Essential Report
Support for returning JobKeeper
Q. To what extent do you support or oppose the return of JobKeeper to assist people and businesses affected by lockdowns in Australia?
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Strongly support | 33% | 28% | 36% | 37% | 36% | 25% | 37% | 23% | 50% | 33% |
| Somewhat support | 33% | 34% | 32% | 31% | 32% | 36% | 39% | 35% | 26% | 27% |
| Neither support nor oppose | 23% | 24% | 23% | 26% | 22% | 23% | 19% | 26% | 16% | 19% |
| Somewhat oppose | 6% | 7% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 10% | 3% | 9% | 4% | 12% |
| Strongly oppose | 5% | 6% | 4% | 1% | 6% | 7% | 2% | 7% | 4% | 8% |
| TOTAL: Support | 66% | 62% | 69% | 69% | 68% | 61% | 77% | 58% | 76% | 60% |
| TOTAL: Oppose | 11% | 13% | 9% | 5% | 10% | 16% | 5% | 16% | 8% | 20% |
| Base (n) | 1,098 | 537 | 561 | 341 | 372 | 385 | 371 | 402 | 90 | 128 |
| State | |||||
| NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | |
| Strongly support | 34% | 34% | 30% | 28% | 25% |
| Somewhat support | 34% | 35% | 28% | 42% | 33% |
| Neither support nor oppose | 22% | 21% | 28% | 19% | 29% |
| Somewhat oppose | 6% | 6% | 6% | 5% | 6% |
| Strongly oppose | 5% | 3% | 6% | 5% | 7% |
| TOTAL: Support | 68% | 69% | 59% | 70% | 58% |
| TOTAL: Oppose | 10% | 10% | 13% | 11% | 13% |
| Base (n) | 352 | 276 | 220 | 86 | 111 |
- Around two-thirds (66%) of people would support the reintroduction of JobKeeper measures during lockdowns.
- Those with the highest support for the return of JobKeeper measures include women (69%), those aged 18-34 (69%), and Labor and Greens voters (77% and 76% respectively).
Stance on anti-lockdown protests
Q. As you may be aware, there were anti-lockdown protests in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane recently. To what extent do you support or oppose these anti-lockdown protests?
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Strongly support | 8% | 10% | 5% | 9% | 9% | 5% | 6% | 7% | 6% | 22% |
| Somewhat support | 10% | 11% | 9% | 18% | 11% | 4% | 13% | 8% | 14% | 9% |
| Neither support nor oppose | 15% | 15% | 15% | 23% | 16% | 7% | 14% | 12% | 17% | 14% |
| Somewhat oppose | 10% | 10% | 10% | 9% | 12% | 10% | 9% | 10% | 15% | 7% |
| Strongly oppose | 57% | 53% | 60% | 41% | 53% | 74% | 58% | 62% | 48% | 48% |
| TOTAL: Support | 18% | 22% | 14% | 27% | 19% | 9% | 19% | 16% | 21% | 31% |
| TOTAL: Oppose | 67% | 64% | 71% | 50% | 65% | 84% | 67% | 72% | 63% | 54% |
| Base (n) | 1,098 | 537 | 561 | 341 | 372 | 385 | 371 | 402 | 90 | 128 |
| State | |||||
| NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | |
| Strongly support | 8% | 6% | 10% | 6% | 9% |
| Somewhat support | 10% | 10% | 12% | 7% | 12% |
| Neither support nor oppose | 15% | 15% | 19% | 14% | 7% |
| Somewhat oppose | 11% | 10% | 9% | 13% | 10% |
| Strongly oppose | 57% | 59% | 49% | 60% | 62% |
| TOTAL: Support | 17% | 17% | 22% | 14% | 21% |
| TOTAL: Oppose | 68% | 69% | 59% | 73% | 72% |
| Base (n) | 352 | 276 | 220 | 86 | 111 |
- Most people (67%) oppose the recent anti-lockdown protests held around the country, with over half (57%) strongly opposing the protests.
- Opposition was highest among women (71%), those aged over 55 (84%), and Coalition voters (72%).
Engagement in ‘risky’ activities
Q. In the last two years, have you engaged in any of the following activities?
| TOTAL: Yes | Total | All respondents who have not been vaccinated and would be willing to get the Pfizer vaccine but not the AstraZeneca vaccine |
| Smoked cigarettes (manufactured or roll-your-own) | 25% | 26% |
| Taken recreational drugs | 11% | 12% |
| TOTAL: Drunk more than 10 standard drinks in a week or Drunk more than 4 standard drinks in a day | 43% | 43% |
| TOTAL: Read or sent a text message while driving or Driven without wearing a seatbelt or Ridden a bicycle on a road | 34% | 34% |
| Base (n) | 1,098 | 323 |
| TOTAL: Yes | Total | All females who have not been vaccinated and would be willing to get the Pfizer vaccine but not the AstraZeneca vaccine |
| Taken the birth control pill (oral contraceptive pill) | 16% | 20% |
| Base (n): All females | 561 | 194 |
- A notable proportion of people who are unwilling to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine still engage in ‘risky’ activities.
- In the past two years, 26% have smoked cigarettes, 43% have drunk alcohol over recommended limits, and 34% have engaged in risky behaviour when driving.
- 20% of women unwilling to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine (but are willing to receive Pfizer) have taken the birth control pill in the past two years.
Support for Covid-19 measures
Q. To what extent would you support or oppose the following measures in relation to Covid-19 vaccines?
| TOTAL: Support | TOTAL: Oppose | Strongly support | Somewhat support | Neither support nor oppose | Somewhat oppose | Strongly oppose | |
| Prioritise Pfizer vaccines for people with high-risk medical conditions or occupations | 75% | 5% | 51% | 23% | 20% | 2% | 3% |
| Require people to prove they are vaccinated before travelling interstate | 72% | 13% | 47% | 25% | 15% | 4% | 9% |
| Require people to prove they are vaccinated before entering public venues (e.g. restaurants, entertainment venues) | 63% | 19% | 36% | 27% | 18% | 8% | 10% |
| TOTAL: Support | Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | ||||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
| Prioritise Pfizer vaccines for people with high-risk medical conditions or occupations | 75% | 73% | 77% | 70% | 74% | 80% | 76% | 80% | 73% | 65% | ||
| Require people to prove they are vaccinated before travelling interstate | 72% | 74% | 70% | 65% | 68% | 82% | 76% | 80% | 62% | 53% | ||
| Require people to prove they are vaccinated before entering public venues (e.g. restaurants, entertainment venues) | 63% | 66% | 60% | 60% | 59% | 70% | 65% | 70% | 64% | 45% | ||
| Base (n) | 1,098 | 537 | 561 | 341 | 372 | 385 | 371 | 402 | 90 | 128 | ||
- Most people support the prioritisation of Pfizer vaccines for people with high-risk medical conditions or occupations (75%).
- 72% would support a requirement for people travelling interstate to prove they are vaccinated, and 63% would support requiring people to prove they are vaccinated before entering public venues.
- Support for all these measures is higher among people aged over 55 than those aged under 55.
Importance for workers to be prioritised to be vaccinated against Covid-19
Q. Thinking about the safety and welfare of Australians, how important to you is it that each of the following workers are prioritised to be vaccinated against Covid-19?
| TOTAL: Extremely important + Very important | TOTAL:
Not that important + Not at all important |
Extremely important | Very important | Fairly important | Not that important | Not at all important | |
| Emergency services workers (e.g. firefighters, police, paramedics) | 86% | 6% | 70% | 16% | 8% | 3% | 3% |
| Healthcare workers | 86% | 5% | 71% | 15% | 9% | 3% | 2% |
| Aged and disability care workers | 85% | 5% | 68% | 17% | 10% | 3% | 3% |
| Quarantine and border workers | 84% | 5% | 66% | 18% | 11% | 2% | 3% |
| Teachers and teachers’ aides | 79% | 7% | 49% | 30% | 14% | 4% | 3% |
| Essential retail workers (e.g. supermarket workers, pharmacy workers) | 77% | 7% | 48% | 29% | 16% | 4% | 3% |
| Social and support services workers (e.g. family violence and sexual assault workers, community housing workers) | 77% | 6% | 50% | 27% | 17% | 3% | 3% |
| Transport, postal and warehousing workers (e.g. Couriers, food delivery workers) | 75% | 8% | 42% | 33% | 17% | 5% | 3% |
| Early childhood educators | 74% | 8% | 46% | 29% | 17% | 5% | 3% |
| Construction workers | 52% | 17% | 26% | 26% | 31% | 12% | 5% |
- Most people say it is extremely important for emergency service workers (70%), healthcare workers (71%), aged and disability care workers (68%), and quarantine and border staff (66%) to be prioritised for Covid-19 vaccines.
- About half (49%) say it is extremely important for teachers and teacher’s aides to be prioritised for vaccines, and 46% think the same for early childhood educators.
- The importance of vaccinating those working in education is similar to essential retail workers (48% extremely important), social and support services workers (50%), and transport, postal and warehousing workers (42%).
Views towards proportion of Australian population vaccinated against Covid-19 required for reopening international borders and removing Covid-19 restrictions
Q. What proportion of the Australian population do you think should be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 (i.e. received both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine) before Australia reopens its international borders and removes all restrictions resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic?
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
| 70% or less | 29% | 30% | 28% | 41% | 30% | 18% | 31% | 29% | 30% | 36% | ||
| 80% or more | 62% | 62% | 61% | 46% | 60% | 76% | 62% | 66% | 56% | 54% | ||
| Unsure | 10% | 8% | 11% | 13% | 10% | 6% | 8% | 6% | 14% | 10% | ||
| Base (n) | 1,098 | 537 | 561 | 341 | 372 | 385 | 371 | 402 | 90 | 128 | ||
- Most people think more than 80% of the population should be vaccinated before international borders are reopened (62%).
Federal government response to Covid-19
Q. Overall, how would you rate the federal government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 19/07 | 05/07 | 07/06 | 24/05 | 12/04 | 15/03 | 01/03 | 15/02 | 01/02 | 30/11 | 16/11 | 02/11 | 05/10 | |
| Very poor | 13% | 12% | 10% | 6% | 7% | 5% | 6% | 5% | 4% | 6% | 5% | 5% | 5% |
| Quite poor | 19% | 17% | 14% | 12% | 10% | 7% | 8% | 7% | 11% | 8% | 9% | 10% | 12% |
| Neither good nor poor | 23% | 26% | 22% | 25% | 21% | 18% | 24% | 19% | 19% | 19% | 18% | 24% | 22% |
| Quite good | 32% | 33% | 38% | 40% | 40% | 39% | 39% | 42% | 42% | 41% | 41% | 39% | 39% |
| Very good | 14% | 11% | 15% | 18% | 22% | 31% | 23% | 27% | 25% | 26% | 26% | 22% | 21% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 31% | 30% | 24% | 18% | 17% | 12% | 14% | 12% | 14% | 13% | 15% | 15% | 18% |
| TOTAL: Good | 46% | 44% | 53% | 58% | 62% | 70% | 62% | 69% | 67% | 67% | 67% | 61% | 60% |
| Base (n) | 1,100 | 1,099 | 1,104 | 1,100 | 1,368 | 1,124 | 1,074 | 1,109 | 1,092 | 1,034 | 1,010 | 1,063 | 1,066 |
| TOTAL: Good | 19/07 | 05/07 | 07/06 | 24/05 | 12/04 | 15/03 | 01/03 |
| NSW | 49% | 44% | 62% | 56% | 66% | 69% | 64% |
| VIC | 39% | 40% | 42% | 57% | 55% | 65% | 51% |
| QLD | 46% | 48% | 54% | 56% | 63% | 69% | 66% |
| SA | 51% | 48% | 58% | 66% | 62% | 78% | 68% |
| WA | 51% | 42% | 49% | 56% | 65% | 75% | 66% |
- 46% of people rate the federal government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak as quite good or very good, with 31% rating it as poor.
- Since peaking at 70% in March, positive rating of the federal government’s handling of Covid-19 has dropped off, falling to 44% earlier this month, the lowest rating recorded to date for this question which was first asked in March 2020.
- Positive rating of the federal government’s handling of Covid-19 has improved in WA (up 9 percentage points to 51%), NSW (up 5 percentage points to 49%) and SA (up 3 percentage points to 48%).
- In Victoria, positive rating is now at 39%, down from 65% in March. This positive rating also continues to drop in QLD, now 46% (from 69% in March).
State government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| TOTAL: Good | 19/07 | 05/07 | 07/06 | 24/05 | 12/04 | 15/03 | 01/03 | 15/02 | 01/02 | 30/11 | 16/11 | 02/11 | 05/10 |
| NSW | 54% | 57% | 69% | 68% | 73% | 75% | 72% | 72% | 71% | 76% | 75% | 68% | 65% |
| VIC | 49% | 50% | 48% | 63% | 58% | 62% | 49% | 59% | 61% | 60% | 59% | 55% | 45% |
| QLD | 62% | 61% | 65% | 68% | 72% | 75% | 73% | 76% | 78% | 72% | 71% | 69% | 69% |
| SA | 68% | 67% | 67% | 71% | 75% | 85% | 78% | 79% | 80% | 70% | 76% | 77% | 81% |
| WA | 77% | 86% | 75% | 77% | 84% | 91% | 85% | 88% | 80% | 83% | 82% | 81% | 83% |
- Amidst the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak and lockdown in NSW, positive rating of the state government’s response to Covid-19 continues to drop, now at 54% from 57% earlier this month and 69% in June.
- With the current outbreak and lockdown in VIC, rating of the state government remains the lowest of all states at 49%, a similar level to earlier this month and last month (50% and 48% respectively).
- While still the highest rating among all states, rating of the WA government has dropped to 77% from 86% earlier this month. This is similar to the level in June (75%).
- Rating of the QLD and SA governments’ handling of Covid-19 remains high at 62% and 68% respectively (65% and 67% last month).
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Essential Report
In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Views towards re-electing the federal Coalition government
- Party trust to handle issues
- Importance of Australia’s international reputation
- Scott Morrison’s impact on Australia’s international reputation
- Views towards Australia’s international reputation
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