Newspoll and Essential Research coronavirus polling

Among many other findings relating to COVID-19, the strongest evidence yet that Victorians are unswayed by news media narratives concerning their state government.

The Australian today reports Newspoll findings on COVID-19 and leadership approval from Victoria and Queensland, which were targeted with expanded samples (608 and 603 respectively) in the poll whose main results were published yesterday:

• Daniel Andrews is up five points on approval from late July to 62% and down two on approval to 35%, whereas Scott Morrison is down six on approval to 62% and up seven on disapproval to 33%. Andrews is reckoned to be doing very well in handling COVID-19 by 31% (up four), fairly well by 31% (down three), fairly badly by 13% (down five) and very badly by 22% (up four), while Morrison is on 26% for very well (down five), 45% for fairly well (down one), 15% for fairly badly (up three) and 10% for very badly (up one).

• Annastacia Palaszczuk’s ratings are only modestly changed, with approval down one to 63% and disapproval up four to 33% as compared with the poll in late July, while Scott Morrison is down five to 67% and up four to 28% as compared with the poll in late June. Both leaders’ COVID-19 ratings are a little weaker than they were in late July: Palaszczuk records 32% for very well (down five), 36% for fairly well (down eight), 16% for fairly badly (up eight) and 13% for very badly (up seven), while Morrison has 34% for very well (down six), 43% for fairly well (up three), 13% for fairly badly (up two) and 7% for very badly (up one).

• The national sample was asked about the restrictions in Victoria and Queensland, which naturally required lengthy explanation (the framing of which seems reasonable enough). For Victoria, the results were 25% too strict, 61% about right and 10% too lenient; for Queensland, 37% too strict, 53% about right and 7% too lenient.

• The balance of concern is nonetheless moving away from “moving too quickly to relax restrictions”, down 20 points since mid-July to 56%, to “moving too slowly to relax restrictions and harming economy, jobs and mental wellbeing”, up 19 points to 39%.

Today also brings the fortnightly Essential Research poll, as related by The Guardian with the full report to follow later today:

• Respondents were in favour of both Scott Morrison’s handling of COVID-19 (a 61% approval rating, up two on a fortnight ago) and Queensland state border closures he wants lifted (66% support, including 70% among Queensland respondents). Forty-seven per cent of Victorian respondents approved of the state government’s COVID-19 management, unchanged from a fortnight ago, while the rating for the New South Wales government was up seven to 67%.

• Thirty-three per cent of respondents felt tax cuts for high income earners should be brought forward from 2022, as the government has signalled it will do, while 38% believe they should be scrapped and 29% believe the government should stick to the original timetable. Twenty-one per cent believe they would be an effective economic stimulus, compared with 41% for moderately effective and 38% for not effective.

• Asked which technology they preferred for future energy generation, 70% favoured renewables and 15% gas and coal.

The poll was conducted Wednesday to Sunday from a sample of 1081.

UPDATE: Full Essential Research poll 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.

1,641 comments on “Newspoll and Essential Research coronavirus polling”

Comments Page 26 of 33
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  1. poroti @ #1245 Friday, September 25th, 2020 – 8:15 am

    That AWU chappie must have had Tony Abbott as his chemistry teacher.

    Gas gives us the option to do so now, while paving the way to a clean energy future that will include zero-emission hydrogen, made by natural gas reforming in large central plants.

    Yes, that particular clanger – plus a few other lesser ones – tells you this about the motivations of the author. While it is fair for a member union to promote the financial interests of its own members and sponsors, only an truly idiotic political party would allow that to override the interests of everyone else in both the party and the country.

    This is the conundrum that Labor cannot seem to come to terms with. Instead of just dealing with it at the appropriate level, this fundamental now rift goes all the way up to the top ranks of the party.

  2. OC
    The States’ Quarantine Departments were supposed to have been transferred across to the Commonwealth after Federation, according to S69 of the Constitution.
    Effectively all quarantine expertise should reside with the Feds, and they should have, at the very least, offered assistance and advice.

  3. Maude Lynne @ #1255 Friday, September 25th, 2020 – 8:44 am

    OC
    The States’ Quarantine Departments were supposed to have been transferred across to the Commonwealth after Federation, according to S69 of the Constitution.
    Effectively all quarantine expertise should reside with the Feds, and they should have, at the very least, offered assistance and advice.

    Mr Albanese might have said earlier this morning.

  4. God, not this one again. (Do you wonder, Maude, why no state politician of any stripe has taken this argument up)

    The states have primary responsibility for public health Including the power to quarantine for infectious disease. The Federal government does not has facilities for the public health response to a pandemic. The method of quarantine is therefore a state responsibility which NSW certainly had in the pandemic plan. Federal assistance is given mainly through ADF which most states requested and received But which was a problem for Victoria.

  5. Ohio could be a Rust Belt state coming back to the Democrats. New A+ Foxnews poll…

    Fox is rated A-.
    But it has caused (with other polls) 538 to turn Ohio blue.

    They also just dropped a Pa poll with Biden up by 8.

    The Monmouth are not so strong for Biden.

  6. OC
    Yes, it’s funny how this has happened.
    The Constitution clearly says the State Quarantine departments were to be transferred to The Feds, and they are therefore not supposed to need such expertise.
    Yet here we are, roasting Andrews for his Gov’ts lack of expertise.
    And justifying The Feds lack of expertise by saying ‘they don’t have it’ is rather a circular argument don’t you think?

  7. Working on putting together a unit for Year 9 on World War II.

    Fascinating thesis on how different social attitudes affected the behaviour of POWs.

    Loved this snippet –

    ‘An example of an Australian scam was when Australians exploited the ignorance of their peasant guards by requisitioning gallons of petrol each day to run a steamroller, which obviously doesn’t need petrol, only to sell that petrol to locals on the black market. It is the kind of scam that could not be done by an individual, but only by a group.
    As the profits of everything were shared, everyone was motivated to participate and take the risk of discovery and punishment. When the scam was finally noticed a very high-ranking Japanese officer drove up to berate the prisoners. When he had finished he got back into his car and drove only a short distance before the car conked out. In the brief time that he had been addressing the prisoners someone had syphoned the fuel from his car.’

    http://unsworks.unsw.edu.au/fapi/datastream/unsworks:9876/SOURCE02?view=true

  8. I don’t know about others, but I for one value mundo’s contributions every day.

    The continuous erudite observations, repeated often so nobody misses out, shine a light onto the discipline of Psephology. An ornament.

  9. Reposted from the US thread:

    Moscow Mitch and other Republicans seem to be spooked by Trump’s declaration that he will try to cling to power if he loses the election.

    Top Republicans dismiss Trump’s refusal to commit to peaceful transfer

    Mitch McConnell insists ‘there will be an orderly transition’ while Trump ally Lindsey Graham says ‘I assure you it will be peaceful’

    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/sep/24/republicans-trump-peaceful-transfer-presidency

  10. citizen @ #1269 Friday, September 25th, 2020 – 9:06 am

    Reposted from the US thread:

    Moscow Mitch and other Republicans seem to be spooked by Trump’s declaration that he will try to cling to power if he loses the election.

    Top Republicans dismiss Trump’s refusal to commit to peaceful transfer

    Mitch McConnell insists ‘there will be an orderly transition’ while Trump ally Lindsey Graham says ‘I assure you it will be peaceful’

    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/sep/24/republicans-trump-peaceful-transfer-presidency

    Lol. Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell promise to do something.

  11. mundosays:
    Friday, September 25, 2020 at 8:44 am
    Confessions @ #1252 Friday, September 25th, 2020 – 8:42 am

    Who the hell is Mark David?

    Fer crisakes do some of you never read political cartoons?
    BB goes to a lot of trouble every morning you know.

    Hey mundo,
    It’s BK ! Not BB. How long have you been reading PB? BK’s Dawn Patrol is an institution.
    BB brags about returns on his Nigerian superfund. Two very different bloggers.

  12. .C@tmomma says: Friday, September 25, 2020 at 9:07 am
    “Lol. Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell promise to do something.”

    You mean by doing everything possible keep themselves in power by using the Orange Monster to their own vile ends?

  13. PRGuy
    @PRGuy17
    Final day of #HotelQuarantine Inquiry hearings. Where we’re at: Media/Libs say rejection of ADF running hotels caused outbreak, but couldn’t prove the offer was made -patient zero likely hotel staff anyway. Andrews takes the stand today. #HappyFriday everyone! #DanWonMurdochsDone

    Virtually everything dominating the news was inaccurate and often simply made up. People switched off, leading to media screaming louder with even more absurd claims, resulting in Victorians tuning out altogether. The daily pressers helped reveal the absurdity of the media.

    We also saw polls being hijacked with bots and bots driving negative sentiment on social media. All polls (both major and online) showed strong support for Andrews and were either dismissed or ignored by the media. Victorians were accused of suffering Stockholm Syndrome.
    The Liberal Party was potentially linked to the bot activity, but no major news outlets were interested in the story.

    So when we say #DanWonMurdochsDone we really mean Victorians and our democracy won. Murdoch’s News Corp chased away its audience, and there’s a good likelihood we’ll become Australia’s first Murdoch-free zone; we won’t listen anymore. Congratulations Victoria. #HappyFriday

  14. vote1julia @ #1271 Friday, September 25th, 2020 – 9:08 am

    mundosays:
    Friday, September 25, 2020 at 8:44 am
    Confessions @ #1252 Friday, September 25th, 2020 – 8:42 am

    Who the hell is Mark David?

    Fer crisakes do some of you never read political cartoons?
    BB goes to a lot of trouble every morning you know.

    Hey mundo,
    It’s BK ! Not BB. How long have you been reading PB? BK’s Dawn Patrol is an institution.
    BB brags about returns on his Nigerian superfund. Two very different bloggers.

    Quite right. I meant BK.
    Sorry BK.
    B.B.
    Been reading since the days of the Calabrese……

  15. sprocket_ @ #1267 Friday, September 25th, 2020 – 9:04 am

    I don’t know about others, but I for one value mundo’s contributions every day.

    The continuous erudite observations, repeated often so nobody misses out, shine a light onto the discipline of Psephology. An ornament.

    Damn straight.
    Learnt everything from professor Dr Blind Freddie from the Dept of the Bleeding Obvious, at the Tommy Institute.

  16. Maude
    Yet all the other states and territories had public health quarantine in their pandemic plans and the power in Victoria is legislated in the Public Health and Wellbeing Act.
    This is the obvious approach as virtually all hospital resources lie with the states (i was musing to myself whether a different approach would have been taken if the Repatriation Hospital system hadn’t died and the Commonwealth still had large hospitals in each capital – but we will never know.)

    When it comes down to it the basic failure was Brumby’s rejection of the Rudd reform to have large autonomous local health districts. In the other states these mounted strong local public health responses. In Victoria, with 89 districts, public health is centralised and its reputation was of a hollow log which Victorian governments of all persuasions had been dipping into.
    Public Health Departments look like a waste of money until you need them.

  17. Thanks for that PRGuy piece, C@t.
    #DanWonMurdochsDone
    Murdoch is Not invincible.

    I watched part 2 of The Murdoch Dynasty last night.
    The outcome Milli Dowler phone hacking showed a team of people, with money and expertise, can bring him to his knees.
    It also shows the problem is Rupert himself. He is like famous generals such as Monash and Rommel, a man whose tactical abilities are extraordinary.
    (I worry that Trump’s tactics may get him over the line in November, too)
    Rupert’s death will be the game changer.

  18. It looks like the great unbroken Lee Rhiannon/Hal Colebatch NSW Greens’ duumvirate is no more. The Colebatches are relocating to Victoria.

  19. Maude Lynne,
    If Prince Phillip can hang on till he’s 100 (amazing what the best medical care can do for you), then there’s no doubt Rupert Murdoch will as well.

  20. Back in Black… Tell Me Lies – Josh Frydebudget

    Budget deficit of $85.3b to eclipse previous record
    By Jennifer Duke
    The federal government has revealed its biggest deficit on record $85.3 billion or 4.3 per cent of GDP for 2019-20 following massive government spending to help struggling households and businesses get through the coronavirus pandemic.

    Last financial year’s budget deficit has now surpassed the last record of $54.5 billion in 2009-10 following stimulus measures from the Rudd government to help Australia weather through the global financial crisis. In 2008-09 the deficit reached $27 billion.
    …….

    Labor treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers said on Friday morning the government had promised a surplus but delivered six deficits before the pandemic hit, with debt at a record high. “We have been consistent all along and acknowledged the impact of the virus on the budget,” Dr Chalmers said.

    “We said the highest priority is supporting people and their jobs but every dollar is a borrowed dollar and we need maximum bang for buck and measure the effectiveness and see what it means for people and their employment,” he said. “We are heading towards a trillion dollars in debt and unemployment that is unacceptably high and for a long time.”

  21. sprocket_ @ #1283 Friday, September 25th, 2020 – 9:44 am

    Back in Black… Tell Me Lies – Josh Frydebudget

    Budget deficit of $85.3b to eclipse previous record
    By Jennifer Duke
    The federal government has revealed its biggest deficit on record $85.3 billion or 4.3 per cent of GDP for 2019-20 following massive government spending to help struggling households and businesses get through the coronavirus pandemic.

    Last financial year’s budget deficit has now surpassed the last record of $54.5 billion in 2009-10 following stimulus measures from the Rudd government to help Australia weather through the global financial crisis. In 2008-09 the deficit reached $27 billion.
    …….

    Labor treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers said on Friday morning the government had promised a surplus but delivered six deficits before the pandemic hit, with debt at a record high. “We have been consistent all along and acknowledged the impact of the virus on the budget,” Dr Chalmers said.

    “We said the highest priority is supporting people and their jobs but every dollar is a borrowed dollar and we need maximum bang for buck and measure the effectiveness and see what it means for people and their employment,” he said. “We are heading towards a trillion dollars in debt and unemployment that is unacceptably high and for a long time.”

    ‘Back in Black… Tell Me Lies – Josh Frydebudget’
    The problem is the media and the punters have bought the line that the dirty pandemic killed the surplus. Newscaster the other day said….’Mr Fredenberg’s surplus was cruelled by the pandemic and plunged the economy into recession…’….see, not Highpants fault.
    You know, like the NBN.

  22. Frydenberg saying random nonsense in regards weakening consumer protections against bad bank behaviour:

    And the governor of the Reserve Bank has pointed out that banks have become risk adverse to the point they don’t want to make loans they fear may be going bad. We need our banks to be extending credit.

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2020/sep/25/coronavirus-australia-latest-news-daniel-andrews-hotel-quarantine-inquiry-live-updates-victoria-nsw-queensland-covid-19?page=with:block-5f6d2dcf8f082a8cb213355a#block-5f6d2dcf8f082a8cb213355a
    “they don’t want to make loans they fear may be going bad”? Seriously? Frydenberg actually saying he wants banks to be extending loans regardless of whether they may go bad?

    Either clueless or malicious or, most likely, both.

  23. OC
    Yes, thankfully the states were able to step in and take control.
    (Which further highlighted the Morrison Gov’t irrelevancy in the face of the pandemic)
    It also showed how good the Rudd reforms were in improving robustness of the system.
    But this should not disguise the fact that quarantine has to be a federal issue.
    In fact, the need for controls at each state border is what you get if international quarantine rules are created by the states. Arguably, Morrison was too slow stopping entry from the USA. Should a state have decided to impose a rule to prevent entry without quarantine from USA in February then they would have had Morrison on the phone telling that premier to let them in.
    Furthermore, people flying in from USA to the other states could simply drive across the border unless there are discriminatory rules against such people at the state border. It would be a mess.

    So no, it’s not as simple as just a health department issue.

  24. From Waleed Aly’s article in the SMH:

    “Heavy-handed judicial intervention was difficult to justify and appears to have provoked, not resolved, conflict,” she (RGB) said.’]

    Bader Ginsburg was right about legislation in lieu of judicial intervention is far preferable. For example, she was an ardent supporter of gender equality and women’s rights, and although she was in dissent in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co, her persuasive argument resulted in the enactment of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. And although she was for abortion, she had misgivings about Roe v Wade, preferring a legislative approach. Now, with the likely appointment of Coney Barrett to replace her, there’s the very real prospect that the ratio in this case will be overturned. Had the right to terminate a pregnancy been legislated, though, attempts to neuter or amend it would’ve been a matter for the Congress, not 9 unelected, almost unaccountable Supreme Court judges. And although Biden will more than likely triumph, he’ll have to deal with an extremely partisan SCOTUS, where his legislative agenda will be challenged at every opportunity, even his own legitimacy as president.

  25. They really are a bunch of mendacious pricks.

    ADF to leave state borders and help with quarantine, Mathias Cormann says

    Finance Minister Mathias Cormann says Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel helping states patrol their closed borders will be redirected to help with quarantine arrangements.

    It comes after Queensland’s Deputy Premier Steven Miles labelled the withdrawal of the ADF from the state’s border next week as a “bargaining chip” and an effort to pressure the State Government to reopen.

    Queensland’s agreement with the ADF is due to end on September 30 and is not being extended.

    On Friday, Mr Cormann told Sky News managing closed borders would now be the states’ responsibilities.

    “In the end it’s the states that want to impose state borders,” he said.

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-25/states-borders-closed-coronavirus-lose-adf-help/12701584

  26. Morning all. There is a handy guide here for anyone interested in buying changes to Australian energy policy via the office of Minister Angus “Incorruptible” Taylor. You don’t need to be an Australian owned company or citizen, or pay any tax here. You just need a (fair) bit of cash.
    https://influencemap.org/report/Australian-Industry-Groups-And-their-Carbon-Policy-Footprint-c0f1578c92f9c6782614da1b5a5ce94f

    Also vale Dean Jones. Players and spectators valued him much more highly than selectors. Before him you were lucky to see 250 runs in a day of test cricket or one innings of a one day game. After him you would see those numbers regularly exceeded.

  27. From Waleed Aly’s article in the SMH:

    The legislative approach? Has he not noticed that right wing politics in the US and Aus doesnt take too well to any legislative change that doesnt include enriching themselves or their donors? And if they cant defeat the legislation they will stop it coming to a vote, water it down, attack it relentlessly in the public sphere with their wealthy propaganda arms, then defy it in the states and fight it relentlessly in the courts and then tear it down at the first opportunity. Look at the Affordable Health Care Act. Only a dying war hero saved it – just – for now. And here, look at attempts at a mining/super profit tax or the ETS.

    Come on Waleed – I know it pains you, but take a deeper look at the root cause of the problem.

  28. Dean Jones was a game changing sportsman, urgency in the field, running hard between wickets. Those dynamics made Australian teams 20 to 30 runs better than their opponents in 50 over cricket simply because of their work rate. The aggressive running between wickets also meant you can play lower risk shots to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

    However the greatest legacy of Deano will be how he made wearing sunglasses acceptable in all outdoor sports at all levels. The public health benefits of avoiding damage from UV rays and preserving peoples eyesight would be worth billions.

  29. Jackol @ #1287 Friday, September 25th, 2020 – 9:56 am

    Frydenberg saying random nonsense in regards weakening consumer protections against bad bank behaviour:

    And the governor of the Reserve Bank has pointed out that banks have become risk adverse to the point they don’t want to make loans they fear may be going bad. We need our banks to be extending credit.

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2020/sep/25/coronavirus-australia-latest-news-daniel-andrews-hotel-quarantine-inquiry-live-updates-victoria-nsw-queensland-covid-19?page=with:block-5f6d2dcf8f082a8cb213355a#block-5f6d2dcf8f082a8cb213355a
    “they don’t want to make loans they fear may be going bad”? Seriously? Frydenberg actually saying he wants banks to be extending loans regardless of whether they may go bad?

    Either clueless or malicious or, most likely, both.

    Highpants could quote whole passages from Winnie the Pooh and know one would blink…..not even the federal Labor opposition.

  30. mundo @ #1297 Friday, September 25th, 2020 – 10:26 am

    Jackol @ #1287 Friday, September 25th, 2020 – 9:56 am

    Frydenberg saying random nonsense in regards weakening consumer protections against bad bank behaviour:

    And the governor of the Reserve Bank has pointed out that banks have become risk adverse to the point they don’t want to make loans they fear may be going bad. We need our banks to be extending credit.

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2020/sep/25/coronavirus-australia-latest-news-daniel-andrews-hotel-quarantine-inquiry-live-updates-victoria-nsw-queensland-covid-19?page=with:block-5f6d2dcf8f082a8cb213355a#block-5f6d2dcf8f082a8cb213355a
    “they don’t want to make loans they fear may be going bad”? Seriously? Frydenberg actually saying he wants banks to be extending loans regardless of whether they may go bad?

    Either clueless or malicious or, most likely, both.

    Highpants could quote whole passages from Winnie the Pooh and know one would blink…..not even the federal Labor opposition.

    oh sure, they might pull him up on a word here and a phrase there, but the basic gist they’d let through to the keeper……

  31. mundo @ #1298 Friday, September 25th, 2020 – 10:27 am

    mundo @ #1297 Friday, September 25th, 2020 – 10:26 am

    Jackol @ #1287 Friday, September 25th, 2020 – 9:56 am

    Frydenberg saying random nonsense in regards weakening consumer protections against bad bank behaviour:

    And the governor of the Reserve Bank has pointed out that banks have become risk adverse to the point they don’t want to make loans they fear may be going bad. We need our banks to be extending credit.

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2020/sep/25/coronavirus-australia-latest-news-daniel-andrews-hotel-quarantine-inquiry-live-updates-victoria-nsw-queensland-covid-19?page=with:block-5f6d2dcf8f082a8cb213355a#block-5f6d2dcf8f082a8cb213355a
    “they don’t want to make loans they fear may be going bad”? Seriously? Frydenberg actually saying he wants banks to be extending loans regardless of whether they may go bad?

    Either clueless or malicious or, most likely, both.

    Highpants could quote whole passages from Winnie the Pooh and know one would blink…..not even the federal Labor opposition.

    oh sure, they might pull him up on a word here and a phrase there, but the basic gist they’d let through to the keeper……

    ‘no one’ …

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