Government response to Covid-19
Q. Overall, how would you rate the Government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
22/08 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | |
Very poor | 4% | 3% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 5% |
Quite poor | 8% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 7% | 9% | 9% | 9% | 10% |
Neither good, nor poor | 17% | 16% | 18% | 20% | 16% | 17% | 16% | 20% | 17% | 21% |
Quite good | 43% | 42% | 40% | 39% | 43% | 41% | 39% | 38% | 44% | 42% |
Very good | 27% | 30% | 30% | 28% | 30% | 32% | 32% | 28% | 26% | 23% |
TOTAL: Poor | 12% | 11% | 12% | 12% | 11% | 11% | 13% | 14% | 13% | 15% |
TOTAL: Good | 71% | 72% | 70% | 68% | 73% | 73% | 71% | 66% | 70% | 65% |
Base (n) | 1,079 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 |
Gender | Age Group | Location | ||||||
Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Capital | Non-Capital | |
Very poor | 4% | 6% | 2% | 5% | 5% | 2% | 4% | 4% |
Quite poor | 8% | 9% | 8% | 12% | 7% | 6% | 9% | 7% |
Neither good, nor poor | 17% | 18% | 16% | 23% | 21% | 8% | 16% | 19% |
Quite good | 43% | 39% | 47% | 44% | 43% | 43% | 43% | 43% |
Very good | 27% | 28% | 27% | 17% | 24% | 40% | 28% | 27% |
TOTAL: Poor | 12% | 14% | 10% | 17% | 12% | 9% | 13% | 11% |
TOTAL: Good | 71% | 67% | 74% | 61% | 67% | 83% | 71% | 70% |
Base (n) | 1,079 | 525 | 554 | 332 | 362 | 385 | 728 | 351 |
State Government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
22/08 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | |
Very poor | 5% | 4% | 4% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 5% |
Quite poor | 8% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 7% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 9% | 9% |
Neither good, nor poor | 17% | 17% | 17% | 20% | 17% | 17% | 16% | 18% | 17% | 20% |
Quite good | 41% | 38% | 39% | 38% | 38% | 39% | 39% | 38% | 41% | 39% |
Very good | 28% | 33% | 32% | 30% | 35% | 33% | 34% | 31% | 30% | 26% |
TOTAL: Poor | 13% | 12% | 11% | 12% | 11% | 11% | 12% | 12% | 13% | 14% |
TOTAL: Good | 69% | 71% | 71% | 68% | 73% | 72% | 73% | 70% | 70% | 66% |
Base (n) | 1,079 | 1,087 | 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 | 5% | 4% | 8% | 6% | 4% | 4% | |
Quite poor | 8% | 8% | 5% | 14% | 5% | 4% | |
Neither good, nor poor | 17% | 18% | 22% | 15% | 13% | 17% | |
Quite good | 41% | 45% | 38% | 42% | 39% | 27% | |
Very good | 28% | 25% | 26% | 22% | 40% | 48% | |
TOTAL: Poor | 13% | 12% | 13% | 20% | 8% | 8% | |
TOTAL: Good | 69% | 70% | 65% | 64% | 79% | 75% | |
Base (n) | 1,079 | 352 | 261 | 216 | 88 | 110 | |
- Victorian rating of their state government’s response is down 10% this week (from 75% to 65%) with 19 new cases of Covid-19 recorded this weekend.
State Government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | |
Very poor | 4% | 4% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 5% |
Quite poor | 8% | 7% | 6% | 7% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 9% | 9% |
Neither good, nor poor | 17% | 17% | 20% | 17% | 17% | 16% | 18% | 17% | 20% |
Quite good | 38% | 39% | 38% | 38% | 39% | 39% | 38% | 41% | 39% |
Very good | 33% | 32% | 30% | 35% | 33% | 34% | 31% | 30% | 26% |
TOTAL: Poor | 12% | 11% | 12% | 11% | 11% | 12% | 12% | 13% | 14% |
TOTAL: Good | 71% | 71% | 68% | 73% | 72% | 73% | 70% | 70% | 66% |
Base (n) | 1,087 | 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% | 4% | 6% | 6% | 1% | 3% | |
Quite poor | 8% | 9% | 5% | 12% | 6% | 4% | |
Neither good, nor poor | 17% | 22% | 13% | 15% | 17% | 17% | |
Quite good | 38% | 41% | 39% | 39% | 40% | 28% | |
Very good | 33% | 24% | 36% | 28% | 36% | 49% | |
TOTAL: Poor | 12% | 13% | 11% | 18% | 7% | 6% | |
TOTAL: Good | 71% | 65% | 75% | 67% | 76% | 77% | |
Base (n) | 1,087 | 352 | 275 | 217 | 83 | 107 |
Likelihood of developing Coronavirus
Q. How likely do you think it is, that you will develop Covid-19?
08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | 13/04 | 06/04 | |
Very likely | 6% | 7% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 5% | 5% | 7% | 5% | 8% |
Somewhat likely | 22% | 23% | 22% | 25% | 24% | 26% | 21% | 25% | 28% | 33% |
Somewhat unlikely | 47% | 48% | 51% | 48% | 48% | 46% | 50% | 52% | 49% | 45% |
Very unlikely | 25% | 22% | 23% | 21% | 21% | 23% | 23% | 17% | 18% | 14% |
Base (n) | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1.093 | 1,054 | 1,051 | 1,068 | 1,069 |
Age group | Location | |||||
Total | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Capital | Non-Capital | |
Very likely | 6% | 8% | 8% | 3% | 6% | 6% |
Somewhat likely | 22% | 29% | 22% | 17% | 25% | 18% |
Somewhat unlikely | 47% | 38% | 47% | 54% | 47% | 46% |
Very unlikely | 25% | 25% | 23% | 27% | 22% | 30% |
Base (n) | 1,073 | 341 | 363 | 369 | 727 | 349 |
Government response to Covid-19
Q. Overall, how would you rate the Government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | 13/04 | |
Very poor | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 6% |
Quite poor | 8% | 7% | 6% | 7% | 9% | 9% | 9% | 10% | 12% |
Neither good, nor poor | 18% | 20% | 16% | 17% | 16% | 20% | 17% | 21% | 20% |
Quite good | 40% | 39% | 43% | 41% | 39% | 38% | 44% | 42% | 40% |
Very good | 30% | 28% | 30% | 32% | 32% | 28% | 26% | 23% | 23% |
TOTAL: Poor | 12% | 12% | 11% | 11% | 13% | 14% | 13% | 15% | 17% |
TOTAL: Good | 70% | 68% | 73% | 73% | 71% | 66% | 70% | 65% | 63% |
Base (n) | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 | 1,068 |
Gender | Age Group | Location | |||||||
Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Capital | Non-Capital | ||
Very poor | 4% | 5% | 2% | 5% | 4% | 2% | 4% | 4% | |
Quite poor | 8% | 9% | 7% | 13% | 8% | 4% | 9% | 6% | |
Neither good, nor poor | 18% | 19% | 17% | 26% | 18% | 11% | 18% | 18% | |
Quite good | 40% | 38% | 43% | 41% | 45% | 36% | 41% | 39% | |
Very good | 30% | 29% | 31% | 14% | 26% | 47% | 29% | 33% | |
TOTAL: Poor | 12% | 14% | 9% | 18% | 11% | 6% | 12% | 10% | |
TOTAL: Good | 70% | 67% | 74% | 55% | 71% | 83% | 70% | 72% | |
Base (n) | 1,073 | 528 | 545 | 341 | 363 | 369 | 727 | 349 |
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.

COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Download this week's ReportEssential Report
Two Party Preferred:
In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Federal government response to Covid-19
- State government response to Covid-19
- Confidence in Labor government handling of Covid-19 pandemic
- Satisfaction with speed of Covid-19 vaccine rollout
- Party most responsible for slow vaccine rollout
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