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 | 13/09 | 30/08 | 16/08 | 02/08 | 19/07 | 05/07 | 07/06 | 24/05 | 12/04 | 15/03 | 01/03 | 15/02 | 01/02 |
| NSW | 46% | 40% | 42% | 47% | 54% | 57% | 69% | 68% | 73% | 75% | 72% | 72% | 71% |
| VIC | 50% | 44% | 56% | 54% | 49% | 50% | 48% | 63% | 58% | 62% | 49% | 59% | 61% |
| QLD | 65% | 67% | 66% | 60% | 62% | 61% | 65% | 68% | 72% | 75% | 73% | 76% | 78% |
| SA | 67% | 76% | 68% | 73% | 68% | 67% | 67% | 71% | 75% | 85% | 78% | 79% | 80% |
| WA | 87% | 78% | 87% | 82% | 77% | 86% | 75% | 77% | 84% | 91% | 85% | 88% | 80% |
- Positive rating of the state government’s response to Covid-19 has increased in both NSW and VIC by 6 percentage points respectively (now 46% and 50% respectively).
- After weeks of falling ratings, this is the first improvement seen in both states since the first half of August. However, we are yet to see these ratings recover to their high levels in the first quarter of the year.
- While still a relatively high rating, positive rating of the SA government’s response to Covid-19 has dropped by 9 percentage points to 67% in the last fortnight.
- Contrastingly, positive rating of the WA government’s handling of Covid-19 has increased 9 percentage points to 87%. Both SA and WA ratings reflect those seen a month ago.
- Positive rating of the QLD government is at 65%, consistent with last month (66%).
State government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| TOTAL: Good | 30/08 | 16/08 | 02/08 | 19/07 | 05/07 | 07/06 | 24/05 | 12/04 | 15/03 | 01/03 | 15/02 | 01/02 | 30/11 |
| NSW | 40% | 42% | 47% | 54% | 57% | 69% | 68% | 73% | 75% | 72% | 72% | 71% | 76% |
| VIC | 44% | 56% | 54% | 49% | 50% | 48% | 63% | 58% | 62% | 49% | 59% | 61% | 60% |
| QLD | 67% | 66% | 60% | 62% | 61% | 65% | 68% | 72% | 75% | 73% | 76% | 78% | 72% |
| SA | 76% | 68% | 73% | 68% | 67% | 67% | 71% | 75% | 85% | 78% | 79% | 80% | 70% |
| WA | 78% | 87% | 82% | 77% | 86% | 75% | 77% | 84% | 91% | 85% | 88% | 80% | 83% |
- Amid the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak and lockdown in NSW, positive rating of the state government’s response to Covid-19 continues to drop, now at 40% from 47% earlier this month.
- Positive rating of the state government in Victoria has dropped by 12 percentage points to 44%, from 56% mid-August.
- Although it remains the highest of all states, positive rating of the WA government’s handling of Covid-19 has decreased 9 percentage points to 78% from 87% mid-August.
- Positive rating of the SA government has increased by 8% in the past two weeks to 76%, the best rating since March.
State government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| TOTAL: Good | 16/08 | 02/08 | 19/07 | 05/07 | 07/06 | 24/05 | 12/04 | 15/03 | 01/03 | 15/02 | 01/02 | 30/11 | 16/11 |
| NSW | 42% | 47% | 54% | 57% | 69% | 68% | 73% | 75% | 72% | 72% | 71% | 76% | 75% |
| VIC | 56% | 54% | 49% | 50% | 48% | 63% | 58% | 62% | 49% | 59% | 61% | 60% | 59% |
| QLD | 66% | 60% | 62% | 61% | 65% | 68% | 72% | 75% | 73% | 76% | 78% | 72% | 71% |
| SA | 68% | 73% | 68% | 67% | 67% | 71% | 75% | 85% | 78% | 79% | 80% | 70% | 76% |
| WA | 87% | 82% | 77% | 86% | 75% | 77% | 84% | 91% | 85% | 88% | 80% | 83% | 82% |
- Amid the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak and lockdown in NSW, positive rating of the state government’s response to Covid-19 continues to drop, now at 42% from 47% earlier this month.
- Positive rating of the state government in Victoria is at a consistent level with earlier this month (now at 56%, 54% earlier this month), and has improved compared to this time last month (49%).
- Positive rating of the WA government’s handling of Covid-19 has increased to 82%, an improvement from a month ago (77%).
State government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| TOTAL: Good | 02/08 | 19/07 | 05/07 | 07/06 | 24/05 | 12/04 | 15/03 | 01/03 | 15/02 | 01/02 | 30/11 | 16/11 | 02/11 |
| NSW | 47% | 54% | 57% | 69% | 68% | 73% | 75% | 72% | 72% | 71% | 76% | 75% | 68% |
| VIC | 54% | 49% | 50% | 48% | 63% | 58% | 62% | 49% | 59% | 61% | 60% | 59% | 55% |
| QLD | 60% | 62% | 61% | 65% | 68% | 72% | 75% | 73% | 76% | 78% | 72% | 71% | 69% |
| SA | 73% | 68% | 67% | 67% | 71% | 75% | 85% | 78% | 79% | 80% | 70% | 76% | 77% |
| WA | 82% | 77% | 86% | 75% | 77% | 84% | 91% | 85% | 88% | 80% | 83% | 82% | 81% |
- Amid the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak and lockdown in NSW, positive rating of the state government’s response to Covid-19 continues to drop, now at 47% from 57% a month ago.
- Coinciding with the eased restrictions in VIC, rating of the state government has improved (now at 54%, 50% last month).
- Positive rating of the SA government’s handling of Covid-19 has increased to 73%, an improvement from last month (67%).
- Positive rating of the WA government’s handling of Covid-19 has increased to 82%, an improvement from mid-July (77%).
- In QLD, positive rating of the state government’s handling of Covid-19 is at 60%, consistent with a month ago (61%).
State government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| TOTAL: Good | 19/07 | 05/07 | 07/06 | 24/05 | 12/04 | 15/03 | 01/03 | 15/02 | 01/02 | 30/11 | 16/11 | 02/11 | 05/10 |
| NSW | 54% | 57% | 69% | 68% | 73% | 75% | 72% | 72% | 71% | 76% | 75% | 68% | 65% |
| VIC | 49% | 50% | 48% | 63% | 58% | 62% | 49% | 59% | 61% | 60% | 59% | 55% | 45% |
| QLD | 62% | 61% | 65% | 68% | 72% | 75% | 73% | 76% | 78% | 72% | 71% | 69% | 69% |
| SA | 68% | 67% | 67% | 71% | 75% | 85% | 78% | 79% | 80% | 70% | 76% | 77% | 81% |
| WA | 77% | 86% | 75% | 77% | 84% | 91% | 85% | 88% | 80% | 83% | 82% | 81% | 83% |
- Amidst the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak and lockdown in NSW, positive rating of the state government’s response to Covid-19 continues to drop, now at 54% from 57% earlier this month and 69% in June.
- With the current outbreak and lockdown in VIC, rating of the state government remains the lowest of all states at 49%, a similar level to earlier this month and last month (50% and 48% respectively).
- While still the highest rating among all states, rating of the WA government has dropped to 77% from 86% earlier this month. This is similar to the level in June (75%).
- Rating of the QLD and SA governments’ handling of Covid-19 remains high at 62% and 68% respectively (65% and 67% last month).
State government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| TOTAL: Good | 05/07 | 07/06 | 24/05 | 12/04 | 15/03 | 01/03 | 15/02 | 01/02 | 30/11 | 16/11 | 02/11 | 05/10 | 21/09 |
| NSW | 57% | 69% | 68% | 73% | 75% | 72% | 72% | 71% | 76% | 75% | 68% | 65% | 67% |
| VIC | 50% | 48% | 63% | 58% | 62% | 49% | 59% | 61% | 60% | 59% | 55% | 45% | 47% |
| QLD | 61% | 65% | 68% | 72% | 75% | 73% | 76% | 78% | 72% | 71% | 69% | 69% | 68% |
| SA | 67% | 67% | 71% | 75% | 85% | 78% | 79% | 80% | 70% | 76% | 77% | 81% | 81% |
| WA | 86% | 75% | 77% | 84% | 91% | 85% | 88% | 80% | 83% | 82% | 81% | 83% | 84% |
- With the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak and lockdown in NSW, positive rating of the state government’s response to Covid-19 has fallen steeply (down 12 percentage points from 69% in June).
- While restrictions continue to ease in Victoria, rating of the state government has improved only marginally compared to last month (now 50% from 48% in June).
- With Queensland affected by Covid-19 cases and a lockdown, rating of the state government remains moderately high but has decreased to 61% (from 65% last month).
- Despite WA also having been affected by Covid-19 cases and a lockdown, positive rating of the state government’s response to Covid-19 has improved significantly – up 11 percentage points to 86% (from 75% last month). This is consistent with the level in April.
- Rating of the SA government’s handling of Covid-19 remains high and stable at 67%.
State government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| TOTAL: Good | 07/06 | 24/05 | 12/04 | 15/03 | 01/03 | 15/02 | 01/02 | 30/11 | 16/11 | 02/11 | 05/10 | 21/09 | 07/09 |
| NSW | 69% | 68% | 73% | 75% | 72% | 72% | 71% | 76% | 75% | 68% | 65% | 67% | 57% |
| VIC | 48% | 63% | 58% | 62% | 49% | 59% | 61% | 60% | 59% | 55% | 45% | 47% | 50% |
| QLD | 65% | 68% | 72% | 75% | 73% | 76% | 78% | 72% | 71% | 69% | 69% | 68% | 66% |
| SA | 67% | 71% | 75% | 85% | 78% | 79% | 80% | 70% | 76% | 77% | 81% | 81% | 74% |
| WA | 75% | 77% | 84% | 91% | 85% | 88% | 80% | 83% | 82% | 81% | 83% | 84% | 87% |
- Positive rating of state governments’ response to the Covid-19 outbreak has decreased in all states except for NSW where it is consistent with last month’s rating.
- With the ongoing resurgence of Covid-19 cases and the lockdown in Victoria, positive rating of the Victorian government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak has dropped to 48% (down 15 percentage points from 63% in May) – this is the lowest rating since last October; Disapproval of the Victorian government’s response to Covid-19 has increased to 32% (from 20% last month) among Victorians.
- Positive ratings of the SA and QLD governments have dipped to 67% and 65% respectively (from 71% and 68% in May).
- At 75%, positive rating of the WA government remains the highest of all states. Despite this, it has decreased to 75% from a high of 91% in March this year.
State government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| TOTAL: Good | 24/03 | 12/04 | 15/03 | 01/03 | 15/02 | 01/02 | 30/11 | 16/11 | 02/11 | 05/10 | 21/09 | 07/09 | 24/08 |
| NSW | 68% | 73% | 75% | 72% | 72% | 71% | 76% | 75% | 68% | 65% | 67% | 57% | 59% |
| VIC | 63% | 58% | 62% | 49% | 59% | 61% | 60% | 59% | 55% | 45% | 47% | 50% | 47% |
| QLD | 68% | 72% | 75% | 73% | 76% | 78% | 72% | 71% | 69% | 69% | 68% | 66% | 73% |
| SA | 71% | 75% | 85% | 78% | 79% | 80% | 70% | 76% | 77% | 81% | 81% | 74% | 65% |
| WA | 77% | 84% | 91% | 85% | 88% | 80% | 83% | 82% | 81% | 83% | 84% | 87% | 84% |
- Positive rating of state governments’ response to the Covid-19 outbreak has decreased in all states except for Victoria since last month.
- The rating of the VIC government has risen to 63% (from 58% last month). This is the highest rating since June last year.
- While still high, positive rating of the WA and SA governments has decreased to 77% and 71% respectively (from 84% and 75% last month).
- Positive rating of the NSW and QLD governments has also decreased to 68% respectively (from 73% and 72% last month).
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Essential Report
In this week's report:
- Federal government response to Covid-19
- State government response to Covid-19
- Views towards reopening international borders
- Views towards state border closures
- Comprehension and confidence in PM’s plan to ‘safely reopen’ Australia
- Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine
- Necessity of mandatory vaccinations in specific situations
- Views towards easing restrictions for fully vaccinated people
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