Essential Report
Support for returning JobKeeper
Q. To what extent do you support or oppose the return of JobKeeper to assist people and businesses affected by lockdowns in Australia?
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Strongly support | 33% | 28% | 36% | 37% | 36% | 25% | 37% | 23% | 50% | 33% |
| Somewhat support | 33% | 34% | 32% | 31% | 32% | 36% | 39% | 35% | 26% | 27% |
| Neither support nor oppose | 23% | 24% | 23% | 26% | 22% | 23% | 19% | 26% | 16% | 19% |
| Somewhat oppose | 6% | 7% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 10% | 3% | 9% | 4% | 12% |
| Strongly oppose | 5% | 6% | 4% | 1% | 6% | 7% | 2% | 7% | 4% | 8% |
| TOTAL: Support | 66% | 62% | 69% | 69% | 68% | 61% | 77% | 58% | 76% | 60% |
| TOTAL: Oppose | 11% | 13% | 9% | 5% | 10% | 16% | 5% | 16% | 8% | 20% |
| Base (n) | 1,098 | 537 | 561 | 341 | 372 | 385 | 371 | 402 | 90 | 128 |
| State | |||||
| NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | |
| Strongly support | 34% | 34% | 30% | 28% | 25% |
| Somewhat support | 34% | 35% | 28% | 42% | 33% |
| Neither support nor oppose | 22% | 21% | 28% | 19% | 29% |
| Somewhat oppose | 6% | 6% | 6% | 5% | 6% |
| Strongly oppose | 5% | 3% | 6% | 5% | 7% |
| TOTAL: Support | 68% | 69% | 59% | 70% | 58% |
| TOTAL: Oppose | 10% | 10% | 13% | 11% | 13% |
| Base (n) | 352 | 276 | 220 | 86 | 111 |
- Around two-thirds (66%) of people would support the reintroduction of JobKeeper measures during lockdowns.
- Those with the highest support for the return of JobKeeper measures include women (69%), those aged 18-34 (69%), and Labor and Greens voters (77% and 76% respectively).
Views towards end of JobKeeper and JobSeeker supplement
Q. As you may be aware, the last JobKeeper payments will be paid in April 2021. JobKeeper was a fortnightly amount being paid through employers to help with employees’ wages. The supplement to JobSeeker also ends this month. This will mean that people who are unemployed get $50 less per week.
How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the end of JobKeeper and the supplement to JobSeeker?
| TOTAL: Agree | TOTAL: Disagree | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Neither agree nor disagree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | |
| I’m worried about how it will affect me | 33% | 41% | 14% | 18% | 26% | 16% | 25% |
| I’m worried about how it will affect the economy | 58% | 15% | 23% | 36% | 27% | 10% | 5% |
| There are a lot of businesses which have been surviving only because of JobKeeper and are unlikely to ever return | 65% | 9% | 25% | 40% | 27% | 5% | 3% |
| The schemes should have been extended at least until the Covid-19 vaccine program is fully rolled out | 48% | 25% | 22% | 26% | 26% | 15% | 11% |
| The schemes were far too expensive to continue any longer | 53% | 22% | 22% | 31% | 26% | 12% | 9% |
| Big companies that have made a profit and paid dividends and bonuses should be forced to repay JobKeeper payments they received | 66% | 11% | 36% | 29% | 24% | 7% | 4% |
| JobKeeper and the extra JobSeeker payments discouraged a lot of people from taking up jobs that were available | 55% | 20% | 23% | 32% | 24% | 11% | 10% |
| The real problem the government should be addressing isn’t the cost of JobKeeper and JobSeeker but the fact that there aren’t enough decent jobs available | 55% | 18% | 23% | 32% | 27% | 12% | 6% |
| Ending the supplement to JobSeeker will mean there is more poverty in the community | 55% | 16% | 25% | 30% | 29% | 11% | 6% |
| TOTAL: Agree | Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | ||||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
| I’m worried about how it will affect me | 33% | 37% | 28% | 48% | 40% | 13% | 35% | 31% | 45% | 26% | ||
| I’m worried about how it will affect the economy | 58% | 57% | 59% | 60% | 59% | 56% | 67% | 54% | 62% | 51% | ||
| There are a lot of businesses which have been surviving only because of JobKeeper and are unlikely to ever return | 65% | 63% | 66% | 62% | 65% | 67% | 67% | 64% | 73% | 64% | ||
| The schemes should have been extended at least until the Covid-19 vaccine program is fully rolled out | 48% | 48% | 48% | 57% | 51% | 38% | 58% | 37% | 70% | 48% | ||
| The schemes were far too expensive to continue any longer | 53% | 58% | 47% | 49% | 50% | 58% | 44% | 69% | 38% | 51% | ||
| Big companies that have made a profit and paid dividends and bonuses should be forced to repay JobKeeper payments they received | 66% | 69% | 62% | 57% | 66% | 73% | 68% | 67% | 67% | 67% | ||
| JobKeeper and the extra JobSeeker payments discouraged a lot of people from taking up jobs that were available | 55% | 58% | 53% | 51% | 54% | 60% | 51% | 65% | 45% | 53% | ||
| The real problem the government should be addressing isn’t the cost of JobKeeper and JobSeeker but the fact that there aren’t enough decent jobs available | 55% | 55% | 55% | 58% | 59% | 49% | 65% | 46% | 63% | 59% | ||
| Ending the supplement to JobSeeker will mean there is more poverty in the community | 55% | 52% | 57% | 57% | 59% | 49% | 67% | 42% | 71% | 54% | ||
| Base (n) | 1,368 | 669 | 699 | 426 | 460 | 482 | 483 | 471 | 123 | 165 | ||
- When thinking about the end of JobKeeper and the end of the supplement to JobKeeper, most agree that big companies that have made a profit and paid dividends and bonuses should be forced to repay JobKeeper payments they received (66%), and there are a lot of businesses which have been surviving only because of JobKeeper and are unlikely to ever return (65%).
- This is followed by a large proportion of those who agree that they are worried about how these changes will affect the economy (58%).
- In general, Australians are less likely to agree that they are worried about how the changes to JobKeeper and JobSeeker will affect themselves (33%) and that the schemes should have been extended at least until the Covid-19 vaccine program is fully rolled out (48%).
- Older people are more likely to agree the schemes were far too expensive to continue any longer than younger cohorts (58% of those over 55 compared to 50% of those 35-54 and 49% those 18-34) and big companies that have made a profit and paid dividends and bonuses should be forced to repay JobKeeper payments they received (73% of those over 55 compared to 66% of those 35-54 and 57% of those 18-34).
- Younger people are much more likely to agree that they’re worried about how the changes to the schemes will affect them personally than older cohorts (48% of those 18-34 and 40% of those 35-54 compared to 13% of those over 55). They are also more likely to agree that ending the supplement to JobSeeker will mean there is more poverty in the community (57% of those 18-34 and 59% those 35-54 compared to 49% those over 55).
- Labor voters and Greens voters are the most likely to agree they’re worried about how it will affect the economy (67% and 62% respectively) compared to 54% of Coalition voters. These voters are also most likely to agree that the real problem the government should be addressing isn’t the cost of JobKeeper and JobSeeker but the fact that there aren’t enough decent jobs available (65% Labor voters and 63% Greens voters, compared to 46% Coalition voters).
- Coalition supporters are the most likely voters to agree the schemes were far too expensive to continue any longer (69% compared to 44% Labor voters, 38% Greens voters and 51% minor and independent party voters), and JobKeeper and the extra JobSeeker payments discouraged a lot of people from taking up jobs that were available (65% compared to 51% Labor voters, 45% Greens voters and 53% minor and independent party voters).
Support for extension of JobKeeper and JobSeeker schemes
Q. On Tuesday July 21st, the government announced that JobKeeper payments and the increase to JobSeeker will be extended to March 2021 but that the rates for each will be reduced in October, and again in January. Eligibility for JobKeeper will remain the same, meaning that casual workers will not receive support.
To what extent do you support or oppose the changes to these schemes?
| TOTAL: Support | TOTAL: Oppose | Strongly support | Somewhat support | Neither support nor oppose | Somewhat oppose | Strongly oppose | |
| Businesses having to be re-tested for JobKeeper to ensure they are still eligible | 69% | 9% | 37% | 33% | 22% | 6% | 2% |
| The continuation of payments to March 2021 | 66% | 12% | 31% | 35% | 22% | 8% | 5% |
| The reduction in the amount of payments | 54% | 21% | 22% | 33% | 25% | 12% | 9% |
| Voting intention | |||||
| NET: Support | Total | Labor | NET: Coalition | Greens | NET: Other |
| Businesses having to be re-tested for JobKeeper to ensure they are still eligible | 69% | 70% | 76% | 58% | 72% |
| The continuation of payments to March 2021 | 66% | 72% | 65% | 78% | 60% |
| The reduction in the amount of payments | 54% | 49% | 67% | 33% | 62% |
| Base (n) | 1,058 | 334 | 428 | 81 | 107 |
- Extension of the JobKeeper and JobSeeker schemes receives support from a two-thirds majority (66%). While the reduction of payments is supported by just over half (54%), 21% oppose this decision.
Continuation of short-term measures
Q. The Federal Government has introduced some short-term measures to help people financially deal with the Covid-19 outbreak. For each of the following, how long do you think do you think the schemes should continue?
| Should end as soon as possible | Should end at current set date | Should continue after the current end date | Unsure | ||
| Providing free childcare for children in early childhood education
(Due to end 28th June 2020) |
May | 14% | 33% | 36% | 17% |
| June | 14% | 28% | 43% | 14% | |
| Increase to JobSeeker payments to $1,115 per fortnight
(Due to end 24th September 2020) |
May | 21% | 28% | 36% | 15% |
| June | 17% | 32% | 38% | 13% | |
| Provision of JobKeeper wage subsidy of $1,500 per fortnight to eligible employers for each eligible worker
(Due to end 24th September 2020) |
May | 17% | 36% | 32% | 14% |
| June | 14% | 40% | 34% | 13% |
| TOTAL: Should continue after the current end date | Gender | Age Group | ||||
| Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | |
| Providing free childcare for children in early childhood education | 43% | 43% | 44% | 52% | 45% | 35% |
| Increase to JobSeeker payments to $1,115 per fortnight | 38% | 38% | 37% | 39% | 40% | 33% |
| Provision of JobKeeper wage subsidy of $1,500 per fortnight to eligible employers for each eligible worker | 34% | 34% | 34% | 37% | 41% | 24% |
| Base (n) | 1,087 | 538 | 549 | 341 | 361 | 385 |
- Support for extending the free childcare scheme beyond the current end date of 28th June has increased from 36% last month to 43%.
- There has been no significant changes in the proportion of people who think the Jobkeeper (now at 34%) or Jobseeker (now at 38%) schemes should be extended beyond September.
- Support for extending the free early childcare scheme is higher among those aged 18-34 than those aged over 55 (52% to 35%).
Agreement with changes to Jobkeeper for early learning professionals
Q. This week the Government announced that from 20th July, it would stop paying the economy wide Jobkeeper wage subsidy to childcare services. It would be replaced by transition payments that may be less than the amount of Jobkeeper.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements amount the removal of Jobkeeper for childcare professionals?
| TOTAL: Agree | TOTAL: Disagree | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | Unsure | |
| Withdrawing this support puts businesses and jobs at risks if there is a second outbreak of Covid-19 or lockdown restrictions are re-introduced | 64% | 20% | 27% | 37% | 15% | 5% | 16% |
| It is the right time to start to remove the Government funding for some industries | 57% | 28% | 21% | 36% | 19% | 9% | 15% |
| It is too soon to withdraw this support for the childcare sector when many children are not yet back in childcare | 55% | 30% | 24% | 32% | 20% | 9% | 15% |
| The Government has broken its promise to maintain the Jobkeeper program until September | 53% | 26% | 22% | 30% | 18% | 9% | 21% |
| I am worried that the Government will remove Jobkeeper support from other industries before the end of September | 53% | 28% | 22% | 31% | 19% | 9% | 19% |
| Federal Voting intention | |||||||
| TOTAL: Agreement | Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Withdrawing this support puts businesses and jobs at risks if there is a second outbreak of Covid-19 or lockdown restrictions are re-introduced | 64% | 71% | 59% | 73% | 66% | ||
| It is the right time to start to remove the Government funding for some industries | 57% | 53% | 71% | 39% | 50% | ||
| It is too soon to withdraw this support for the childcare sector when many children are not yet back in childcare | 55% | 65% | 45% | 70% | 62% | ||
| The Government has broken its promise to maintain the Jobkeeper program until September | 53% | 62% | 43% | 67% | 57% | ||
| I am worried that the Government will remove Jobkeeper support from other industries before the end of September | 53% | 61% | 46% | 69% | 54% | ||
| Base (n) | 1,087 | 334 | 412 | 96 | 140 | ||
- 64% of people agree that the withdrawal of Jobkeeper could put businesses at risk if a second outbreak occurs.
- Over half of people agree that the Government’s decision to change the conditions of the Jobkeeper scheme for early childcare workers means that the Government has broken its promise to keep Jobkeeper until September (53%). Similar numbers agree that ‘It is too soon to withdraw this support for the childcare sector when many children are not yet back in childcare’ (55%) and ‘I am worried that the Government will remove Jobkeeper support from other industries before the end of September’
- 57% agree that it is the right time for the Government to start withdrawing funding for some industries.
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
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- Preferred Prime Minister
- Views towards re-electing the federal Coalition government
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