The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Jun, 2021

    ,

    State government response to Covid-19

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

    TOTAL: Good 07/06 24/05 12/04 15/03 01/03 15/02 01/02 30/11 16/11 02/11 05/10 21/09 07/09
    NSW 69% 68% 73% 75% 72% 72% 71% 76% 75% 68% 65% 67% 57%
    VIC 48% 63% 58% 62% 49% 59% 61% 60% 59% 55% 45% 47% 50%
    QLD 65% 68% 72% 75% 73% 76% 78% 72% 71% 69% 69% 68% 66%
    SA 67% 71% 75% 85% 78% 79% 80% 70% 76% 77% 81% 81% 74%
    WA 75% 77% 84% 91% 85% 88% 80% 83% 82% 81% 83% 84% 87%
    • Positive rating of state governments’ response to the Covid-19 outbreak has decreased in all states except for NSW where it is consistent with last month’s rating.
    • With the ongoing resurgence of Covid-19 cases and the lockdown in Victoria, positive rating of the Victorian government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak has dropped to 48% (down 15 percentage points from 63% in May) – this is the lowest rating since last October; Disapproval of the Victorian government’s response to Covid-19 has increased to 32% (from 20% last month) among Victorians.
    • Positive ratings of the SA and QLD governments have dipped to 67% and 65% respectively (from 71% and 68% in May).
    • At 75%, positive rating of the WA government remains the highest of all states. Despite this, it has decreased to 75% from a high of 91% in March this year.
  • Jun, 2021

    ,

    Time to return to normal

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

    Within one year One to two years More than two years Never
    The Covid-19 vaccine rollout will be completed in Australia 18% 44% 30% 8%
    Quarantine will no longer be required after international travel 12% 34% 43% 11%
    The housing market will return pre-pandemic levels 18% 31% 31% 20%
    International travel will be allowed without restriction 12% 34% 44% 10%
    Unemployment will return to pre-pandemic levels 22% 35% 32% 11%
    Australia will pay off its national debt 7% 14% 50% 29%
    • Most people think the Covid-19 vaccine rollout will be completed in Australia in one to two years (44%). About a third (30%) think this will take more than two years. Only 18% expect the vaccine rollout to be completed within one year.
  • May, 2021

    ,

    Quarantine facilities: Federal vs state government responsibility

    Q. There have been growing calls to build new Covid-19 quarantine facilities across the country to more safely quarantine returning travellers.

    Which of the following statements about these quarantine facilities is closest to your view?

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    It should be the federal government’s responsibility to build and manage quarantine facilities across the country 63% 62% 63% 57% 63% 67% 67% 56% 70% 64%
    It should be each state government’s responsibility to build and manage quarantine facilities within their borders 37% 38% 37% 43% 37% 33% 33% 44% 30% 36%
    Base (n) 1,100 539 561 341 379 380 369 410 105 112
    • Most (63%) think it should be the federal government’s responsibility to build and manage quarantine facilities across the country. Coalition voters are less likely to think this compared to all other voters (56% to 67%).
  • May, 2021

    ,

    Federal government response to Covid-19

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

      24/05 12/04 15/03 01/03 15/02 01/02 30/11 16/11 02/11 05/10 21/09 07/09 24/08
    Very poor 6% 7% 5% 6% 5% 4% 6% 5% 5% 5% 5% 8% 6%
    Quite poor 12% 10% 7% 8% 7% 11% 8% 9% 10% 12% 13% 12% 11%
    Neither good nor poor 25% 21% 18% 24% 19% 19% 19% 18% 24% 22% 21% 22% 22%
    Quite good 40% 40% 39% 39% 42% 42% 41% 41% 39% 39% 40% 40% 40%
    Very good 18% 22% 31% 23% 27% 25% 26% 26% 22% 21% 21% 18% 22%
    TOTAL: Poor 18% 17% 12% 14% 12% 14% 13% 15% 15% 18% 18% 19% 17%
    TOTAL: Good 58% 62% 70% 62% 69% 67% 67% 67% 61% 60% 61% 59% 61%
    Base (n) 1,100 1,368 1,124 1,074 1,109 1,092 1,034 1,010 1,063 1,066 1,081 1,076 1,068
    • Since peaking at 70% in March, positive rating of the federal government’s handling of Covid-19 has dropped off; falling to 58% this month which is the lowest rating seen since March last year.
  • May, 2021

    ,

    State government response to Covid-19

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

    TOTAL: Good 24/03 12/04 15/03 01/03 15/02 01/02 30/11 16/11 02/11 05/10 21/09 07/09 24/08
    NSW 68% 73% 75% 72% 72% 71% 76% 75% 68% 65% 67% 57% 59%
    VIC 63% 58% 62% 49% 59% 61% 60% 59% 55% 45% 47% 50% 47%
    QLD 68% 72% 75% 73% 76% 78% 72% 71% 69% 69% 68% 66% 73%
    SA 71% 75% 85% 78% 79% 80% 70% 76% 77% 81% 81% 74% 65%
    WA 77% 84% 91% 85% 88% 80% 83% 82% 81% 83% 84% 87% 84%
    • Positive rating of state governments’ response to the Covid-19 outbreak has decreased in all states except for Victoria since last month.
    • The rating of the VIC government has risen to 63% (from 58% last month). This is the highest rating since June last year.
    • While still high, positive rating of the WA and SA governments has decreased to 77% and 71% respectively (from 84% and 75% last month).
    • Positive rating of the NSW and QLD governments has also decreased to 68% respectively (from 73% and 72% last month).
  • May, 2021

    , ,

    Views towards measures for people entering Australia from India

    Q. To what extent do you support or oppose the following measures for people entering Australia from India?

      TOTAL: Support TOTAL: Oppose Strongly support Somewhat support Neither support nor oppose Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose
    Banning Australian citizens in India from entering the country due to the risk of Covid-19 transmission 48% 27% 25% 22% 25% 14% 13%
    Penalties of $50,000 fine and five years imprisonment for anyone attempting to arrive in Australia from India 41% 33% 23% 18% 26% 16% 17%
    Allowing Australian citizens to return from India provided they complete the necessary quarantine procedures when they arrive 56% 22% 22% 33% 22% 12% 10%
    • Over half of Australians (56%) support allowing Australian citizens to return from India provided they complete the necessary quarantine procedures when they arrive.
    • However, just under half (48%) support banning Australian citizens in India from entering the country due to the risk of Covid-19 transmission and 41% support penalties of $50,000 fine and five years imprisonment for anyone attempting to arrive in Australia from India.
    TOTAL: Support Total Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other TOTAL:

    Labor, Greens, Other

    Banning Australian citizens in India from entering the country due to the risk of Covid-19 transmission 48% 37% 54% 51% 46% 56% 43% 47% 46%
    Penalties of $50,000 fine and five years imprisonment for anyone attempting to arrive in Australia from India 41% 33% 49% 40% 39% 48% 31% 44% 39%
    Allowing Australian citizens to return from India provided they complete the necessary quarantine procedures when they arrive 56% 49% 54% 62% 58% 56% 64% 51% 58%
    Base (n) 1,092 340 372 380 371 400 109 111 591
    • While support for allowing Australian citizens to return from India provided they complete the necessary quarantine procedures when they arrive is high across age groups, those over 55 are more likely to support this than younger cohorts (62% to 54% and 49% respectively).
    • Support for this measure is consistently high across party lines.
    • Those 18-34 are much less likely to support banning Australian citizens in India from entering the Australia due to the risk of Covid-19 transmission than older groups (37% to 54% of those 35-54 and 51% of those over 55).
  • Apr, 2021

    , , ,

    Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine

    Q. The Covid-19 vaccine rollout is underway in Australia.

    Once a vaccine becomes available to you, how long would you wait before taking it?

      26/04 15/03 01/03 18/01 14/12 10/08
    I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible / I’ve already been vaccinated 42% 47% 50% 42% 43% 56%
    I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away 42% 40% 40% 47% 46% 35%
    I’d never get vaccinated 16% 12% 10% 11% 10% 8%
    Base (n) 1,090 1,124 1,074 1,084 1,071 1,010
    • With the rocky start to the nationwide Covid-19 vaccine rollout, 42% of Australians now say they would get vaccinated as soon as possible or they’ve already been vaccinated. This is a drop from last month (47%) and a return to levels at the start of this year / end of last year.
    • About the same proportion of people as last month say that would get vaccinated but not straight away (42%).
    • 16% now say they would never get vaccinated, the highest proportion since first recording data in August last year.
      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible / I’ve already been vaccinated 42% 49% 36% 33% 39% 53% 43% 52% 33% 35%
    I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away 42% 40% 44% 44% 44% 38% 45% 39% 50% 33%
    I’d never get vaccinated 16% 12% 20% 23% 17% 9% 13% 10% 17% 33%
    Base (n) 1,090 539 551 359 289 442 362 414 95 114
    • Those most likely to get the vaccine immediately or already be vaccinated include men (49%) and those aged over 55 (53%) – however for the latter group this is a notable drop from last month (was 60%).
    • Those voting for independent or minor parties are the most likely to say they would never get vaccinated (33%) – another significant increase since last month (20%).
  • Apr, 2021

    , ,

    Preference towards Covid-19 vaccines

    Q. As you may be aware, there are currently two vaccines available in Australia – the Pfizer vaccine and the AstraZeneca (Oxford) vaccine.

    Which of the following is closer to your view?

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    Male Female 18-29 30-49 50-69 70 and over Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    I would be willing to get either the AstraZeneca vaccine or the Pfizer vaccine 37% 48% 27% 28% 31% 40% 61% 35% 47% 32% 31%
    I would be willing to get the AstraZeneca vaccine but not the Pfizer vaccine 3% 4% 2% 6% 4% 1% 2% 4% 4% 3% 0%
    I would be willing to get the Pfizer vaccine but not the AstraZeneca vaccine 27% 25% 28% 26% 29% 29% 16% 31% 28% 26% 22%
    I would not be willing to get either the AstraZeneca vaccine or the Pfizer vaccine 14% 11% 18% 15% 15% 15% 11% 13% 10% 14% 30%
    Unsure 19% 12% 25% 25% 21% 15% 11% 17% 11% 24% 18%
    Base (n) 1,090 539 551 250 327 339 174 362 414 95 114
    • 37% would be willing to get either the AstraZeneca vaccine or the Pfizer vaccine, however, nearly a third (27%) say they would only be willing to get the Pfizer vaccine. 14% would not be willing to get either vaccine, and 19% are unsure. Only 3% would get the AstraZeneca vaccine but not the Pfizer vaccine.
    • Men are much more likely than women to be willing to get either vaccine (48% to 27% respectively); as women are more unsure (25% to 12% men).
    • Willingness to get either vaccine increases with age – while 28% of those 18-29 would be willing to receive either vaccine, this increases to 61% of those 70 and over.
    • Coalition voters are more likely to get either vaccine (47% to 35% Labor, 32% Greens and 31% minor and independent party voters).
    • Despite the recommendation against the AstraZeneca vaccine only applying to under 50s, those 50-69 are on par with those under 50 in terms of their willingness to get the Pfizer vaccine but not the AstraZeneca vaccine. The proportion of those who would only be willing to get the Pfizer vaccine and not the AstraZeneca vaccine is consistent across all age groups under 70 – 26% of those 18-29, 29% of those 30-49, 29% of those 50-69 compared to 16% of those 70 and over would be willing to get the Pfizer vaccine only.
Error: