The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Mar, 2020

    , ,

    Coronavirus concerns

    Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of the Coronavirus in Australia?

      22/03 09/03 10/02
    Very concerned 39% 27% 25%
    Quite concerned 43% 36% 43%
    Not that concerned 14% 28% 26%
    Not at all concerned 4% 9% 6%
    Base (n) 1,034 1,096 1,057

     

        Age group Location
      Total 18-34 35-54 55+ Capital Non-Capital
    Very concerned 39% 36% 39% 41% 40% 36%
    Quite concerned 43% 43% 44% 43% 43% 45%
    Not that concerned 14% 18% 12% 12% 13% 26%
    Not at all concerned 4% 4% 5% 4% 5% 3%
    Base (n) 1,034 342 327 365 703 331
    • Concern about the threat of the Covid-19 virus has increased this week as the impact of the outbreak affects more of the country. 39% are now very concerned by the threat (up from 27% at the start of the month), while 43% say they are quite concerned (up from 36%).
    • Concern is highest among over 55 year olds (41% very concerned) and those in capital cities (40% concerned)
  • Mar, 2020

    , ,

    Likelihood of developing Coronavirus

    Q. How likely do you think it is, that you will develop Covid-19?

      22/03 09/03
    Very likely 8% 7%
    Somewhat likely 34% 24%
    Somewhat unlikely 45% 43%
    Very unlikely 13% 26%
    Base (n) 1,034 1,096

     

        Age group Location
      Total 18-34 35-54 55+ Capital Non-Capital
    Very likely 8% 10% 8% 5% 9% 5%
    Somewhat likely 34% 35% 36% 32% 34% 35%
    Somewhat unlikely 45% 43% 43% 49% 43% 49%
    Very unlikely 13% 12% 13% 14% 14% 11%
    Base (n) 1,034 342 327 365 703 331
    • There has been an increase in the likelihood of developing Covid-19 during the last fortnight. 42% now say it is somewhat or very likely that they will develop Covid-19 (up from 31%).
    • Younger people (aged 18-34, 10% very likely to develop Covid-19) and those living in capital cities (9%) are more likely to expect to develop the virus than older people (55+) and those living in regional areas.
  • Mar, 2020

    , , , ,

    Reaction to Covid-19

    Q. Which of the following is closer to your personal views of the Covid-19 outbreak?

        Gender Age Group Location
      Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Capital Non-Capital
    There has been an over-reaction to the threat of Covid-19 33% 36% 30% 39% 37% 23% 34% 30%
    The response to the threat of Covid-19 is about right 39% 40% 39% 40% 33% 44% 39% 39%
    The threat of Covid-19 has been under-estimated 28% 24% 32% 21% 30% 33% 27% 31%
    Base (n) 1,096 519 515 342 327 365 703 331
    • A third of people believe there has been an over-reaction to the threat of Covid-19. Men (36%) and those aged 18-34 (39%) are more likely to think there has been an over-reaction than women (30%) and those aged 55+ (23%).
    • 39% think the reaction has been proportionate to the threat and 28% believe the threat has been under-estimated.
    • Those who think there has been an over-reaction are less concerned about the threat of Covid-19 (69% very/somewhat concerned, compared to 92% who think the threat has been under-estimated) and think they are less likely to contract the virus (38% to 49% very/somewhat likely to catch Covid-19).
  • Mar, 2020

    , , ,

    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

    , , ,

    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

    , , , , ,

    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

    , , ,

    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

    , , ,

    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.
Error: