The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Apr, 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?

      20/04 13/04 06/04 29/03 22/03
    Very poor 5% 6% 6% 11% 9%
    Quite poor 10% 12% 15% 21% 20%
    Neither good, nor poor 21% 20% 21% 24% 26%
    Quite good 42% 40% 37% 34% 33%
    Very good 23% 23% 21% 11% 12%
    NET: Poor 15% 17% 21% 31% 29%
    NET: Good 65% 63% 58% 45% 45%
    Base (n) 1,051 1,068 1,069 1,086 1,034

     

      Gender Age Group Location
      Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Capital Non-Capital
    Very poor 5% 7% 2% 6% 5% 3% 5% 5%
    Quite poor 10% 11% 9% 17% 8% 6% 11% 8%
    Neither good, nor poor 21% 19% 22% 25% 24% 13% 20% 22%
    Quite good 42% 40% 43% 38% 43% 43% 42% 40%
    Very good 23% 23% 23% 13% 20% 35% 22% 25%
    NET: Poor 15% 18% 12% 23% 13% 9% 16% 13%
    NET: Good 65% 63% 67% 51% 63% 78% 65% 65%
    Base (n) 1,051 525 526 341 325 385 722 329
    • The perception that the Government remains high, with 65% now thinking the Government has done a good job (Very/somewhat) in handling the crisis.
  • Apr, 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?

      20/04 13/04
    Very poor 5% 5%
    Quite poor 9% 11%
    Neither good, nor poor 20% 20%
    Quite good 39% 38%
    Very good 26% 23%
    NET: Poor 14% 17%
    NET: Good 66% 63%
    Base (n) 1,051 1,068

     

        State
      Total NSW VIC QLD SA WA  
    Very poor 5% 5% 6% 3% 3% 4%  
    Quite poor 9% 12% 5% 11% 8% 7%  
    Neither good, nor poor 20% 21% 20% 23% 23% 12%  
    Quite good 39% 37% 38% 47% 43% 34%  
    Very good 26% 24% 32% 16% 23% 43%  
    NET: Poor 14% 17% 11% 14% 11% 11%  
    NET: Good 66% 61% 69% 63% 66% 77%  
    Base (n) 1,051 322 275 216 88 106  
    • Nationally, the perception of state governments’ handling of the crisis in in line with government, with 66% rating their own state’s handling as Very/Quite good (compared to 65%).
    • In the past week the rating in Queensland has increased from 52% to 63%, while Victoria has fallen from 76% to 69%. Western Australia and Victoria remain the states with the highest rating.
  • Apr, 2020

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    Easing Restrictions

    Q. When do you think governments should start to ease the restrictions on travel and gatherings to allow offices, shops, restaurants, other workplaces and public spaces to start operating again?

        Age Group Employment Status
      Total 18-34 35-54 55+ In paid employment Not in paid employment Retired
    As soon as possible 9% 17% 7% 4% 11% 10% 3%
    Within the next 1 to 2 weeks 6% 9% 3% 5% 7% 5% 4%
    Within the next month 14% 15% 13% 13% 14% 15% 10%
    By the end of next month 13% 13% 12% 15% 13% 13% 16%
    It is too soon to consider easing restrictions 49% 37% 51% 56% 48% 40% 63%
    Unsure 10% 8% 14% 6% 8% 16% 4%
    Base (n) 1,051 341 325 385 533 268 202

     

        State
      Total NSW VIC QLD SA WA  
    As soon as possible 9% 11% 8% 9% 8% 7%  
    Within the next 1 to 2 weeks 6% 5% 7% 6% 5% 5%  
    Within the next month 14% 15% 14% 13% 12% 12%  
    By the end of next month 13% 14% 13% 15% 14% 14%  
    It is too soon to consider easing restrictions 49% 44% 53% 46% 48% 54%  
    Unsure 10% 11% 6% 12% 14% 9%  
    Base (n) 1,051 322 275 216 88 106  
    • Half of people think it is too soon to consider lifting restrictions. 29% think restrictions should be lifted within the next month (9% as soon as possible, 6% within the next fortnight and 14% within the next month).
    • Those most likely to want an immediate easing of restrictions are aged 18-34 (17%), those in paid employment (11%) and people with a high household income (Over $104k p/a, 14%).
    • People who are retired (63%) and residents of Victoria (53%) and WA (54%) are most likely to think it too soon to lift restrictions.
  • Apr, 2020

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    Government Covid-19 tracking app

    Q. The Federal Government is developing an app to help stop the spread of Covid-19. The TraceTogether app will track a person’s movements by GPS and record if that person comes into contact with someone who is Covid-19 positive.

    People have to voluntarily opt-in to download the app onto their mobile phones before their movements can be tracked. Once logged in, the app would track you wherever you went.

    To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about this proposed technology?

      NET: Agree NET: Disagree Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree
    I would be uncomfortable if the government was able to track all my movements via an app on my mobile phone 57% 23% 28% 29% 21% 13% 10%
    This app would help limit the spread of Covid-19 52% 17% 17% 34% 32% 10% 7%
    This app would speed up the removal of physical distancing restrictions 42% 18% 13% 29% 39% 11% 7%
    I would download this app onto my mobile phone 38% 33% 15% 23% 28% 14% 19%
    I would be concerned with the security of my personal data if this app was on my phone 63% 17% 32% 31% 20% 11% 6%
    I’m confident the government will not misuse any data it collects about me via the app 35% 36% 12% 23% 29% 19% 17%
    •  38% of people agree (strongly/somewhat) that they would download the proposed app to track the spread of Covid-19, 33% of the population disagree.
    • Younger people aged 18-34 are more likely to agree they would download the app (44%) than those aged over 35 (35%). 18-34 year olds are also more likely to agree that the app would help stop the spread of the disease (47%) than those aged over 35 (40%).
    • There are security and privacy concerns about the app, with 63% concerned about the security of their personal data. 57% are uncomfortable with the government tracking movements and just 35% confident the government can be trusted not to misuse collected data.
  • Apr, 2020

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    Financial situation during Covid-19 outbreak

    Q. Which of the following best describes your financial situation during the Covid-19 outbreak?

    NET: Agree 20/04 13/04 06/04 29/03 22/03
    I do not expect the Covid-19 will impact my income 23% 23% 24% 26% 24%
    I have sufficient savings to deal with a short-term loss of income 27% 29% 28% 32% 26%
    I will struggle with a short-term loss of income, but will get by 32% 33% 31% 23% 29%
    I will be in serious financial stress with short-term loss of income 18% 16% 16% 20% 21%
    Base (n) 1,051 1,068 1,069 1,086 1,034

     

        Household Employment
      Total Have dependent children Do not have dependent children In paid employment Not in paid employment Retired
    I do not expect the Covid-19 will impact my income 23% 18% 26% 14% 23% 46%
    I have sufficient savings to deal with a short-term loss of income 27% 24% 29% 31% 17% 34%
    I will struggle with a short-term loss of income, but will get by 32% 37% 29% 38% 33% 16%
    I will be in serious financial stress with short-term loss of income 18% 21% 16% 17% 28% 4%
    Base (n) 1,051 405 646 533 268 202
  • Apr, 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 20/04 13/04 06/04 29/03 22/03
    I feel informed about the situation and the impact on me and my family 66% 71% 70% 63% 64%
    I trust the Government to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 outbreak 62% 65% 63% 56% 56%
    The information I’ve received has been clear and consistent 55% 58% 52% 47% 51%
    I trust the media to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 outbreak 41% 42% 51% 42% 35%
    Base (n) 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 66% 15% 23% 43% 19% 11% 4%
    I trust the Government to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 outbreak 62% 19% 23% 39% 19% 12% 7%
    The information I’ve received has been clear and consistent 55% 26% 18% 37% 19% 18% 8%
    I trust the media to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 outbreak 41% 32% 8% 33% 26% 20% 12%
  • Apr, 2020

    Trust in Institutions

    Q. How much trust do you have in the following institutions and organisations?

      NET: Total Trust A lot of trust Some trust A little trust No trust Unsure Mar

    2019

    		 Sep 2018 Oct 2017 Sep 2016
    Federal police 68% 24% 45% 18% 9% 5% 66% 70% 71% 63%
    State police 68% 23% 45% 20% 8% 4% 66% 67% 67% 63%
    The High Court 61% 21% 40% 23% 10% 6% 58% 61% 61% 57%
    The Reserve Bank 60% 16% 44% 23% 10% 7% 49% 50% 49% 47%
    The ABC 58% 19% 39% 22% 12% 8% 51% 54% 52% 53%
    Courts and the legal system 57% 16% 41% 27% 12% 4% – – – –
    Charitable organisations 54% 12% 42% 27% 13% 6% 50% 47% 46% 43%
    Federal Parliament 53% 13% 40% 29% 13% 5% 35% 28% 30% 26%
    Your local council 53% 10% 43% 29% 14% 5% 43% 42% 38% 36%
    The Commonwealth public service 52% 11% 40% 31% 10% 8% 42% 39% 38% 36%
    State Parliament 51% 12% 40% 29% 14% 6% 36% 31% 31% 26%
    Environment groups 46% 12% 33% 30% 18% 7% 43% 42% 42% 39%
    Trade unions 42% 8% 34% 29% 21% 9% 31% 25% 25% 25%
    Business groups 40% 6% 34% 37% 15% 9% 31% 29% 28% 27%
    Religious organisations 35% 8% 27% 28% 31% 6% 27% 28% 26% 26%
    Political parties 33% 5% 28% 38% 22% 7% 22% 15% 18% 14%
    • There have been large increases in the trust in institutions and organisations from last year.
    • Trust in the following all significantly increased from last year: federal parliament (35% to 53%), state parliament (36% to 51%), local councils (43% to 53%), the Commonwealth public service (42% to 52%), the Reserve bank (49% to 60%), business groups (31% to 40%), trade unions (31% to 42%), religious organisations (27% to 35%) and political parties (22% to 33%).
    • Federal and state police (68% trust) remain the most trusted institutions in the list.
  • Apr, 2020

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    Coronavirus concerns

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

      13/04 06/04 29/03 22/03 09/03 10/02
    Very concerned 45% 51% 53% 39% 27% 25%
    Quite concerned 43% 37% 35% 43% 36% 43%
    Not that concerned 9% 10% 10% 14% 28% 26%
    Not at all concerned 3% 2% 3% 4% 9% 6%
    Base (n) 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 45% 45% 47% 45% 47% 42%
    Quite concerned 43% 43% 40% 44% 43% 43%
    Not that concerned 9% 9% 10% 8% 8% 12%
    Not at all concerned 3% 2% 3% 3% 2% 4%
    Base (n) 1,068 343 340 385 722 346
    • Concern about the threat of Covid-19 has lessened this week, with 45% saying they are very concerned (down from 51% last week). The proportion of people who say they are Quite concerned has increased by the equivalent amount from 37% to 43%).
    • The proportion of over 55s saying they are very concerned has decreased from 54% to 45, while concern in both capital and regional areas has eased (those very concerned in capital cities has fallen from 53% to 47%, while in regional areas it has moved from 48% to 42%).
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