The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Sep, 2019

    Impact of Government policies

    Q. Over the next three years, do you think the policies of the current Government will…

      Total Gender Age
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+
    Make a large positive difference to Australia 12% 14% 11% 15% 11% 11%
    Make a modest positive difference to Australia 28% 32% 26% 24% 27% 33%
    Make neither a positive nor negative difference to Australia 25% 21% 29% 29% 26% 21%
    Make a modest negative difference to Australia 12% 14% 11% 12% 11% 14%
    Make a large negative difference to Australia 10% 12% 9% 5% 11% 14%
    Unsure 11% 8% 15% 15% 13% 7%
    NET: Positive difference to Australia 41% 45% 36% 39% 28% 44%
    NET: Negative difference to Australia 23% 26% 20% 17% 22% 28%
    Base (n) 1,075 527 548 328 373 374

     

      Total Federal Voting Intention (Lower House)
    Labor NET: Coalition Greens Independent / Other
    Make a large positive difference to Australia 12% 9% 20% 2% 6%
    Make a modest positive difference to Australia 28% 18% 48% 22% 15%
    Make neither a positive nor negative difference to Australia 25% 29% 18% 29% 33%
    Make a modest negative difference to Australia 12% 20% 5% 17% 13%
    Make a large negative difference to Australia 10% 14% 2% 21% 21%
    Unsure 11% 11% 5% 9% 13%
    NET: Positive difference to Australia 41% 27% 69% 25% 21%
    NET: Negative difference to Australia 23% 33% 8% 38% 34%
    Base (n) 1,075 336 381 100 137
    • Overall, 41% of people believe the policies of the current Government will make a positive difference to Australia. Of these, 12% expect there to be a large positive difference, and 28% expect a moderate positive difference.
    • Just under a quarter (23%) expect the policies to make a negative difference to Australia.
    • Coalition voters (69%) and men (45%) were most likely to expect the Government’s policies to make a positive difference to Australia.
    • Those intending to vote Labor (33%), Green (38%) and Other (34%) were all more likely to say the policies of the next three years would make a negative difference to Australia.
  • Sep, 2019

    Following Federal politics

    Q. Which of the following statements best describes your following of Federal politics?

      Total Gender Age
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+
    I follow it closely 15% 22% 9% 14% 14% 17%
    I follow it enough to know what’s happening 38% 41% 35% 27% 34% 51%
    I follow it when something big is happening 23% 21% 25% 26% 27% 18%
    I only pay attention when there’s an election 8% 6% 11% 11% 10% 5%
    I have no interest in politics 15% 11% 20% 22% 16% 9%
    Base (n) 1,075 527 548 328 373 374

     

      Total Federal Voting Intention (Lower House)
    Labor NET: Coalition Greens Independent / Other
    I follow it closely 15% 17% 18% 14% 12%
    I follow it enough to know what’s happening 38% 35% 50% 37% 37%
    I follow it when something big is happening 23% 26% 21% 28% 18%
    I only pay attention when there’s an election 8% 12% 5% 10% 9%
    I have no interest in politics 15% 20% 6% 11% 23%
    Base (n) 1,075 336 381 100 137
    • Just 15% of people say they closely follow Federal politics, and the same proportion say they have no interest in politics.
    • Those most likely to say they closely follow Federal politics are men (22%), those aged over 55 (17%) and Coalition voters (18%).
    • Those most likely to say they have no interest in politics are women (20%), younger people aged 18-34 (22%), Labor voters (20%) and those who intend to vote for an independent candidate or other party (23%).
  • Sep, 2019

    Interest in Politics and other topics

    Q. How much interest do you have in each of the following?

      A lot of interest Some interest A little interest Not much interest No interest at all
    Federal politics 19% 30% 22% 14% 14%
    International relations 16% 33% 28% 12% 12%
    State politics 15% 32% 27% 13% 14%
    Local politics 12% 32% 27% 13% 15%
    The football finals (AFL or NRL) 26% 18% 15% 12% 29%
    The Ashes 18% 17% 16% 12% 36%
    The Block 9% 13% 14% 15% 49%
    The Bachelor 7% 10% 12% 13% 59%
    • Almost one fifth of participants (19%) say they have a lot of interest in Federal politics. This is lower than the 26% of people who have a lot of interest in the upcoming football finals.
    • Sporting events are polarising, as they generate both a high amount of interest (26% for football and 18% for The Ashes) or no interest at all (29% and 36%).
    • TV shows do not generate much interest, with just 9% having a lot of interest in The Block, and 7% in the Bachelor.

    A lot of interest

      Total Gender Age
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+
    Federal politics 19% 24% 14% 13% 15% 29%
    International relations 16% 21% 11% 13% 16% 18%
    State politics 15% 21% 10% 10% 13% 22%
    Local politics 12% 15% 9% 11% 11% 14%
    The football finals

    (AFL or NRL)

    		 26% 32% 20% 22% 25% 30%
    The Ashes 18% 27% 10% 17% 16% 21%
    The Block 9% 8% 10% 11% 11% 6%
    The Bachelor 7% 6% 7% 12% 8% 1%

     

      Total Federal Voting Intention (Lower House)
    Labor NET: Coalition Greens Independent / Other
    Federal politics 19% 20% 26% 16% 15%
    International relations 16% 15% 19% 16% 17%
    State politics 15% 18% 19% 12% 11%
    Local politics 12% 13% 14% 12% 11%
    The football finals

    (AFL or NRL)

    		 26% 31% 28% 16% 27%
    The Ashes 18% 19% 24% 13% 15%
    The Block 9% 11% 9% 10% 8%
    The Bachelor 7% 8% 7% 6% 2%
    •  Men are more likely than women to say they have a lot of interest in all levels of politics and sporting events.
    • Older respondents (aged over 55) are more likely than those aged 18-34 to say they have a lot of interest in Federal and State politics (29% to 13%, and 22% to 10% respectively), but less likely to have interest in TV shows.

    No interest at all

      Total Gender Age
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+
    Federal politics 14% 10% 18% 21% 16% 7%
    International relations 12% 7% 16% 15% 14% 7%
    State politics 14% 11% 17% 21% 15% 8%
    Local politics 15% 12% 18% 22% 15% 9%
    The football finals

    (AFL or NRL)

    		 29% 21% 35% 27% 28% 31%
    The Ashes 36% 25% 47% 37% 38% 34%
    The Block 49% 53% 45% 34% 48% 63%
    The Bachelor 59% 61% 57% 37% 58% 79%

      

      Total Federal Voting Intention (Lower House)
    Labor NET: Coalition Greens Independent / Other
    Federal politics 14% 11% 8% 14% 23%
    International relations 12% 10% 6% 8% 19%
    State politics 14% 10% 8% 11% 22%
    Local politics 15% 13% 8% 12% 21%
    The football finals

    (AFL or NRL)

    		 29% 25% 21% 41% 38%
    The Ashes 36% 34% 26% 44% 47%
    The Block 49% 47% 47% 49% 59%
    The Bachelor 59% 58% 57% 56% 72%
  • Sep, 2019

    Migrant status

    Q. Which of the following best describes you?

      Total Gender Age
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+
    I am a migrant to Australia 24% 23% 26% 26% 22% 25%
    My parents migrated to Australia 15% 14% 15% 15% 16% 13%
    My grandparents migrated to Australia 11% 12% 10% 14% 11% 9%
    My family has been in Australian more than three generations 46% 46% 46% 41% 46% 51%
    I am an Indigenous Australian 4% 4% 3% 5% 4% 2%
    Base (n) 1,075 527 548 328 373 374
  • Sep, 2019

    Racism statements

    Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about racism in Australia? NET: Agree (Strongly/Somewhat Agree)

      Total I am a migrant to Australia My parents migrated to Australia My grandparents migrated to Australia My family has been in Australian more than three generations I am an Indigenous Australian
    People are scared to say what they really think because they don’t want to be labelled as racist 62% 58% 63% 59% 64% 70%
    I think Australia is less racist than it has been in the past 50% 48% 48% 43% 54% 41%
    Australia is a racist country 36% 33% 40% 38% 35% 43%
    A member of my family has experience racism or racial discrimination 29% 37% 42% 28% 20% 37%
    I have personally experienced racism or racial discrimination 27% 36% 38% 23% 19% 44%
    I feel torn between my identity with Australia and another culture 18% 30% 19% 15% 11% 30%
    Base (n) 1,075 260 155 120 499 41
    • Over a third of Australians who are first or second generation immigrants agree that they have personally experienced racism or racial discrimination in Australia (36% and 38%).
    • Almost two-thirds of Australians (62%) agree with the statement ‘ People are scared to say what they really think because they don’t want to be labelled as racist’.
  • Aug, 2019

    Performance of Scott Morrison

    Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Scott Morrison is doing as Prime Minister?

    Aug’19 Jul’19 Jun’19 Mar’19
    NET: Approve 48% 48% 48% 43%
    NET: Disapprove 37% 34% 36% 39%
    Don’t know 16% 18% 18% 18%
    Base (n) 1,096 1,091 1,099 1,090

    By voting intention

    TOTAL Labor Coalition Greens NET: Other
    Strongly approve 12% 3% 27% 5% 8%
    Approve 36% 28% 57% 16% 23%
    Disapprove 22% 31% 9% 27% 37%
    Strong disapprove 15% 26% 2% 34% 17%
    Don’t know 16% 13% 5% 18% 15%
    NET: Approve 48% 30% 84% 22% 32%
    NET: Disapprove 37% 57% 11% 60% 54%
    Base (n) 1,096 369 377 110 143
    • Just under half of Australians (48%) approve of the job Scott Morrison is doing as PM. This is consistent with the results last month and in Jun’19 (both 48%) and 5pts higher than before the start of the election campaign in March (43%).
    • Morrison retains his high approval among Coalition voters (84%). Approval was also high among participants over 55 years old (53%) and those in marriages or de facto relationships (54%).
  • Aug, 2019

    Performance of Anthony Albanese

    Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Anthony Albanese is doing as Opposition Leader?

    Aug’19 Jul’19 Jun’19 Mar’19

    (Shorten)
    NET: Approve 38% 39% 35% 38%
    NET: Disapprove 29% 24% 25% 44%
    Don’t know 33% 37% 39% 18%
    Base (n) 1,096 1,091 1,099 1,090

    By voting intention

    TOTAL Labor Coalition Greens NET: Other
    Strongly approve 6% 13% 3% 4% 2%
    Approve 32% 48% 29% 28% 18%
    Disapprove 20% 10% 27% 20% 35%
    Strong disapprove 9% 3% 13% 6% 18%
    Don’t know 33% 26% 28% 42% 27%
    NET: Approve 38% 61% 32% 32% 20%
    NET: Disapprove 29% 13% 40% 26% 53%
    Base (n) 1,096 369 377 110 143
    • Approval for Anthony Albanese remains steady in August at 38% but a high proportion of participants continue to be unsure about Albanese’s performance with 33% saying don’t know (down 4pts from June). This uncertainty is also evident among Labor supporters, with 26% still selecting Don’t know.
    • Those in the high-income band (46%), in paid employment (43%) or with a university education (44%) had the highest approval levels.
  • Aug, 2019

    Preferred Prime Minister

    Q. Who do you think would makes the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?

    Aug’19 Jul’19 Jun’19 May’19 Mar’19
    Scott Morrison 44% 44% 43% 39% 44%
    Anthony Albanese 28% 26% 25% 32%

    (Shorten)

    		 31%

    (Shorten)
    Don’t know 28% 31% 32% 28% 26%
    Base (n) 1,096 1,091 1,099 1,210 1,090

    By gender

      Total Gender Age
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+
    Scott Morrison 44% 49% 39% 37% 41% 53%
    Anthony Albanese 28% 30% 26% 30% 29% 24%
    Don’t know 28% 22% 35% 32% 30% 24%
    Base (n) 1,096 536 560 347 364 385
    • 44% of the public believe Scott Morrison is the better PM out of the two major party leaders. This is consistent with July and June, when 44% and 43% respectively considered the current PM to be the better choice.
    • 28% believe Albanese would make the better PM, just a 2% increase from last month (26% in July).
Error: