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.
Raising Newstart
Q. The government has doubled the Newstart allowance to support people out of work for the next six months. When that time expires, which of the following would you prefer to see happen the Newstart allowance?
| Gender | Age Group | Location | |||||||
| Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Capital | Non-Capital | ||
| Maintain the current rate ($560 per week) | 24% | 24% | 24% | 32% | 27% | 15% | 26% | 21% | |
| Increase the former rate to equal the single pension amount ($472 per week) | 33% | 35% | 31% | 28% | 31% | 40% | 31% | 37% | |
| Return to the former rate ($285 per week) | 28% | 27% | 29% | 23% | 27% | 33% | 28% | 28% | |
| Unsure | 15% | 13% | 16% | 17% | 15% | 12% | 15% | 14% | |
| Base (n) | 1,093 | 539 | 554 | 341 | 372 | 380 | 734 | 359 | |
| Federal Voting Intention | |||||
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
| Maintain the current rate ($560 per week) | 24% | 28% | 20% | 34% | 18% |
| Increase the former rate to equal the single pension amount ($472 per week) | 33% | 38% | 31% | 38% | 36% |
| Return to the former rate ($285 per week) | 28% | 22% | 38% | 16% | 30% |
| Unsure | 15% | 12% | 11% | 12% | 15% |
| Base (n) | 1,093 | 325 | 435 | 108 | 114 |
Support for non-permanent residents accessing Australian government support
Q. You may be aware that non-permanent residents in Australia (such as skilled migrants, New Zealand citizens, people on temporary visas and refugees) are not currently eligible for most government benefits, such as Jobseeker Allowance. Non-permanent residents can’t return to their home countries as Australia has closed its international borders.
To what extent do you support or oppose, non-permanent residents being able to access Australian government support if they lose their jobs as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak?
| Gender | Age Group | Location | |||||||
| Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Capital | Non-Capital | ||
| Strongly support | 25% | 26% | 24% | 29% | 27% | 20% | 27% | 22% | |
| Somewhat support | 29% | 29% | 29% | 29% | 27% | 31% | 30% | 26% | |
| Neither support, nor oppose | 24% | 22% | 25% | 22% | 23% | 26% | 21% | 28% | |
| Somewhat oppose | 12% | 12% | 12% | 12% | 10% | 13% | 12% | 12% | |
| Strongly oppose | 10% | 11% | 10% | 8% | 13% | 10% | 10% | 11% | |
| NET: Support | 54% | 55% | 53% | 58% | 54% | 51% | 57% | 48% | |
| NET: Oppose | 22% | 23% | 22% | 20% | 23% | 23% | 22% | 24% | |
| Base (n) | 1,086 | 539 | 547 | 341 | 362 | 383 | 727 | 359 | |
- 54% of participants support non-permanent residents accessing Australian government support if they lose their jobs as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak.
- Capital residents are more likely to support this measure than non-capital residents (57% compared to 48%).
COVID-19 RESEARCH
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