The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Mar, 2020

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    Likelihood of developing Coronavirus

    Q. How likely do you think it is, that you will develop Covid-19?

      22/03 09/03
    Very likely 8% 7%
    Somewhat likely 34% 24%
    Somewhat unlikely 45% 43%
    Very unlikely 13% 26%
    Base (n) 1,034 1,096

     

        Age group Location
      Total 18-34 35-54 55+ Capital Non-Capital
    Very likely 8% 10% 8% 5% 9% 5%
    Somewhat likely 34% 35% 36% 32% 34% 35%
    Somewhat unlikely 45% 43% 43% 49% 43% 49%
    Very unlikely 13% 12% 13% 14% 14% 11%
    Base (n) 1,034 342 327 365 703 331
    • There has been an increase in the likelihood of developing Covid-19 during the last fortnight. 42% now say it is somewhat or very likely that they will develop Covid-19 (up from 31%).
    • Younger people (aged 18-34, 10% very likely to develop Covid-19) and those living in capital cities (9%) are more likely to expect to develop the virus than older people (55+) and those living in regional areas.
  • Mar, 2020

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    Reaction to Covid-19

    Q. Which of the following is closer to your personal views of the Covid-19 outbreak?

        Gender Age Group Location
      Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Capital Non-Capital
    There has been an over-reaction to the threat of Covid-19 33% 36% 30% 39% 37% 23% 34% 30%
    The response to the threat of Covid-19 is about right 39% 40% 39% 40% 33% 44% 39% 39%
    The threat of Covid-19 has been under-estimated 28% 24% 32% 21% 30% 33% 27% 31%
    Base (n) 1,096 519 515 342 327 365 703 331
    • A third of people believe there has been an over-reaction to the threat of Covid-19. Men (36%) and those aged 18-34 (39%) are more likely to think there has been an over-reaction than women (30%) and those aged 55+ (23%).
    • 39% think the reaction has been proportionate to the threat and 28% believe the threat has been under-estimated.
    • Those who think there has been an over-reaction are less concerned about the threat of Covid-19 (69% very/somewhat concerned, compared to 92% who think the threat has been under-estimated) and think they are less likely to contract the virus (38% to 49% very/somewhat likely to catch Covid-19).
  • Mar, 2020

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    Information about Covid-19

    Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the information you’ve received about the Covid-19 outbreak?

      NET: Agree NET: Disagree Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree
    I feel informed about the situation and the impact on me and my family 64% 14% 18% 46% 22% 9% 5%
    I trust the Government to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 outbreak 56% 20% 19% 37% 24% 12% 8%
    The information I’ve received has been clear and consistent 51% 24% 15% 37% 25% 17% 7%
    I trust the media to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 outbreak 35% 40% 7% 27% 26% 23% 17%
    • Around two-thirds of people agree that they feel informed about the situation (64%) and over half (56%) trust the government to provide honest and objective information about the outbreak.
    • Half think the information they’ve received has been clear and consistent (51%).
    • Those who think the threat of Covid-19 has been under-estimated are more likely to disagree that they feel informed of the situation (22%), that the information they’ve receive is clear and consistent (33%) and they trust the government to deliver honest and objective information (34%).
        Gender Age Group Location
    NET: AGREE Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Capital Non-Capital
    I feel informed about the situation and the impact on me and my family 64% 63% 65% 58% 59% 73% 65% 61%
    I trust the Government to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 outbreak 56% 57% 54% 48% 51% 66% 57% 53%
    The information I’ve received has been clear and consistent 51% 53% 50% 49% 47% 58% 54% 47%
    I trust the media to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 outbreak 35% 38% 32% 31% 35% 37% 36% 32%
    Base (n) 1,034 519 515 342 327 365 703 331
    • Those aged over 55 are more likely to agree that they feel informed about the situation (73%), that they have trust in the information from the government (66%) and that the information they’ve received has been clear and concise (58%).
    • People in non-capital areas are less likely to agree that the information they have received has been clear and consistent (47%) compared to those in capital cities (54%).
  • Mar, 2020

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    Changing behaviour due to Covid-19

    Q. Have you changed your behaviour in any of the following ways since the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak?

        Gender Age Group Location
      Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Capital Non-Capital
    Increased personal hygiene measures (e.g. hand washing) 72% 70% 74% 72% 67% 76% 73% 70%
    Limited attending social spaces, shops, restaurants or group events 60% 56% 63% 60% 58% 61% 61% 56%
    Stopped physical greetings (e.g. shaking hands, kissing, hugging) 60% 57% 63% 57% 57% 65% 60% 60%
    Bought additional groceries to stock-up 33% 32% 35% 38% 36% 27% 37% 25%
    Reduced use of cash to pay for purchases 23% 20% 25% 30% 23% 17% 24% 19%
    Changed working patterns (e.g. changed hours, or working from home) 20% 24% 17% 33% 24% 6% 23% 14%
    None of these 12% 13% 11% 8% 15% 13% 10% 16%
    Base (n) 1,034 519 515 342 327 365 703 331
    • Since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak, a majority of people have increased their personal hygiene (72%), limited their social interactions (60%) and reduced physical greetings (60%). A third of people say they have stocked up on groceries (33%).
    • Younger people aged 18-34 were more likely to have changed their working patterns (33%) and reduced using cash for payments (30%)
    • Just 12% of people say they have not changed their behaviour as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak.
  • Feb, 2020

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    Actions taken since Coronavirus outbreak

    Q. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, do any of the following statements apply to you?

        Age
    Total 18-34 35-54 55+
    I have stayed away from cities or town centres 20% 27% 22% 13%
    I have avoided going to restaurants 20% 26% 23% 11%
    I have stayed away from shopping centres 17% 23% 19% 9%
    I have cancelled an overseas trip 15% 26% 16% 4%
    None of these 70% 57% 66% 84%
    Base (n) 1,090 341 374 375
    • 30% of participants have changed their behaviour in some way listed – with 20% saying they have either stayed away from cities or town centres, or avoided going to restaurants.
    • 18-34 year olds (43%), university educated (39%), capital city residents (34%) and those with dependent children (36%) are most likely to report changing their behaviour since the Coronavirus outbreak.
    • Whereas 55+ year olds (16%), those with a secondary school education (20%), non-capital residents (23%) and participants without dependent children (27%) are least likely to report behavioural changes.
  • Feb, 2020

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    Attitudes towards border protection and Coronavirus

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

      NET: Agree NET: Disagree Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree
    Because of global movements in people we are more vulnerable to the spread of viruses like this 81% 5% 43% 38% 14% 3% 2%
    The Australian government has been right to prevent people from mainland China entering Australia 80% 6% 53% 27% 14% 4% 3%
    The government and the media have done a good job in keeping the public informed about the virus 62% 15% 22% 40% 23% 10% 5%
    The border with China should be kept open to keep money from tourism and students coming into the country 20% 54% 6% 14% 26% 22% 32%

     

    NET: Agree   Age Federal Voting Intention (Lower House)
    Total 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor Coalition Greens NET: Other
    Because of global movements in people we are more vulnerable to the spread of viruses like this 81% 70% 82% 90% 80% 86% 76% 84%
    The Australian government has been right to prevent people from mainland China entering Australia 80% 71% 80% 88% 79% 88% 66% 82%
    The government and the media have done a good job in keeping the public informed about the virus 62% 53% 59% 73% 61% 73% 49% 53%
    The border with China should be kept open to keep money from tourism and students coming into the country 20% 28% 20% 13% 21% 21% 22% 13%
    Base (n) 1,090 341 374 375 336 390 104 146
    • Four out of five participants agree that because of global movements in people we are more vulnerable to the spread of viruses like this (81%) or the Australian government has been right to prevent people from mainland China entering Australia (80%).
    • Three in five agree the government and the media have done a good job in keeping the public informed about the virus (62%); but only one in five agree that the border with China should be kept open to keep money from tourism and students coming into the country (20%).
    • Participants over 55 years old (90%, 88% and 73% agreement respectively) and Liberal voters (86%, 88% and 73%) are more likely to agree with the top three statements.
    • Capital residents are more likely to agree that government and the media have done a good job in keeping the public informed about the virus than those in non-capital cities (65% compared to 57%).
    • Men, 18-34 year olds and participants with a university education are more likely to agree that the border with China should be kept open to keep money from tourism and students coming into the country (24%, 28%, 29% respectively); than women, participants over 55 or with a secondary school education (16%, 13%, 12% respectively).
  • Oct, 2015

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    Party Trust to Handle Issues

    Q: Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?

      Liberal Labor Greens Don’t know   Difference   Difference

    Sep 2015
    Management of the economy 41% 23% 4% 32% +18 +16
    Ensuring a quality education for all children 28% 35% 7% 30% -7 -4
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system 28% 33% 8% 30% -5 -2
    Protecting the environment 18% 16% 39% 26% -21 -20
    A fair industrial relations system 27% 38% 5% 30% -11 -8
    Political leadership 38% 20% 7% 36% +18 +9
    Addressing climate change 19% 23% 31% 27% -12 -12
    Controlling interest rates 36% 22% 4% 37% +14 +16
    Australian jobs and protection of local industries 28% 35% 6% 31% -7 -5
    Ensuring a quality water supply 25% 20% 24% 31% +5 +7
    Housing affordability 24% 31% 7% 38% -7 –
    Ensuring a fair taxation system 31% 31% 6% 32% – +4
    Security and the war on terrorism 41% 19% 5% 36% +22 +20
    Treatment of asylum seekers 28% 21% 17% 34% +7 +12
    Managing population growth 32% 19% 9% 40% +13 +11

    Note – Differences are calculated by subtracting Labor % from Liberal % – except for the two issues on which the Greens lead in which case it is Liberal minus Greens.

    The Liberal Party is trusted more to handle security and the war on terrorism (+22), management of the economy (+18), political leadership (+18) and controlling interest rates (+14). The Labor Party is trusted more to handle a fair industrial relations system (-11) and Australian jobs, protection of local industries (-7), ensuring a quality education (-7) and housing affordability (-7).

    Main changes since this question was asked last month have been an improvement for the Liberal Party on political leadership (up net 9 points), and improvement for the Labor Party on housing affordability (up 7) and treatment of asylum seekers (up 5).

  • Apr, 2014

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    Most important election issues

    Q.  Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election?

     

    Total

    22 Apr 14

     

    Vote ALP

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Grn

    Vote other

     

    23 Jul 13

    30 Jul 12

    6 June 11

    25 Jan 10
    Management of the economy

    54%

    43%

    75%

    22%

    44%

    45%

    64%

    61%

    63%
    Ensuring a quality education for all children

    27%

    35%

    18%

    38%

    20%

    25%

    26%

    26%

    23%
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system

    50%

    54%

    43%

    62%

    52%

    42%

    47%

    49%

    48%
    Protecting the environment

    13%

    12%

    7%

    42%

    14%

    12%

    11%

    15%

    16%
    A fair industrial relations system

    12%

    17%

    11%

    8%

    12%

    10%

    12%

    8%

    na
    Political leadership

    15%

    11%

    24%

    6%

    13%

    21%

    25%

    17%

    23%
    Addressing climate change

    10%

    13%

    4%

    28%

    9%

    11%

    9%

    15%

    16%
    Controlling interest rates

    9%

    9%

    11%

    2%

    7%

    13%

    9%

    13%

    15%
    Australian jobs and protection of local industries

    37%

    39%

    37%

    18%

    37%

    39%

    41%

    32%

    33%
    Ensuring a quality water supply

    4%

    5%

    3%

    3%

    5%

    3%

    3%

    5%

    12%
    Housing affordability

    17%

    18%

    16%

    13%

    19%

    17%

    13%

    16%

    14%
    Ensuring a fair taxation system

    20%

    19%

    20%

    9%

    23%

    20%

    18%

    17%

    14%
    Security and the war on terrorism

    5%

    3%

    8%

    3%

    5%

    8%

    5%

    8%

    9%
    Treatment of asylum seekers

    8%

    5%

    5%

    32%

    9%

    14%

    10%

    5%

    na
    Managing population growth

    9%

    6%

    10%

    8%

    16%

    9%

    8%

    12%

    na

    54% of people surveyed rated management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 50% ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system, 37% Australian jobs and protection of local industries and 27% ensuring a quality education for all children.

    Main changes since this question was asked last July – management of the economy up 9%, ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system up 8%, political leadership down 6% and treatment of asylum seekers down 6%.

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