Leadership during bushfires
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of Scott Morrison/Gladys Berejiklian/Daniel Andrews’s handling of the bushfire crisis?
| NET: Approve | NET: Disapprove | Strongly approve | Approve | Disapprove | Strongly disapprove | Don’t know | |
| Scott Morrison
(Asked in all states, n=1,081) |
32% | 57% | 8% | 24% | 21% | 36% | 11% |
| Gladys Berejiklian
(Asked in NSW only, n=333) |
55% | 22% | 14% | 43% | 14% | 9% | 22% |
| Daniel Andrews
(Asked in VIC only, n=275) |
58% | 20% | 14% | 44% | 13% | 7% | 22% |
| NET: APPROVE | Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||
| Labor | Coalition | NET: Other | ||
| Scott Morrison
(Asked in all states, n=1,081) |
32% | 11% | 64% | 23% |
| Gladys Berejiklian
(Asked in NSW only, n=333) |
55% | 54% | 71% | 40% |
| Daniel Andrews
(Asked in VIC only, n=333) |
58% | 67% | 63% | 37% |
- Around a third (32%) of people approve of Scott Morrison’s handing of the current bushfires crisis, with just 8% strongly approving of his performance. 36% strongly disapprove of his performance.
- Comparatively, state premiers Berejiklian and Andrews have performed well, with over half of people in each state approving of their handling of the crisis (55% in NSW and 58% in Victoria).
- The majority of Scott Morrison’s approval is coming from within his own supporter base, with 64% of intended Coalition voters approving of his performance during the crisis. Just 11% of Labor voters and 23% of those voting for another party approve of his performance.
Bushfires Statements
Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the current bushfire season in Australia?
| NET: Agree | NET: Disagree | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | Unsure | |
| The Prime Minister should have met with experts before the fire season to plan a coordinated response to the risk | 79% | 13% | 57% | 22% | 9% | 4% | 8% |
| The Federal Government was underprepared for the risk of bushfires this season | 78% | 14% | 54% | 24% | 9% | 5% | 8% |
| When there are emergencies, politicians should get out of the way and let the experts do their job | 77% | 7% | 44% | 34% | 12% | 4% | 7% |
| The Prime Minister is right to say Australia has always had bushfires like these | 42% | 52% | 16% | 25% | 25% | 27% | 7% |
- 78% of people agree that the Federal Government was underprepared for the risk of bushfires this season.
- Around half (52%) disagree with the Prime Minister that Australia has always had bushfires like these.
Climate change and bushfires
Q. Thinking about the bushfires in Queensland and New South Wales, which of the following statements is closest to your view?
| Nov’19 | Oct’13 | |
| It is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change and it is appropriate to publicly raise this issue | 43% | 27% |
| It is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change but it is inappropriate to publicly raise this issue at this this time | 17% | 14% |
| It is unlikely the bushfires are linked to climate change | 30% | 48% |
| Don’t know | 11% | 11% |
| Base (n) | 1,083 | 1,075 |
| Total | Gender | Age | Voting Intention | |||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | ||
| It is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change and it is appropriate to publicly raise this issue | 43% | 39% | 46% | 54% | 41% | 35% | 53% | 31% | 73% | 30% |
| It is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change but it is inappropriate to publicly raise this issue at this this time | 17% | 22% | 12% | 22% | 17% | 13% | 19% | 20% | 7% | 13% |
| It is unlikely the bushfires are linked to climate change | 30% | 29% | 30% | 15% | 29% | 43% | 19% | 40% | 6% | 50% |
| Don’t know | 11% | 9% | 12% | 9% | 13% | 9% | 9% | 9% | 13% | 7% |
| Base (n) | 1,083 | 527 | 556 | 329 | 369 | 385 | 342 | 373 | 93 | 162 |
- 43% now think It likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change and it is appropriate to publicly raise this issue. When this question was last asked in 2013, 27% gave this answer.
- The proportion of people who think it is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change but it is inappropriate to publicly raise this issue at this this time has remained fairly constant. 17% saying this in 2019, and 14% in 2013.
- Those least likely to think bushfires are linked to climate change and it is appropriate to publicly raise this issue are Coalition (31%) and other minor party and independent voters (31%).
Likelihood of extreme events
Q. Do you think that, over the next few years, Australia will be more or less likely to experience severe bushfires and extreme weather events like floods and cyclones?
|
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
|
| Total more likely |
63% |
72% |
49% |
86% |
65% |
|
| Total less likely |
1% |
1% |
* |
2% |
3% |
|
| A lot more likely |
33% |
41% |
19% |
61% |
31% |
|
| A little more likely |
30% |
31% |
30% |
25% |
34% |
|
| About the same |
33% |
26% |
47% |
11% |
29% |
|
| A little less likely |
1% |
1% |
– |
2% |
2% |
|
| A lot less likely |
* |
– |
* |
– |
1% |
|
| Don’t know |
4% |
1% |
4% |
1% |
4% |
63% think that sever bushfires and extreme weather events will be more likely over the next few years.
86% of Greens voters and 63% of Labor voters think they will be more likely. However, 47% of Liberal/National voters think they will be neither more likely nor less likely.
68% of women think they will be more likely compared to 56% of men.
Climate change and bushfires
Q. Thinking about the bushfires in New South Wales, which of the following statements is closest to your view?
|
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
|
| It likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change and it is appropriate to publicly raise this issue |
27% |
41% |
13% |
64% |
22% |
|
| It likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change but it is inappropriate to publicly raise this issue at this time |
14% |
14% |
15% |
9% |
9% |
|
| It is unlikely the bushfires are linked to climate change |
48% |
37% |
63% |
19% |
62% |
|
| Don’t know |
11% |
8% |
9% |
7% |
7% |
41% think that the NSW bushfires are likely to be linked to climate change and 48% think it unlikely they are linked to climate change. 27% think they are linked and it is appropriate to raise this issue while 14% think they are linked but it is inappropriate to raise this issue at this time.
Those most likely to think the bushfires and climate change are linked were aged under 35 (49%), Labor voters (55%), Greens voters (73%) and those with university education (53%).
Those who think it is unlikely they are linked tended to be aged 55+ (61%), Liberal/National voters (63%) and those who had not completed secondary education (60%).
Essential Report
Two Party Preferred: 14 May 2019
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