The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • May, 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?

      04/05 27/04 20/04 13/04 06/04 29/03 22/03
    Very poor 4% 4% 5% 6% 6% 11% 9%
    Quite poor 9% 9% 10% 12% 15% 21% 20%
    Neither good, nor poor 20% 17% 21% 20% 21% 24% 26%
    Quite good 38% 44% 42% 40% 37% 34% 33%
    Very good 28% 26% 23% 23% 21% 11% 12%
    TOTAL: Poor 14% 13% 15% 17% 21% 31% 29%
    TOTAL: Good 66% 70% 65% 63% 58% 45% 45%
    Base (n) 1,093 1,054 1,051 1,068 1,069 1,086 1,034

     

        Gender Age Group Location
      Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Capital Non-Capital
    Very poor 4% 6% 3% 5% 6% 3% 5% 4%
    Quite poor 9% 10% 8% 14% 9% 6% 10% 7%
    Neither good, nor poor 20% 21% 20% 32% 22% 9% 20% 21%
    Quite good 38% 36% 40% 37% 39% 39% 38% 39%
    Very good 28% 28% 28% 12% 25% 44% 27% 30%
    TOTAL: Poor 14% 16% 11% 19% 14% 8% 15% 11%
    TOTAL: Good 66% 63% 68% 49% 64% 82% 65% 69%
    Base (n) 1,093 539 554 341 372 380 734 359
  • May, 2020

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    State Government response to Covid-19

    Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?

      04/05 27/04 20/04 13/04
    Very poor 4% 4% 5% 5%
    Quite poor 8% 9% 9% 11%
    Neither good, nor poor 18% 17% 20% 20%
    Quite good 38% 41% 39% 38%
    Very good 31% 30% 26% 26%
    TOTAL: Poor 12% 13% 14% 16%
    TOTAL: Good 70% 70% 66% 64%
    Base (n) 1,093 1,054 1,051 1,068

     

        State
      Total NSW VIC QLD SA WA  
    Very poor 4% 5% 3% 6% 3% 2%  
    Quite poor 8% 8% 8% 9% 7% 5%  
    Neither good, nor poor 18% 19% 17% 21% 13% 14%  
    Quite good 38% 45% 32% 43% 31% 30%  
    Very good 31% 23% 40% 22% 45% 48%  
    TOTAL: Poor 12% 13% 11% 15% 10% 7%  
    TOTAL: Good 70% 68% 72% 65% 76% 79%  
    Base (n) 1,093 352 275 220 85 106  
    • Across the country, the overall perception of states’ handling of the crisis is in line with government rating their own state’s handling as Very/Quite good (70% states, 66% federal). Rating of the state government in NSW increased from 63% to 68%, while in Victoria, the rating decreased from 77% to 72%.
  • May, 2020

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    Easing restrictions

    Q. When do you think governments should start to ease the restrictions on travel and gatherings to allow offices, shops, restaurants, other workplaces, and public spaces to start operating again?

      04/05 27/04 20/04
    As soon as possible 10% 10% 9%
    Within the next 1 to 2 weeks 9% 7% 6%
    Within the next month 21% 18% 14%
    By the end of next month 15% 15% 13%
    It is too soon to consider easing restrictions 37% 42% 49%
    Unsure 8% 8% 10%
    Base (n) 1,093 1,054 1,051

     

        Gender Age Group Location
      Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Capital Non-Capital
    As soon as possible 10% 12% 9% 11% 13% 8% 10% 12%
    Within the next 1 to 2 weeks 9% 11% 7% 12% 9% 7% 9% 10%
    Within the next month 21% 21% 20% 26% 18% 18% 22% 17%
    By the end of next month 15% 15% 15% 12% 17% 17% 16% 14%
    It is too soon to consider easing restrictions 37% 32% 42% 28% 37% 44% 36% 38%
    Unsure 8% 8% 7% 10% 7% 6% 7% 9%
    Base (n) 1,093 539 554 341 372 380 734 359
    • People are becoming increasingly open to easing the lockdown restrictions. Those who think it’s too soon to lift restrictions has fallen from 49% two weeks ago to 37%.
    • One in five people think restrictions should be eased within the next month (21%).
    • Those aged over 55 are least likely to consider easing restrictions (44% say it’s too soon, compared to 28% of those aged 18-34).
    • Women are more likely than men to think it’s too soon to consider lifting restrictions (42% to 32%).
  • May, 2020

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    Opening schools following Covid-19

    Q. Which of the following is closest to your views on the reopening of schools?

        Parent/Guardian Status
      Total I am a parent/guardian of

    school-aged children

    		 I am not a parent/guardian of school-aged children
    Schools should only open for children of essential workers 32% 36% 30%
    Schools should re-open for all children 45% 44% 46%
    Schools should remain closed with all teaching conducted online 23% 20% 24%
    Base (n) 1,093 291 802
  • May, 2020

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    Views on opening schools following Covid-19

    Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following questions about children returning to school following the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions?

      TOTAL: Agree TOTAL: Disagree Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither agree, nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree
    Schools should teach most students remotely until the Covid-19 outbreak passes 50% 25% 23% 27% 25% 15% 10%
    It’s unreasonable to expect teachers to prepare separate lessons for children who are learning remotely and for children who still attend school 52% 21% 23% 30% 27% 12% 8%
    Even if schools in my state are open, I will still choose to keep my children home because of the Covid-19 outbreak

    (PARENT/GUARDIAN ONLY)

    		 41% 36% 17% 25% 23% 18% 17%
  • May, 2020

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    International Response

    Q. Based on what you’ve seen in the media or heard from friends and family, how would you rate the response to the Covid-19 outbreak from each of these countries?

      TOTAL:

    Good

    		 TOTAL:

    Poor

    		 Very good Quite good Neither good, nor poor Quite poor Very poor
    New Zealand 79% 5% 49% 30% 17% 2% 2%
    China 21% 56% 6% 15% 23% 20% 36%
    United Kingdom 20% 48% 4% 16% 33% 31% 17%
    United States of America 12% 71% 3% 9% 17% 23% 48%
    • Australians think New Zealand has managed the Covid-19 well, with 79% rating the countries performance as very/quite good.
    • Around half of Australians rate the response of USA to Covid-19 as very poor (48%). Just 12% think the country has handled the outbreak well.
  • Apr, 2020

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    Coronavirus concerns

    Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Australia?

      27/04 20/04 13/04 06/04 29/03 22/03 09/03 10/02
    Very concerned 39% 44% 45% 51% 53% 39% 27% 25%
    Quite concerned 44% 43% 43% 37% 35% 43% 36% 43%
    Not that concerned 13% 11% 9% 10% 10% 14% 28% 26%
    Not at all concerned 3% 2% 3% 2% 3% 4% 9% 6%
    Base (n) 1,054 1,051 1,068 1,069 1,086 1,034 1,096 1,057

     

        Age group Location
      Total 18-34 35-54 55+ Capital Non-Capital
    Very concerned 39% 39% 42% 37% 41% 36%
    Quite concerned 44% 47% 39% 47% 45% 44%
    Not that concerned 13% 10% 15% 14% 12% 15%
    Not at all concerned 3% 4% 4% 2% 2% 5%
    Base (n) 1,054 343 332 379 720 334
    • Concern about the threat of Covid-19 has lessened this again week, with 39% saying they are very concerned (down from 44% last week) and 44% saying they are quite concerned.
    • Concern in both capital and regional areas has eased, with the proportion very concerned in capital cities falling from 46% to 41%, while in regional areas it has moved from 40% to 36%.
  • Apr, 2020

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    Specific coronavirus concerns

    Q. To what extent are you concerned about these possible impacts of the Covid-19?

    NET: CONCERNED (VERY/SOMEWHAT) 27/04 20/04 13/04
    The Australian economy as a whole 85% 87% 85%
    General unemployment if companies are forced out of business 83% 83% 79%
    The physical health of close family members 69% 74% 73%
    The impact on my superannuation, savings or investments 63% 67% 63%
    My close family members’ mental health 60% 64% 61%
    My physical health and catching the virus 59% 64% 62%
    My economic situation if I lose my job or have less work 57% 59% 58%
    Children’s development by missing out on school 52% 56% 52%
    My ability to buy food and essential items if stores run out 50% 58% 58%
    My mental health as a result of social distancing 47% 50% 47%
    Base (n) 1,054 1,051 1,068

     

      Very concerned Quite concerned Not that concerned Not at all concerned Unsure
    The Australian economy as a whole 47% 38% 11% 2% 2%
    General unemployment if companies are forced out of business 41% 42% 11% 4% 2%
    The physical health of close family members 32% 37% 23% 7% 2%
    The impact on my superannuation, savings or investments 32% 32% 21% 11% 5%
    My close family members’ mental health 23% 37% 26% 12% 2%
    My physical health and catching the virus 25% 33% 29% 11% 2%
    My economic situation if I lose my job or have less work 29% 28% 19% 18% 7%
    Children’s development by missing out on school 20% 32% 26% 13% 8%
    My ability to buy food and essential items if stores run out 18% 32% 33% 33% 14%
    My mental health as a result of social distancing 20% 26% 28% 23% 2%
    • Economic issues are still the most concerning consequences of the Covid-19 crisis – 47% say they are very concerned about the economy as a whole and 41% are very concerned about general unemployment.
    • Those aged 18-34 are more likely than other age groups to be concerned about the impact on their mental health (29% very concerned, 17% 35+), their close family members’ mental health (30%, 20% 35+) and their ability to buy food (27%, 15% 35+).
    • Concern for children is highest among those in households with dependent children (31% are very concerned).
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