The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Jul, 2020

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    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). 
  • Jul, 2020

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    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.

     

  • Jun, 2020

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    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%).
  • Jun, 2020

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    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.
  • Jun, 2020

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    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).
  • Jun, 2020

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    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.

     

  • Jun, 2020

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    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).

     

  • Jun, 2020

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    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
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