Essential Report
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).
Attitudes to latest Victorian restrictions (VICTORIA ONLY)
Q. On 6 September, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced the state’s roadmap for easing Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the updated restrictions?
| TOTAL: AGREE | 21/09 | 10/08 |
| I have a good understanding of what I am and am not allowed to do under the current restrictions | 74% | 80% |
| The restrictions affecting my area seem appropriate | 60% | 67% |
| The restrictions affecting my area will be effective at stopping the spread of Covid-19 | 64% | 63% |
| State & federal governments are doing enough to help people and businesses that are negatively affected by the restrictions | 40% | 54% |
| The changes won’t have much impact on my own lifestyle | 45% | 46% |
| VICTORIA ONLY | TOTAL:
Agree |
TOTAL: Disagree | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Neither agree, nor disagree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree |
| I have a good understanding of what I am and am not allowed to do under the current restrictions | 74% | 6% | 43% | 31% | 20% | 2% | 4% |
| The restrictions affecting my area seem appropriate | 60% | 19% | 29% | 31% | 21% | 9% | 9% |
| The restrictions affecting my area will be effective at stopping the spread of Covid-19 | 64% | 10% | 29% | 35% | 26% | 5% | 5% |
| State & federal governments are doing enough to help people and businesses that are negatively affected by the restrictions | 40% | 24% | 15% | 26% | 36% | 16% | 8% |
| The changes won’t have much impact on my own lifestyle | 45% | 32% | 20% | 25% | 23% | 18% | 15% |
- 74% of Victorians agree they have a good understanding of what they are (and are not) allowed to do under the current restrictions, this hasn’t changed significantly from the 80% who agreed earlier the lockdowns. 60% agree that the restrictions are appropriate and 64% agree that the restrictions are effective at stopping the spread of the virus.
- 40% agree that enough is being done to help people and businesses that are negatively affected by the restrictions, this is lower that the 54% who agreed last month.
Attitudes towards Queensland border closure
Q. To what extent do you support or oppose the Queensland state government decision to close its borders to Victoria, New South Wales and ACT to prevent the spread of Covid-19?
| Total | State | |||||
| NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | ||
| Strongly oppose | 13% | 20% | 14% | 10% | 5% | 1% |
| Somewhat oppose | 13% | 16% | 13% | 12% | 7% | 7% |
| Somewhat support | 31% | 34% | 35% | 20% | 23% | 31% |
| Strongly support | 36% | 23% | 29% | 50% | 55% | 54% |
| Unsure | 8% | 7% | 10% | 8% | 9% | 7% |
| TOTAL: Oppose | 25% | 36% | 26% | 22% | 13% | 8% |
| TOTAL: Support | 66% | 57% | 64% | 70% | 78% | 85% |
| Base (n) | 1,081 | 352 | 274 | 212 | 85 | 104 |
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | Liberal + National | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Strongly oppose | 13% | 15% | 10% | 6% | 11% | 19% | 9% | 17% | 8% | 24% |
| Somewhat oppose | 13% | 15% | 11% | 14% | 11% | 14% | 9% | 18% | 12% | 15% |
| Somewhat support | 31% | 31% | 30% | 40% | 29% | 25% | 35% | 30% | 32% | 24% |
| Strongly support | 36% | 33% | 39% | 30% | 39% | 38% | 39% | 31% | 40% | 30% |
| Unsure | 8% | 7% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 5% | 8% | 4% | 8% | 7% |
| TOTAL: Oppose | 25% | 30% | 22% | 20% | 22% | 33% | 17% | 35% | 20% | 39% |
| TOTAL: Support | 66% | 64% | 69% | 70% | 67% | 62% | 74% | 61% | 73% | 54% |
| Base (n) | 1,081 | 539 | 542 | 338 | 374 | 369 | 298 | 460 | 115 | 104 |
- Two-thirds (66%) of Australians support the closure of its internal borders. Support for the decision is high in Queensland (70%), WA (85%) and SA (78%) support is lower in NSW (57%).
Government response to Covid-19
Q. Overall, how would you rate the Government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 07/09 | 24/08 | 10/08 | 27/07 | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | |
| Very poor | 8% | 6% | 7% | 6% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% |
| Quite poor | 12% | 11% | 8% | 11% | 10% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 7% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 22% | 22% | 21% | 20% | 20% | 17% | 16% | 18% | 20% | 16% | 17% |
| Quite good | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 43% | 42% | 40% | 39% | 43% | 41% |
| Very good | 18% | 22% | 24% | 24% | 24% | 27% | 30% | 30% | 28% | 30% | 32% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 19% | 17% | 16% | 16% | 16% | 12% | 11% | 12% | 12% | 11% | 11% |
| TOTAL: Good | 59% | 61% | 63% | 64% | 64% | 71% | 72% | 70% | 68% | 73% | 73% |
| Base (n) | 1,076 | 1,068 | 1,010 | 1,058 | 1,054 | 1,079 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 |
- Participants’ rating of the Federal Government’s handling of Covid-19 crisis slips for the fourth consecutive week. From a high of 73% positive rating in May, 59% now say the Government’s handling has been good.
COVID-19 RESEARCH
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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