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  • May, 2020

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    Responsibility for the Ruby Princess

    Q. You may be aware that there is a special commission of inquiry into the docking of the Ruby Princess cruise ship during the Covid-19 outbreak. Many people were involved during the decision-making process, to varying degrees.

    At the end of the day, who do you think is most responsible for the decision to dock the Ruby Princess?

        Gender Age Group
      Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+
    New South Wales Health public officials 25% 29% 22% 21% 26% 29%
    The ship’s captain and medical officers 18% 18% 17% 12% 17% 23%
    New South Wales Port Authority 13% 12% 14% 14% 14% 11%
    Border Force officials 13% 14% 12% 14% 15% 10%
    The individual passengers 5% 6% 5% 10% 4% 2%
    No one person or group is to blame 26% 22% 29% 29% 24% 25%
    Base (n) 1,067 532 535 341 341 385

     

      Federal Voting Intention
    Labor Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    New South Wales Health public officials 26% 27% 22% 25%
    The ship’s captain and medical officers 14% 22% 16% 19%
    New South Wales Port Authority 12% 14% 11% 16%
    Border Force officials 15% 11% 15% 15%
    The individual passengers 4% 6% 8% 4%
    No one person or group is to blame 29% 20% 28% 21%
    Base (n) 306 418 86 143
    • A quarter of participants say no one person or group is most responsible for the decision to dock the Ruby Princess (26%) but an equal amount (25%) say the New South Wales Health public officials are most responsible. One-fifth (18%) believe that the ship’s captain and medical officers are most responsible.
    • Men (29%) and those over 55 years old (29%) are more likely to say New South Wales Health public officials are most responsible, compared to women (22%) and 18-34 (21%).
    • Coalition voters are most likely to say the ship’s captain and medical officers are most responsible (22%) compared to other voters (16%).
  • May, 2020

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    Attitude towards Australia first hiring

    Q. Last weekend Kristina Kenneally, a NSW senator, called for the federal government to reduce the number of temporary migrant worker visas permitted after the Covid-19 outbreak. She argues that Australian businesses should prioritise training and hiring Australians for roles, rather than seeking temporary workers to fill skill-shortages.

    To what extent, do you support or oppose this idea of “Australia first” hiring?

        Gender Age Group
      Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+
    Strongly support 41% 36% 46% 27% 42% 53%
    Somewhat support 26% 28% 23% 25% 26% 25%
    Neither support, nor oppose 21% 21% 21% 30% 24% 10%
    Somewhat oppose 6% 7% 4% 10% 3% 5%
    Strongly oppose 6% 8% 5% 9% 5% 6%
    TOTAL: Support 67% 64% 70% 52% 68% 78%
    TOTAL: Oppose 12% 15% 9% 18% 8% 12%
    Base (n) 1,067 532 535 341 341 385

     

      Federal Voting Intention
    Labor Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Strongly support 41% 44% 23% 61%
    Somewhat support 22% 31% 26% 21%
    Neither support, nor oppose 24% 15% 34% 12%
    Somewhat oppose 7% 4% 7% 4%
    Strongly oppose 6% 5% 10% 2%
    TOTAL: Support 63% 75% 50% 82%
    TOTAL: Oppose 13% 10% 17% 7%
    Base (n) 306 418 86 143
    • Kristina Kenneally’s “Australia first” hiring approach is supported by 67% of participants; women (70%), those over 55 (78%), Coalition (75%) and other party voters (82%) are more likely to support this approach than men (64%), 18-34 year olds (52%) and Greens voters (50%).
  • May, 2020

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    Attitudes towards Temporary Migrants

    Q. Temporary migrants include people on skilled worker visas (which are used to cover jobs where there are skill shortages including engineers, nurses and scientists), most New Zealand citizens living in Australia, and international students.

    To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

      TOTAL: Agree TOTAL: Disagree Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither agree, nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don’t know
    Temporary migrants support the economy by spending their money in Australia 57% 17% 19% 39% 23% 12% 5% 3%
    Businesses should hire Australian citizens where they can, even if they’re not as skilled as candidates who are temporary migrants 54% 21% 26% 28% 22% 13% 8% 3%
    If temporary migrants pay the same taxes as Australian citizens, they should be entitled to the same government support 52% 20% 21% 31% 24% 11% 9% 4%
    It’s realistic to expect temporary residents who lose work in Australia to go back to their home countries 52% 20% 21% 31% 24% 13% 7% 4%
    Without temporary migrants, Australia would face skill shortages 48% 23% 15% 33% 24% 12% 11% 5%
    Australia would be better off if we had fewer temporary migrants 41% 27% 18% 23% 28% 14% 12% 4%

     

    TOTAL: Agree   Employment Status Federal Voting Intention
    Total In paid employment Not in paid employment Retired Labor Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Temporary migrants support the economy by spending their money in Australia 57% 60% 51% 64% 59% 62% 56% 50%
    Businesses should hire Australian citizens where they can, even if they’re not as skilled as candidates who are temporary migrants 54% 53% 46% 67% 50% 61% 40% 75%
    If temporary migrants pay the same taxes as Australian citizens, they should be entitled to the same government support 52% 57% 48% 52% 56% 51% 55% 51%
    It’s realistic to expect temporary residents who lose work in Australia to go back to their home countries 52% 52% 44% 63% 51% 59% 32% 65%
    Without temporary migrants, Australia would face skill shortages 48% 51% 47% 48% 48% 57% 45% 34%
    Australia would be better off if we had fewer temporary migrants 41% 43% 31% 52% 41% 46% 22% 57%
    Base (n) 1,067 550 254 212 306 418 86 143
    • More than half of participants agree with any of the statements about temporary migrants – except without temporary migrants, Australia would face skill shortages (48%) and Australia would be better off if we had fewer temporary migrants (41%).
    • Retirees are more likely to agree that businesses should hire Australian citizens where they can, even if they’re not as skilled as candidates who are temporary migrants (67%), Australia would be better off if we had fewer temporary migrants (52%) and it’s realistic to expect temporary residents who lose work in Australia to go back to their home countries (63%) than other participants (51%, 39% and 49% respectively).
    • Similarly other or independent party voters are most likely to agree that businesses should hire Australian citizens where they can, even if they’re not as skilled as candidates who are temporary migrants (75% v 55% all other voters) and Australia would be better off if we had fewer temporary migrants (57% v 41% all other voters).
    • Coalition most likely to agree without temporary migrants, Australia would face skill shortages (57% v 44% all other voters).
    • Greens voters are least likely to agree that businesses should hire Australian citizens where they can, even if they’re not as skilled as candidates who are temporary migrants (40% v 59% all other voters), Australia would be better off if we had fewer temporary migrants (22% v 45% all other voters) and it’s realistic to expect temporary residents who lose work in Australia to go back to their home countries (32% v 57% all other voters).
    • Participants who support Kristina Kenneally’s “Australia first” approach more likely to agree that businesses should hire Australian citizens where they can, even if they’re not as skilled as candidates who are temporary migrants (68%) and Australia would be better off if we had fewer temporary migrants (52%).
  • May, 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?

    May’20 Apr’20 Mar’20 Feb’20 Jan’20 Dec’19 Nov’19 Oct’19 Sep’19 Aug’19 Jul’19
    TOTAL: Approve 64% 59% 41% 39% 40% 45% 45% 47% 49% 48% 48%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 27% 31% 49% 52% 52% 43% 41% 38% 36% 37% 34%
    Don’t know 9% 10% 10% 9% 8% 13% 13% 15% 15% 16% 18%
    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 22% 8% 45% 6% 12%
    Approve 42% 38% 46% 31% 49%
    Disapprove 17% 29% 5% 30% 20%
    Strongly disapprove 10% 16% 2% 23% 9%
    Don’t know 9% 10% 2% 10% 9%
    TOTAL: Approve 64% 46% 92% 38% 62%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 27% 44% 7% 52% 29%
    Base (n) 1,093 325 435 108 114
    • The Prime Minister’s approval rating has increased for the fourth straight month, reaching 64% from 39% at the start of February.
    • Approval of the Prime Minister among is at 92% of Coalition supporters, with 46% approval among Labor voters, 38% among Greens voters and 62% of all others.
  • May, 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?

    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%).
  • May, 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?

      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.
  • May, 2020

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    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%).
  • May, 2020

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    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).
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