefer parliament not to sit during the travel restrictions due to Covid-19.

  • Jul, 2020

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    Performance of Scott Morrison

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

    Jul’20 Jun’20 May’20 Apr’20 Mar’20 Feb’20 Jan’20 Dec’19 Nov’19 Oct’19 Sep’19 Aug’19
    TOTAL: Approve 63% 65% 64% 59% 41% 39% 40% 45% 45% 47% 49% 48%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 27% 26% 27% 31% 49% 52% 52% 43% 41% 38% 36% 37%
    Don’t know 10% 8% 9% 10% 10% 9% 8% 13% 13% 15% 15% 16%
    Base (n) 1,054 1,059 1,093 1,069 1,096 1,056 1,081 1,035 1,075 1,088 1,093 1,096

     

    Total Federal Voting Intention
    Labor Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Strongly approve 23% 12% 47% 3% 16%
    Approve 40% 37% 43% 33% 42%
    Disapprove 17% 31% 4% 24% 17%
    Strongly disapprove 11% 14% 2% 26% 14%
    Don’t know 10%  6% 4% 14% 10%
    TOTAL: Approve 63% 49% 90% 36% 59%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 27% 45% 6% 50% 31%
    Base (n) 1,054 299 420 108 125

     

    • The Prime Minister’s approval rating is on par with the previous month, now at 63% compared to 65% in June.
    • Approval of the Prime Minister among is at 90% among Coalition supporters, and lower among Labor voters (49%) and Greens voters (36%). 59% of those intending to vote for a minor party or independent candidate approve of the PM.
  • Jul, 2020

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    Performance of Anthony Albanese

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

    Jul’20 Jun’20 May’20 Apr’20 Mar’20 Feb’20 Jan’20 Dec’19 Nov’19 Oct’19 Sep’19 Aug’19
    TOTAL: Approve 44% 43% 42% 44% 41% 41% 43% 39% 37% 40% 36% 38%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 28% 30% 27% 29% 33% 31% 30% 28% 34% 29% 31% 29%
    Don’t know 28% 26% 31% 27% 26% 28% 27% 33% 29% 31% 33% 33%
    Base (n) 1,054 1,059 1,093 1,069 1,096 1,056 1,081 1,035 1,075 1,088 1,093 1,096

     

    Total Federal Voting Intention
    Labor Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Strongly approve 10% 18% 7% 5% 8%
    Approve 34% 47% 31% 41% 16%
    Disapprove 19% 15% 25% 16% 31%
    Strongly disapprove 9% 1% 17% 4% 12%
    Don’t know 28% 19% 21% 34% 32%
    TOTAL: Approve 44% 65% 37% 46% 25%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 28% 16% 42% 20% 43%
    Base (n) 1,054 299 420 108 125

     

    • The Opposition Leader’s approval rating is consistent this month, at 44% compared to 43% in June.
    • Albanese’s approval among Labor voters remains relatively low at 65%, compared to Morrison’s approval among Coalition voters (90%).
  • Jul, 2020

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    Preferred Prime Minister

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

    Jul’20 Jun’20 May’20 Apr’20 Mar’20 Feb’20 Jan’20 Nov’19 Oct’19 Sep’19 Aug’19 Jul’19
    Scott Morrison 50% 53% 50% 46% 40% 36% 36% 44% 43% 46% 44% 44%
    Anthony Albanese 27% 23% 25% 27% 35% 36% 39% 28% 28% 25% 28% 26%
    Don’t know 23% 24% 25% 27% 25% 28% 25% 29% 29% 29% 28% 31%
    Base (n) 1,054 1,059 1,093 1,069 1,096 1,056 1,081 1,075 1,088 1,093 1,096 1,091

     

        Federal Voting Intention
    Total Labor Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Scott Morrison 50% 27% 84% 17% 52%
    Anthony Albanese 27% 50% 11% 45% 17%
    Don’t know 23% 23% 6% 38% 30%
    Base (n) 1,054 299 420 108 125

     

    • Half of participants believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (50% to 27%). Around a quarter (23%) of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
    • Morrison is strongly favoured by Coalition voters, with 84% believing Morrison makes the better PM, compared to Albanese (11%).
    • Half of Labor voters believe Albanese would make the better PM (50%) compared to Morrison (27%). 23% said they didn’t know who would make the better leader.
  • Jul, 2020

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    Coronavirus concerns

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

      13/07 22/06 15/06 08/06 01/06 25/05 18/05 11/05 04/05 27/04
    Very concerned 36% 25% 28% 27% 32% 30% 33% 34% 32% 39%
    Quite concerned 48% 50% 45% 48% 49% 49% 47% 49% 46% 44%
    Not that concerned 12% 21% 23% 21% 15% 16% 16% 14% 18% 13%
    Not at all concerned 3% 4% 4% 5% 4% 5% 4% 3% 4% 3%
    Base (n) 1,054 1,079 1,087 1,073 1,059 1,087 1,073 1,067 1,093 1,054

     

        State
      Total NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    Very concerned 36% 42% 46% 25% 33% 26%
    Quite concerned 48% 46% 45% 49% 44% 55%
    Not that concerned 12% 8% 8% 19% 21% 13%
    Not at all concerned 3% 3% 1% 6% 1% 7%
    Base (n) 1,054 320 281 226 82 98

     

    • Concern about Covid-19 has increased from last month. In June 25% said they were very concerned about the threat of Covid-19 – this has increased to 36% this week.
    • Concern is highest in Victoria (46% are very concerned) and NSW (42%), while lower in Queensland (25% and Western Australia (26%).
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