The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Dec, 2020

    , ,

    Interest in news stories

    Q. How closely have you been following these news stories in the last fortnight?

    The Covid-19 outbreak in South Australia 

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Very closely 26% 28% 23% 22% 28% 27% 24% 29% 30% 22%
    Fairly closely 43% 45% 42% 42% 41% 46% 48% 46% 31% 36%
    Not that closely 23% 21% 25% 28% 22% 21% 23% 21% 25% 28%
    Not closely at all 8% 6% 9% 7% 9% 7% 4% 4% 14% 14%
    TOTAL: Closely 69% 73% 65% 65% 69% 73% 73% 75% 61% 59%
    TOTAL: Not closely 31% 27% 35% 35% 31% 27% 27% 25% 39% 41%
    Base (n) 1,034 528 506 329 320 385 322 430 88 107
  • Nov, 2020

    , ,

    Federal Government response to Covid-19

    Q. Overall, how would you rate the Federal Government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?

      16/11 02/11 05/10 21/09 07/09 24/08 10/08 27/07 13/07 22/06 15/06 08/06
    Very poor 5% 5% 5% 5% 8% 6% 7% 6% 6% 4% 3% 4%
    Quite poor 9% 10% 12% 13% 12% 11% 8% 11% 10% 8% 8% 8%
    Neither good, nor poor 18% 24% 22% 21% 22% 22% 21% 20% 20% 17% 16% 18%
    Quite good 41% 39% 39% 40% 40% 40% 40% 40% 40% 43% 42% 40%
    Very good 26% 22% 21% 21% 18% 22% 24% 24% 24% 27% 30% 30%
    TOTAL: Poor 15% 15% 18% 18% 19% 17% 16% 16% 16% 12% 11% 12%
    TOTAL: Good 67% 61% 60% 61% 59% 61% 63% 64% 64% 71% 72% 70%
    Base (n) 1,010 1,063 1,066 1,081 1,076 1,068 1,010 1,058 1,054 1,079 1,087 1,073
    • Rating of the Federal Government’s handling of Covid-19 has improved, with 67% rating it very or quite good (up from 61% earlier in the month).
  • Nov, 2020

    , ,

    State government response to Covid-19

    Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?

    TOTAL: Good 16/11 02/11 05/10 21/09 07/09 24/08 10/08 27/07 13/07 22/06 15/06 08/06
    NSW 75% 68% 65% 67% 57% 59% 61% 62% 63% 70% 65% 67%
    VIC 59% 55% 45% 47% 50% 47% 49% 53% 49% 65% 75% 72%
    QLD 71% 69% 69% 68% 66% 73% 68% 67% 69% 64% 67% 68%
    SA 76% 77% 81% 81% 74% 65% 72% 76% 79% 79% 76% 79%
    WA 82% 81% 83% 84% 87% 84% 86% 82% 77% 75% 77% 84%
    • Positive rating of the NSW Government has increased for the second time this month and now at 75%, and the highest rating we’ve seen in the past four months.
    • Ratings in Victoria also continue to improve, with 59% now rating the Victorian government’s response as good or very good.
    • Ratings in Queensland, SA and WA are consistent with recent results.
  • Sep, 2020

    , , , ,

    Expected restriction levels

    Q. In response to the Covid-19 outbreak, what do you expect will happen to the restriction levels in your local area over the next two months?

      07/09 24/08
     
    I expect restrictions will become tighter 15% 39%
    I expect no change to the restrictions 43% 39%
    I expect restrictions will have eased 42% 22%
    Base (n) 1,076 1,058

     

        State
      Total NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    I expect restrictions will become tighter 15% 19% 9% 20% 10% 9%
    I expect no change to the restrictions 43% 46% 31% 48% 42% 53%
    I expect restrictions will have eased 42% 35% 60% 32% 48% 38%
    Base (n) 1,076 352 275 215 88 99
    • A general expectation of an easing of restrictions in the next two months suggests Australians feel the worst effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have passed. Just 15% think tighter restrictions will be required in the next two months and 42% expect an easing of restrictions.
    • The expectation of easing restrictions is highest in Victoria (60%), as this state currently has the strictest requirements. The majority of this survey was completed before the announcement of the lock-down extension in Victoria on Sunday 6th
  • Sep, 2020

    , , , , ,

    Responsibility for Covid-19 Outbreak in Aged Care

    Q. In your opinion, who is most responsible for the recent Covid-19 outbreaks and spread of the virus within aged care facilities?

      07/09 24/08
     
    Federal Government 31% 28%
    State or Territory governments 28% 30%
    Aged Care providers 41% 42%
    Base (n) 1,076 1,068

     

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor Liberal + National Greens TOTAL: Other
    Federal Government 31% 36% 27% 37% 35% 22% 42% 23% 34% 34%
    State or Territory governments 28% 29% 28% 37% 27% 23% 26% 33% 31% 17%
    Aged care providers 41% 36% 45% 26% 38% 55% 32% 44% 35% 49%
    Base (n) 1076 524 552 326 365 385 321 390 108 138
    • Responsibility for the outbreaks in aged care is shared between Federal and state governments, an aged care providers. Consistent with results a fortnight ago, 42% say the providers hold the most responsibility (42% in last poll), 31% identify the Federal government (no change from 28%) and 28% the state governments (from 30%).
    • Women, people aged over 55 and Coalition voters are most likely to hold aged care providers responsible, while Labor voters are more likely to say the Federal government has the most responsibility (42%).
  • Sep, 2020

    , , ,

    Statements about Covid-19 Outbreak in Aged Care

    Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the recent Covid-19 outbreaks and spread of the virus within aged care facilities?

    TOTAL: AGREE 07/09 24/08
    Authorities failed to prepare an adequate Covid-19 strategy to deal with outbreaks in aged care facilities 77% 77%
    Hygiene and care standards in private care homes are poor which has contributed to the spread of Covid-19 69% 71%
    Covid-19 has entered and spread through aged care facilities because of community transmission from friends and families of residents 67% 67%
    The impact of Covid-19 in aged care facilities has been worsened by long-term underfunding of the aged care sector 72% 70%

     

      TOTAL: AGREE TOTAL: DISAGREE Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Unsure
    Authorities failed to prepare an adequate Covid-19 strategy to deal with outbreaks in aged care facilities 77% 15% 38% 39% 11% 4% 8%
    Hygiene and care standards in private care homes are poor which has contributed to the spread of Covid-19 69% 20% 30% 39% 15% 5% 11%
    Covid-19 has entered and spread through aged care facilities because of community transmission from friends and families of residents 67% 20% 26% 41% 15% 5% 13%
    The impact of Covid-19 in aged care facilities has been worsened by long-term underfunding of the aged care sector 72% 17% 36% 36% 12% 5% 11%

     

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    TOTAL: AGREE Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor Liberal + National Greens TOTAL: Other
    Authorities failed to prepare an adequate Covid-19 strategy to deal with outbreaks in aged care facilities 77% 77% 78% 66% 78% 86% 83% 79% 78% 79%
    Hygiene and care standards in private care homes are poor which has contributed to the spread of Covid-19 69% 71% 67% 58% 70% 78% 74% 72% 62% 77%
    Covid-19 has entered and spread through aged care facilities because of community transmission from friends and families of residents 67% 71% 63% 66% 74% 61% 67% 69% 70% 71%
    The impact of Covid-19 in aged care facilities has been worsened by long-term underfunding of the aged care sector 72% 71% 73% 64% 74% 76% 79% 71% 84% 69%
    Base (n) 1,076 524 552 326 365 385 321 390 108 138
    • Perceptions of the causes of the spread of Covid-19 within aged care facilities are consistent with previous results. A majority of people believe that there was insufficient preparation from authorities (77% agreement) and that long-term underfunding of aged care facilities has worsened the impact (72%)
    • Similar numbers also agree that the hygiene and care standards in private care homes has contributed to the spread of (69%) and that community transmission from friends and families of residents has also contributed to the spread (67%).
  • Aug, 2020

    , ,

    Support for Measures to Limit Covid-19 Outbreak

    Q. To what extent would you support or oppose the following measures to limit the spread of Covid-19 in the community?

      TOTAL: SUPPORT TOTAL: OPPOSE Strongly support Somewhat support Neither support nor oppose Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose
    All aged care facility residents who are diagnosed with Covid-19 are automatically transferred to a public hospital 63% 17% 35% 28% 20% 10% 7%
    Any person diagnosed with Covid-19 is required to quarantine in a dedicated facility and not isolate from home 52% 23% 27% 24% 25% 14% 9%
    The closure of international borders to all foreign travellers and returning Australian citizens 65% 18% 39% 26% 17% 10% 8%
    Any person diagnosed with Covid-19 must wear a tracking bracelet while self-isolating to ensure they don’t leave their homes 60% 20% 31% 29% 20% 11% 10%

     

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    TOTAL: SUPPORT Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor Liberal + National Greens TOTAL: Other
    All aged care facility residents who are diagnosed with Covid-19 are automatically transferred to a public hospital 63% 63% 63% 49% 62% 78% 65% 67% 60% 57%
    Any person diagnosed with Covid-19 is required to quarantine in a dedicated facility and not isolate from home 52% 52% 52% 44% 51% 60% 55% 53% 47% 43%
    The closure of international borders to all foreign travellers and returning Australian citizens 65% 63% 68% 51% 65% 78% 68% 69% 56% 61%
    Any person diagnosed with Covid-19 must wear a tracking bracelet while self-isolating to ensure they don’t leave their homes 60% 60% 60% 45% 61% 71% 63% 62% 47% 59%
    Base (n) 1,068 513 555 317 370 381 313 447 96 118

     

    • Around two-thirds of people support the closure of international borders to all foreign travellers and returning Australian citizens (65%), with similar numbers also supporting the transfer to a public hospital of all aged care facility residents who are diagnosed with Covid-19 (63%) and the compulsory wearing of a tracking bracelet during self-isolation for people diagnosed with Covi-19 (60%).
    • Just over half of people support the requirement for any person diagnosed with Covid-19 is required to quarantine in a dedicated facility and not isolate from home (52%). Support for this proposition is lowest among those aged 18-34 (44%) and Greens voters (47%).

     

  • Aug, 2020

    , ,

    VIC: View on hotel quarantine outbreak

    Q. Information released by health authorities suggests that Victoria’s Covid-19 outbreak started with breaches in hotel quarantine. Which of the following is closer to your view…?

    VICTORIA ONLY   Gender Age group Location
    Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Capital Non-Capital
    This is mostly about individuals being irresponsible, and the focus should be on forcing them to be more responsible 56% 52% 61% 62% 63% 46% 55% 62%
    This is mostly about failures in the system, with jobs in the security industry being insecure and workers not being given enough training 44% 48% 39% 38% 37% 54% 45% 38%
    Base (n) 499 238 261 149 154 196 388 111

     

    • More than half of Victorians believe the breaches in quarantine are mostly about individuals being irresponsible (56%) than failures in the system (44%).
    • Women (61%) and 18-34 year olds (62%) are more likely to think this is about individuals, while men (48%) and those over 55 (54%) believe this is a systemic issue.
Error: