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Attitudes towards border protection and Coronavirus
Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the Coronavirus?
| NET: Agree | NET: Disagree | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Neither agree nor disagree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | |
| Because of global movements in people we are more vulnerable to the spread of viruses like this | 81% | 5% | 43% | 38% | 14% | 3% | 2% |
| The Australian government has been right to prevent people from mainland China entering Australia | 80% | 6% | 53% | 27% | 14% | 4% | 3% |
| The government and the media have done a good job in keeping the public informed about the virus | 62% | 15% | 22% | 40% | 23% | 10% | 5% |
| The border with China should be kept open to keep money from tourism and students coming into the country | 20% | 54% | 6% | 14% | 26% | 22% | 32% |
| NET: Agree | Age | Federal Voting Intention (Lower House) | ||||||
| Total | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | |
| Because of global movements in people we are more vulnerable to the spread of viruses like this | 81% | 70% | 82% | 90% | 80% | 86% | 76% | 84% |
| The Australian government has been right to prevent people from mainland China entering Australia | 80% | 71% | 80% | 88% | 79% | 88% | 66% | 82% |
| The government and the media have done a good job in keeping the public informed about the virus | 62% | 53% | 59% | 73% | 61% | 73% | 49% | 53% |
| The border with China should be kept open to keep money from tourism and students coming into the country | 20% | 28% | 20% | 13% | 21% | 21% | 22% | 13% |
| Base (n) | 1,090 | 341 | 374 | 375 | 336 | 390 | 104 | 146 |
- Four out of five participants agree that because of global movements in people we are more vulnerable to the spread of viruses like this (81%) or the Australian government has been right to prevent people from mainland China entering Australia (80%).
- Three in five agree the government and the media have done a good job in keeping the public informed about the virus (62%); but only one in five agree that the border with China should be kept open to keep money from tourism and students coming into the country (20%).
- Participants over 55 years old (90%, 88% and 73% agreement respectively) and Liberal voters (86%, 88% and 73%) are more likely to agree with the top three statements.
- Capital residents are more likely to agree that government and the media have done a good job in keeping the public informed about the virus than those in non-capital cities (65% compared to 57%).
- Men, 18-34 year olds and participants with a university education are more likely to agree that the border with China should be kept open to keep money from tourism and students coming into the country (24%, 28%, 29% respectively); than women, participants over 55 or with a secondary school education (16%, 13%, 12% respectively).
Attitudes towards mobile phone etiquette
Q. How appropriate are the following examples of mobile phone etiquette?
| NET: Appropriate | NET: Inappropriate | Always appropriate | Usually appropriate | Sometimes appropriate | Rarely appropriate | Never appropriate | |
| Having video calls in public place (e.g. cafe or public transport) | 13% | 64% | 4% | 9% | 23% | 28% | 36% |
| Texting or watching movies while walking along the street | 12% | 69% | 4% | 8% | 19% | 23% | 46% |
| Checking messages while in a conversation with another person | 10% | 69% | 4% | 6% | 21% | 28% | 41% |
| Having phone conversations on speaker in a public place (e.g. cafe or public transport) | 10% | 73% | 4% | 7% | 16% | 23% | 50% |
| Using speakers rather than headphones in public | 10% | 77% | 4% | 6% | 13% | 25% | 52% |
| NET: Inappropriate | Gender | Age | ||||
| Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | |
| Having video calls in public place (e.g. cafe or public transport) | 64% | 59% | 69% | 43% | 60% | 86% |
| Texting or watching movies while walking along the street | 69% | 64% | 74% | 48% | 67% | 90% |
| Checking messages while in a conversation with another person | 69% | 63% | 75% | 51% | 66% | 88% |
| Having phone conversations on speaker in a public place (e.g. cafe or public transport) | 73% | 68% | 78% | 60% | 70% | 87% |
| Using speakers rather than headphones in public | 77% | 74% | 80% | 67% | 77% | 86% |
| Base (n) | 1,090 | 539 | 551 | 341 | 374 | 375 |
- Over half of people (52%) say it’s never appropriate to use speakers, rather than headphones in public, with another quarter (25%) saying it’s rarely appropriate.
- Having a video call is seen to be the least inappropriate activity (36%), but still just 4% say this activity was always appropriate and 9% say it is usually appropriate.
- Women and people over 55 years old are more likely to say each of the activities is never appropriate compared to men and those aged 18-34.
- Non-capital city residents are more likely to say that having video calls in public place (43%), checking messages while in a conversation with another person (48%), and texting or watching movies while walking along the street (53%) are ‘never appropriate’ than their capital city compatriots (32%, 38% and 43% respectively).
- However not using headphones (either for calls or using media) is just as inappropriate for capital and non-capital residents.
Performance of Scott Morrison
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Scott Morrison is doing as Prime Minister?
| Feb’20 | Jan’20 | Dec’19 | Nov’19 | Oct’19 | Sep’19 | Aug’19 | Jul’19 | |
| NET: Approve | 39% | 40% | 45% | 45% | 47% | 49% | 48% | 48% |
| NET: Disapprove | 52% | 52% | 43% | 41% | 38% | 36% | 37% | 34% |
| Don’t know | 9% | 8% | 13% | 13% | 15% | 15% | 16% | 18% |
| Base (n) | 1,056 | 1,081 | 1,035 | 1,075 | 1,088 | 1,093 | 1,096 | 1,091 |
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | ||
| Strongly approve | 10% | 3% | 24% | 1% | 8% |
| Approve | 28% | 16% | 54% | 9% | 17% |
| Disapprove | 24% | 33% | 12% | 25% | 28% |
| Strongly disapprove | 28% | 40% | 5% | 60% | 36% |
| Don’t know | 9% | 8% | 5% | 5% | 11% |
| NET: Approve | 39% | 19% | 78% | 10% | 25% |
| NET: Disapprove | 52% | 74% | 17% | 84% | 64% |
| Base (n) | 1,056 | 354 | 320 | 113 | 155 |
- The Prime Minister’s approval rating is at 39%. It has not recovered following the fall from 45% at the end of last year to 40% in January.
- Still 52% disapprove of his performance, which shows no change from January (52%).
- However, the PM’s approval rating among Coalition voters remains high, 78% approval (79% in Jan’20).
Performance of Anthony Albanese
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Anthony Albanese is doing as Opposition Leader?
| Feb’20 | Jan’20 | Dec’19 | Nov’19 | Oct’19 | Sep’19 | Aug’19 | Jul’19 | |
| NET: Approve | 41% | 43% | 39% | 37% | 40% | 36% | 38% | 39% |
| NET: Disapprove | 31% | 30% | 28% | 34% | 29% | 31% | 29% | 24% |
| Don’t know | 28% | 27% | 33% | 29% | 31% | 33% | 33% | 37% |
| Base (n) | 1,056 | 1,081 | 1,035 | 1,075 | 1,088 | 1,093 | 1,096 | 1,091 |
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | ||
| Strongly approve | 6% | 12% | 4% | 3% | 2% |
| Approve | 35% | 51% | 34% | 27% | 17% |
| Disapprove | 22% | 12% | 30% | 27% | 28% |
| Strongly disapprove | 9% | 2% | 15% | 6% | 20% |
| Don’t know | 28% | 24% | 18% | 37% | 32% |
| NET: Approve | 41% | 62% | 37% | 30% | 20% |
| NET: Disapprove | 31% | 14% | 45% | 33% | 49% |
| Base (n) | 1,056 | 354 | 320 | 113 | 155 |
- Approval for Albanese has remained steady at 41% (43% last month). Those who don’t know about Albanese’s performance remains relatively high, at 28%.
- His approval within his voter base (62% among Labor voters) is still not as strong as Scott Morrison (78% among Coalition voters).
Preferred Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?
| Feb’20 | Jan’20 | Nov’19 | Oct’19 | Sep’19 | Aug’19 | Jul’19 | Jun’19 | |
| Scott Morrison | 36% | 36% | 44% | 43% | 46% | 44% | 44% | 43% |
| Anthony Albanese | 36% | 39% | 28% | 28% | 25% | 28% | 26% | 25% |
| Don’t know | 28% | 25% | 29% | 29% | 29% | 28% | 31% | 32% |
| Base (n) | 1,056 | 1,081 | 1,075 | 1,088 | 1,093 | 1,096 | 1,091 | 1,099 |
| Federal Voting Intention | |||||
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | |
| Scott Morrison | 36% | 14% | 77% | 5% | 31% |
| Anthony Albanese | 36% | 64% | 12% | 58% | 24% |
| Don’t know | 28% | 23% | 11% | 37% | 45% |
| Base (n) | 1,056 | 354 | 320 | 113 | 155 |
- Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese are considered equally capable of being Prime Minister (both 36%).
- 28% are unsure who would make the better PM.
Returning to budget surplus
Q. Before the 2019 Federal election, the Government promised the 2019-2020 budget would return to surplus. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about achieving a budget surplus?
| NET: Agree | NET: Disagree | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | Unsure | |
| It’s more important to spend money on bushfire recovery than fund the surplus | 79% | 11% | 50% | 30% | 7% | 5% | 9% |
| It’s understandable with the coronavirus impacting trade with China that the surplus won’t be achieved | 65% | 18% | 25% | 40% | 12% | 6% | 17% |
| The government was wrong to announce the budget ‘was back in the black’ before the last election | 57% | 24% | 25% | 32% | 17% | 7% | 19% |
- Four in five (79%) agree that it’s more important to spend money on bushfire recovery than fund the surplus; 65% agree that it’s understandable with the coronavirus impacting trade on China that the surplus won’t be achieved; and over half (57%) agree that the government was wrong to announce the budget ‘was back in the black’ before the last election.
- Coalition voters are least likely to agree that the government was wrong to announce the budget ‘was back in the black’ before the last election (44%); while Labor (70%) and Greens (68%) voters are most likely to agree.
Attitude to Bridget McKenzie’s resignation and grant allocation
Q. The Deputy Leader of the Nationals has resigned for having a conflict of interest in awarding a grant to a shooting club of which she was a member. Which of the following statements do you agree with?
| NET: Agree | NET: Disagree | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | Unsure | |
| The investigation needs to continue to investigate any MP involved in the allocation of sports grants | 70% | 17% | 70% | 17% | 11% | 6% | 13% |
| Giving grants to sports organisations in marginal seats was only done to influence the election result in the Governments favour | 66% | 16% | 36% | 30% | 12% | 5% | 18% |
| The minister’s resignation should be the end of the matter | 49% | 38% | 24% | 26% | 20% | 18% | 13% |
| NET: Agree | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | |
| The investigation needs to continue to investigate any MP involved in the allocation of sports grants | 70% | 77% | 65% | 81% | 71% |
| Giving grants to sports organisations in marginal seats was only done to influence the election result in the Governments favour | 66% | 76% | 56% | 70% | 73% |
| The minister’s resignation should be the end of the matter | 49% | 44% | 61% | 44% | 44% |
| Base (n) | 1,056 | 354 | 320 | 113 | 155 |
- 70% of participants agree that the investigation into the Deputy Nationals Leader needs to continue to investigate any MP involved in the allocation of sports grants. Half (49%) of participants agree that the minister’s resignation should be the end of the matter.
- Coalition voters are more likely to agree that the minister’s resignation should be the end of the matter (61%) than all other voters (44%).
- Additionally, Coalition voters are least likely to agree that the investigation needs to continue (65%) and giving grants to sports organisations in marginal seats was only done to influence the election result in the Governments favour (56%), than all other voters (76% and 74%).
Coronavirus concerns and government actions
Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of the Coronavirus in Australia?
| Total | |
| Very concerned | 25% |
| Quite concerned | 43% |
| Not that concerned | 26% |
| Not at all concerned | 6% |
| Base (n) | 1,056 |
Q. Do you think the Government is doing enough to protect Australians from the threat of Coronavirus?
| Age | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||
| Total | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | |
| Government is doing enough | 49% | 43% | 45% | 57% | 43% | 68% | 34% | 37% |
| Government is not doing enough | 30% | 38% | 35% | 19% | 38% | 16% | 38% | 40% |
| Don’t know | 21% | 19% | 20% | 24% | 19% | 15% | 28% | 23% |
| Base (n) | 1,056 | 341 | 366 | 349 | 354 | 320 | 113 | 155 |
- 25% are very concerned about the threat of the Coronavirus to Australia and 43% are quite concerned. 26% are not at all concerned and 6% say they are not at all concerned.
- 49% of participants believe the government is doing enough to protect Australians from Coronavirus; those over 55 years old (57%) and Coalition voters (68%) are most likely to say that the Government is doing enough.
- Those aged 18-54 year old (37%), with dependent children (35%), Greens voters (38%) and other/independent party voters (40%) are more likely to believe that the government isn’t doing enough.
Attitudes towards Coronavirus management
Q. To what extent do you support or oppose the following measures to limit the spread of the Coronavirus to Australia?
| NET: Agree | NET: Disagree | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | Unsure | |
| Stopping all flights to and from China until more is known about the disease | 85% | 10% | 59% | 25% | 8% | 2% | 5% |
| Stopping anyone from entering the country who has who has been to China in the last 14 days | 84% | 11% | 59% | 25% | 8% | 3% | 5% |
| People entering Australia from affected areas in China will be quarantined on Christmas Island for 14 days | 82% | 12% | 59% | 23% | 8% | 4% | 6% |
| NET: Agree | Age | Federal Voting Intention | ||||||
| Total | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | |
| Stopping all flights to and from China until more is known about the disease | 85% | 77% | 83% | 92% | 84% | 91% | 72% | 82% |
| Stopping anyone from entering the country who has who has been to China in the last 14 days | 84% | 76% | 84% | 90% | 84% | 90% | 71% | 86% |
| People entering Australia from affected areas in China will be quarantined on Christmas Island for 14 days | 82% | 73% | 82% | 90% | 79% | 92% | 67% | 83% |
| Base (n) | 1,056 | 341 | 366 | 349 | 354 | 320 | 113 | 155 |
- More than four-fifths of participants agree with each of the three measures to limit to the spread of the Coronavirus; stopping all flights to and from China has 85% agreement, stopping anyone entering the country who has been to China in the last 14 days has 84% agreement, and 82% agree that people entering Australia from affected areas in China should be quarantined.
- Participants over 55 years old and Coalition voters are more likely to agree with these measures, than participants 18-34 and Greens voters.
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Download this weeks ReportEssential Report
Two Party Preferred: 14 May 2019
Labor
51.5%-0.5
Coalition
48.5%+0.5
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