Essential Report
Change in views towards federal government
Q. In the last year have your views towards Scott Morrison’s federal government become more or less favourable?
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| I view Scott Morrison’s federal government less favourably than I did a year ago | 40% | 40% | 39% | 44% | 40% | 36% | 54% | 24% | 51% | 49% |
| I view Scott Morrison’s federal government more favourably than I did a year ago | 25% | 29% | 22% | 24% | 28% | 24% | 19% | 39% | 17% | 17% |
| My views on Scott Morrison’s federal government have not changed | 35% | 31% | 39% | 32% | 32% | 41% | 27% | 37% | 32% | 34% |
| Base (n) | 1,104 | 542 | 562 | 347 | 364 | 393 | 346 | 404 | 108 | 141 |
| State | |||||
| NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | |
| I view Scott Morrison’s federal government less favourably than I did a year ago | 34% | 48% | 39% | 37% | 45% |
| I view Scott Morrison’s federal government more favourably than I did a year ago | 27% | 25% | 24% | 34% | 19% |
| My views on Scott Morrison’s federal government have not changed | 39% | 27% | 37% | 29% | 35% |
| Base (n) | 349 | 278 | 225 | 89 | 108 |
- 40% of Australians say they now view Scott Morrison’s federal government less favourably than they did a year ago. A quarter (25%) say they view this more favourably than they did a year ago, and 35% say their views on the federal government have not changed.
- Compared to other Australians, Victorians are more likely to say they view Scott Morrison’s federal government less favourably than they did a year ago. Just under half (48%) of Victorians say this, followed by 45% of Western Australians, 39% of Queenslanders, 37% of South Australians and 34% of those in NSW.
Federal government response to Covid-19
Q. Overall, how would you rate the federal government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 15/03 | 01/03 | 15/02 | 01/02 | 30/11 | 16/11 | 02/11 | 05/10 | 21/09 | 07/09 | 24/08 | 10/08 | 27/07 | |
| Very poor | 5% | 6% | 5% | 4% | 6% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 8% | 6% | 7% | 6% |
| Quite poor | 7% | 8% | 7% | 11% | 8% | 9% | 10% | 12% | 13% | 12% | 11% | 8% | 11% |
| Neither good nor poor | 18% | 24% | 19% | 19% | 19% | 18% | 24% | 22% | 21% | 22% | 22% | 21% | 20% |
| Quite good | 39% | 39% | 42% | 42% | 41% | 41% | 39% | 39% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% |
| Very good | 31% | 23% | 27% | 25% | 26% | 26% | 22% | 21% | 21% | 18% | 22% | 24% | 24% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 12% | 14% | 12% | 14% | 13% | 15% | 15% | 18% | 18% | 19% | 17% | 16% | 16% |
| TOTAL: Good | 70% | 62% | 69% | 67% | 67% | 67% | 61% | 60% | 61% | 59% | 61% | 63% | 64% |
| Base (n) | 1,124 | 1,074 | 1,109 | 1,092 | 1,034 | 1,010 | 1,063 | 1,066 | 1,081 | 1,076 | 1,068 | 1,010 | 1,058 |
- Rating of the federal government’s handling of Covid-19 has bounced back up to 70%, the highest rating seen in the last six months.
- This result is driven by the increase within Victoria (65% rating quite or very good, up from 51% earlier in the month).
Federal government response to Covid-19
Q. Overall, how would you rate the federal government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 01/03 | 15/02 | 01/02 | 30/11 | 16/11 | 02/11 | 05/10 | 21/09 | 07/09 | 24/08 | 10/08 | 27/07 | |
| Very poor | 6% | 5% | 4% | 6% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 8% | 6% | 7% | 6% |
| Quite poor | 8% | 7% | 11% | 8% | 9% | 10% | 12% | 13% | 12% | 11% | 8% | 11% |
| Neither good nor poor | 24% | 19% | 19% | 19% | 18% | 24% | 22% | 21% | 22% | 22% | 21% | 20% |
| Quite good | 39% | 42% | 42% | 41% | 41% | 39% | 39% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% |
| Very good | 23% | 27% | 25% | 26% | 26% | 22% | 21% | 21% | 18% | 22% | 24% | 24% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 14% | 12% | 14% | 13% | 15% | 15% | 18% | 18% | 19% | 17% | 16% | 16% |
| TOTAL: Good | 62% | 69% | 67% | 67% | 67% | 61% | 60% | 61% | 59% | 61% | 63% | 64% |
| Base (n) | 1,074 | 1,109 | 1,092 | 1,034 | 1,010 | 1,063 | 1,066 | 1,081 | 1,076 | 1,068 | 1,010 | 1,058 |
- Rating of the federal government’s handling of Covid-19 has fallen to 62% since last month, the lowest rating we’ve seen since November last year.
Federal government response to Covid-19
Q. Overall, how would you rate the federal government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 15/02 | 01/02 | 30/11 | 16/11 | 02/11 | 05/10 | 21/09 | 07/09 | 24/08 | 10/08 | 27/07 | 13/07 | |
| Very poor | 5% | 4% | 6% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 8% | 6% | 7% | 6% | 6% |
| Quite poor | 7% | 11% | 8% | 9% | 10% | 12% | 13% | 12% | 11% | 8% | 11% | 10% |
| Neither good nor poor | 19% | 19% | 19% | 18% | 24% | 22% | 21% | 22% | 22% | 21% | 20% | 20% |
| Quite good | 42% | 42% | 41% | 41% | 39% | 39% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% |
| Very good | 27% | 25% | 26% | 26% | 22% | 21% | 21% | 18% | 22% | 24% | 24% | 24% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 12% | 14% | 13% | 15% | 15% | 18% | 18% | 19% | 17% | 16% | 16% | 16% |
| TOTAL: Good | 69% | 67% | 67% | 67% | 61% | 60% | 61% | 59% | 61% | 63% | 64% | 64% |
| Base (n) | 1,109 | 1,092 | 1,034 | 1,010 | 1,063 | 1,066 | 1,081 | 1,076 | 1,068 | 1,010 | 1,058 | 1,054 |
- Rating of the federal government’s handling of Covid-19 has increased to 69% since last month, the highest rating in the last six months.
Views towards federal vs state government responsibility to manage Covid-19 hotel quarantine system
Q. Which of the following statements about Australia’s international borders and the Covid-19 hotel quarantine system for returning travellers is closest to your view?
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| It should be the federal government’s responsibility to protect Australia’s international borders and manage the hotel quarantine system | 62% | 63% | 59% | 57% | 67% |
| It should be each state governments’ responsibility to quarantine travellers returning within their borders and the federal government should be left out of this | 38% | 37% | 41% | 43% | 33% |
| Base (n) | 1,109 | 359 | 428 | 101 | 131 |
- More people think it should be the federal government’s responsibility to protect Australia’s international borders and manage the hotel quarantine system, than those who think it should be each state governments’ responsibility to quarantine travellers returning within their borders (62% to 38%).
- The view that this should be a federal rather than state government responsibility is consistent across all voting intentions.
Trust in Federal Government
Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the Federal Government?
[% of participants who answered the question]
| TOTAL:
Agree |
TOTAL:
Disagree |
Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | |
| Regardless of who is in power, I trust the Federal Government to do what is right | 66% | 34% | 23% | 43% | 22% | 12% |
| As Australians we can always find ways to solve our country’s problems and get what we want | 84% | 16% | 29% | 55% | 13% | 3% |
| The government should do more to solve the problems facing our country | 91% | 9% | 53% | 38% | 7% | 2% |
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||||
| TOTAL: Agree | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |||
| Regardless of who is in power, I trust the Federal Government to do what is right | 66% | 62% | 70% | 61% | 71% | 65% | 60% | 77% | 56% | 49% | ||
| As Australians we can always find ways to solve our country’s problems and get what we want | 84% | 83% | 85% | 77% | 87% | 86% | 80% | 89% | 79% | 76% | ||
| The government should do more to solve the problems facing our country | 91% | 90% | 93% | 86% | 92% | 94% | 92% | 90% | 91% | 88% | ||
- Almost unanimously, Australians agree that the government should do more to solve the problems facing our country (91%) however there is high levels of agreement that as Australians we can always find ways to solve our country’s problems and get what we want (84%).
- Women are more likely than men to trust the Government to do what is right, regardless of who is in power (70% to 62%).
Federal government response to Covid-19
Q. Overall, how would you rate the federal government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 02/11 | 05/10 | 21/09 | 07/09 | 24/08 | 10/08 | 27/07 | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | |
| Very poor | 5% | 5% | 5% | 8% | 6% | 7% | 6% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 5% |
| Quite poor | 10% | 12% | 13% | 12% | 11% | 8% | 11% | 10% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 7% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 24% | 22% | 21% | 22% | 22% | 21% | 20% | 20% | 17% | 16% | 18% | 20% |
| Quite good | 39% | 39% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 43% | 42% | 40% | 39% |
| Very good | 22% | 21% | 21% | 18% | 22% | 24% | 24% | 24% | 27% | 30% | 30% | 28% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 15% | 18% | 18% | 19% | 17% | 16% | 16% | 16% | 12% | 11% | 12% | 12% |
| TOTAL: Good | 61% | 60% | 61% | 59% | 61% | 63% | 64% | 64% | 71% | 72% | 70% | 68% |
| Base (n) | 1,063 | 1,066 | 1,081 | 1,076 | 1,068 | 1,010 | 1,058 | 1,054 | 1,079 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,059 |
- Rating of the Federal Government’s handling of Covid-19 stays steady at 61% rating it very or quite good (60% last month).
Federal Government led by Labor or Coalition better at…
Q. Do you think a Federal Government led by Labor or the Coalition would be better at…?
| Coalition | Labor | Neither | |
| Reducing national debt | 42% | 28% | 30% |
| Managing the economy | 44% | 31% | 25% |
| Creating jobs | 39% | 38% | 23% |
| Helping those who’ve lost work because of Covid-19 get back into the workforce | 38% | 40% | 22% |
| Supporting those in financial need | 35% | 42% | 23% |
| Improving the financial situation of women | 31% | 38% | 31% |
- A Coalition government is thought to be better than Labor at governance issues such as reducing national debt (42% to 28%) and managing the economy (44% to 31%).
- Elements where Labor is seen to do a better job than the Coalition is in supporting those in financial need (42% to 35%) and improving the financial situation for women (38% to 31%).
- Both parties are seen to be equally competent to create jobs (39% Coalition, 38% Labor) and helping those who have lost work due to Covid-19 (38% Coalition, 40% Labor).
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
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