Essential Report
State government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| TOTAL: Good | 15/03 | 01/03 | 15/02 | 01/02 | 30/11 | 16/11 | 02/11 | 05/10 | 21/09 | 07/09 | 24/08 | 10/08 | 27/07 |
| NSW | 75% | 72% | 72% | 71% | 76% | 75% | 68% | 65% | 67% | 57% | 59% | 61% | 62% |
| VIC | 62% | 49% | 59% | 61% | 60% | 59% | 55% | 45% | 47% | 50% | 47% | 49% | 53% |
| QLD | 75% | 73% | 76% | 78% | 72% | 71% | 69% | 69% | 68% | 66% | 73% | 68% | 67% |
| SA | 85% | 78% | 79% | 80% | 70% | 76% | 77% | 81% | 81% | 74% | 65% | 72% | 76% |
| WA | 91% | 85% | 88% | 80% | 83% | 82% | 81% | 83% | 84% | 87% | 84% | 86% | 82% |
- Positive rating of state governments’ response to the Covid-19 outbreak has increased in all states since earlier this month.
- Notably, the rating of the VIC government has risen to 62% (from 49% earlier in March). This is the highest rating in the last six months.
- Positive rating of the WA and SA governments have also increased to 91% and 85% respectively (from 85% and 73% mid last month). This rating of the WA government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak is the highest seen for any state government to date.
- Rating of the NSW and QLD governments remain stable at 75% respectively.
State government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| TOTAL: Good | 15/02 | 01/02 | 30/11 | 16/11 | 02/11 | 05/10 | 21/09 | 07/09 | 24/08 | 10/08 | 27/07 | 13/07 |
| NSW | 72% | 71% | 76% | 75% | 68% | 65% | 67% | 57% | 59% | 61% | 62% | 63% |
| VIC | 59% | 61% | 60% | 59% | 55% | 45% | 47% | 50% | 47% | 49% | 53% | 49% |
| QLD | 76% | 78% | 72% | 71% | 69% | 69% | 68% | 66% | 73% | 68% | 67% | 69% |
| SA | 79% | 80% | 70% | 76% | 77% | 81% | 81% | 74% | 65% | 72% | 76% | 79% |
| WA | 88% | 80% | 83% | 82% | 81% | 83% | 84% | 87% | 84% | 86% | 82% | 77% |
- As Victoria entered a snap 5-day lockdown, the rating of the VIC government dropped to 59% (from 61% earlier this month).
- Positive rating of the WA government has increased to 88% (from 80% earlier this month). This is the highest rating in the last six months.
- Positive rating of the QLD government has fallen slightly to 76% (from 78% earlier this month). Ratings of the NSW and SA government remain virtually unchanged at 72% and 79% respectively.
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.
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 |
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Essential Report
In this week's report:
- Federal voting intention
- Leader attributes: Scott Morrison
- Federal government response to Covid-19
- State government response to Covid-19
- Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine
- Reason those who would get vaccinated against Covid-19 have not been vaccinated yet
- Speed of NSW lockdown
- Time for Covid-19 milestones to occur for NSW
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