The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Apr, 2020

    , ,

    Government Covid-19 tracking app

    Q. The Federal Government is developing an app to help stop the spread of Covid-19. The TraceTogether app will track a person’s movements by GPS and record if that person comes into contact with someone who is Covid-19 positive.

    People have to voluntarily opt-in to download the app onto their mobile phones before their movements can be tracked. Once logged in, the app would track you wherever you went.

    To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about this proposed technology?

      NET: Agree NET: Disagree Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree
    I would be uncomfortable if the government was able to track all my movements via an app on my mobile phone 57% 23% 28% 29% 21% 13% 10%
    This app would help limit the spread of Covid-19 52% 17% 17% 34% 32% 10% 7%
    This app would speed up the removal of physical distancing restrictions 42% 18% 13% 29% 39% 11% 7%
    I would download this app onto my mobile phone 38% 33% 15% 23% 28% 14% 19%
    I would be concerned with the security of my personal data if this app was on my phone 63% 17% 32% 31% 20% 11% 6%
    I’m confident the government will not misuse any data it collects about me via the app 35% 36% 12% 23% 29% 19% 17%
    •  38% of people agree (strongly/somewhat) that they would download the proposed app to track the spread of Covid-19, 33% of the population disagree.
    • Younger people aged 18-34 are more likely to agree they would download the app (44%) than those aged over 35 (35%). 18-34 year olds are also more likely to agree that the app would help stop the spread of the disease (47%) than those aged over 35 (40%).
    • There are security and privacy concerns about the app, with 63% concerned about the security of their personal data. 57% are uncomfortable with the government tracking movements and just 35% confident the government can be trusted not to misuse collected data.
  • Apr, 2020

    , ,

    Coronavirus concerns

    Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Australia?

      13/04 06/04 29/03 22/03 09/03 10/02
    Very concerned 45% 51% 53% 39% 27% 25%
    Quite concerned 43% 37% 35% 43% 36% 43%
    Not that concerned 9% 10% 10% 14% 28% 26%
    Not at all concerned 3% 2% 3% 4% 9% 6%
    Base (n) 1,068 1,069 1,086 1,034 1,096 1,057

     

        Age group Location
      Total 18-34 35-54 55+ Capital Non-Capital
    Very concerned 45% 45% 47% 45% 47% 42%
    Quite concerned 43% 43% 40% 44% 43% 43%
    Not that concerned 9% 9% 10% 8% 8% 12%
    Not at all concerned 3% 2% 3% 3% 2% 4%
    Base (n) 1,068 343 340 385 722 346
    • Concern about the threat of Covid-19 has lessened this week, with 45% saying they are very concerned (down from 51% last week). The proportion of people who say they are Quite concerned has increased by the equivalent amount from 37% to 43%).
    • The proportion of over 55s saying they are very concerned has decreased from 54% to 45, while concern in both capital and regional areas has eased (those very concerned in capital cities has fallen from 53% to 47%, while in regional areas it has moved from 48% to 42%).
  • Apr, 2020

    , ,

    Specific Covid-19 concerns

    Q. To what extent are you concerned about these possible impacts of the Covid-19?

      Very concerned Quite concerned Not that concerned Not at all concerned Unsure
    The Australian economy as a whole 45% 40% 10% 3% 2%
    General unemployment if companies are forced out of business 39% 40% 12% 5% 4%
    The physical health of close family members 32% 41% 19% 6% 3%
    My economic situation if I lose my job or have less work 32% 26% 16% 19% 7%
    The impact on my superannuation, savings or investments 31% 32% 18% 12% 7%
    My physical health and catching the virus 27% 35% 26% 8% 3%
    My close family members’ mental health 24% 38% 24% 11% 3%
    My ability to buy food and essential items if stores run out 23% 35% 26% 12% 3%
    Children’s development by missing out on school 21% 31% 23% 17% 8%
    My mental health as a result of social distancing 18% 29% 28% 22% 3%
    • Economic issues are seen as most concerning when thinking about the consequences of the Covid-19 crisis. 45% say they are worried about the economy as a whole and 39% are very concerned about general unemployment.
    • The top concern for 18-34 year olds was their financial position if they lose a job or work (40% said this was very concerning). The economy (37%) and general unemployment (36%) were also main concerns for this age group. Those aged 18-34 were more likely than other age groups to be concerned about the impact on their mental health (25% to 15%), and that of their families (30% to 21%).
    • Concern for children is highest among those in households with dependent children (30% are very concerned).
  • Apr, 2020

    , ,

    Likelihood of developing Coronavirus

    Q. How likely do you think it is, that you will develop Covid-19?

      13/04 06/04 29/03 22/03 09/03
    Very likely 5% 8% 8% 8% 7%
    Somewhat likely 28% 33% 36% 34% 24%
    Somewhat unlikely 49% 45% 45% 45% 43%
    Very unlikely 18% 14% 12% 13% 26%
    Base (n) 1,068 1,069 1,086 1,034 1,096

     

        Age group Location
      Total 18-34 35-54 55+ Capital Non-Capital
    Very likely 5% 8% 8% 1% 6% 3%
    Somewhat likely 28% 32% 26% 25% 28% 27%
    Somewhat unlikely 49% 39% 49% 58% 48% 52%
    Very unlikely 18% 20% 17% 16% 17% 18%
    Base (n) 1,068 343 340 385 722 346
    • Catching Covid-19 is seen as less likely this week, with fewer people saying they are very or somewhat likely to contract the virus (33%, down from 42% last week). The biggest decreases in likelihood were in Queensland (from 44% to 28%) and WA (from 38% to 26%).
    • The perceived threat of catching Covid-19 among Greens voters dropped from 56% who thought they were very/somewhat likely to catch Covid-19 (the highest of voter IDs last week) to 35% – which is now in line with voters of other parties.
  • Apr, 2020

    , ,

    Reaction to Covid-19

    Q. Which of the following is closer to your personal views of the Covid-19 outbreak?

      13/04 06/04 29/03 22/03
    There has been an over-reaction to the threat of Covid-19 13% 17% 18% 33%
    The response to the threat of Covid-19 is about right 59% 46% 39% 39%
    The threat of Covid-19 has been under-estimated 29% 37% 43% 28%
    Base (n) 1,068 1,069 1,086 1,034

     

        Gender Age Group
      Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+
    There has been an over-reaction to the threat of Covid-19 13% 16% 10% 19% 13% 7%
    The response to the threat of Covid-19 is about right 59% 58% 60% 52% 63% 60%
    The threat of Covid-19 has been under-estimated 29% 26% 31% 29% 23% 33%
    Base (n) 1,068 537 531 343 340 385
    • Over half of people (59%) now believe the reaction to the threat of Covid-19 has been about right.
  • Apr, 2020

    , ,

    Economic expectations

    Q. Which of the following is closer to your expectations of what will happen to the economy following the Covid-19 situation?

      13/04 06/04
    The economy will rebound within 2-3 months and grow just as strong or stronger than before Covid-19 12% 11%
    The economy will be impacted for 6-12 months or longer and will stagnate or show slow growth thereafter 49% 51%
    Covid-19 will have long lasting impact on the economy and the country will fall into a lengthy recession 27% 29%
    Unsure 11% 9%
    Base (n) 1,068 1,069

     

        Gender Age Group
    Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+
    The economy will rebound within 2-3 months and grow just as strong or stronger than before Covid-19 12% 13% 11% 12% 13% 11%
    The economy will be impacted for 6-12 months or longer and will stagnate or show slow growth thereafter 49% 51% 48% 52% 49% 48%
    Covid-19 will have long lasting impact on the economy and the country will fall into a lengthy recession 27% 26% 29% 23% 28% 30%
    Unsure 11% 10% 13% 12% 10% 11%
    Base (n) 1,068 537 531 343 340 385
    • Little change in the economic expectations from last week, with half of people (49%) think Covid-19 will impact the economy for up to a year, with slow growth following. A further 27% believe the impact will be even more devastating, with long-lasting impact and recession.
  • Apr, 2020

    , ,

    Government response to Covid-19

    Q. Overall, how would you rate the Government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?

      13/04 06/04 29/03 22/03
    Very poor 6% 6% 11% 9%
    Quite poor 12% 15% 21% 20%
    Neither good, nor poor 20% 21% 24% 26%
    Quite good 40% 37% 34% 33%
    Very good 23% 21% 11% 12%
    NET: Poor 17% 21% 45% 29%
    NET: Good 63% 58% 31% 45%
    Base (n) 1,068 1,069 1,086 1,034

     

        Gender Age Group Location
      Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Capital Non-Capital
    Very poor 6% 7% 4% 8% 7% 3% 5% 6%
    Quite poor 12% 13% 11% 22% 7% 7% 12% 10%
    Neither good, nor poor 20% 19% 21% 28% 23% 11% 20% 21%
    Quite good 40% 39% 40% 35% 42% 42% 41% 38%
    Very good 23% 22% 24% 8% 22% 37% 22% 25%
    NET: Poor 17% 19% 15% 30% 14% 10% 18% 16%
    NET: Good 63% 61% 64% 43% 64% 79% 63% 63%
    Base (n) 1,068 537 531 343 340 385 722 346
    • The perception that the Government improved for the second week in a row. 63% now think the Government has done a good job (Very/somewhat) in handling the crisis.
    • The ratings have increased most among people aged 35-54 (55% to 64%), and 55+ (68% to 79%).
    • Increases in the government’s rating were also seen among WA residents (increased from 60% to 74%), Labor voters (from 49% to 58%) and those in capital cities (increased from 55% to 63%).
  • Apr, 2020

    , , ,

    State Government response to Covid-19

    Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?

        State
      Total NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    Very poor 5% 6% 4% 6% 3% 3%
    Quite poor 11% 15% 5% 16% 7% 8%
    Neither good, nor poor 20% 23% 15% 27% 19% 11%
    Quite good 38% 38% 42% 33% 38% 36%
    Very good 26% 18% 33% 19% 33% 43%
    NET: Poor 16% 21% 10% 21% 10% 11%
    NET: Good 64% 56% 76% 52% 72% 79%
    Base (n) 1,068 328 272 222 87 110
    • Across the country, the overall perception of states’ handling of the crisis in in line with government 64% rating their own state’s handling as Very/Quite good (compared to 63%).
    • Victoria and Western Australia have the highest rating of their state government, while this is lower for Queensland (52%) and NSW (56%).
Error: