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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?
| 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | |
| Very poor | 4% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 5% |
| Quite poor | 7% | 6% | 7% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 9% | 9% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 17% | 20% | 17% | 17% | 16% | 18% | 17% | 20% |
| Quite good | 39% | 38% | 38% | 39% | 39% | 38% | 41% | 39% |
| Very good | 32% | 30% | 35% | 33% | 34% | 31% | 30% | 26% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 11% | 12% | 11% | 11% | 12% | 12% | 13% | 14% |
| TOTAL: Good | 71% | 68% | 73% | 72% | 73% | 70% | 70% | 66% |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 |
| State | |||||||
| Total | NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | ||
| Very poor | 4% | 2% | 6% | 3% | 3% | 4% | |
| Quite poor | 7% | 10% | 6% | 9% | 6% | 2% | |
| Neither good, nor poor | 17% | 21% | 16% | 20% | 12% | 9% | |
| Quite good | 39% | 44% | 38% | 38% | 39% | 32% | |
| Very good | 32% | 23% | 34% | 29% | 40% | 52% | |
| TOTAL: Poor | 11% | 12% | 12% | 13% | 8% | 6% | |
| TOTAL: Good | 71% | 67% | 72% | 68% | 79% | 84% | |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 336 | 275 | 214 | 85 | 108 | |
Speed of Easing Restrictions
Q. Overall, do you think your state or territory is moving too quickly, too slowly or at about the right speed when it comes to lifting lockdown restrictions?
| State | |||||||
| Total | NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | ||
| Moving too quickly | 20% | 24% | 20% | 13% | 18% | 16% | |
| About the right speed | 67% | 67% | 70% | 63% | 71% | 68% | |
| Moving too slowly | 13% | 9% | 9% | 23% | 10% | 16% | |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 336 | 275 | 214 | 85 | 108 | |
Reopening pubs and clubs with patron restrictions
| State | |||||||
| Total | NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | ||
| Moving too quickly | 30% | 33% | 40% | 19% | 19% | 25% | |
| About the right speed | 59% | 60% | 49% | 62% | 71% | 63% | |
| Moving too slowly | 11% | 7% | 11% | 19% | 9% | 12% | |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 336 | 275 | 214 | 85 | 108 | |
Reopening restaurants and cafes with patron restrictions
| State | |||||||
| Total | NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | ||
| Moving too quickly | 22% | 23% | 28% | 13% | 20% | 19% | |
| About the right speed | 65% | 67% | 60% | 64% | 75% | 68% | |
| Moving too slowly | 13% | 10% | 11% | 23% | 6% | 14% | |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 336 | 275 | 214 | 85 | 108 | |
Allowing outside group exercise classes
| State | |||||||
| Total | NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | ||
| Moving too quickly | 16% | 19% | 19% | 12% | 13% | 14% | |
| About the right speed | 72% | 70% | 72% | 73% | 76% | 77% | |
| Moving too slowly | 12% | 12% | 9% | 16% | 11% | 10% | |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 336 | 275 | 214 | 85 | 108 | |
Reopening schools for all students
| State | |||||||
| Total | NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | ||
| Moving too quickly | 23% | 27% | 30% | 17% | 14% | 16% | |
| About the right speed | 67% | 67% | 57% | 72% | 79% | 77% | |
| Moving too slowly | 10% | 6% | 13% | 11% | 7% | 7% | |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 336 | 275 | 214 | 85 | 108 | |
Reopening borders between states and territories
| State | |||||||
| Total | NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | ||
| Moving too quickly | 24% | 22% | 25% | 20% | 36% | 23% | |
| About the right speed | 58% | 57% | 57% | 60% | 52% | 64% | |
| Moving too slowly | 18% | 21% | 18% | 20% | 12% | 13% | |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 336 | 275 | 214 | 85 | 108 | |
- Two-thirds (67%) of participants believe that their state/territory is moving at about the right speed when it comes to removing restrictions. 24% believe that the restrictions are being eased too quickly and another 18% say they are moving too slowly.
- Queensland residents are most likely to say their state is moving too slowly (23%) while New South Wales residents are more likely to say their state is moving too quickly (24%).
- Participants 18-34 years and those living capital cities are generally more likely to say that their state is lifting restrictions too quickly.
- When asked about specific restrictions, participants are more likely to say allowing outside group exercise classes is moving at the right speed (72%) and less likely to say reopening pubs and clubs (59%) or reopening borders between states and territories (58%).
- 40% Victorians think their government is moving too quickly to reopen pubs and clubs and 30% think schools are being reopened too quickly.
Reflection of JobKeeper surplus
Q. Last Friday the Federal Government announced that, due to an accounting error, the number of people on JobKeeper is around half what the Treasury estimated it to be. The current cost of JobKeeper has consequently been reduced from $130b to $70b.
How do you think this reflects on the government’s credibility?
| Federal Voting Intention | |||||
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
| Very poorly | 18% | 30% | 6% | 24% | 22% |
| Quite poorly | 23% | 28% | 16% | 37% | 27% |
| Quite well | 11% | 12% | 14% | 8% | 5% |
| Very well | 5% | 4% | 5% | 0% | 10% |
| Does not affect the Government’s credibility | 43% | 26% | 59% | 31% | 37% |
| TOTAL: Poorly | 41% | 58% | 21% | 61% | 49% |
| TOTAL: Well | 16% | 16% | 19% | 8% | 15% |
| Base (n) | 1,059 | 299 | 413 | 95 | 136 |
- 43% of the public do not think the error causing the re-estimation of the JobKeeper cost affects the Government’s credibility, 41% think it reflects Very or Quite poorly.
- Most Coalition voters do not think the issue has affected the credibility of the Government (59%), while the majority of Labor (58%) and Greens (61%) voters think it reflects poorly.
Alternative spending options for JobKeeper surplus
Q. On which of the following would you prefer the Government use the $60B it has previously allocated to the JobKeeper program?
| Federal Voting Intention | |||||||
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |||
| Extend financial schemes supporting those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic (JobSeeker increases, JobKeeper and free early learning childcare) beyond their current end dates | 35% | 40% | 28% | 48% | 29% | ||
| Broaden JobKeeper scheme to include universities, migrant workers and employees of companies owned by foreign governments | 20% | 23% | 15% | 25% | 24% | ||
| Put money towards reducing national debt accumulate during the Covid-19 pandemic | 45% | 37% | 57% | 27% | 47% | ||
| Base (n) | 1,059 | 299 | 413 | 95 | 136 | ||
- A third of people would prefer the JobKeeper budget to be spent on extending the scheme beyond its current end date, with a further 20% preferring the scheme to be broadened to include more workers. 45% want the money to be put towards reducing the national debt.
- Younger people (aged 18-34) are more likely to want the money extending (42%) or broadening the scheme (29%) compared to those over 55 (25% and 16%).
- Over half of Coalition voters (57%) and retired people (58%) prefer using the money to reduce National debt, rather than providing more support for those who have lost work due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Likelihood of developing Coronavirus
Q. How likely do you think it is, that you will develop Covid-19?
| 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | 13/04 | 06/04 | 29/03 | |
| Very likely | 7% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 5% | 5% | 7% | 5% | 8% | 8% |
| Somewhat likely | 23% | 22% | 25% | 24% | 26% | 21% | 25% | 28% | 33% | 36% |
| Somewhat unlikely | 48% | 51% | 48% | 48% | 46% | 50% | 52% | 49% | 45% | 45% |
| Very unlikely | 22% | 23% | 21% | 21% | 23% | 23% | 17% | 18% | 14% | 12% |
| Base (n) | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1.093 | 1,054 | 1,051 | 1,068 | 1,069 | 1,086 |
| Age group | Location | |||||
| Total | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Capital | Non-Capital | |
| Very likely | 7% | 10% | 10% | 3% | 9% | 4% |
| Somewhat likely | 23% | 29% | 25% | 16% | 24% | 22% |
| Somewhat unlikely | 48% | 40% | 45% | 57% | 46% | 50% |
| Very unlikely | 22% | 21% | 21% | 24% | 21% | 23% |
| Base (n) | 1,059 | 341 | 342 | 376 | 732 | 327 |
Government response to Covid-19
Q. Overall, how would you rate the Government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | 13/04 | 06/04 | |
| Very poor | 5% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 6% | 6% |
| Quite poor | 7% | 6% | 7% | 9% | 9% | 9% | 10% | 12% | 15% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 20% | 16% | 17% | 16% | 20% | 17% | 21% | 20% | 21% |
| Quite good | 39% | 43% | 41% | 39% | 38% | 44% | 42% | 40% | 37% |
| Very good | 28% | 30% | 32% | 32% | 28% | 26% | 23% | 23% | 21% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 12% | 11% | 11% | 13% | 14% | 13% | 15% | 17% | 21% |
| TOTAL: Good | 68% | 73% | 73% | 71% | 66% | 70% | 65% | 63% | 58% |
| Base (n) | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 | 1,068 | 1,069 |
| Gender | Age Group | Location | |||||||
| Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Capital | Non-Capital | ||
| Very poor | 5% | 5% | 4% | 6% | 6% | 3% | 5% | 4% | |
| Quite poor | 7% | 8% | 6% | 13% | 5% | 4% | 7% | 7% | |
| Neither good, nor poor | 20% | 21% | 20% | 31% | 20% | 11% | 21% | 19% | |
| Quite good | 39% | 42% | 37% | 37% | 45% | 36% | 40% | 38% | |
| Very good | 28% | 23% | 34% | 13% | 24% | 46% | 27% | 31% | |
| TOTAL: Poor | 12% | 14% | 10% | 19% | 10% | 7% | 12% | 12% | |
| TOTAL: Good | 68% | 65% | 70% | 50% | 70% | 82% | 67% | 69% | |
| Base (n) | 1,059 | 521 | 538 | 341 | 342 | 376 | 732 | 327 | |
State Government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | 13/04 | |
| Very poor | 6% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 5% |
| Quite poor | 6% | 7% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 9% | 9% | 11% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 20% | 17% | 17% | 16% | 18% | 17% | 20% | 20% |
| Quite good | 38% | 38% | 39% | 39% | 38% | 41% | 39% | 38% |
| Very good | 30% | 35% | 33% | 34% | 31% | 30% | 26% | 26% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 12% | 11% | 11% | 12% | 12% | 13% | 14% | 16% |
| TOTAL: Good | 68% | 73% | 72% | 73% | 70% | 70% | 66% | 64% |
| Base (n) | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 | 1,068 |
| State | |||||||
| Total | NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | ||
| Very poor | 6% | 8% | 4% | 5% | 10% | 1% | |
| Quite poor | 6% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 4% | 2% | |
| Neither good, nor poor | 20% | 24% | 17% | 19% | 16% | 17% | |
| Quite good | 38% | 41% | 39% | 38% | 30% | 30% | |
| Very good | 30% | 20% | 33% | 30% | 40% | 49% | |
| TOTAL: Poor | 12% | 14% | 11% | 12% | 14% | 4% | |
| TOTAL: Good | 68% | 62% | 71% | 69% | 70% | 79% | |
| Base (n) | 1,059 | 345 | 275 | 208 | 83 | 101 | |
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?
| 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | |
| As soon as possible | 17% | 14% | 9% | 13% | 10% | 10% | 9% |
| Within the next 1 to 2 weeks | 11% | 10% | 13% | 12% | 9% | 7% | 6% |
| Within the next month | 19% | 23% | 23% | 22% | 21% | 18% | 14% |
| By the end of next month | 16% | 17% | 22% | 20% | 15% | 15% | 13% |
| It is too soon to consider easing restrictions | 27% | 27% | 25% | 27% | 37% | 42% | 49% |
| Unsure | 10% | 9% | 8% | 6% | 8% | 8% | 10% |
| Base (n) | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 |
| Gender | Age Group | ||||||
| Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | ||
| As soon as possible | 17% | 19% | 15% | 16% | 19% | 15% | |
| Within the next 1 to 2 weeks | 11% | 14% | 9% | 15% | 10% | 9% | |
| Within the next month | 19% | 19% | 19% | 23% | 15% | 20% | |
| By the end of next month | 16% | 16% | 15% | 14% | 15% | 18% | |
| It is too soon to consider easing restrictions | 27% | 23% | 32% | 21% | 29% | 30% | |
| Unsure | 10% | 10% | 9% | 10% | 11% | 7% | |
| Base (n) | 1,059 | 521 | 538 | 341 | 342 | 376 | |
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
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Two Party Preferred:
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