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Attitudes towards border protection and Coronavirus

25 Feb 2020

Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the Coronavirus?

  NET: Agree NET: Disagree Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree
Because of global movements in people we are more vulnerable to the spread of viruses like this 81% 5% 43% 38% 14% 3% 2%
The Australian government has been right to prevent people from mainland China entering Australia 80% 6% 53% 27% 14% 4% 3%
The government and the media have done a good job in keeping the public informed about the virus 62% 15% 22% 40% 23% 10% 5%
The border with China should be kept open to keep money from tourism and students coming into the country 20% 54% 6% 14% 26% 22% 32%

 

NET: Agree   Age Federal Voting Intention (Lower House)
Total 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor Coalition Greens NET: Other
Because of global movements in people we are more vulnerable to the spread of viruses like this 81% 70% 82% 90% 80% 86% 76% 84%
The Australian government has been right to prevent people from mainland China entering Australia 80% 71% 80% 88% 79% 88% 66% 82%
The government and the media have done a good job in keeping the public informed about the virus 62% 53% 59% 73% 61% 73% 49% 53%
The border with China should be kept open to keep money from tourism and students coming into the country 20% 28% 20% 13% 21% 21% 22% 13%
Base (n) 1,090 341 374 375 336 390 104 146
  • Four out of five participants agree that because of global movements in people we are more vulnerable to the spread of viruses like this (81%) or the Australian government has been right to prevent people from mainland China entering Australia (80%).
  • Three in five agree the government and the media have done a good job in keeping the public informed about the virus (62%); but only one in five agree that the border with China should be kept open to keep money from tourism and students coming into the country (20%).
  • Participants over 55 years old (90%, 88% and 73% agreement respectively) and Liberal voters (86%, 88% and 73%) are more likely to agree with the top three statements.
  • Capital residents are more likely to agree that government and the media have done a good job in keeping the public informed about the virus than those in non-capital cities (65% compared to 57%).
  • Men, 18-34 year olds and participants with a university education are more likely to agree that the border with China should be kept open to keep money from tourism and students coming into the country (24%, 28%, 29% respectively); than women, participants over 55 or with a secondary school education (16%, 13%, 12% respectively).
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