The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Dec, 2020

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    Interest in news stories

    Q. How closely have you been following these news stories in the last fortnight?

    The Trump campaign’s ongoing legal disputes regarding the US presidential election

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Very closely 22% 29% 16% 23% 25% 19% 21% 25% 29% 28%
    Fairly closely 34% 36% 33% 38% 31% 34% 39% 36% 28% 28%
    Not that closely 29% 23% 33% 27% 28% 31% 28% 29% 27% 22%
    Not closely at all 15% 11% 19% 13% 17% 15% 12% 10% 16% 22%
    TOTAL: Closely 56% 65% 48% 60% 56% 54% 60% 61% 57% 55%
    TOTAL: Not closely 44% 35% 52% 40% 44% 46% 40% 39% 43% 45%
    Base (n) 1,034 528 506 329 320 385 322 430 88 107

     

  • Nov, 2020

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    US politician favourability

    Q. How favourable or unfavourable do you feel towards each of the US politicians?

    TOTAL: Favourable After US election

    (16/11/20)

    		 Before US election

    (02/11/20)
    Donald Trump 21% 28%
    Joe Biden 59% 43%
    Base (n) 1,010 1,063

     

    TOTAL: Favourable TOTAL: Unfavourable Very favourable Somewhat favourable Somewhat unfavourable Very unfavourable Unsure Never heard of them
    Donald Trump 21% 72% 8% 12% 14% 58% 7% 1%
    Joe Biden 59% 24% 21% 38% 13% 11% 15% 2%
    • Since the US election, favourability of Donald Trump has fallen from 28% to 21%, while Joe Biden’s has increased from 43% to 59%.
  • Nov, 2020

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    US election statements

    Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the recent US election?

    TOTAL: Agree TOTAL: Disagree Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Unsure
    The Biden Presidency will be good for Australia 59% 14% 24% 34% 7% 7% 27%
    The Biden Presidency should improve the USA’s reputation 71% 15% 38% 33% 8% 7% 14%
    The main reason Donald Trump lost the election is that many people voted illegally 21% 62% 11% 10% 12% 50% 17%

     

    TOTAL: Agree Federal Voting Intention   Gender
    Labor Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other   Male Female
    The Biden Presidency will be good for Australia 65% 61% 69% 47%   62% 55%
    The Biden Presidency should improve the USA’s reputation 76% 72% 86% 62%   72% 70%
    The main reason Donald Trump lost the election is that many people voted illegally 18% 26% 17% 31%   27% 16%
    Base (n) 323 404 80 122   479 531
    • Most people think the Biden presidency will be good for Australia (59%) and it will restore the Reputation of the USA (71%).
    • Trump’s widely disputed allegations of voter fraud are not accepted in Australia, with just 11% strongly agreeing that the main reason Donald Trump lost the election is that many people voted illegally, and 10% somewhat agreeing.
  • Nov, 2020

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    US Presidential Nominee Favourability

    Q. How favourable or unfavourable do you feel towards each of the US Presidential nominees?

    TOTAL: Favourable TOTAL: Unfavourable Very favourable Somewhat favourable Somewhat unfavourable Very unfavourable Unsure Never heard of them
    Donald Trump 28% 61% 13% 14% 14% 47% 10% 1%
    Joe Biden 43% 37% 13% 30% 17% 20% 18% 3%

     

    TOTAL: Favourable Total Federal Voting Intention   Gender
    Labor Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other   Male Female
    Donald Trump 28% 22% 39% 16% 31%   36% 20%
    Joe Biden 43% 49% 45% 58% 29%   47% 40%
    Base (n) 1,063 352 431 85 100   530 533
    • Joe Biden is viewed more favourably by Australians ahead of the Presidential election this week. 43% say they feel favourable to the Democrat nominee, compared to 28% who feel favourable to Republican Donald Trump.
    • Men have a higher favourability towards Donald Trump than women (36% to 20%). Coalition voters are more likely to be favourable to Trump than Labor or Greens voters (39% to 22% and 16% respectively).
  • Nov, 2020

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    Preferred US Presidential Election Winner

    Q. Thinking about the 2020 US presidential election, which candidate do you want to win?

      Total Federal Voting Intention   Gender
    Labor Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other   Male Female
    Donald Trump 26% 20% 38% 10% 25%   33% 19%
    Joe Biden 51% 60% 44% 72% 37%   49% 52%
    Unsure 24% 20% 18% 18% 39%   18% 29%
    Base (n) 1,063 352 431 85 100   530 533
    • Joe Biden would be the preferred winner of the Presidential election, with 51% selecting him over the 26% preferring Donald Trump.
    • Joe Biden has the majority of preferences among Labor voters (60%), Greens voters (72%) and women (52%).
  • Nov, 2020

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    US Presidential Nominee Attributes

    Q. Which of the following describe your opinion of the Democratic American Presidential nominee?

    Donald Trump Joe Biden Difference
    Aggressive 72% 15% +57
    Arrogant 73% 18% +55
    Intolerant 63% 19% +44
    Erratic 67% 23% +44
    Narrow-minded 62% 22% +42
    More dishonest than other politicians 54% 21% +33
    Out of touch with ordinary people 60% 28% +32
    Visionary 29% 34% -5
    Hard-working 37% 48% -11
    Good in a crisis 22% 33% -11
    A capable leader 29% 41% -12
    Intelligent 36% 50% -14
    Someone who will strengthen the US relationship with Australia 27% 42% -15
    Understands the problems facing America 32% 51% -19
    • Donald Trump is seen to be aggressive (72% describing the president as this), arrogant (73%) and erratic (67%).
    • Joe Biden is more likely than his opponent to be seen as understanding the problems facing America (51%), intelligent (50%) and hard-working (48%).
    • 42% of people think Joe Biden is someone who will strengthen the US relationship with Australia, compared to 27% who think Donald Trump would do the same during a second term as president.
  • Nov, 2020

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    US Relations Statements

    Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about relations with the USA?

    TOTAL: Agree TOTAL: Disagree Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Unsure
    It is important for the Prime Minister to have a good relationship with the US President, whoever they might be, for the good of the nation 72% 18% 36% 36% 12% 6% 10%
    The Trump Presidency has diminished the USA’s reputation 65% 21% 43% 23% 13% 8% 14%
    The US is less relevant to Australia’s interests than it has been in the past 54% 31% 19% 35% 22% 9% 15%
    The Trump Presidency has been good for Australia 32% 48% 13% 19% 21% 27% 20%
    • Regardless of the result on Tuesday, almost three-quarters of people agree that it is important for the Prime Minister to have a good relationship with the US President, whoever they might be, for the good of the nation (72%).
    • 65% agree that the Trump Presidency has diminished the USA’s reputation and just 32% agree that the Trump Presidency has been good for Australia.
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