Last 12 months
Q. Thinking about the last 12 months, has it been a good or bad year for each of the following?
Total good | Total bad | NET | Very good | Good | Neither good nor bad | Bad | Very bad | Don’t know | 2018 NET | |||
The Australian cricket team | 44% | 10% | +34 | 13% | 32% | 26% | 6% | 4% | 12% | +2 | ||
Large companies and corporations | 41% | 18% | +23 | 10% | 31% | 31% | 13% | 5% | 10% | +9 | ||
You and your family overall | 41% | 22% | +19 | 9% | 32% | 35% | 15% | 7% | 3% | +28 | ||
Your workplace | 30% | 16% | +14 | 7% | 23% | 29% | 10% | 6% | 23% | +28 | ||
Your personal financial situation | 30% | 32% | -2 | 6% | 24% | 35% | 19% | 13% | 3% | – | ||
The average Australian | 27% | 31% | -4 | 7% | 21% | 37% | 22% | 9% | 4% | -1 | ||
The Australian Government | 29% | 36% | -7 | 7% | 22% | 31% | 22% | 14% | 5% | -41 | ||
Trade unions | 19% | 30% | -11 | 5% | 14% | 35% | 21% | 9% | 10% | -2 | ||
Small business | 24% | 36% | -12 | 4% | 20% | 31% | 27% | 9% | 9% | +6 | ||
The Australian economy | 25% | 38% | -13 | 5% | 20% | 31% | 26% | 12% | 5% | +6 | ||
Australian politics in general | 21% | 41% | -20 | 5% | 16% | 32% | 24% | 18% | 4% | -50 | ||
The planet | 20% | 49% | -29 | 6% | 14% | 27% | 28% | 21% | 4% | -19 |
- Participants believe that 2019 has been a good year for the Australian cricket team (+34, up from +2 in 2018), large companies and corporations (+23, up from +9 in 2018) and them and their families.
- This year has been bad for the planet (-29, down 10pts from 2018) and Australian politics in general (-20).
- Australian politics in general and the Australian Government have the greatest swing compared to 2018 with Australian politics in general up from -50 to -20 and the Australian Government up from -41 to -7.
- The Australian economy also saw a large swing from 2018, dropping from +6 in 2018 to -13 in 2019; which is mirrored by small businesses (from +6 in 2018 to -12 in 2019).
- Trade unions are similarly seen as having a bad year, falling from -2 in 2018 to -11 in 2019.
Drugs in sport
Q. How much of a problem do you think taking performance enhancing drugs is in these sports?
A major problem |
A moderate problem |
A minor problem |
Not a problem at all |
Don’t know |
|
AFL football |
39% |
23% |
18% |
5% |
16% |
NRL rugby league |
37% |
26% |
16% |
4% |
18% |
Cricket |
16% |
9% |
26% |
25% |
23% |
Tennis |
18% |
12% |
24% |
22% |
24% |
Soccer |
22% |
19% |
23% |
10% |
26% |
Basketball |
18% |
18% |
22% |
14% |
30% |
Cycling |
56% |
20% |
8% |
3% |
14% |
Athletics |
41% |
26% |
11% |
4% |
17% |
56% of respondents think taking performance enhancing drugs is a major problem in cycling, 41% think it is a major problem in athletics, 39% in AFL football and 37% in NRL rugby league.
38% of AFL football followers think it is a major problem in their sport and 26% of NRL followers think it is a major problem in their sport. 40% of AFL followers think it is a major problem in NRL.
46% of Victorian respondents think performance enhancing drugs is a major problem in the AFL.
Betting on sport
Q. How much of a problem do you think betting on games and results is in these sports?
A major problem |
A moderate problem |
A minor problem |
Not a problem at all |
Don’t know |
|
AFL football |
34% |
22% |
14% |
10% |
19% |
NRL rugby league |
33% |
22% |
15% |
11% |
20% |
Cricket |
30% |
22% |
17% |
10% |
20% |
Tennis |
21% |
18% |
20% |
18% |
23% |
Soccer |
30% |
22% |
15% |
11% |
23% |
Basketball |
23% |
18% |
19% |
15% |
25% |
Cycling |
25% |
18% |
17% |
14% |
25% |
Athletics |
23% |
18% |
20% |
14% |
25% |
34% of respondents think betting is a major problem in AFL football, 33% think it is a major problem in NRL, 30% in soccer and 30% in cricket.
36% of those who mostly follow cricket think it is a major problem in their sport, compared to 32% of AFL followers and 28% of NRL followers.
John Howard as Head of ICC
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the former Prime Minister John Howard becoming head of the International Cricket Council?
Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | |
Total approve | 32% | 18% | 56% |
Total disapprove | 18% | 31% | 6% |
Strongly approve | 8% | 4% | 15% |
Approve | 24% | 14% | 41% |
Disapprove | 10% | 19% | 4% |
Strongly disapprove | 8% | 12% | 2% |
No opinion | 50% | 51% | 38% |
Exactly half the respondents have no opinion about John Howard becoming head of the International Cricket Council – 32% approve and 18% disapprove.
56% of Liberal/National voters approve but 31% of Labor voters disapprove and 18% approve.
57% of women and 60% of people aged under 35 have no opinion. Men approve 35% to 22%.

COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
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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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