Essential Report
Coronavirus concerns
Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Australia?
| 30/11 | 16/11 | 02/11 | 05/10 | 21/09 | 07/09 | 24/08 | 10/08 | 27/07 | 13/07 | 22/06 | |
| Very concerned | 27% | 27% | 30% | 30% | 36% | 37% | 40% | 50% | 43% | 36% | 25% |
| Quite concerned | 43% | 44% | 46% | 52% | 45% | 45% | 46% | 40% | 44% | 48% | 50% |
| Not that concerned | 24% | 23% | 20% | 15% | 15% | 13% | 10% | 7% | 9% | 12% | 21% |
| Not at all concerned | 6% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 4% |
| Base (n) | 1,034 | 1,010 | 1,063 | 1,066 | 1,081 | 1,076 | 1,068 | 1,010 | 1,058 | 1,054 | 1,079 |
- Concern about the threat of Covid-19 is at a similar level as last fortnight, with 30% saying they are either not that concerned (24%) or not at all concerned (6%). 27% are very concerned about the threat and the remaining 43% are quite concerned.
Attitudes towards nationalism and Covid-19
Q. Thinking now about how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the world, which of the following statements is closest to your views?
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
| The pandemic has shown that the world is interconnected. The best way to respond to global threats in the future is to cooperate and provide assistance to other countries | 48% | 50% | 45% | 51% | 48% | 44% | 48% | 46% | 60% | 38% | ||
| The pandemic has shown that in times of crisis, it is every country for itself. Australia needs to be economically strong and maintain strict border protections to deal with global threats in the future | 52% | 50% | 55% | 49% | 52% | 56% | 52% | 54% | 40% | 62% | ||
| Base (n) | 1,034 | 528 | 506 | 329 | 320 | 385 | 322 | 430 | 88 | 107 | ||
- Australians are split on their views towards the lessons from Covid-19. 52% think the pandemic has shown that in times of crisis, it is every country for itself, whereas 48% think the pandemic has shown that the world is inter-connected, and countries need to cooperate to respond to global threats.
Coronavirus concerns
Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Australia?
| 16/11/20 | 02/11/20 | 05/10 | 21/09 | 07/09 | 24/08 | 10/08 | 27/07 | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | |
| Very concerned | 27% | 30% | 30% | 36% | 37% | 40% | 50% | 43% | 36% | 25% | 28% |
| Quite concerned | 44% | 46% | 52% | 45% | 45% | 46% | 40% | 44% | 48% | 50% | 45% |
| Not that concerned | 23% | 20% | 15% | 15% | 13% | 10% | 7% | 9% | 12% | 21% | 23% |
| Not at all concerned | 6% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% |
| Base (n) | 1,010 | 1,063 | 1,066 | 1,081 | 1,076 | 1,068 | 1,010 | 1,058 | 1,054 | 1,079 | 1,087 |
- Concern about the threat of Covid-19 is easing, with 29% saying they are either not that concerned (23%) or not at all concerned (6%). 27% are very concerned about the threat and the remaining 44% are quite concerned.
Federal Budget and post Covid-19 economic recovery
Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the recent Federal Budget and the direction for the country to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic?
| TOTAL:
Agree |
TOTAL:
Disagree |
Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Neither agree, nor disagree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | Unsure | |
| The decisions the government makes now will affect the future health of the economy | 75% | 5% | 43% | 33% | 13% | 3% | 2% | 7% |
| The government should take the recognition if their budget measures work, just as they should take responsibility if they do not | 70% | 5% | 36% | 34% | 17% | 4% | 2% | 8% |
| There were better approaches to the budget like investing in jobs and services | 51% | 10% | 20% | 31% | 29% | 8% | 2% | 11% |
| The global pandemic means that the health of the economy is out of the government’s control | 49% | 21% | 18% | 32% | 22% | 15% | 6% | 7% |
- There is strong agreement that the Government is responsible for the future of the economy. 75% agree that ‘The decisions the government makes now will affect the future health of the economy’ and 70% of people agree that ‘The government should take the recognition if their budget measures work, just as they should take responsibility if they do not’
- However, half of people (49%) agree with the statement that ‘The global pandemic means that the health of the economy is out of the government’s control’. Coalition voters are more likely to agree with this statement than Labor voters (58% to 48%).
- Half of people agree that ‘There were better approaches to the budget like investing in jobs and services’ (51%). Those more likely to agree with this statement include Labor voters (60%), those in paid employment (56%) and men (56%).
Federal government response to Covid-19
Q. Overall, how would you rate the federal government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 05/10 | 21/09 | 07/09 | 24/08 | 10/08 | 27/07 | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | |
| Very poor | 5% | 5% | 8% | 6% | 7% | 6% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 5% |
| Quite poor | 12% | 13% | 12% | 11% | 8% | 11% | 10% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 7% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 22% | 21% | 22% | 22% | 21% | 20% | 20% | 17% | 16% | 18% | 20% |
| Quite good | 39% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 43% | 42% | 40% | 39% |
| Very good | 21% | 21% | 18% | 22% | 24% | 24% | 24% | 27% | 30% | 30% | 28% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 18% | 18% | 19% | 17% | 16% | 16% | 16% | 12% | 11% | 12% | 12% |
| TOTAL: Good | 60% | 61% | 59% | 61% | 63% | 64% | 64% | 71% | 72% | 70% | 68% |
| Base (n) | 1,066 | 1,081 | 1,076 | 1,068 | 1,010 | 1,058 | 1,054 | 1,079 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,059 |
- Rating of the Federal Government’s handling of Covid-19 stays steady at 60% rating it very or quite good (59% last month).
State government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| TOTAL: Good | 05/10 | 21/09 | 07/09 | 24/08 | 10/08 | 27/07 | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 |
| NSW | 65% | 67% | 57% | 59% | 61% | 62% | 63% | 70% | 65% | 67% | 62% |
| VIC | 45% | 47% | 50% | 47% | 49% | 53% | 49% | 65% | 75% | 72% | 71% |
| QLD | 69% | 68% | 66% | 73% | 68% | 67% | 69% | 64% | 67% | 68% | 69% |
| SA | 81% | 81% | 74% | 65% | 72% | 76% | 79% | 79% | 76% | 79% | 70% |
| WA | 83% | 84% | 87% | 84% | 86% | 82% | 77% | 75% | 77% | 84% | 79% |
- Positive rating of the NSW Government was steady this week (65% rating the performance as good, compared to 67% last month).
- Rating of state government performance was also steady in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.
Coronavirus concerns
Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Australia?
| 21/09 | 07/09 | 24/08 | 10/08 | 27/07 | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | |
| Very concerned | 36% | 37% | 40% | 50% | 43% | 36% | 25% | 28% | 27% | 32% | 30% |
| Quite concerned | 45% | 45% | 46% | 40% | 44% | 48% | 50% | 45% | 48% | 49% | 49% |
| Not that concerned | 15% | 13% | 10% | 7% | 9% | 12% | 21% | 23% | 21% | 15% | 16% |
| Not at all concerned | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 5% |
| Base (n) | 1,081 | 1,076 | 1,068 | 1,010 | 1,058 | 1,054 | 1,079 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 |
- There has been no shift in concern about threat of Covid-19 in the past two weeks with 36% very concerned about the threat (37% in early September).
Federal government response to Covid-19
Q. Overall, how would you rate the federal government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 21/09 | 07/09 | 24/08 | 10/08 | 27/07 | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | |
| Very poor | 5% | 8% | 6% | 7% | 6% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 5% | 4% |
| Quite poor | 13% | 12% | 11% | 8% | 11% | 10% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 6% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 21% | 22% | 22% | 21% | 20% | 20% | 17% | 16% | 18% | 20% | 16% |
| Quite good | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 43% | 42% | 40% | 39% | 43% |
| Very good | 21% | 18% | 22% | 24% | 24% | 24% | 27% | 30% | 30% | 28% | 30% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 18% | 19% | 17% | 16% | 16% | 16% | 12% | 11% | 12% | 12% | 11% |
| TOTAL: Good | 61% | 59% | 61% | 63% | 64% | 64% | 71% | 72% | 70% | 68% | 73% |
| Base (n) | 1,081 | 1,076 | 1,068 | 1,010 | 1,058 | 1,054 | 1,079 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 |
- Rating of the Federal Government’s handling of Covid-19 stays steady at 61% rating it very or quite good (59% earlier in the month).
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Essential Report
In this week's report:
- Federal government response to Covid-19
- State government response to Covid-19
- Views towards reopening international borders
- Views towards state border closures
- Comprehension and confidence in PM’s plan to ‘safely reopen’ Australia
- Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine
- Necessity of mandatory vaccinations in specific situations
- Views towards easing restrictions for fully vaccinated people
Sign up for updates
Receive the Essential Report in your inbox.Essential Tags
2PP
Abbott
ALP
Anthony Albanese
Approval of opposition leader
Approval of Tony Abbott
asylum seekers
Australian economy
Bill Shorten
Carbon Tax
climate change
coronavirus
covid-19
economy
Education
Election
EMC
environment
ER
Essential Media
Essential Report
Federal Budget
Federal Government
federal politics
Gillard
Greens
Julia Gillard
kevin rudd
Labor
Labor Party
Liberal
Liberal Party
Liberals
mining
Nationals
Opposition leader
peter lewis
Polling
polls
Prime Minister
Scott Morrison
tony abbott
two party preferred
voting
Voting intention
Recent Comments
