Views towards federal vs state government responsibility to manage Covid-19 hotel quarantine system
Q. Which of the following statements about Australia’s international borders and the Covid-19 hotel quarantine system for returning travellers is closest to your view?
Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
It should be the federal government’s responsibility to protect Australia’s international borders and manage the hotel quarantine system | 62% | 63% | 59% | 57% | 67% |
It should be each state governments’ responsibility to quarantine travellers returning within their borders and the federal government should be left out of this | 38% | 37% | 41% | 43% | 33% |
Base (n) | 1,109 | 359 | 428 | 101 | 131 |
- More people think it should be the federal government’s responsibility to protect Australia’s international borders and manage the hotel quarantine system, than those who think it should be each state governments’ responsibility to quarantine travellers returning within their borders (62% to 38%).
- The view that this should be a federal rather than state government responsibility is consistent across all voting intentions.
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%).
Responsibility for the Ruby Princess
Q. You may be aware that there is a special commission of inquiry into the docking of the Ruby Princess cruise ship during the Covid-19 outbreak. Many people were involved during the decision-making process, to varying degrees.
At the end of the day, who do you think is most responsible for the decision to dock the Ruby Princess?
Gender | Age Group | |||||
Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | |
New South Wales Health public officials | 25% | 29% | 22% | 21% | 26% | 29% |
The ship’s captain and medical officers | 18% | 18% | 17% | 12% | 17% | 23% |
New South Wales Port Authority | 13% | 12% | 14% | 14% | 14% | 11% |
Border Force officials | 13% | 14% | 12% | 14% | 15% | 10% |
The individual passengers | 5% | 6% | 5% | 10% | 4% | 2% |
No one person or group is to blame | 26% | 22% | 29% | 29% | 24% | 25% |
Base (n) | 1,067 | 532 | 535 | 341 | 341 | 385 |
Federal Voting Intention | ||||
Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
New South Wales Health public officials | 26% | 27% | 22% | 25% |
The ship’s captain and medical officers | 14% | 22% | 16% | 19% |
New South Wales Port Authority | 12% | 14% | 11% | 16% |
Border Force officials | 15% | 11% | 15% | 15% |
The individual passengers | 4% | 6% | 8% | 4% |
No one person or group is to blame | 29% | 20% | 28% | 21% |
Base (n) | 306 | 418 | 86 | 143 |
- A quarter of participants say no one person or group is most responsible for the decision to dock the Ruby Princess (26%) but an equal amount (25%) say the New South Wales Health public officials are most responsible. One-fifth (18%) believe that the ship’s captain and medical officers are most responsible.
- Men (29%) and those over 55 years old (29%) are more likely to say New South Wales Health public officials are most responsible, compared to women (22%) and 18-34 (21%).
- Coalition voters are most likely to say the ship’s captain and medical officers are most responsible (22%) compared to other voters (16%).
Government Responsibilities
Q. Which of the following should be mainly the responsibility of the Federal Government and which should be mainly the responsibility of the State Governments – or should they have equal responsibility?
Mainly Federal |
Mainly State |
Both equally |
Don’t know |
|
Constructing new roads and highways |
20% |
27% |
49% |
4% |
Investing in public transport |
9% |
57% |
31% |
3% |
Improving the health system |
46% |
8% |
42% |
3% |
Improving the education system |
40% |
12% |
44% |
4% |
Managing mining projects and mining profits |
45% |
17% |
30% |
7% |
Investing in regional areas |
15% |
41% |
40% |
4% |
Managing the environment |
35% |
9% |
52% |
4% |
Managing our water resources |
26% |
21% |
49% |
4% |
Addressing climate change |
42% |
3% |
47% |
8% |
Industrial relations issues |
37% |
15% |
42% |
5% |
Issues which were considered mainly Federal responsibilities were the health system, mining projects/profits, climate change and education.
Public transport and regional investment were considered to be more the responsibilities of the State Governments.
The environment, managing water resources and constructing new roads and highways were more likely to be considered a shared responsibility.

COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
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Two Party Preferred:
In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Federal government response to Covid-19
- State government response to Covid-19
- Confidence in Labor government handling of Covid-19 pandemic
- Satisfaction with speed of Covid-19 vaccine rollout
- Party most responsible for slow vaccine rollout
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