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  • Aug, 2020

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    Government response to Covid-19

    Q. Overall, how would you rate the Government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?

      24/08 10/08 27/07 13/07 22/06 15/06 08/06 01/06 25/05 18/05 11/05
    Very poor 6% 7% 6% 6% 4% 3% 4% 5% 4% 3% 4%
    Quite poor 11% 8% 11% 10% 8% 8% 8% 7% 6% 7% 9%
    Neither good, nor poor 22% 21% 20% 20% 17% 16% 18% 20% 16% 17% 16%
    Quite good 40% 40% 40% 40% 43% 42% 40% 39% 43% 41% 39%
    Very good 22% 24% 24% 24% 27% 30% 30% 28% 30% 32% 32%
    TOTAL: Poor 17% 16% 16% 16% 12% 11% 12% 12% 11% 11% 13%
    TOTAL: Good 61% 63% 64% 64% 71% 72% 70% 68% 73% 73% 71%
    Base (n) 1,068 1,010 1,058 1,054 1,079 1,087 1,073 1,059 1,087 1,073 1,067

     

    • Participants’ rating of the Federal Government’s handling of the crisis slips again this week, with 61% rating their response as very or quite good. This is progressively down from 72% positive rating in June.
    • Men are more likely than women to rate the Government’s performance as very poor or quite poor (21% to 13%).
    • Rating of the Government among Labor supporters has fallen from 69% rating their handling very or quite good in May to 55% this week. Positive rating among Coalition supporters remains high at 77%
  • Aug, 2020

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    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

  • Aug, 2020

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    Responsibility for Covid-19 Outbreak in Aged Care

    Q. In your opinion, who is most responsible for the recent Covid-19 outbreaks and spread of the virus within aged care facilities?

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor Liberal + National Greens TOTAL: Other
    Federal Government 28% 32% 24% 31% 32% 21% 34% 25% 28% 31%
    State or Territory governments 30% 29% 31% 37% 30% 24% 26% 32% 35% 28%
    Aged Care providers 42% 39% 45% 32% 37% 55% 40% 43% 37% 41%
    Base (n) 1,068 513 555 317 370 381 313 447 96 118

     

    • Similar proportions of people attribute responsibility to the spread of Covid-19 within aged care facilities to Federal (28%) and state (30%) governments. However more (42%) place the responsibility on the providers of aged care.
    • Men are more likely than women to say the Federal government is responsible (32% to 24%).
    • Coalition voters are least likely to believe the Federal government is responsible for the outbreaks of Covid-19 within aged care facilities (25%).
  • Aug, 2020

    Funding for Aged Care

    Q. As far as you are aware, who is responsible for regulation and funding of private aged care facilities?

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor Liberal + National Greens TOTAL: Other
    Federal Government 49% 53% 44% 40% 49% 56% 51% 53% 46% 47%
    State or Territory governments 27% 27% 27% 34% 27% 21% 28% 26% 36% 32%
    Unsure 25% 20% 29% 26% 25% 24% 22% 22% 19% 21%
    Base (n) 1,068 513 555 317 370 381 313 447 96 118

     

    • About half of people correctly know that the Federal Government is responsible for the regulation and funding of private aged care facilities.
  • Aug, 2020

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    Statements about Covid-19 Outbreak in Aged Care

    Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the recent Covid-19 outbreaks and spread of the virus within aged care facilities?

      TOTAL: AGREE TOTAL: DISAGREE Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Unsure
    Authorities failed to prepare an adequate Covid-19 strategy to deal with outbreaks in aged care facilities 77% 14% 38% 39% 11% 3% 9%
    Hygiene and care standards in private care homes are poor which has contributed to the spread of Covid-19 71% 17% 32% 39% 13% 4% 12%
    Covid-19 has entered and spread through aged care facilities because of community transmission from friends and families of residents 67% 19% 24% 42% 13% 6% 14%
    The impact of Covid-19 in aged care facilities has been worsened by long-term underfunding of the aged care sector 70% 18% 34% 26% 14% 4% 12%

     

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    TOTAL: AGREE Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor Liberal + National Greens TOTAL: Other
    Authorities failed to prepare an adequate Covid-19 strategy to deal with outbreaks in aged care facilities 77% 77% 77% 69% 78% 83% 82% 79% 79% 73%
    Hygiene and care standards in private care homes are poor which has contributed to the spread of Covid-19 71% 73% 69% 62% 70% 78% 74% 74% 63% 73%
    Covid-19 has entered and spread through aged care facilities because of community transmission from friends and families of residents 67% 72% 62% 69% 72% 61% 68% 73% 68% 58%
    The impact of Covid-19 in aged care facilities has been worsened by long-term underfunding of the aged care sector 70% 70% 70% 69% 71% 70% 77% 68% 85% 67%
    Base (n) 1,068 513 555 317 370 381 313 447 96 118

     

    • There is acknowledgement in the community of a range of factors that have contributed to the spread of Covid-19 within aged care facilities. A majority of people believe that there was insufficient preparation from authorities (77% agreement) and that long-term underfunding of aged care facilities has worsened the impact.
    • Similar numbers also agree that the hygiene and care standards in private care homes has contributed to the spread of (71%) and that community transmission from friends and families of residents has also contributed to the spread (67%).
  • Aug, 2020

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    Support for Measures to Limit Covid-19 Outbreak

    Q. To what extent would you support or oppose the following measures to limit the spread of Covid-19 in the community?

      TOTAL: SUPPORT TOTAL: OPPOSE Strongly support Somewhat support Neither support nor oppose Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose
    All aged care facility residents who are diagnosed with Covid-19 are automatically transferred to a public hospital 63% 17% 35% 28% 20% 10% 7%
    Any person diagnosed with Covid-19 is required to quarantine in a dedicated facility and not isolate from home 52% 23% 27% 24% 25% 14% 9%
    The closure of international borders to all foreign travellers and returning Australian citizens 65% 18% 39% 26% 17% 10% 8%
    Any person diagnosed with Covid-19 must wear a tracking bracelet while self-isolating to ensure they don’t leave their homes 60% 20% 31% 29% 20% 11% 10%

     

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    TOTAL: SUPPORT Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor Liberal + National Greens TOTAL: Other
    All aged care facility residents who are diagnosed with Covid-19 are automatically transferred to a public hospital 63% 63% 63% 49% 62% 78% 65% 67% 60% 57%
    Any person diagnosed with Covid-19 is required to quarantine in a dedicated facility and not isolate from home 52% 52% 52% 44% 51% 60% 55% 53% 47% 43%
    The closure of international borders to all foreign travellers and returning Australian citizens 65% 63% 68% 51% 65% 78% 68% 69% 56% 61%
    Any person diagnosed with Covid-19 must wear a tracking bracelet while self-isolating to ensure they don’t leave their homes 60% 60% 60% 45% 61% 71% 63% 62% 47% 59%
    Base (n) 1,068 513 555 317 370 381 313 447 96 118

     

    • Around two-thirds of people support the closure of international borders to all foreign travellers and returning Australian citizens (65%), with similar numbers also supporting the transfer to a public hospital of all aged care facility residents who are diagnosed with Covid-19 (63%) and the compulsory wearing of a tracking bracelet during self-isolation for people diagnosed with Covi-19 (60%).
    • Just over half of people support the requirement for any person diagnosed with Covid-19 is required to quarantine in a dedicated facility and not isolate from home (52%). Support for this proposition is lowest among those aged 18-34 (44%) and Greens voters (47%).

     

  • Aug, 2020

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    Coronavirus concerns

    Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Australia?

      24/08 10/08 27/07 13/07 22/06 15/06 08/06 01/06 25/05 18/05 11/05
    Very concerned 40% 50% 43% 36% 25% 28% 27% 32% 30% 33% 34%
    Quite concerned 46% 40% 44% 48% 50% 45% 48% 49% 49% 47% 49%
    Not that concerned 10% 7% 9% 12% 21% 23% 21% 15% 16% 16% 14%
    Not at all concerned 4% 3% 4% 3% 4% 4% 5% 4% 5% 4% 3%
    Base (n) 1,068 1,010 1,058 1,054 1,079 1,087 1,073 1,059 1,087 1,073 1,067

     

    • Concern about Covid-19 has eased this week with 40% very concerned about the threat (down from 50% earlier in the month).
  • Aug, 2020

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    Government funding for gas pipelines

    Q. To what extent do you support or oppose the use of taxpayer money to fund a gas pipelines in Australia?

     

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor Liberal + National Greens TOTAL: Other
    Strongly oppose 13% 15% 11% 13% 16% 11% 17% 7% 29% 19%
    Somewhat oppose 14% 14% 14% 17% 15% 10% 17% 11% 22% 11%
    Neither support, nor oppose 32% 27% 37% 36% 28% 33% 34% 29% 29% 36%
    Somewhat support 16% 19% 13% 10% 17% 20% 12% 24% 8% 15%
    Strongly support 11% 17% 5% 10% 10% 13% 9% 16% 7% 9%
    Unsure 14% 9% 19% 14% 14% 14% 10% 13% 6% 11%
    TOTAL: Oppose 27% 28% 26% 29% 31% 21% 35% 18% 51% 29%
    TOTAL: Support 27% 36% 18% 21% 27% 33% 21% 40% 15% 24%
    Base (n) 1,068 513 555 317 370 381 313 447 96 118

     

    • Overall, support and opposition towards government funding for gas pipelines is equal (both 27%). 32% neither support nor oppose and 14% are unsure on the issue
    • Support for funding is highest among men (36%), those aged over 55 years (33%) and Coalition voters (40%).
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