The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Jul, 2021

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    Reason those who would get vaccinated against Covid-19 have not been vaccinated yet

    Q. Thinking about why you haven’t been vaccinated against Covid-19 yet, which of the following applies to you? Select all that apply.

    [ASKED ONLY TO THOSE WHO SAY THEY WOULD GET VACCINATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE / WOULD GET VACCINATED BUT NOT STRAIGHT AWAY]

      Total Gender Age Group
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+
    I’m waiting for the Pfizer vaccine to be available to me 41% 39% 42% 47% 41% 30%
    I’m waiting to see how others react to the vaccine first 29% 28% 29% 33% 31% 17%
    I haven’t tried to book an appointment because I assume it will be too hard to get one 13% 14% 13% 20% 12% 4%
    I can’t take time off work if I need to after getting vaccinated (e.g. if I feel unwell) 6% 8% 5% 10% 6% 1%
    I can’t take time off work for the vaccine appointment 4% 5% 4% 6% 5% 1%
    Other (please specify) 13% 10% 15% 7% 14% 19%
    None of these 15% 16% 14% 4% 14% 34%
    Base (n) 600 272 328 243 223 134
    • Once a vaccine becomes available to them, of those who say they would get vaccinated as soon as possible, or they would get vaccinated but not straight away, the most common reason out of those listed for not being vaccinated yet is ‘I’m waiting for the Pfizer vaccine to be available to me’ (41%).
    • Despite the AstraZeneca vaccine now being technically available to all adults, 47% of those aged 18-34 state waiting for Pfizer to be available to them as their top reason for not getting vaccinated yet, followed by 41% of those aged 35-54 and 30% of those over 55.
    • The second most common reason out of those listed is ‘I’m waiting to see how others react to the vaccine first’ (29%). Those aged 18-34 and 35-54 are more likely to state this than those over 55 (33% and 31% to 17% respectively).
    • 13% say the reason they haven’t been vaccinated yet is because they ‘haven’t tried to book an appointment because they assume it will be too hard to get one’. Those aged 18-34 are more likely to state this as their reason compared to older cohorts (20% to 12% of those aged 35-54 and 4% of those over 55).
  • Jul, 2021

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    Speed of NSW lockdown

    Q. Overall, do you think NSW moved too quickly, too slowly or at about the right speed in terms of enforcing lockdown restrictions?

    NSW This week

    19/07

    		 Two weeks ago

    05/07
    Moved too quickly 12% 10%
    About the right speed 44% 51%
    Moved too slowly 44% 39%
    Base (n) 354 553
    • Compared to two weeks ago, more NSW residents now think NSW moved too slowly when enforcing lockdown restrictions (44% from 39%).
    • Fewer now think NSW moved at about the right speed (44% from 51% two weeks ago), and about the same proportion think NSW moved too quickly (12% from 10%).
      State
      NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    Moved too quickly 12% 8% 7% 20% 13%
    About the right speed 44% 31% 34% 28% 19%
    Moved too slowly 44% 62% 60% 53% 68%
    Base (n) 354 277 217 89 108
    • People from other states mostly think NSW moved too slowly with lockdown. Western Australians are most likely to think this (68%), followed by Victorians (62%), Queenslanders (60%) and South Australians (53%).
      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Moved too quickly 10% 13% 7% 14% 13% 4% 9% 10% 10% 13%
    About the right speed 34% 37% 32% 39% 31% 34% 25% 44% 39% 33%
    Moved too slowly 56% 50% 61% 47% 56% 63% 66% 46% 51% 54%
    Base (n) 1,100 539 561 341 373 386 375 414 100 117

     

      State
      NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    Moved too quickly 12% 8% 7% 20% 13%
    About the right speed 44% 31% 34% 28% 19%
    Moved too slowly 44% 62% 60% 53% 68%
    Base (n) 354 277 217 89 108
    • Women are more likely than men to think NSW moved too slowly with lockdown (61% to 50% respectively).
    • The sentiment that NSW moved too slowly increases with age – 47% of those aged 18-34 hold this view, compared to 56% of those aged 35-54 and 63% of those over 55.
    • Labor voters are the most likely to think NSW moved too slowly with lockdown (66%), followed by minor/independent party voters (54%) and Greens voters (51%). Coalition voters are the least likely to think this (46%).
  • Jul, 2021

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    Time for Covid-19 milestones to occur for NSW

    Q. How long do you think it will take for the following to occur in NSW?

    This week

    19/07

    		 Two weeks up to one month One month up to six months Seven months up to one year One to two years More than two years Never
    The Covid-19 outbreak in NSW is controlled 46% 33% 10% 5% 2% 4%
    The lockdown in Greater Sydney is lifted 62% 28% 5% 2% 0% 2%
    The lockdown in other affected areas in NSW is lifted (e.g. Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour) 71% 20% 4% 2% 1% 3%
    • 46% of people think the Covid-19 outbreak in NSW will be controlled within a month. A further third (33%) think this will most likely happen within six months.
    • Most Australians are optimistic the NSW lockdown will be lifted within a month (62% in Greater Sydney and 71% in other affected areas of NSW).
    NSW Two weeks up to one month
    19/07 05/07
    The Covid-19 outbreak in NSW is controlled 47% 50%
    The lockdown in Greater Sydney is lifted 62% 76%
    The lockdown in other affected areas in NSW is lifted (e.g. Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour) 69% 77%
    Base (n) 354 553
    • Most of those in NSW still expect the lockdown to be lifted within a month (62% in Greater Sydney and 69% in other affected areas of NSW), however this is less compared to the proportion who thought this two weeks ago (76% and 77% respectively).
  • Jul, 2021

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    Time to return to normal

    Q. Thinking about the future, how long do you think it will take for the following to occur? / And how long do you think it will take for the following to occur in Australia?

    TOTAL: Within one year This week

    19/07

    		 Last month

    07/06

    		 Three months ago

    26/04

    		 Last July

    27/07/20
    Interstate travel will be allowed without restriction 48% – – –
    The Covid-19 vaccine rollout will be completed in your state 42% – – –
    Unemployment will return to pre-pandemic levels 37% 22% 30% 19%
    The Covid-19 vaccine rollout will be completed in Australia 31% 18% 30% –
    The housing market will return pre-pandemic levels 30% 18% 33% 22%
    Quarantine will no longer be required after international travel 22% 12% 23% 25%
    International travel will be allowed without restriction 21% 12% 20% 21%
    Australia will pay off its national debt 16% 7% 13% 11%
    • A similar proportion of people as in April think most of the events above will occur within a year.
    TOTAL: Within one year NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    The Covid-19 vaccine rollout will be completed in your state 48% 38% 33% 43% 44%
    • Those in NSW are most likely to think the Covid-19 vaccine rollout will be completed in their state within a year (48%), followed by Western Australians (44%) and South Australians (43%). Victorians and Queenslanders are less likely to think this (38% and 33% respectively).
    TOTAL: Within one year Within the next six months Seven months up to one year One to two years More than two years Never
    Interstate travel will be allowed without restriction 48% 20% 29% 30% 17% 5%
    The Covid-19 vaccine rollout will be completed in your state 42% 13% 29% 36% 17% 6%
    Unemployment will return to pre-pandemic levels 37% 18% 20% 30% 25% 8%
    The Covid-19 vaccine rollout will be completed in Australia 31% 11% 20% 35% 26% 8%
    The housing market will return pre-pandemic levels 30% 14% 16% 28% 24% 18%
    Quarantine will no longer be required after international travel 22% 8% 14% 33% 35% 10%
    International travel will be allowed without restriction 21% 9% 12% 31% 37% 11%
    Australia will pay off its national debt 16% 9% 8% 11% 42% 31%
    • Out of the events listed, people are most optimistic about interstate travel – just under half (48%) think interstate travel will be allowed without restriction within a year.
    • 31% of Australians think the Covid-19 vaccine rollout will be completed nationally within a year. A further 35% think this will take one to two years, and about a quarter (26%) think this will take more than two years.
    • 31% think it will take one to two years for international travel to be allowed without restriction, 37% think this will take more than two years.
  • Jul, 2021

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    Scott Morrison’s treatment of NSW vs other states during Covid-19

    Q. Thinking about how Scott Morrison has treated your state compared to how he has treated NSW during the Covid-19 pandemic, which of the following is closer to your view? [ASKED TO ALL RESPONDENTS EXCEPT FOR THOSE IN NSW]

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Scott Morrison has treated my state less favourably than NSW 37% 41% 33% 38% 39% 34% 51% 26% 43% 35%
    Scott Morrison has treated my state more favourably than NSW 8% 9% 7% 11% 11% 4% 7% 9% 16% 9%
    Scott Morrison has treated my state the same as NSW 29% 29% 29% 21% 27% 37% 19% 47% 19% 31%
    Unsure 26% 21% 31% 30% 23% 25% 23% 19% 21% 24%
    Base (n) 743 366 377 247 250 246 297 236 61 83

     

      State
      VIC QLD SA WA
    Scott Morrison has treated my state less favourably than NSW 40% 35% 22% 50%
    Scott Morrison has treated my state more favourably than NSW 8% 7% 11% 9%
    Scott Morrison has treated my state the same as NSW 26% 32% 39% 18%
    Unsure 25% 26% 28% 22%
    Base (n) 275 220 87 106
    • Thinking about how Scott Morrison has treated NSW compared to how he has treated other states during the Covid-19 pandemic, which of the following is closer to your view? [ASKED TO RESPONDENTS IN NSW ONLY]
      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Scott Morrison has treated NSW less favourably than other states 14% 16% 11% 19% 14% 9% 18% 9% 20% 9%
    Scott Morrison has treated NSW more favourably than other states 23% 28% 19% 27% 30% 15% 29% 23% 30% 13%
    Scott Morrison has treated NSW the same as other states 46% 41% 50% 35% 39% 59% 33% 57% 40% 53%
    Unsure 18% 15% 20% 19% 17% 17% 20% 11% 10% 24%
    Base (n) 553 268 285 147 203 203 182 226 41 44
    • When thinking about how Scott Morrison has treated their state compared to how he has treated NSW during the Covid-19 pandemic, over a third (37%) of respondents in states besides NSW say Scott Morrison has treated their state less favourably. 29% think Scott Morrison has treated their state the same as NSW and 26% are unsure. Only 8% think the PM has treated their state more favourably than NSW.
    • Victorians and Western Australians are more likely than those in other states to think the PM has treated their state less favourably than NSW (40% and 50% respectively).
    • When thinking about how Scott Morrison has treated NSW compared to how he has treated other states during the Covid-19 pandemic, just under half (46%) of those in NSW think the PM has treated their state equally, while 23% think he has treated NSW more favourably. 14% think the PM has treated NSW less favourably than other states, and 18% are unsure.
    • In other states besides NSW, compared to other voters, Labor voters are most likely to think Scott Morrison has treated their state less favourably (51%), whereas Coalition voters are most likely to think their state has been treated equally (47%).
    • In NSW, compared to other voters, Coalition voters are the most likely to think the PM has treated NSW equally (57%), while Labor voters are the least likely to think this (33%).
  • Jul, 2021

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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?

      05/07 07/06 24/05 12/04 15/03 01/03 15/02 01/02 30/11 16/11 02/11 05/10 21/09
    Very poor 12% 10% 6% 7% 5% 6% 5% 4% 6% 5% 5% 5% 5%
    Quite poor 17% 14% 12% 10% 7% 8% 7% 11% 8% 9% 10% 12% 13%
    Neither good nor poor 26% 22% 25% 21% 18% 24% 19% 19% 19% 18% 24% 22% 21%
    Quite good 33% 38% 40% 40% 39% 39% 42% 42% 41% 41% 39% 39% 40%
    Very good 11% 15% 18% 22% 31% 23% 27% 25% 26% 26% 22% 21% 21%
    TOTAL: Poor 30% 24% 18% 17% 12% 14% 12% 14% 13% 15% 15% 18% 18%
    TOTAL: Good 44% 53% 58% 62% 70% 62% 69% 67% 67% 67% 61% 60% 61%
    Base (n) 1,099 1,104 1,100 1,368 1,124 1,074 1,109 1,092 1,034 1,010 1,063 1,066 1,081

     

    TOTAL: Good 05/07 07/06 24/05 12/04 15/03 01/03
    NSW 44% 62% 56% 66% 69% 64%
    VIC 40% 42% 57% 55% 65% 51%
    QLD 48% 54% 56% 63% 69% 66%
    SA 48% 58% 66% 62% 78% 68%
    WA 42% 49% 56% 65% 75% 66%
    • Since peaking at 70% in March, positive rating of the federal government’s handling of Covid-19 has dropped off, falling sharply to 44% this month (from 53% last month). This is 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 decreased in all states since last month, however it has fallen the most steeply in NSW where it is now 44% (down 18 percentage points from 62% in June).
    • In SA, WA and QLD, this rating has also decreased to 48%, 42% and 48% respectively (from 58%, 49% and 54% in June).
    • After a sharp fall last month, positive rating of the federal government’s handling of Covid-19 remains the lowest of all states in VIC at 40%.
  • Jul, 2021

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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 05/07 07/06 24/05 12/04 15/03 01/03 15/02 01/02 30/11 16/11 02/11 05/10 21/09
    NSW 57% 69% 68% 73% 75% 72% 72% 71% 76% 75% 68% 65% 67%
    VIC 50% 48% 63% 58% 62% 49% 59% 61% 60% 59% 55% 45% 47%
    QLD 61% 65% 68% 72% 75% 73% 76% 78% 72% 71% 69% 69% 68%
    SA 67% 67% 71% 75% 85% 78% 79% 80% 70% 76% 77% 81% 81%
    WA 86% 75% 77% 84% 91% 85% 88% 80% 83% 82% 81% 83% 84%
    • With the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak and lockdown in NSW, positive rating of the state government’s response to Covid-19 has fallen steeply (down 12 percentage points from 69% in June).
    • While restrictions continue to ease in Victoria, rating of the state government has improved only marginally compared to last month (now 50% from 48% in June).
    • With Queensland affected by Covid-19 cases and a lockdown, rating of the state government remains moderately high but has decreased to 61% (from 65% last month).
    • Despite WA also having been affected by Covid-19 cases and a lockdown, positive rating of the state government’s response to Covid-19 has improved significantly – up 11 percentage points to 86% (from 75% last month). This is consistent with the level in April.
    • Rating of the SA government’s handling of Covid-19 remains high and stable at 67%.
  • Jul, 2021

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    Sufficiency of federal government’s efforts to protect Australians from Covid-19

    Q. On Monday 28 June, the federal government announced several measures responding to Covid-19. They announced that all aged care workers would have to have at least their first Covid vaccine by September, and that under 40-year-olds will now be able to choose to get the AstraZeneca vaccine if they are willing to sign a waiver protecting medical professionals should they get side effects.

    Bearing that in mind, do you think the federal government is doing enough or not doing enough to protect Australians from Covid-19?

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    The federal government is doing enough to protect Australians from Covid-19 37% 39% 34% 37% 35% 38% 25% 57% 31% 27%
    The federal government is not doing enough to protect Australians from Covid-19 46% 47% 45% 42% 50% 47% 62% 29% 56% 47%
    Unsure 17% 14% 20% 21% 16% 15% 13% 14% 13% 26%
    Base (n) 1,099 539 560 341 373 385 404 388 87 114
    • In light of the federal government’s revised Covid-19 vaccine rollout plan, just under half (46%) of Australians think the federal government is not doing enough to protect Australians from Covid-19.
    • 37% think the federal government is doing enough to protect Australians from Covid-19, and 17% are unsure.
    • Labor voters are the most likely to think the federal government is not doing enough in this regard (62%), followed by 56% Greens voters and 47% minor/independent party voters. 29% of Coalition voters share this view.
    • Coalition voters are the most likely to think the federal government’s efforts to protect Australians from Covid-19 are sufficient (57% compared to 26% of all other voters).
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