Essential Report
Resignation of Berejiklian and need for ICAC
Q. Thinking about Gladys Berejiklian’s resignation as NSW Premier, which is closer to your view?
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Gladys Berejiklian’s resignation as NSW Premier makes me more supportive of an independent federal anti-corruption body | 47% | 54% | 40% | 46% | 44% | 50% | 59% | 41% | 56% | 46% |
| Gladys Berejiklian’s resignation as NSW Premier makes me less supportive of an independent federal anti-corruption body | 21% | 21% | 21% | 25% | 21% | 18% | 16% | 31% | 14% | 26% |
| Unsure | 32% | 25% | 39% | 29% | 35% | 32% | 25% | 28% | 30% | 28% |
| Base (n) | 1,097 | 540 | 557 | 342 | 366 | 389 | 362 | 414 | 94 | 138 |
- Overall, the resignation of Gladys Berejiklian has strengthened the support for a federal ICAC. 47% say they are now more supportive, with 21% less supportive and 32% unsure.
| Total | State | ||
| NSW | All other states | ||
| Gladys Berejiklian’s resignation as NSW Premier makes me more supportive of an independent federal anti-corruption body | 47% | 48% | 45% |
| Gladys Berejiklian’s resignation as NSW Premier makes me less supportive of an independent federal anti-corruption body | 21% | 29% | 16% |
| Unsure | 32% | 23% | 38% |
| Base (n) | 1,097 | 352 | 691 |
- While greater support for a federal ICAC due to Berejiklian’s resignation is consistent between NSW and other states (48% to 45%), opposition is higher in NSW (29% to 16%).
Federal ICAC
Q. To what extent would you support or oppose the establishment of an independent federal corruption body to monitor the behaviour of our politicians and public servants?
| Nov’20 | Jan’20 | Dec’19 | Sep’18 | |
| Strongly support | 45% | 49% | 42% | 46% |
| Support | 36% | 31% | 33% | 36% |
| Oppose | 5% | 5% | 7% | 4% |
| Strongly oppose | 1% | 2% | 2% | 1% |
| Unsure | 13% | 13% | 17% | 14% |
| TOTAL: Support | 81% | 80% | 75% | 82% |
| TOTAL: Oppose | 6% | 7% | 8% | 5% |
| Base (n) | 1,063 | 1,080 | 1,035 | 1,030 |
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Strongly support | 45% | 50% | 42% | 49% | 51% |
| Support | 36% | 32% | 46% | 28% | 27% |
| Oppose | 5% | 4% | 5% | 7% | 4% |
| Strongly oppose | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 5% |
| Unsure | 13% | 12% | 6% | 16% | 14% |
| TOTAL: Support | 81% | 82% | 88% | 77% | 78% |
| TOTAL: Oppose | 6% | 6% | 6% | 7% | 9% |
| Base (n) | 1,063 | 352 | 431 | 85 | 100 |
- There is strong support for the establishment of an independent federal corruption body, 81% supporting this and just 6% opposing.
- Support is consistent with earlier in the year, when 80% supported a federal ICAC.
- There is majority support within voters of both major parties, 82% among Labor voters and 88% among Coalition.
Federal ICAC Timing
Q. Which of the following is closer to your view on Australia establishing an independent federal corruption body at this time?
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Now is not the time to set up a corruption watchdog as Australia needs to deal with the pandemic first. | 40% | 37% | 43% | 30% | 41% |
| The amounts of money being spent by the government during the pandemic makes it more necessary that a corruption watchdog is set up right now. | 60% | 63% | 57% | 70% | 59% |
| Base (n) | 1,063 | 352 | 431 | 85 | 100 |
- Most people think the establishment of a federal ICAC is needed now, with 60% saying “The amounts of money being spent by the government during the pandemic makes it more necessary that a corruption watchdog is set up right now”, with the remaining 40% believing “Now is not the time to set up a corruption watchdog as Australia needs to deal with the pandemic first.”
Federal ICAC
Q. To what extent would you support or oppose the establishment of an independent federal corruption body to monitor the behaviour of our politicians and public servants?
| Jan’20 | Dec’19 | Sep’18 | |
| Strongly support | 49% | 42% | 46% |
| Support | 31% | 33% | 36% |
| Oppose | 5% | 7% | 4% |
| Strongly oppose | 2% | 2% | 1% |
| Unsure | 13% | 17% | 14% |
| NET: Support | 80% | 75% | 82% |
| NET: Oppose | 7% | 8% | 5% |
| Base (n) | 1,080 | 1,035 | 1,030 |
| Total | Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | ||
| Strongly support | 49% | 56% | 42% | 53% | 56% |
| Support | 31% | 29% | 38% | 28% | 20% |
| Oppose | 5% | 4% | 6% | 3% | 6% |
| Strongly oppose | 2% | 1% | 3% | 2% | 5% |
| Unsure | 13% | 9% | 11% | 14% | 13% |
| NET: Support | 80% | 86% | 80% | 81% | 76% |
| NET: Oppose | 7% | 5% | 9% | 5% | 11% |
| Base (n) | 1,080 | 351 | 342 | 110 | 156 |
- 80% of participants support the establishment of an independent federal corruption body to monitor the behaviour of our politicians and public servants.
- Support is higher than late last year when the same question was asked in conjunction with the conduct of Angus Taylor and the use of inflated figures that Mr Taylor’s office used to attack the travel record of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore (75% in Dec’19).
Federal ICAC
Q. To what extent would you support or oppose the establishment of an independent federal corruption body to monitor the behaviour of our politicians and public servants?
| Total | Voting Intention | Sep’18 | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | |||
| Strongly support | 42% | 49% | 48% | 37% | 51% | 46% |
| Support | 33% | 35% | 28% | 45% | 30% | 36% |
| Oppose | 7% | 7% | 8% | 6% | 5% | 4% |
| Strongly oppose | 2% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 3% | 1% |
| Unsure | 17% | 8% | 15% | 10% | 12% | 14% |
| NET: Support | 75% | 84% | 76% | 82% | 80% | 82% |
| NET: Oppose | 8% | 8% | 10% | 8% | 8% | 5% |
| Base (n) | 1,035 | 339 | 356 | 106 | 116 | 1,030 |
- 75% of participants support the establishment of an independent federal corruption body to monitor the behaviour of our politicians and public servants – this is lower than Sep’18, when 82% supported of an independent body.
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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