Newspoll state leadership polling and Essential Research coronavirus latest

State-level polling finds the coronavirus tide lifting all boats — but none so far as Mark McGowan in WA, whose numbers may be without precedent.

The Australian ($) today provides Newspoll findings on state leaders’ handling of the coronavirus, from samples of around 520 for each mainland state plus 309 for Tasmania. The poll finds all concerned riding high, including three who strongly outperformed Scott Morrison’s ballyhooed 68% approval and 28% disapproval on the weekend. These are WA Labor Premier Mark McGowan, at 89% approval and 6% disapproval; Tasmanian Liberal Premier Peter Gutwein, at 84% approval and 11% disapproval after three months in the job; and Victorian Labor Premier Daniel Andrews, at 75% approval and 17% disapproval.

Morrison was also matched on approval and bettered on net approval by NSW Liberal Premier Gladys Berejiklian (69% approval and 23% disapproval) and SA Liberal Premier Steven Marshall (68% approval and 21% disapproval). Only Queensland Labor Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who faces an election in October, was below the prime ministerial par (55% approval and 39% disapproval). With due allowance for small samples, I believe McGowan’s ratings may be a record for Newspoll, or indeed for any other Australian pollster, and that Gutwein’s might have been too if not for McGowan’s.

The leaders record even stronger ratings on the specific question of handling the coronavirus outbreak: 77% rate Berejiklian as having done well, compared with 18% for badly; Andrews is at 85% and 11%; Palaszczuk is at 72% and 23%; McGowan is at 94% and 4%; Marshall is at 82% and 11%; and Gutwein is at 89% and 8%. Equivalent results are also provided for the Prime Minister, and here too Western Australians are most positive, at 73% approval and 23% disapproval, with 85% rating Morrison had handled coronavirus well compared with 14% for badly. In New South Wales, Morrison scored 67% approval and 30% disapproval, and 82% well and 16% badly for coronavirus; in Victoria, 72% approval and 26% disapproval, 83% well and 14% badly; in Queensland, 67% approval and 28% disapproval, 81% well and 17% badly; in South Australia, 70% approval and 27% disapproval, 83% well and 15% badly; and in Tasmania, 64% approval and 31% disapproval, 81% well and 18% badly.

As reported in The Guardian, the weekly Essential Research coronavirus poll provides us with a third set of small-sample findings on mainland state governments’ handling of the crisis, ranging from about 80 respondents in South Australia to 320 in New South Wales. The latest results produce combined very good and good ratings of 77% for the Victorian and South Australian governments, 76% for Western Australia, 67% for Queensland and 63% for New South Wales. The table below records the progress of this series over its three weeks, together with an averaged result which again shows Western Australia highest at 77%, followed by 74% for Victoria, 72% for South Australia, 61% for Queensland and 60% for New South Wales.

Essential Research also finds confidence in the federal government’s handling of the crisis continuing to rise, with 70% rating it good or very good, a measure that earlier progressed from 45% in late March to 65% last week. Seventy-three per cent now say they consider themselves unlikely to catch the virus, compared with 57% at the peak of concern at the end of March. In response to a list of options for budget repair, 64% supported preventing companies in offshore tax havens from receiving goverment support, but only 32% favoured removing franking credits and negative gearing, and 18% supported death duties.

On the COVIDSafe app, the weekend’s Newspoll found 21% saying they would definitely take it up, 33% that they would probably do so, 21% that they would probably not, and 18% that they would definitely not. Apart from the lower uncommitted rating, this is broadly in line with an Australia Institute poll of 1011 respondents on Thursday and Friday which had 45% saying they would and 28% that they wouldn’t. Essential Research also weighed in on the question, and found 53% saying it would limit the spread of the virus, and 46% that it would speed removal of distancing restrictions. A full set of results from Essential Research should be with us later today.

UPDATE: Full Essential Research report here.

Author: William Bowe

William Bowe is a Perth-based election analyst and occasional teacher of political science. His blog, The Poll Bludger, has existed in one form or another since 2004, and is one of the most heavily trafficked websites on Australian politics.

3,040 comments on “Newspoll state leadership polling and Essential Research coronavirus latest”

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  1. KayJay

    I think I’m nearer to solving the problem, one of which is unsteady hands. I’m going to work on it with a fresh brain after 2 coffees this morning. Also, my phone ran out of puff last night. 🙂

  3. Jaeger @6:19

    “(Does anyone else despise these “long-scroll” web pages?)”

    I do. It has its uses but the ABC web team are all too fond of it.

  5. Ian Mannix
    @sedvitae
    ·
    7m
    The #covid19 app needs 40% of all Austns on board to be even a little useful. That’s 10m downloads and 15m is much better. Let’s not get excited when the gov announces 2m.

  6. Cud Chewer @ #52 Tuesday, April 28th, 2020 – 8:42 am

    guytaur @8:07 posted a link also pointing out the same syndrome being noticed in Italy. This thing is a monster.

    Chris Cuomo has named it ‘The Beast’. He has been chronicling its effects on his brain and mental health.

    It also appears to permeate every cell in the body, right down to the tips of your toes.

    I still think I’ve had it/got it, I don’t know, but only mildly which is still ‘interesting’ shall we say. I saw my GP about it and he didn’t seem to think I should take things further, because I am coping okay. Though I can say that some of the symptoms seem to come and go at will and with varying intensities based upon no rational connection to anything in particular.

    I’ll have to go to the hospital for an antibody test I guess. Then I’ll defintely install the app! 😀

  7. Do you have a printer Lizzie. It might have a scan function.
    I have an el cheapo Epson and it scans documents including photos.

  8. From BK’s links..

    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/27/a-quick-return-to-normal-in-australia-with-no-covid-19-vaccine-would-risk-lives-and-the-economy

    Absent near-eradication, lifting social-distancing restrictions will not let the economy bounce back to near-normal because people, fearing for their health, will still refrain from many kinds of economic activity. They still won’t go back to bars and restaurants at normal rates. Low-margin businesses will still struggle to be viable. In other words, this approach risks the worst of all worlds, compromising our public health goals and at the same time not getting a proper economic recovery.

    In this sense, achieving our public health goals and achieving our economic goals are not fundamentally in opposition.

    Exactly. This is the thing I’ve been hammering here ever since the start. The prevailing wisdom that there is a conflict between economics and health is not just wrong in point of fact, its dangerously wrong. It scares the willies out of me that my country can be so collectively stupid. Politicians, economists and journalists who cannot see the blindingly obvious.

    There’s no return to normal without elimination. At best we risk lack of business and consumer confidence – given the constant reminder and threat posed by ongoing outbreaks. At worst we leave a few hundred carriers in society, we reopen just one step too far and in two weeks we are back to scratch. When that happens, the economy will shut down again, regardless of whether the government decrees it.

    This PBers is the most dangerous time of all. Don’t take your eye off the monster. Spread the word that we need to eliminate it, not just “live with it” as the deputy CMO said on Q+A last night.

  9. lizzie
    Search your phone app store for a “scanner” app.
    Good light is important for a faster “shutter speed”.
    Make a bedside lamp shine on your table so that your shadow is not on part of the document.

  10. Aqualung

    I used to have a pro scanner linked to my printer but it’s no longer supported. I need a digital version of the statements so it should work OK from my phone. I’m just a cack-handed photographer, I think!

  11. C@t ask your GP about the antibody test, but bear in mind that there’s a non zero chance of a false positive. You may have to get an array of antibody tests to sort things out.

    Just remember a lot of people carry lingering viruses that resurface in a mild way from time to time. Things like Ross River (which I’ve had). And then there’s the real possibility you had something fairly ordinary and recently.

  15. lizzie @ #51 Tuesday, April 28th, 2020 – 8:42 am

    KayJay

    I think I’m nearer to solving the problem, one of which is unsteady hands. I’m going to work on it with a fresh brain after 2 coffees this morning. Also, my phone ran out of puff last night. 🙂

    Thanks for the tip. Two coffees you say.

    I wrote last night about post office and library copying service although I guess you want an electronic version for transmission.

    Good luck. ☕ I note others helping with various ideas.

  16. Yeah, I know, Cud. I keep pushing those kind of thoughts to the front of my mind. I keep telling myself it’s ‘only’ the flu because someone who ‘only’ had the flu gave it to me in early March. However, I also visited the International Airport in early March, so there’s that possibility of something else as well. Gladys has just said that she wants 8000 people per day tested, so I might go along to the hospital and make her happy. 🙂

  17. No worries Lizzie.
    Pizza hut used to allow you to scan your card for payment. Most times I couldn’t hold the card steady enough for it to work.
    I often wondered how secure that was. You have to key it in now.
    Good luck.

  18. Victoria’s numbers looking good only 4.97% of cases are still active. Tassie 36% and NSW 25% are the slackers. The rest under 10%.

    By comparison UK 86%, New York 92%.

  19. Lizzie

    For future reference. If you can access it Youtube is chock full of instructional tutorials on doing things.

    It’s a good starting point.

  20. BK

    Have you seen any articles in the US saying that its not too late for the Republicans to get rid of Trump and run a new candidate?

  22. Poroti

    NSW has had more than its fair share of local infections way past the peak of infections from overseas. Victoria may actually get to runs of zeros soon, but NSW (which means Sydney) is where the action is.

  23. Thanks BK for your morning round up

    Last week I was arguing with my sister that the economy can get back to “normal” faster if Australia eradicates the virus, that it would really destroy businesses if they opened then were forced to close again. So I was pleased to the Guardian article reinforced my views

    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/27/a-quick-return-to-normal-in-australia-with-no-covid-19-vaccine-would-risk-lives-and-the-economy

    However it appears that the design of JobKeeper subsidy will force many small businesses to the wall and force them to shed staff

    https://www.michaelwest.com.au/jobreaper-flaws-in-jobkeeper-scheme-leave-businesses-and-workers-high-and-dry/

  24. In a review of 78,000 participants, it was found that those with low levels of vitamin D — the “sunshine vitamin” — were almost twice as likely as those with high vitamin D levels to get the type of extreme lung infections that now are killing COVID-19 sufferers, and they were even more likely again to be sicker for longer.

    And so how does this translate to the pandemic? “Now, more than ever, is not the time to be vitamin D deficient,” Neale says from Brisbane’s QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute. “It would make sense that being vitamin D deficient would increase the risk of having symptomatic COVID-19 and potentially having worse symptoms. And that’s because vitamin D seems to have important effects on the immune system.

  26. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/life

    Righto men. Get you togs on and listen to the music, make a fist – other arm out to the limit – leaning left then right and switch, two, three – and repeat. That’s it – then we will be doing some routines on the bull ring with rifle and pack followed by a twenty five mile route march.

    Get them shoulders back, belly in, head back you dozy shower —–

    I used to have a real dislike (unwarranted) for drill instructors.

    Other news. Youngest favourite daughter working today in chocolate shop (essential) reports lots of folk grocery shopping. 🍫 (chocolate bar).

  27. Morning all. Thanks BK for the roundup. Here in SA (and WA) I think schools restarting is not controversial, but in Vic and NSW it is a different story.

    On the whole “restart the economy” thing I think we really can use this as an opportunity to fix past problems. As that article in the Conversation points out, a lot of previous problems would be solved if everyone who could went back to a four day week in the office with day five at home.

    Evidence so far is that productivity would be no different and may be higher. Traffic congestion would be dramatically reduced in every city. We would save billions in no longer needed freeway upgrades. And quality of life (remember when we used to focus on that?) would be improved for millions of workers who could plan a flexible day where they could still do work but have time to se the doctor, do some shopping etc.

    Finally, on the economy, the real value of airlines, CBD property and commercial rentals is now much less than before Covid. Who will start to own up about their losses? Have a good day all.

  28. “The app” stores contact information on you phone as encoded keys which you may give permission to download if you are found to be a carrier.

    In Australia it can be easily argued that the DB that converts the keys to name and phone number is not secure, but so what, there was a time when our phone numbers could be found in the white pages.

    The real issue are:
    1)The app is based on GPL code, is the government once again going to abuse copyright and not release the modifications to the GPL code as required by the copyright notice?
    2)The Australian Legislation that makes it absolutely certain the DB will not be secure. In this case it really doesn’t matter, but there are case where it does.

  30. Frednk my disgust at the CMO blaming medicos in NW Tas for the fake party instead of no PPE in a hospital dealing with a Ruby Princess passenger is just another reason why I am not inclined to download CovidSafe, other reasons being

    1 hosted on Amazon server (in Australia) thus data can be mined by US agencies, why not use Australian companies
    2 have to have app open, not the way I run my phone
    3. Upto to infected person to permit the state health department tracers to access data
    4. No guarantee it’s faster or more effective than manual tracing
    5. I am disgusted at the execution of RoboDebt

    a CovidSafe app SHOULD BEEP IF CLOSER TO SOMEONE THAN 1.5

  33. Where is a reliable source for the number of covidsafe apps downloaded/installed?

    I just looked at Googles “Play store” and it says there were 500k+ downloads.

    Does the equivalent Apple store give a download figure?

  34. The High Court quashes another jury based conviction:

    Coughlan v The Queen [2020] HCA 15 (24 April 2020)

    [It was not open to the jury to be satisfied of the appellant’s guilt of either offence beyond reasonable doubt. The orders that the Court of Appeal should have made were those this Court made on 12 February 2020 quashing the convictions and entering verdicts of acquittal on each count.]

  35. https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/premier-lifts-some-covid19-restrictions-as-bondi-barriers-lifted/news-story/d1d0c6100666487ba708f1ae26f61d4c

    CONDITIONS TO EASE

    NSW residents will soon be able to visit friends and family under new changes announced by the premier as the state’s death toll climbs despite the number of new infections continuing to slow.

    The premier has loosened social distancing restrictions, announcing that two adults – and children – will now be allowed to visit other people.

    Ms Berejiklian has announced that from Friday lockdown rules around visitations will be lifted – allowing elderly people, those with mental health challenges and other vulnerable groups to socialise.

    I am prepared to repel boarders – red in tooth and claw – if once, just once I hear of a visitation plan of a family load of adults and children together with the dreaded cup cakes I will activate my plan to go off the grid. *

    P.S. If anybody can help me with information detailiing what “off the grid” means I will eternally grateful. Thenkew. 🦷🦷🦷

  36. Cud Chewer
    I cannot recall seeing any articles from the US relating to the Repugs removing Trump from the presidential race.


  37. billie says:
    Tuesday, April 28, 2020 at 9:29 am

    Frednk my disgust at the CMO blaming medicos in NW Tas for the fake party instead of no PPE in a hospital dealing with a Ruby Princess passenger is just another reason why I am not inclined to download CovidSafe, other reasons being

    1 hosted on Amazon server (in Australia) thus data can be mined by US agencies, why not use Australian companies

    It’s only the DB storing the key-phone-number and name. Once upon a time we had white pages that gave the name, address and numbe rin a nice book with white pages.

    2 have to have app open, not the way I run my phone

    You must have put n a lot of effort to disable all the shit the phone comes with enabled.

    3. Upto to infected person to permit the state health department tracers to access data

    What you don’t want to know?

    4. No guarantee it’s faster or more effective than manual tracing

    Now we are just being silly. What you want to do, go through all the camera footage stored as you walk down the street just because you won’t download an app.

    5. I am disgusted at the execution of RoboDebt

    I have to give you that one.

    a CovidSafe app SHOULD BEEP IF CLOSER TO SOMEONE THAN 1.5

    Mate it isn’t that accurate, ware a hoop or learn to estimate distance.

  38. Shellbell @ #84 Tuesday, April 28th, 2020 – 7:36 am

    The High Court quashes another jury based conviction:

    Coughlan v The Queen [2020] HCA 15 (24 April 2020)

    [It was not open to the jury to be satisfied of the appellant’s guilt of either offence beyond reasonable doubt. The orders that the Court of Appeal should have made were those this Court made on 12 February 2020 quashing the convictions and entering verdicts of acquittal on each count.]

    Why do we have juries?

  40. The only reason I won’t be downloading the COVID app is that I don’t live in Australia.

    Anything that helps track down those potentially infected has to be of benefit in dealing with the pandemic. 🙂

  42. On schools Daniel Andrews is apparently still holding his ground despite the bullying from the LNP and Newscorp.

    Good to see.

  43. “It’s a great pity that a combination of incompetence and dishonesty by the Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison Coalition governments has damaged the public trust just when we are being asked to download the contact-tracing app, COVIDSafe, that could help quash the pandemic. There’s been epic bungling, from #censusfail and #robodebt to the botched rollout of My Health Record. There’s been blatant misuse of the mandatory data retention regime and its anti-free-press Journalist Information Warrants, and apparent politicisation of supposedly independent agencies like the Australian Federal Police, which has targeted journalists and whistleblowers. The mysterious encryption-busting laws passed last year undermine official assurances that COVIDSafe data will be secure because it is encrypted. As lawyer Michael Bradley writes in Crikey, the app may not even be lawful under the Biosecurity Act. Like shadow home affairs minister Kristina Keneally stated on Insiders yesterday, Bradley says he will not download it without a proper parliamentary debate and laws to protect privacy. ” From THE MONTHLY

    It seems the punters just can’t get enough of that incompetence and dishonesty by the Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison Coalition governments.

  46. Thank you everyone for your hints. I’ve emailed the statements and crossing my fingers now.
    Best hint was guytaur’s brightening the screen.
    Unfortunately my phone is too old to have a scanner app as indicated by Ch9.

  47. Aqualung @ #67 Tuesday, April 28th, 2020 – 9:05 am

    No worries Lizzie.
    Pizza hut used to allow you to scan your card for payment. Most times I couldn’t hold the card steady enough for it to work.
    I often wondered how secure that was. You have to key it in now.
    Good luck.

    You could just wait for one of those CovidSafe card skimmer apps hackers are working on to come out. 🙂

  48. lizzie says: Tuesday, April 28, 2020 at 8:45 am

    This is the first “icy fingers” morning of the approaching winter.

    Those “icy fingers” you are feeling are Duttonuci trying to get at your mobile phone and Friedeggburger searching for your purse and wallet.

  49. Coughlan was actually decided before Pell but the High Court announced the result first and gave reasons only last Friday.

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