The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Nov, 2020

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    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%).
  • Nov, 2020

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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?

      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).
  • Oct, 2020

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    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).
  • Sep, 2020

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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?

      21/09 07/09 24/08 10/08 27/07 13/07 22/06 15/06 08/06 01/06 25/05
    Very poor 5% 8% 6% 7% 6% 6% 4% 3% 4% 5% 4%
    Quite poor 13% 12% 11% 8% 11% 10% 8% 8% 8% 7% 6%
    Neither good, nor poor 21% 22% 22% 21% 20% 20% 17% 16% 18% 20% 16%
    Quite good 40% 40% 40% 40% 40% 40% 43% 42% 40% 39% 43%
    Very good 21% 18% 22% 24% 24% 24% 27% 30% 30% 28% 30%
    TOTAL: Poor 18% 19% 17% 16% 16% 16% 12% 11% 12% 12% 11%
    TOTAL: Good 61% 59% 61% 63% 64% 64% 71% 72% 70% 68% 73%
    Base (n) 1,081 1,076 1,068 1,010 1,058 1,054 1,079 1,087 1,073 1,059 1,087
    • Rating of the Federal Government’s handling of Covid-19 stays steady at 61% rating it very or quite good (59% earlier in the month).
  • Sep, 2020

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    Effectiveness of higher income earners tax cuts at stimulating the economy

    Q. The federal government is considering bringing forward tax cuts currently planned for 2022 which will give higher income earners much bigger tax cuts than those on lower incomes.

    Which of these options do you most support?

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor Liberal + National Greens TOTAL: Other
    The government should bring forward these tax cuts to this year 33% 34% 31% 33% 41% 24% 28% 40% 26% 29%
    The government should stick to the existing timetable of 2022 29% 31% 27% 40% 25% 24% 29% 31% 28% 26%
    The government should scrap these tax cuts and spend the money on other priorities 38% 35% 42% 27% 34% 52% 43% 29% 46% 45%
    Base (n) 1,081 539 542 338 374 369 298 460 115 104

     

      Total Household Income
      TOTAL: Lower Income

    (Up to $51,999 per year)

    		 TOTAL: Mid Income ($52,000-$103,999 per year) TOTAL: Higher Income

    (More than $104,000 per year)
    The government should bring forward these tax cuts to this year 33% 25% 29% 46%
    The government should stick to the existing timetable of 2022 29% 24% 33% 27%
    The government should scrap these tax cuts and spend the money on other priorities 38% 50% 37% 27%
    Base (n) 1,081 359 318 317
    • 33% would support a decision to fast-track tax cuts for high income earners from 2022 to 2020. 29% think the cuts should keep to the existing timetable of 2022, while 38% think they should be scrapped.
    • Fast-tracking the tax cuts has greatest support among those with a high household income (46%), while only 25% of those in a household with a lower income, and 29% of people in a mid-income household.
  • Sep, 2020

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    State and Federal Government Working Together

    Q. How well do you think your State or Territory government and the Federal government are working together on issues to address the Covid-19 pandemic?

      Total   State
      NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    Very well 17% 21% 8% 15% 19% 24%
    Quite well 46% 46% 49% 48% 47% 40%
    Quite poorly 22% 19% 28% 19% 21% 23%
    Very poorly 8% 8% 10% 10% 6% 3%
    Unsure 6% 7% 5% 7% 7% 8%
    TOTAL: Well 64% 66% 57% 64% 66% 65%
    TOTAL: Poorly 30% 27% 38% 29% 27% 27%
    Base (n) 1,076 352 275 215 88 99
    • People believe that more could be done between the Federal and State governments to address the Covid-19 pandemic. Less than a fifth of people (17%) think the Federal government and their state government are working together very well. While 46% say they are working together quite well, 30% rate the working relationship as poor.
    • The Federal and Victorian governments are seen to have the worst relationship, with 57% of Victorians saying the Federal government is working well with their state government, but just 8% believe they are working very well together.
  • Sep, 2020

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    Change in Working together

    Q. And, how do you think your State or Territory government and the Federal government are working together now compared to earlier in the pandemic?

      Total   State
      NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    A lot better 13% 14% 10% 14% 16% 14%
    A little better 27% 32% 28% 25% 26% 16%
    No better or worse 30% 30% 26% 31% 33% 33%
    A little worse 15% 14% 20% 14% 12% 19%
    A lot worse 7% 6% 12% 8% 4% 5%
    Unsure 6% 5% 4% 8% 10% 12%
    TOTAL: Better 41% 46% 38% 39% 41% 31%
    TOTAL: Worse 23% 20% 32% 22% 16% 24%
    Base (n) 1,076 352 275 215 88 99
    • Overall, most people believe the working relationship between the Federal and their state government has improved (41%) or stayed the same (30%) during the pandemic. 25% think the relationship between the governments has deteriorated.
    • Victorians are most likely to think the relationship between the Federal and state governments has got worse (32%).
  • Sep, 2020

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    State and Federal governments working together on specific issues

    Q. How well do you think your State or Territory government and the Federal government are working together on the following issues?

      Total   State
    TOTAL: Working well together NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    To minimise the spread of Covid-19 within aged care facilities 51% 49% 42% 58% 58% 50%
    To maintain interstate trade and ensure shops and supermarkets are fully stocked 68% 64% 66% 65% 77% 75%
    The promotion of tourism and travel within states 52% 54% 37% 57% 67% 59%
    To manage a safe environment in schools and childcare facilities for children and staff 67% 65% 61% 71% 73% 74%
    To control the spread of Covid-19 across state borders 68% 67% 65% 67% 81% 68%
    Base (n) 1,076 352 275 215 88 99
    • Around two-thirds think their state and Federal governments are working well together to address the issues of inter-state infections (68%), Trade and supply (68%) and education (67%). While half think they are working well together to minimise the spread in aged-care facilities (51%) and promoting inter-state travel (52%).
    • Victorians have the lowest rating of the relationship – particularly for issues of aged care facilities (42% say Federal and state governments are working well together) and interstate travel (37%).
    NSW TOTAL: Well TOTAL: Poorly Very well Quite well Quite poorly Very poorly Unsure
    To minimise the spread of Covid-19 within aged care facilities 49% 42% 18% 31% 25% 17% 9%
    To maintain interstate trade and ensure shops and supermarkets are fully stocked 64% 27% 19% 45% 18% 9% 9%
    The promotion of tourism and travel within states 54% 33% 18% 36% 21% 12% 13%
    To manage a safe environment in schools and childcare facilities for children and staff 65% 26% 19% 45% 17% 9% 10%
    To control the spread of Covid-19 across state borders 67% 29% 22% 45% 18% 10% 4%

     

    VIC TOTAL: Well TOTAL: Poorly Very well Quite well Quite poorly Very poorly Unsure
    To minimise the spread of Covid-19 within aged care facilities 42% 51% 10% 32% 31% 20% 7%
    To maintain interstate trade and ensure shops and supermarkets are fully stocked 66% 29% 18% 48% 19% 9% 6%
    The promotion of tourism and travel within states 37% 42% 11% 26% 27% 15% 21%
    To manage a safe environment in schools and childcare facilities for children and staff 61% 30% 14% 47% 22% 8% 9%
    To control the spread of Covid-19 across state borders 65% 29% 20% 45% 19% 10% 6%

     

    QLD TOTAL: Well TOTAL: Poorly Very well Quite well Quite poorly Very poorly Unsure
    To minimise the spread of Covid-19 within aged care facilities 58% 33% 17% 41% 20% 13% 9%
    To maintain interstate trade and ensure shops and supermarkets are fully stocked 65% 25% 19% 45% 17% 8% 10%
    The promotion of tourism and travel within states 57% 28% 18% 39% 21% 8% 15%
    To manage a safe environment in schools and childcare facilities for children and staff 71% 20% 15% 56% 12% 8% 9%
    To control the spread of Covid-19 across state borders 67% 29% 23% 44% 19% 10% 4%

     

    SA TOTAL: Well TOTAL: Poorly Very well Quite well Quite poorly Very poorly Unsure
    To minimise the spread of Covid-19 within aged care facilities 58% 32% 17% 41% 14% 18% 10%
    To maintain interstate trade and ensure shops and supermarkets are fully stocked 77% 11% 16% 61% 7% 3% 12%
    The promotion of tourism and travel within states 67% 16% 16% 51% 9% 7% 18%
    To manage a safe environment in schools and childcare facilities for children and staff 73% 16% 21% 52% 10% 6% 11%
    To control the spread of Covid-19 across state borders 81% 14% 33% 48% 8% 6% 5%

     

    WA TOTAL: Well TOTAL: Poorly Very well Quite well Quite poorly Very poorly Unsure
    To minimise the spread of Covid-19 within aged care facilities 50% 35% 19% 30% 22% 13% 16%
    To maintain interstate trade and ensure shops and supermarkets are fully stocked 75% 17% 24% 51% 13% 4% 8%
    The promotion of tourism and travel within states 59% 28% 22% 36% 22% 6% 13%
    To manage a safe environment in schools and childcare facilities for children and staff 74% 17% 18% 56% 14% 4% 9%
    To control the spread of Covid-19 across state borders 68% 24% 28% 40% 16% 8% 8%
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