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Statements about Indigenous Australian history and protests
Q. Below are some statements about the history of Indigenous Australians and the recent protests. To the best of your knowledge, do you believe each of the following to true or false?
| TOTAL: True | TOTAL: False | Definitely true | Probably true | Probably false | Definitely false | Don’t know enough | |
| Indigenous Australians were generally not allowed to vote in Australia until the 1960s | 67% | 13% | 36% | 31% | 9% | 4% | 20% |
| In the 19th and early 20th century, thousands of Indigenous Australians and people from the Pacific Islands were forced to work in Australia in conditions that amounted to slavery | 58% | 19% | 28% | 30% | 13% | 6% | 23% |
| Indigenous Australians are much more likely to be stopped by police than the average Australians, regardless of whether or not they have done anything wrong | 55% | 29% | 21% | 34% | 18% | 11% | 16% |
| Many of the new cases of Covid-19 in Victoria have been from people who attended the Black Lives Matter protest | 42% | 37% | 14% | 28% | 20% | 18% | 20% |
| TOTAL: True | Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | ||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Indigenous Australians were generally not allowed to vote in Australia until the 1960s | 67% | 69% | 66% | 62% | 63% | 76% | 70% | 68% | 79% | 63% |
| In the 19th and early 20th century, thousands of Indigenous Australians and people from the Pacific Islands were forced to work in Australia in conditions that amounted to slavery | 58% | 59% | 56% | 59% | 56% | 58% | 62% | 55% | 76% | 54% |
| Indigenous Australians are much more likely to be stopped by police than the average Australians, regardless of whether or not they have done anything wrong | 55% | 56% | 53% | 57% | 55% | 53% | 61% | 48% | 76% | 56% |
| Many of the new cases of Covid-19 in Victoria have been from people who attended the Black Lives Matter protest | 42% | 46% | 39% | 45% | 41% | 41% | 38% | 52% | 22% | 44% |
| Base (n) | 1,085 | 533 | 552 | 335 | 374 | 376 | 339 | 417 | 92 | 126 |
| TOTAL: True | State | Education | ||||||
| NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | Secondary Education | Professional Qualification | University Education | |
| Indigenous Australians were generally not allowed to vote in Australia until the 1960s | 67% | 68% | 65% | 72% | 64% | 69% | 66% | 68% |
| In the 19th and early 20th century, thousands of Indigenous Australians and people from the Pacific Islands were forced to work in Australia in conditions that amounted to slavery | 58% | 59% | 62% | 62% | 47% | 54% | 55% | 63% |
| Indigenous Australians are much more likely to be stopped by police than the average Australians, regardless of whether or not they have done anything wrong | 56% | 59% | 48% | 53% | 48% | 50% | 52% | 61% |
| Many of the new cases of Covid-19 in Victoria have been from people who attended the Black Lives Matter protest | 43% | 41% | 49% | 40% | 34% | 42% | 46% | 40% |
| Base (n) | 352 | 275 | 218 | 88 | 109 | 258 | 378 | 428 |
- 42% of participants say it’s true (definitely or probably) that many of the new cases of Covid-19 in Victoria have been from people who attended the Black Lives Matter protest and 67% believe it’s true that Indigenous Australians were generally not allowed to vote in Australia until the 1960s.
- Over half of participants believe that in the 19th and early 20th century, thousands of Indigenous Australians and people from the Pacific Islands were forced to work in Australia in conditions that amounted to slavery (58%) or Indigenous Australians are much more likely to be stopped by police than the average Australians, regardless of whether or not they have done anything wrong (55%) is true.
- Men (46%), Coalition voters (52%) and high income earners (50%) are more likely to say that many of the new cases of Covid-19 in Victoria have been from people who attended the Black Lives Matter protest is true than women (39%), all other voters (37%) and high income earners (50%).
Pay for professionals
Q. Do you think the following workers are not paid enough, paid about right, or paid too much for the work they do?
| Not paid enough | Pay is about right | Paid too much | Unsure | |
| Nurses | 54% | 28% | 9% | 9% |
| Early childhood teachers | 45% | 32% | 11% | 13% |
| Primary and secondary school teachers | 40% | 37% | 11% | 11% |
| Tradespeople | 13% | 51% | 25% | 11% |
| Bankers | 4% | 28% | 57% | 10% |
| Lawyers | 3% | 24% | 64% | 9% |
| TOTAL: AREN’T PAID ENOUGH | Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | ||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Nurses | 54% | 50% | 59% | 44% | 49% | 68% | 62% | 48% | 69% | 59% |
| Early childhood teachers | 45% | 39% | 50% | 39% | 43% | 51% | 49% | 40% | 59% | 39% |
| Primary and secondary school teachers | 40% | 36% | 44% | 40% | 47% | 45% | 45% | 35% | 58% | 38% |
| Tradespeople | 13% | 13% | 13% | 17% | 12% | 11% | 15% | 11% | 14% | 16% |
| Bankers | 4% | 5% | 4% | 9% | 4% | 1% | 4% | 6% | 2% | 1% |
| Lawyers | 3% | 3% | 3% | 7% | 2% | 0% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3^% |
| Base (n) | 1,085 | 533 | 552 | 335 | 374 | 376 | 339 | 417 | 92 | 126 |
- Participants say that nurses (54%), early childhood teachers (45%) and primary/secondary school teachers (40%) aren’t paid enough; while tradespeople are paid about right (51%), bankers and lawyers are paid too much (57% and 64% respectively).
- Women, participants over 55 and Greens voters are more likely to say nurses (59%, 68% and 69% respectively), primary/secondary school teachers (44%, 45% and 58%) and early childhood teachers (50%, 51% and 59%) aren’t paid enough.
Statements about gender equality
Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about gender equality in Australia?
| TOTAL: Agree | TOTAL: Disagree | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | Unsure | |
| There should be laws that require equal salaries for men and women in the same position | 80% | 12% | 52% | 28% | 6% | 5% | 9% |
| Although there has been significant progress on gender equality there is still a long way to go | 71% | 20% | 34% | 37% | 14% | 6% | 9% |
| Work to achieve gender equality today benefits mostly well-to-do people | 56% | 25% | 21% | 35% | 17% | 8% | 20% |
| Gender equality has already been mostly achieved | 51% | 39% | 18% | 34% | 25% | 14% | 10% |
| Gender equality, meaning that men and women are equal, has come far enough already | 47% | 43% | 19% | 27% | 25% | 18% | 10% |
| TOTAL: AGREE | Total | Sep’18 | Change from Sep’18 | Mar’16 | |
| There should be laws that require equal salaries for men and women in the same position | 80% | 78% | +2 | 78% | |
| Although there has been significant progress on gender equality there is still a long way to go | 71% | 66% | +5 | 71% | |
| Work to achieve gender equality today benefits mostly well-to-do people | 56% | 45% | +11 | 39% | |
| Gender equality has already been mostly achieved | 51% | 47% | +4 | 41% | |
| Gender equality, meaning that men and women are equal, has come far enough already | 47% | 47% | 0 | 38% | |
| Base (n) | 1,085 | 1,030 | – | 1,001 |
| TOTAL: AGREE | Total | Gender | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Male | Female | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| There should be laws that require equal salaries for men and women in the same position | 80% | 75% | 85% | 83% | 80% | 90% | 74% |
| Although there has been significant progress on gender equality there is still a long way to go | 71% | 66% | 71% | 75% | 67% | 86% | 69% |
| Work to achieve gender equality today benefits mostly well-to-do people | 56% | 59% | 53% | 58% | 59% | 48% | 50% |
| Gender equality has already been mostly achieved | 51% | 61% | 42% | 45% | 64% | 29% | 50% |
| Gender equality, meaning that men and women are equal, has come far enough already | 47% | 57% | 36% | 42% | 55% | 33% | 43% |
| Base (n) | 1,085 | 533 | 552 | 339 | 417 | 92 | 126 |
- Agreement with gender equality statements is largely on par with Sep’18 – except work to achieve gender equality today benefits mostly well-to-do people which increased 11% (from 45% to 56%).
- Men are more likely that gender quality has been mostly achieved (61%) or has come far enough (57%); while women are more likely to agree that there should be laws that require equal salaries for men and women in the same position (85%) and although there has been significant progress on gender equality there is still a long way to go (77%).
- Coalition voters are more likely to agree with statements that gender quality has been mostly achieved (64%) or has come far enough (55%); while Greens voters are more likely to agree that there should be laws that require equal salaries (90%) and there is still a long way to go on gender equality (86%).
- 18-34 year olds are more likely to agree that has come far enough (54%) and work to achieve gender equality today benefits mostly well-to-do people (63%); than those over 55 (37% and 47% respectively).
Instruments played
Q. Do you play any of the following instruments in your home?
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Education | ||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Secondary Education | Professional Qualification | University Education | ||
| Piano or keyboard | 17% | 20% | 15% | 25% | 19% | 9% | 8% | 13% | 26% |
| Guitar | 17% | 24% | 11% | 25% | 21% | 7% | 9% | 13% | 26% |
| Violin or other stringed instrument | 7% | 9% | 5% | 13% | 7% | 1% | 3% | 6% | 10% |
| Drums or other percussion instrument | 7% | 10% | 4% | 12% | 8% | 1% | 5% | 3% | 11% |
| Saxophone or other wind or brass instrument | 6% | 8% | 4% | 10% | 8% | 1% | 1% | 4% | 11% |
| Other instrument | 5% | 6% | 4% | 7% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 5% | 5% |
| None of these | 66% | 57% | 73% | 48% | 63% | 84% | 81% | 72% | 51% |
| Base (n) | 1,085 | 533 | 552 | 335 | 374 | 376 | 258 | 378 | 428 |
- Two-thirds of participants don’t play an instrument in their home – those most likely to play any instrument are men (43%), 18-34 year olds (52%) and those with a university education (49%).
- Piano, keyboard and guitar (17% each) are the most commonly played instruments.
Frequency play instruments
Q. How regularly do you play this instrument / these instruments in your home?
| BASE: PLAY AN INSTRUMENT | Total | Gender | Age Group | |||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | ||
| Daily | 21% | 24% | 16% | 23% | 25% | 7% |
| More than once a week | 38% | 38% | 37% | 38% | 35% | 42% |
| 2-3 times a month | 20% | 20% | 21% | 24% | 21% | 10% |
| Once a month or less | 17% | 15% | 21% | 13% | 14% | 36% |
| Never | 4% | 3% | 5% | 3% | 5% | 5% |
| Base (n) | 381 | 225 | 156 | 172 | 149 | 60 |
- Two-fifths (38%) of participants play their instrument/s more than once a week, 21% play them daily and another 20% say they play 2-3 times per month.
- 5% of participants who can play an instrument, never play it.
- 18-54 year olds are more likely to play daily (24%) than participants over 55 (7%) – those over 55 tend to play once a month or less (36%, 13% 18-54).
Coronavirus concerns
Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Australia?
| 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | |
| Very concerned | 25% | 28% | 27% | 32% | 30% | 33% | 34% | 32% | 39% | 44% |
| Quite concerned | 50% | 45% | 48% | 49% | 49% | 47% | 49% | 46% | 44% | 43% |
| Not that concerned | 21% | 23% | 21% | 15% | 16% | 16% | 14% | 18% | 13% | 11% |
| Not at all concerned | 4% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 2% |
| Base (n) | 1,079 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 |
Likelihood of developing Coronavirus
Q. How likely do you think it is, that you will develop Covid-19?
| 22/08 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | |
| Very likely | 8% | 6% | 6% | 7% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 5% | 5% | 7% |
| Somewhat likely | 23% | 19% | 22% | 23% | 22% | 25% | 24% | 26% | 21% | 25% |
| Somewhat unlikely | 49% | 49% | 47% | 48% | 51% | 48% | 48% | 46% | 50% | 52% |
| Very unlikely | 21% | 26% | 25% | 22% | 23% | 21% | 21% | 23% | 23% | 17% |
| Base (n) | 1,079 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1.093 | 1,054 | 1,051 |
Likelihood of second wave
Q. How likely do you think it is, that there will be a second wave of Covid-19 infections will occur as a result of easing restrictions?
| Total | Gender | Age Group | ||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | ||
| Very likely | 20% | 18% | 21% | 18% | 24% | 17% |
| Quite likely | 43% | 41% | 45% | 40% | 40% | 50% |
| Neither likely nor unlikely | 24% | 26% | 23% | 28% | 24% | 21% |
| Quite unlikely | 10% | 11% | 8% | 11% | 8% | 10% |
| Very unlikely | 3% | 4% | 2% | 4% | 4% | 2% |
| TOTAL: Likely | 63% | 59% | 67% | 58% | 64% | 67% |
| TOTAL: Unlikely | 13% | 15% | 10% | 14% | 12% | 12% |
| Base (n) | 1,079 | 525 | 554 | 332 | 362 | 385 |
| State | |||||
| NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | |
| Very likely | 21% | 24% | 20% | 14% | 14% |
| Quite likely | 41% | 45% | 43% | 45% | 43% |
| Neither likely nor unlikely | 27% | 21% | 24% | 23% | 24% |
| Quite unlikely | 9% | 7% | 10% | 11% | 15% |
| Very unlikely | 3% | 2% | 3% | 6% | 4% |
| TOTAL: Likely | 62% | 70% | 63% | 59% | 57% |
| TOTAL: Unlikely | 12% | 9% | 13% | 18% | 19% |
| Very likely | 352 | 261 | 216 | 88 | 110 |
- 63% of participants think a second wave of Covid-19 infections is probable with women (67%) and 55+ year olds (67%) more likely to say this will happen.
- Victorians (70%) are more likely than other state residents to think a second wave is probable (61%), which coincides with the announcement of 19 new cases over the weekend.
- There are no significant differences across voting intentions.
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
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Two Party Preferred: 14 May 2019
Labor
51.5%-0.5
Coalition
48.5%+0.5
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