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  • Aug, 2021

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    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).
  • Apr, 2021

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    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).
  • Jul, 2020

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    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.
  • Jun, 2020

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    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%).
  • Jun, 2020

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    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.
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