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  • Mar, 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?

        Gender Age Group Location
      Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Capital Non-Capital
    Very poor 9% 11% 7% 10% 11% 6% 10% 8%
    Quite poor 20% 19% 21% 28% 20% 14% 23% 15%
    Neither good, nor poor 26% 26% 26% 30% 31% 18% 25% 27%
    Quite good 33% 32% 34% 25% 28% 44% 31% 36%
    Very good 12% 11% 12% 7% 10% 17% 11% 13%
    NET: Poor 29% 30% 29% 38% 31% 20% 32% 24%
    NET: Good 45% 44% 46% 33% 38% 62% 43% 49%
    Base (n) 1,034 519 515 342 365 324 703 331
    • 45% of people rate the performance of the government to the threat has been quite or very good. Those aged over 55 are more likely to rate the performance as good (62%).
    • Those aged 18-34 were most likely to rate the performance as poor (very/quite poor, 38%).
    • Those who think the threat of Covid-19 has been under-estimated have a low rating of government performance (46% very/quite poor).
  • Mar, 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 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 64% 14% 18% 46% 22% 9% 5%
    I trust the Government to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 outbreak 56% 20% 19% 37% 24% 12% 8%
    The information I’ve received has been clear and consistent 51% 24% 15% 37% 25% 17% 7%
    I trust the media to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 outbreak 35% 40% 7% 27% 26% 23% 17%
    • Around two-thirds of people agree that they feel informed about the situation (64%) and over half (56%) trust the government to provide honest and objective information about the outbreak.
    • Half think the information they’ve received has been clear and consistent (51%).
    • Those who think the threat of Covid-19 has been under-estimated are more likely to disagree that they feel informed of the situation (22%), that the information they’ve receive is clear and consistent (33%) and they trust the government to deliver honest and objective information (34%).
        Gender Age Group Location
    NET: AGREE Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Capital Non-Capital
    I feel informed about the situation and the impact on me and my family 64% 63% 65% 58% 59% 73% 65% 61%
    I trust the Government to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 outbreak 56% 57% 54% 48% 51% 66% 57% 53%
    The information I’ve received has been clear and consistent 51% 53% 50% 49% 47% 58% 54% 47%
    I trust the media to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 outbreak 35% 38% 32% 31% 35% 37% 36% 32%
    Base (n) 1,034 519 515 342 327 365 703 331
    • Those aged over 55 are more likely to agree that they feel informed about the situation (73%), that they have trust in the information from the government (66%) and that the information they’ve received has been clear and concise (58%).
    • People in non-capital areas are less likely to agree that the information they have received has been clear and consistent (47%) compared to those in capital cities (54%).
  • Mar, 2020

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    Changing behaviour due to Covid-19

    Q. Have you changed your behaviour in any of the following ways since the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak?

        Gender Age Group Location
      Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Capital Non-Capital
    Increased personal hygiene measures (e.g. hand washing) 72% 70% 74% 72% 67% 76% 73% 70%
    Limited attending social spaces, shops, restaurants or group events 60% 56% 63% 60% 58% 61% 61% 56%
    Stopped physical greetings (e.g. shaking hands, kissing, hugging) 60% 57% 63% 57% 57% 65% 60% 60%
    Bought additional groceries to stock-up 33% 32% 35% 38% 36% 27% 37% 25%
    Reduced use of cash to pay for purchases 23% 20% 25% 30% 23% 17% 24% 19%
    Changed working patterns (e.g. changed hours, or working from home) 20% 24% 17% 33% 24% 6% 23% 14%
    None of these 12% 13% 11% 8% 15% 13% 10% 16%
    Base (n) 1,034 519 515 342 327 365 703 331
    • Since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak, a majority of people have increased their personal hygiene (72%), limited their social interactions (60%) and reduced physical greetings (60%). A third of people say they have stocked up on groceries (33%).
    • Younger people aged 18-34 were more likely to have changed their working patterns (33%) and reduced using cash for payments (30%)
    • Just 12% of people say they have not changed their behaviour as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak.
  • Mar, 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?

        Gender Age Group Location
      Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Capital Non-Capital
    I do not expect the Covid-19 will impact my income 24% 22% 26% 16% 18% 37% 22% 28%
    I have sufficient savings to deal with a short-term loss of income 26% 29% 22% 19% 26% 31% 28% 21%
    I will struggle with a short-term loss of income, but will get by 29% 30% 28% 40% 28% 20% 31% 26%
    I will be in serious financial stress with short-term loss of income 21% 18% 24% 25% 28% 11% 19% 25%
    Base (n) 1,034 519 515 342 327 365 703 331
    • One in five people expect to be in serious financial stress due to a loss of income (21%), a further 29% say they will struggle.
    • Women (24%), those aged 18-34 (25%) or 35-54 (28%) and those living in non-capital areas (25%) are most likely to be in serious financial stress.
    • Around half people say they either have sufficient savings to manage a loss of income (26%) or will not suffer a loss of income as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak (24%).
    • Those aged over 55 are more likely to be in a strong financial position, with 37% not expecting their income to be impacted and 31% having sufficient savings to manage a short-term loss of income.
        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 24% 18% 28% 12% 31% 41%
    I have sufficient savings to deal with a short-term loss of income 26% 23% 27% 27% 14% 36%
    I will struggle with a short-term loss of income, but will get by 29% 32% 27% 37% 25% 17%
    I will be in serious financial stress with short-term loss of income 21% 26% 18% 23% 30% 7%
    Base (n) 1,034 372 662 519 255 228
    • A quarter of families with dependent children in the household expect to be in serious financial stress with a short-term loss of income.
  • Mar, 2020

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    Federal opposition during Covid-19

    Q. Which of the following is closest to your view on the role of the Federal Labor opposition during the response to the Covid-19 outbreak?

        Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Coalition Labor Greens NET: Other
    Opposition should accept the Government recommendations to ensure decisions are made quickly 49% 52% 45% 46% 46% 54% 66% 40% 35% 49%
    Opposition review and challenge Government decisions to ensure the best decisions are made 33% 35% 31% 33% 30% 36% 24% 45% 41% 33%
    Unsure 19% 13% 24% 21% 24% 10% 10% 15% 25% 18%
    Base (n) 1,034 519 515 342 327 365 324 344 108 126
    • Half of people (49%) prefer decisions to make quickly by to Government to react to the Covid-19 outbreak. This is highest among Coalition voters (66%).
    • A third (33%) want decisions reviewed and challenged by the opposition.
  • Mar, 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?

    Mar’20 Feb’20 Jan’20 Dec’19 Nov’19 Oct’19 Sep’19 Aug’19 Jul’19
    NET: Approve 41% 39% 40% 45% 45% 47% 49% 48% 48%
    NET: Disapprove 49% 52% 52% 43% 41% 38% 36% 37% 34%
    Don’t know 10% 9% 8% 13% 13% 15% 15% 16% 18%
    Base (n) 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 NET: Other
    Strongly approve 11% 4% 23% 1% 9%
    Approve 31% 15% 54% 14% 29%
    Disapprove 23% 31% 16% 23% 26%
    Strongly disapprove 26% 44% 3% 56% 30%
    Don’t know 10% 7% 4% 5% 7%
    NET: Approve 41% 19% 77% 16% 38%
    NET: Disapprove 49% 75% 19% 79% 55%
    Base (n) 1,096 347 359 92 171
    • The Prime Minister’s approval rating is now at 41% and still has not recovered following the fall from 45% at the end of last year.
    • Now 49% disapprove of his performance, which shows no change from January (52%).
    • However, the PM’s approval rating among Coalition voters remains high, 77% approval (78% in Feb’20).
  • Mar, 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?

    Mar’20 Feb’20 Jan’20 Dec’19 Nov’19 Oct’19 Sep’19 Aug’19 Jul’19
    NET: Approve 41% 41% 43% 39% 37% 40% 36% 38% 39%
    NET: Disapprove 33% 31% 30% 28% 34% 29% 31% 29% 24%
    Don’t know 26% 28% 27% 33% 29% 31% 33% 33% 37%
    Base (n) 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 NET: Other
    Strongly approve 8% 16% 4% 7% 7%
    Approve 33% 48% 30% 33% 19%
    Disapprove 22% 14% 30% 29% 25%
    Strongly disapprove 10% 2% 19% 5% 16%
    Don’t know 26% 20% 17% 26% 33%
    NET: Approve 41% 64% 34% 40% 26%
    NET: Disapprove 33% 16% 49% 33% 41%
    Base (n) 1,096 347 359 92 171
    • The Opposition Leader’s approval rating is also at 41%, on par with the results from Jan’20 (43%).
    • A third of participants (33%) disapprove of Albanese’s performance which is up from Dec’19 (28%).
    • Albanese’s approval among Labor voters remains relatively low at 64%, compared to Morrison’s approval among Coalition voters (77%).
  • Mar, 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?

    Mar’20 Feb’20 Jan’20 Nov’19 Oct’19 Sep’19 Aug’19 Jul’19 Jun’19
    Scott Morrison 40% 36% 36% 44% 43% 46% 44% 44% 43%
    Anthony Albanese 35% 36% 39% 28% 28% 25% 28% 26% 25%
    Don’t know 25% 28% 25% 29% 29% 29% 28% 31% 32%
    Base (n) 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 NET: Other
    Scott Morrison 40% 13% 78% 15% 38%
    Anthony Albanese 35% 66% 11% 58% 23%
    Don’t know 25% 21% 12% 27% 39%
    Base (n) 1,096 347 359 92 171
    • 40% of participants believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (35%).
    • Three-quarters (78%) of Coalition voters prefer Morrison whereas 66% of Labor voters prefer Albanese.
    • A quarter (25%) of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
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