Essential Report
Federal government response to Covid-19
Q. Overall, how would you rate the federal government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 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% | 8% | 6% | 7% | 6% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 5% |
| Quite poor | 12% | 13% | 12% | 11% | 8% | 11% | 10% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 7% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 22% | 21% | 22% | 22% | 21% | 20% | 20% | 17% | 16% | 18% | 20% |
| Quite good | 39% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 43% | 42% | 40% | 39% |
| Very good | 21% | 21% | 18% | 22% | 24% | 24% | 24% | 27% | 30% | 30% | 28% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 18% | 18% | 19% | 17% | 16% | 16% | 16% | 12% | 11% | 12% | 12% |
| TOTAL: Good | 60% | 61% | 59% | 61% | 63% | 64% | 64% | 71% | 72% | 70% | 68% |
| Base (n) | 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 60% rating it very or quite good (59% last month).
Government response to Covid-19
Q. Overall, how would you rate the Government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 07/09 | 24/08 | 10/08 | 27/07 | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | |
| Very poor | 8% | 6% | 7% | 6% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% |
| Quite poor | 12% | 11% | 8% | 11% | 10% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 7% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 22% | 22% | 21% | 20% | 20% | 17% | 16% | 18% | 20% | 16% | 17% |
| Quite good | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 43% | 42% | 40% | 39% | 43% | 41% |
| Very good | 18% | 22% | 24% | 24% | 24% | 27% | 30% | 30% | 28% | 30% | 32% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 19% | 17% | 16% | 16% | 16% | 12% | 11% | 12% | 12% | 11% | 11% |
| TOTAL: Good | 59% | 61% | 63% | 64% | 64% | 71% | 72% | 70% | 68% | 73% | 73% |
| Base (n) | 1,076 | 1,068 | 1,010 | 1,058 | 1,054 | 1,079 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 |
- Participants’ rating of the Federal Government’s handling of Covid-19 crisis slips for the fourth consecutive week. From a high of 73% positive rating in May, 59% now say the Government’s handling has been good.
State Government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| TOTAL: Good | 07/09 | 24/08 | 10/08 | 27/07 | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 |
| NSW | 57% | 59% | 61% | 62% | 63% | 70% | 65% | 67% | 62% | 65% | 70% |
| VIC | 50% | 47% | 49% | 53% | 49% | 65% | 75% | 72% | 71% | 73% | 71% |
| QLD | 66% | 73% | 68% | 67% | 69% | 64% | 67% | 68% | 69% | 74% | 66% |
| SA | 74% | 65% | 72% | 76% | 79% | 79% | 76% | 79% | 70% | 84% | 80% |
| WA | 87% | 84% | 86% | 82% | 77% | 75% | 77% | 84% | 79% | 83% | 86% |
- Positive rating of the NSW Government’s continues to slide, with another -2%pts movement this week to 57%. This is down from a high of 70% in June.
- Positive rating of the Victorian Government remains steady at 50%, though the majority of this survey was completed before the announcement of the lock-down extension in Victoria on Sunday 6th
- Positive rating of the Queensland state government’s handing dropped to 66% this week from 73% a fortnight ago.
State Government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| All States | 27/07 | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 |
| Very poor | 7% | 7% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 4% |
| Quite poor | 11% | 11% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 7% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 9% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 18% | 18% | 17% | 17% | 17% | 20% | 17% | 17% | 16% | 18% | 17% |
| Quite good | 36% | 36% | 41% | 38% | 39% | 38% | 38% | 39% | 39% | 38% | 41% |
| Very good | 28% | 28% | 28% | 33% | 32% | 30% | 35% | 33% | 34% | 31% | 30% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 18% | 17% | 13% | 12% | 11% | 12% | 11% | 11% | 12% | 12% | 13% |
| TOTAL: Good | 65% | 64% | 69% | 71% | 71% | 68% | 73% | 72% | 73% | 70% | 70% |
| Base (n) | 1,058 | 1,054 | 1,079 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 |
| TOTAL: Good | 27/07 | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 |
| NSW | 62% | 63% | 70% | 65% | 67% | 62% | 65% | 70% | 70% | 68% | 63% |
| VIC | 53% | 49% | 65% | 75% | 72% | 71% | 73% | 71% | 71% | 72% | 77% |
| QLD | 67% | 69% | 64% | 67% | 68% | 69% | 74% | 66% | 70% | 65% | 67% |
| SA | 76% | 79% | 79% | 76% | 79% | 70% | 84% | 80% | 78% | 76% | 77% |
| WA | 82% | 77% | 75% | 77% | 84% | 79% | 83% | 86% | 83% | 79% | 76% |
| VICTORIA ONLY | 27/07 | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 |
| Very poor | 13% | 14% | 8% | 6% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 3% |
| Quite poor | 17% | 12% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 7% | 9% | 10% | 11% | 8% | 6% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 17% | 25% | 22% | 13% | 16% | 17% | 16% | 15% | 15% | 17% | 14% |
| Quite good | 34% | 32% | 38% | 39% | 38% | 39% | 37% | 38% | 34% | 32% | 40% |
| Very good | 19% | 17% | 26% | 36% | 34% | 33% | 36% | 33% | 37% | 40% | 37% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 30% | 26% | 13% | 11% | 12% | 11% | 11% | 14% | 14% | 11% | 9% |
| TOTAL: Good | 53% | 49% | 65% | 75% | 72% | 71% | 73% | 71% | 71% | 72% | 77% |
| Base (n) | 239 | 281 | 261 | 275 | 275 | 275 | 275 | 267 | 275 | 275 | 272 |
- Victoria’s rating of their State Government’s performance is still well below their results in June and is steady during the last fortnight (53%).
- South Australia (76%) and Western Australia (82%) have the highest state government ratings for handling the crisis.
Government response to Covid-19
Q. Overall, how would you rate the Government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 27/07 | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | |
| Very poor | 6% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 4% |
| Quite poor | 11% | 10% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 7% | 9% | 9% | 9% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 20% | 20% | 17% | 16% | 18% | 20% | 16% | 17% | 16% | 20% | 17% |
| Quite good | 40% | 40% | 43% | 42% | 40% | 39% | 43% | 41% | 39% | 38% | 44% |
| Very good | 24% | 24% | 27% | 30% | 30% | 28% | 30% | 32% | 32% | 28% | 26% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 16% | 16% | 12% | 11% | 12% | 12% | 11% | 11% | 13% | 14% | 13% |
| TOTAL: Good | 64% | 64% | 71% | 72% | 70% | 68% | 73% | 73% | 71% | 66% | 70% |
| Base (n) | 1,058 | 1,054 | 1,079 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 |
- Participants’ rating of the Federal Government’s handling of the crisis is stable from last fortnight, with 64% rating the response as good (either very or quite good).
Preference for elimination or suppression strategy
Q. Out of the following two strategies, which do you think the Australian government should pursue in its response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| Voting intention | |||||
| Total | Labor | NET: Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | |
| Elimination strategy:
Work towards removing all cases of Covid-19 in Australia |
44% | 52% | 31% | 54% | 49% |
| Suppression strategy:
Work towards minimising outbreaks and keeping the number of new cases at a manageable level for medical services until an effective vaccine is available |
56% | 48% | 69% | 46% | 51% |
| Base (n) | 1,058 | 334 | 428 | 81 | 107 |
| State | ||||||
| Total | NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | |
| Elimination strategy:
Work towards removing all cases of Covid-19 in Australia |
44% | 42% | 46% | 41% | 42% | 46% |
| Suppression strategy:
Work towards minimising outbreaks and keeping the number of new cases at a manageable level for medical services until an effective vaccine is available |
56% | 58% | 54% | 59% | 58% | 54% |
| Base (n) | 1,058 | 352 | 239 | 220 | 88 | 110 |
- The population is split on the preferred strategy to deal with Covid-19 in Australia. While 56% of participants think the Australian government should pursue a suppression strategy towards Covid-19, 46% opted for elimination of the virus.
- Suppression was the favoured b the majority of residents in all states.
- Coalition voters (69%) are more in favour of the Suppression strategy than, Labor (48%), Greens (46%) and voters for other parties (51%).
Government response to Covid-19
Q. Overall, how would you rate the Government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | |
| Very poor | 6% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 4% |
| Quite poor | 10% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 7% | 9% | 9% | 9% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 20% | 17% | 16% | 18% | 20% | 16% | 17% | 16% | 20% | 17% |
| Quite good | 40% | 43% | 42% | 40% | 39% | 43% | 41% | 39% | 38% | 44% |
| Very good | 24% | 27% | 30% | 30% | 28% | 30% | 32% | 32% | 28% | 26% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 16% | 12% | 11% | 12% | 12% | 11% | 11% | 13% | 14% | 13% |
| TOTAL: Good | 64% | 71% | 72% | 70% | 68% | 73% | 73% | 71% | 66% | 70% |
| Base (n) | 1,054 | 1,079 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 |
- Rating of the Federal Government’s handling of the crisis has declined from last month. 64% now rate the Governments response as good (Very good or quite good), down from 71% in June.
- Victoria has the lowest rating (60% rated very/quite good, down from 70% in June).
State Government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| All States | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 |
| Very poor | 7% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 4% |
| Quite poor | 11% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 7% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 9% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 18% | 17% | 17% | 17% | 20% | 17% | 17% | 16% | 18% | 17% |
| Quite good | 36% | 41% | 38% | 39% | 38% | 38% | 39% | 39% | 38% | 41% |
| Very good | 28% | 28% | 33% | 32% | 30% | 35% | 33% | 34% | 31% | 30% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 17% | 13% | 12% | 11% | 12% | 11% | 11% | 12% | 12% | 13% |
| TOTAL: Good | 64% | 69% | 71% | 71% | 68% | 73% | 72% | 73% | 70% | 70% |
| Base (n) | 1,054 | 1,079 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 |
| TOTAL: Good | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 |
| NSW | 63% | 70% | 65% | 67% | 62% | 65% | 70% | 70% | 68% | 63% |
| VIC | 49% | 65% | 75% | 72% | 71% | 73% | 71% | 71% | 72% | 77% |
| QLD | 69% | 64% | 67% | 68% | 69% | 74% | 66% | 70% | 65% | 67% |
| SA | 79% | 79% | 76% | 79% | 70% | 84% | 80% | 78% | 76% | 77% |
| WA | 77% | 75% | 77% | 84% | 79% | 83% | 86% | 83% | 79% | 76% |
- The positive rating of the State Government in Victoria has dropped from 65% in June to 49% this week. 17% think the Victorian government is doing a very good job (down from 26%) and those thinking they’ve done a quite good job has fallen from 28% to 32%.
- Southern Australia (79%) and Western Australia (77%) have the highest state government ratings at handling the crisis.
| VICTORIA ONLY | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 |
| Very poor | 14% | 8% | 6% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 3% |
| Quite poor | 12% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 7% | 9% | 10% | 11% | 8% | 6% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 25% | 22% | 13% | 16% | 17% | 16% | 15% | 15% | 17% | 14% |
| Quite good | 32% | 38% | 39% | 38% | 39% | 37% | 38% | 34% | 32% | 40% |
| Very good | 17% | 26% | 36% | 34% | 33% | 36% | 33% | 37% | 40% | 37% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 26% | 13% | 11% | 12% | 11% | 11% | 14% | 14% | 11% | 9% |
| TOTAL: Good | 49% | 65% | 75% | 72% | 71% | 73% | 71% | 71% | 72% | 77% |
| Base (n) | 281 | 261 | 275 | 275 | 275 | 275 | 267 | 275 | 275 | 272 |
- At the same time, those rating the Victorian state Government’s performance as very or quite poor has doubled from 13% in June to 26% this week.
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Essential Report
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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