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State government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| TOTAL: Good | 21/09 | 07/09 | 24/08 | 10/08 | 27/07 | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 |
| NSW | 67% | 57% | 59% | 61% | 62% | 63% | 70% | 65% | 67% | 62% | 65% |
| VIC | 47% | 50% | 47% | 49% | 53% | 49% | 65% | 75% | 72% | 71% | 73% |
| QLD | 68% | 66% | 73% | 68% | 67% | 69% | 64% | 67% | 68% | 69% | 74% |
| SA | 81% | 74% | 65% | 72% | 76% | 79% | 79% | 76% | 79% | 70% | 84% |
| WA | 84% | 87% | 84% | 86% | 82% | 77% | 75% | 77% | 84% | 79% | 83% |
- Positive rating of the NSW Government has rebounded this week, with 67% rating the performance as very or quite good, up from 7% earlier in August.
- Positive rating of the Victorian Government remains steady at 47% over the past two weeks.
State and Federal Government Working Together
Q. How well do you think your State or Territory government and the Federal government are working together on issues to address the Covid-19 pandemic?
| Total | State | |||||
| NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | ||
| Very well | 17% | 21% | 8% | 15% | 19% | 24% |
| Quite well | 46% | 46% | 49% | 48% | 47% | 40% |
| Quite poorly | 22% | 19% | 28% | 19% | 21% | 23% |
| Very poorly | 8% | 8% | 10% | 10% | 6% | 3% |
| Unsure | 6% | 7% | 5% | 7% | 7% | 8% |
| TOTAL: Well | 64% | 66% | 57% | 64% | 66% | 65% |
| TOTAL: Poorly | 30% | 27% | 38% | 29% | 27% | 27% |
| Base (n) | 1,076 | 352 | 275 | 215 | 88 | 99 |
- People believe that more could be done between the Federal and State governments to address the Covid-19 pandemic. Less than a fifth of people (17%) think the Federal government and their state government are working together very well. While 46% say they are working together quite well, 30% rate the working relationship as poor.
- The Federal and Victorian governments are seen to have the worst relationship, with 57% of Victorians saying the Federal government is working well with their state government, but just 8% believe they are working very well together.
Change in Working together
Q. And, how do you think your State or Territory government and the Federal government are working together now compared to earlier in the pandemic?
| Total | State | |||||
| NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | ||
| A lot better | 13% | 14% | 10% | 14% | 16% | 14% |
| A little better | 27% | 32% | 28% | 25% | 26% | 16% |
| No better or worse | 30% | 30% | 26% | 31% | 33% | 33% |
| A little worse | 15% | 14% | 20% | 14% | 12% | 19% |
| A lot worse | 7% | 6% | 12% | 8% | 4% | 5% |
| Unsure | 6% | 5% | 4% | 8% | 10% | 12% |
| TOTAL: Better | 41% | 46% | 38% | 39% | 41% | 31% |
| TOTAL: Worse | 23% | 20% | 32% | 22% | 16% | 24% |
| Base (n) | 1,076 | 352 | 275 | 215 | 88 | 99 |
- Overall, most people believe the working relationship between the Federal and their state government has improved (41%) or stayed the same (30%) during the pandemic. 25% think the relationship between the governments has deteriorated.
- Victorians are most likely to think the relationship between the Federal and state governments has got worse (32%).
State and Federal governments working together on specific issues
Q. How well do you think your State or Territory government and the Federal government are working together on the following issues?
| Total | State | |||||
| TOTAL: Working well together | NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | |
| To minimise the spread of Covid-19 within aged care facilities | 51% | 49% | 42% | 58% | 58% | 50% |
| To maintain interstate trade and ensure shops and supermarkets are fully stocked | 68% | 64% | 66% | 65% | 77% | 75% |
| The promotion of tourism and travel within states | 52% | 54% | 37% | 57% | 67% | 59% |
| To manage a safe environment in schools and childcare facilities for children and staff | 67% | 65% | 61% | 71% | 73% | 74% |
| To control the spread of Covid-19 across state borders | 68% | 67% | 65% | 67% | 81% | 68% |
| Base (n) | 1,076 | 352 | 275 | 215 | 88 | 99 |
- Around two-thirds think their state and Federal governments are working well together to address the issues of inter-state infections (68%), Trade and supply (68%) and education (67%). While half think they are working well together to minimise the spread in aged-care facilities (51%) and promoting inter-state travel (52%).
- Victorians have the lowest rating of the relationship – particularly for issues of aged care facilities (42% say Federal and state governments are working well together) and interstate travel (37%).
| NSW | TOTAL: Well | TOTAL: Poorly | Very well | Quite well | Quite poorly | Very poorly | Unsure |
| To minimise the spread of Covid-19 within aged care facilities | 49% | 42% | 18% | 31% | 25% | 17% | 9% |
| To maintain interstate trade and ensure shops and supermarkets are fully stocked | 64% | 27% | 19% | 45% | 18% | 9% | 9% |
| The promotion of tourism and travel within states | 54% | 33% | 18% | 36% | 21% | 12% | 13% |
| To manage a safe environment in schools and childcare facilities for children and staff | 65% | 26% | 19% | 45% | 17% | 9% | 10% |
| To control the spread of Covid-19 across state borders | 67% | 29% | 22% | 45% | 18% | 10% | 4% |
| VIC | TOTAL: Well | TOTAL: Poorly | Very well | Quite well | Quite poorly | Very poorly | Unsure |
| To minimise the spread of Covid-19 within aged care facilities | 42% | 51% | 10% | 32% | 31% | 20% | 7% |
| To maintain interstate trade and ensure shops and supermarkets are fully stocked | 66% | 29% | 18% | 48% | 19% | 9% | 6% |
| The promotion of tourism and travel within states | 37% | 42% | 11% | 26% | 27% | 15% | 21% |
| To manage a safe environment in schools and childcare facilities for children and staff | 61% | 30% | 14% | 47% | 22% | 8% | 9% |
| To control the spread of Covid-19 across state borders | 65% | 29% | 20% | 45% | 19% | 10% | 6% |
| QLD | TOTAL: Well | TOTAL: Poorly | Very well | Quite well | Quite poorly | Very poorly | Unsure |
| To minimise the spread of Covid-19 within aged care facilities | 58% | 33% | 17% | 41% | 20% | 13% | 9% |
| To maintain interstate trade and ensure shops and supermarkets are fully stocked | 65% | 25% | 19% | 45% | 17% | 8% | 10% |
| The promotion of tourism and travel within states | 57% | 28% | 18% | 39% | 21% | 8% | 15% |
| To manage a safe environment in schools and childcare facilities for children and staff | 71% | 20% | 15% | 56% | 12% | 8% | 9% |
| To control the spread of Covid-19 across state borders | 67% | 29% | 23% | 44% | 19% | 10% | 4% |
| SA | TOTAL: Well | TOTAL: Poorly | Very well | Quite well | Quite poorly | Very poorly | Unsure |
| To minimise the spread of Covid-19 within aged care facilities | 58% | 32% | 17% | 41% | 14% | 18% | 10% |
| To maintain interstate trade and ensure shops and supermarkets are fully stocked | 77% | 11% | 16% | 61% | 7% | 3% | 12% |
| The promotion of tourism and travel within states | 67% | 16% | 16% | 51% | 9% | 7% | 18% |
| To manage a safe environment in schools and childcare facilities for children and staff | 73% | 16% | 21% | 52% | 10% | 6% | 11% |
| To control the spread of Covid-19 across state borders | 81% | 14% | 33% | 48% | 8% | 6% | 5% |
| WA | TOTAL: Well | TOTAL: Poorly | Very well | Quite well | Quite poorly | Very poorly | Unsure |
| To minimise the spread of Covid-19 within aged care facilities | 50% | 35% | 19% | 30% | 22% | 13% | 16% |
| To maintain interstate trade and ensure shops and supermarkets are fully stocked | 75% | 17% | 24% | 51% | 13% | 4% | 8% |
| The promotion of tourism and travel within states | 59% | 28% | 22% | 36% | 22% | 6% | 13% |
| To manage a safe environment in schools and childcare facilities for children and staff | 74% | 17% | 18% | 56% | 14% | 4% | 9% |
| To control the spread of Covid-19 across state borders | 68% | 24% | 28% | 40% | 16% | 8% | 8% |
State Government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| TOTAL: Good | 24/08 | 10/08 | 27/07 | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 |
| NSW | 59% | 61% | 62% | 63% | 70% | 65% | 67% | 62% | 65% | 70% | 70% |
| VIC | 47% | 49% | 53% | 49% | 65% | 75% | 72% | 71% | 73% | 71% | 71% |
| QLD | 73% | 68% | 67% | 69% | 64% | 67% | 68% | 69% | 74% | 66% | 70% |
| SA | 65% | 72% | 76% | 79% | 79% | 76% | 79% | 70% | 84% | 80% | 78% |
| WA | 84% | 86% | 82% | 77% | 75% | 77% | 84% | 79% | 83% | 86% | 83% |
- Positive rating of the NSW Government’s handling of the crisis moved -2%pts this week to 59%, this is down from a peak of 70% in June.
- Positive rating of the Victorian Government also moved -2%pts this week (to 47%). This is consistent with ratings since the outbreak in Victoria in July.
- Western Australia (84%) have the highest state government ratings for handling the crisis.
| VICTORIA ONLY | 24/08 | 10/08 | 27/07 | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 |
| Very poor | 15% | 16% | 13% | 14% | 8% | 6% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 4% |
| Quite poor | 20% | 14% | 17% | 12% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 7% | 9% | 10% | 11% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 17% | 21% | 17% | 25% | 22% | 13% | 16% | 17% | 16% | 15% | 15% |
| Quite good | 29% | 28% | 34% | 32% | 38% | 39% | 38% | 39% | 37% | 38% | 34% |
| Very good | 18% | 21% | 19% | 17% | 26% | 36% | 34% | 33% | 36% | 33% | 37% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 36% | 30% | 30% | 26% | 13% | 11% | 12% | 11% | 11% | 14% | 14% |
| TOTAL: Good | 47% | 49% | 53% | 49% | 65% | 75% | 72% | 71% | 73% | 71% | 71% |
| Base (n) | 275 | 499 | 239 | 281 | 261 | 275 | 275 | 275 | 275 | 267 | 275 |
State Government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | |
| Very poor | 4% | 4% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 5% |
| Quite poor | 8% | 7% | 6% | 7% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 9% | 9% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 17% | 17% | 20% | 17% | 17% | 16% | 18% | 17% | 20% |
| Quite good | 38% | 39% | 38% | 38% | 39% | 39% | 38% | 41% | 39% |
| Very good | 33% | 32% | 30% | 35% | 33% | 34% | 31% | 30% | 26% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 12% | 11% | 12% | 11% | 11% | 12% | 12% | 13% | 14% |
| TOTAL: Good | 71% | 71% | 68% | 73% | 72% | 73% | 70% | 70% | 66% |
| Base (n) | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 |
| State | |||||||
| Total | NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | ||
| Very poor | 4% | 4% | 6% | 6% | 1% | 3% | |
| Quite poor | 8% | 9% | 5% | 12% | 6% | 4% | |
| Neither good, nor poor | 17% | 22% | 13% | 15% | 17% | 17% | |
| Quite good | 38% | 41% | 39% | 39% | 40% | 28% | |
| Very good | 33% | 24% | 36% | 28% | 36% | 49% | |
| TOTAL: Poor | 12% | 13% | 11% | 18% | 7% | 6% | |
| TOTAL: Good | 71% | 65% | 75% | 67% | 76% | 77% | |
| Base (n) | 1,087 | 352 | 275 | 217 | 83 | 107 | |
State Government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 20/04 | 13/04 | |
| Very poor | 5% | 5% |
| Quite poor | 9% | 11% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 20% | 20% |
| Quite good | 39% | 38% |
| Very good | 26% | 23% |
| NET: Poor | 14% | 17% |
| NET: Good | 66% | 63% |
| Base (n) | 1,051 | 1,068 |
| State | |||||||
| Total | NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | ||
| Very poor | 5% | 5% | 6% | 3% | 3% | 4% | |
| Quite poor | 9% | 12% | 5% | 11% | 8% | 7% | |
| Neither good, nor poor | 20% | 21% | 20% | 23% | 23% | 12% | |
| Quite good | 39% | 37% | 38% | 47% | 43% | 34% | |
| Very good | 26% | 24% | 32% | 16% | 23% | 43% | |
| NET: Poor | 14% | 17% | 11% | 14% | 11% | 11% | |
| NET: Good | 66% | 61% | 69% | 63% | 66% | 77% | |
| Base (n) | 1,051 | 322 | 275 | 216 | 88 | 106 | |
- Nationally, the perception of state governments’ handling of the crisis in in line with government, with 66% rating their own state’s handling as Very/Quite good (compared to 65%).
- In the past week the rating in Queensland has increased from 52% to 63%, while Victoria has fallen from 76% to 69%. Western Australia and Victoria remain the states with the highest rating.
State Government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| State | |||||||
| Total | NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | ||
| Very poor | 5% | 6% | 4% | 6% | 3% | 3% | |
| Quite poor | 11% | 15% | 5% | 16% | 7% | 8% | |
| Neither good, nor poor | 20% | 23% | 15% | 27% | 19% | 11% | |
| Quite good | 38% | 38% | 42% | 33% | 38% | 36% | |
| Very good | 26% | 18% | 33% | 19% | 33% | 43% | |
| NET: Poor | 16% | 21% | 10% | 21% | 10% | 11% | |
| NET: Good | 64% | 56% | 76% | 52% | 72% | 79% | |
| Base (n) | 1,068 | 328 | 272 | 222 | 87 | 110 | |
- Across the country, the overall perception of states’ handling of the crisis in in line with government 64% rating their own state’s handling as Very/Quite good (compared to 63%).
- Victoria and Western Australia have the highest rating of their state government, while this is lower for Queensland (52%) and NSW (56%).
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Download this week's ReportEssential Report
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In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Top Federal Government priorities for 2021
- Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine
- Perceptions of change in the standard of living for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Changing views towards Australia Day
- Support towards a separate national day
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