Essential Report
Last 12 months
Q. Thinking about the last 12 months, has it been a good or bad year for each of the following?
TOTAL: Good | TOTAL:
Bad |
NET | Very good | Good | Neither good nor bad | Bad | Very bad | Don’t know | |||
The Australian economy | 15% | 62% | -47 | 6% | 9% | 18% | 39% | 23% | 3% | ||
Australian politics in general | 24% | 31% | -7 | 7% | 17% | 35% | 23% | 10% | 7% | ||
The Australian Government | 27% | 34% | -7 | 8% | 19% | 31% | 23% | 10% | 8% | ||
Large companies and corporations | 27% | 32% | -5 | 9% | 18% | 32% | 26% | 6% | 9% | ||
Small business | 17% | 60% | -43 | 7% | 10% | 18% | 34% | 27% | 5% | ||
Trade unions | 17% | 26% | -9 | 6% | 11% | 37% | 19% | 7% | 20% | ||
The average Australian | 18% | 50% | -32 | 7% | 11% | 27% | 38% | 11% | 6% | ||
Your personal financial situation | 26% | 30% | -4 | 7% | 18% | 40% | 20% | 9% | 4% | ||
Your workplace | 21% | 17% | +4 | 7% | 14% | 33% | 12% | 5% | 29% | ||
You and your family overall | 29% | 25% | +4 | 8% | 21% | 42% | 18% | 7% | 4% | ||
The planet | 32% | 36% | -4 | 9% | 23% | 25% | 20% | 16% | 7% |
2020 NET | 2019 NET | 2018 NET | 2017 NET | 2016 NET | 2015 NET | 2014 NET | 2013 NET | |
The Australian economy | -47 | -13 | +6 | +11 | -19 | -11 | -13 | -13 |
The Australian Government | -7 | -7 | -41 | – | – | – | – | – |
Australian politics in general | -7 | -20 | -50 | -36 | -53 | -41 | -53 | -62 |
Large companies and corporations | -5 | +23 | +9 | +22 | +5 | +5 | +14 | -9 |
Small business | -43 | -12 | +6 | -2 | -22 | -12 | -28 | -45 |
Trade unions | -9 | -11 | -1 | -7 | -18 | -27 | -18 | -25 |
The average Australian | -32 | -4 | -1 | -6 | -18 | -14 | -23 | -22 |
Your personal financial situation | -4 | -2 | 0 | +1 | -8 | -6 | -11 | -8 |
Your workplace (workers) | +4 | +14 | +28 | +34 | +12 | +14 | -5 | +8 |
You and your family overall | +4 | +19 | +28 | +27 | +12 | +21 | +3 | +18 |
The planet | -4 | -29 | -19 | -22 | -32 | – | – | – |
- In a generally poor year, most aspects of society received a negative net score in 2020 (more people thinking it was a bad year, than good year).
- 2020 has been a particularly poor year for the economy (-47), small businesses (-43) and the average Australian (-32).

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Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Essential Report
In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Views towards re-electing the federal Coalition government
- Party trust to handle issues
- Importance of Australia’s international reputation
- Scott Morrison’s impact on Australia’s international reputation
- Views towards Australia’s international reputation
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