The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • 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.
  • Sep, 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 07/09 24/08 10/08 27/07 13/07 22/06 15/06 08/06 01/06 25/05 18/05
    NSW 57% 59% 61% 62% 63% 70% 65% 67% 62% 65% 70%
    VIC 50% 47% 49% 53% 49% 65% 75% 72% 71% 73% 71%
    QLD 66% 73% 68% 67% 69% 64% 67% 68% 69% 74% 66%
    SA 74% 65% 72% 76% 79% 79% 76% 79% 70% 84% 80%
    WA 87% 84% 86% 82% 77% 75% 77% 84% 79% 83% 86%
    • Positive rating of the NSW Government’s continues to slide, with another -2%pts movement this week to 57%. This is down from a high of 70% in June.
    • Positive rating of the Victorian Government remains steady at 50%, though the majority of this survey was completed before the announcement of the lock-down extension in Victoria on Sunday 6th
    • Positive rating of the Queensland state government’s handing dropped to 66% this week from 73% a fortnight ago.
  • Sep, 2020

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    Expected restriction levels

    Q. In response to the Covid-19 outbreak, what do you expect will happen to the restriction levels in your local area over the next two months?

      07/09 24/08
     
    I expect restrictions will become tighter 15% 39%
    I expect no change to the restrictions 43% 39%
    I expect restrictions will have eased 42% 22%
    Base (n) 1,076 1,058

     

        State
      Total NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    I expect restrictions will become tighter 15% 19% 9% 20% 10% 9%
    I expect no change to the restrictions 43% 46% 31% 48% 42% 53%
    I expect restrictions will have eased 42% 35% 60% 32% 48% 38%
    Base (n) 1,076 352 275 215 88 99
    • A general expectation of an easing of restrictions in the next two months suggests Australians feel the worst effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have passed. Just 15% think tighter restrictions will be required in the next two months and 42% expect an easing of restrictions.
    • The expectation of easing restrictions is highest in Victoria (60%), as this state currently has the strictest requirements. The majority of this survey was completed before the announcement of the lock-down extension in Victoria on Sunday 6th
  • Sep, 2020

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    Responsibility for Covid-19 Outbreak in Aged Care

    Q. In your opinion, who is most responsible for the recent Covid-19 outbreaks and spread of the virus within aged care facilities?

      07/09 24/08
     
    Federal Government 31% 28%
    State or Territory governments 28% 30%
    Aged Care providers 41% 42%
    Base (n) 1,076 1,068

     

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor Liberal + National Greens TOTAL: Other
    Federal Government 31% 36% 27% 37% 35% 22% 42% 23% 34% 34%
    State or Territory governments 28% 29% 28% 37% 27% 23% 26% 33% 31% 17%
    Aged care providers 41% 36% 45% 26% 38% 55% 32% 44% 35% 49%
    Base (n) 1076 524 552 326 365 385 321 390 108 138
    • Responsibility for the outbreaks in aged care is shared between Federal and state governments, an aged care providers. Consistent with results a fortnight ago, 42% say the providers hold the most responsibility (42% in last poll), 31% identify the Federal government (no change from 28%) and 28% the state governments (from 30%).
    • Women, people aged over 55 and Coalition voters are most likely to hold aged care providers responsible, while Labor voters are more likely to say the Federal government has the most responsibility (42%).
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