The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Oct, 2020

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    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%).
  • Oct, 2020

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    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).
  • Oct, 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?

    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.
  • Sep, 2020

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    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).
  • Sep, 2020

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    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).
  • Sep, 2020

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    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.
  • Sep, 2020

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    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%).
  • Sep, 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?

      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.
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