Government performance

Four months into its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Federal Government performance is rated at an index score of 63. This is substantially higher than in February (index score of 45) and represents the Government’s highest performance score since True Issues began in June 2013.

True Issues is a research tool to assist Australian businesses to understand where their issues truly sit within the contemporary issues landscape. This poll was conducted as an online survey between 1st – 5th July among a representative national sample of 1,000 Australians aged 18+ years.

A majority of Australians rate the Federal Government’s current performance as ‘very good’ or ‘good (58%), more than twice as many as in February (28%). Fewer rate it as ‘average’ (26%, down from 34%) and only 15% rate it as ‘very poor’ or ‘poor’, less than half as many as in February (34%).

Overall, State and Territory Governments have seen a similar boost as a result of their COVID-19 response (index of 63, up from 50 in February), as have local councils (index of 56, up from 52) and business and industry (index of 55, up from 53).

By state, the WA State Government has enjoyed the greatest boost, with an index score of 83 (up from only 49 in February). Opinion among Queenslanders, previously the most negative about their State Government’s performance, is also greatly improved (index of 61, up from 43).

State Governments in NSW (index of 62, up from 52) and Victoria (index of 57, up from 54) have also seen some increase, however the Victorian Government is rated below the national average. Previously Victorians were the most positive about their State Government however, with COVID-19 cases on the rise – and a detention order placed on nine public housing towers during interviewing for this poll – fewer than half (49%) now rate their Government as performing well.

This was an excerpt from our latest True Issues report, to read the full report, click the link below.

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