The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Aug, 2021

    ,

    Biggest barrier to the Covid-19 vaccine rollout in Australia

    Q. Which of the following do you think is currently the biggest barrier to the Covid-19 vaccine rollout in Australia?

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Unwillingness among people who are eligible for a Covid-19 vaccine to get vaccinated 48% 50% 47% 43% 44% 57% 41% 60% 30% 52%
    A shortage of supply of Covid-19 vaccines for people who are eligible and willing to get vaccinated 52% 50% 53% 57% 56% 43% 59% 40% 70% 48%
    Base (n) 1,100 539 561 341 374 385 388 405 90 119
    • The general population is split on the biggest barrier to the national Covid-19 vaccine rollout; Just over half (52%) think the biggest barrier is a shortage of supply of Covid-19 vaccines for people who are eligible and willing to get vaccinated, while just under half (48%) think it’s an unwillingness among people who are eligible for a Covid-19 vaccine to get vaccinated.
    • Those aged over 55 are more likely than younger cohorts to think the biggest barrier is related to an unwillingness to get vaccinated among those who can (57% to 44% of those aged 35-54, and 43% of those aged 18-34).
    • Coalition voters are also more likely than other voters to think unwillingness is the main issue (60% to 41% Labor voters, 30% Greens voters and 52% minor/independent party voters).
    • There is no difference in views across states.
  • Aug, 2021

    ,

    Views towards level of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions

    Q. Thinking about the latest Covid-19 lockdown in your area, do you think the restrictions are…?

    [Asked only to respondents with lockdown restrictions in their area]

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Too strong 27% 30% 24% 24% 28% 30% 21% 32% 26% 43%
    About right 61% 58% 65% 63% 60% 61% 67% 60% 66% 43%
    Too weak 11% 11% 12% 13% 13% 9% 12% 8% 8% 14%
    Base (n) 925 465 460 308 324 293 324 344 80 97

     

      State
    NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    Too strong 28% 35% 20% 12% 30%
    About right 56% 57% 70% 70% 70%
    Too weak 16% 8% 11% 18% 0%
    Base (n) 345 275 156 58 51
    • 61% of people under lockdown restrictions think the lockdown restrictions in their area are about right. 27% think they’re too strong and 11% too weak.
    • Victorians are most likely to think their restrictions are too strong (35%). In comparison, 28% of NSW residents think their restrictions are too strong. Those in NSW are more likely than Victorians to think the restrictions there are too weak (16% to 8% respectively).
  • Aug, 2021

    Clarity of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions

    Q. How clear and easy to understand are the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions/rules affecting the area you live in?

    [Asked only to respondents with lockdown restrictions in their area]

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Very clear and easy to understand 40% 42% 39% 32% 45% 44% 43% 44% 36% 27%
    Fairly clear and easy to understand 42% 40% 45% 54% 36% 37% 42% 42% 46% 37%
    Not that clear and easy to understand 12% 11% 13% 10% 12% 14% 11% 10% 15% 22%
    Not at all clear and easy to understand 5% 7% 4% 4% 6% 6% 4% 4% 3% 14%
    Base (n) 925 465 460 308 324 293 324 344 80 97

     

      State
    NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    Very clear and easy to understand 29% 50% 44% 46% 50%
    Fairly clear and easy to understand 44% 36% 48% 37% 45%
    Not that clear and easy to understand 19% 10% 7% 10% 4%
    Not at all clear and easy to understand 8% 4% 2% 7% 1%
    Base (n) 345 275 156 58 51
    • Most people understand the Covid-19 restrictions in their area, with 40% saying they are very clear and easy to understand, and 42% saying they are fairly clear and easy to understand.
    • Restrictions in NSW are less clear than in Victoria. Just 29% in NSW say the restrictions are very clear and easy to understand (50% in Victoria).
  • Aug, 2021

    Information about Covid-19

    Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the information you’ve received about the Covid-19 pandemic in Australia?

    TOTAL: Agree Aug’21

    30/08/21

    		 Aug’20

    10/08/20

    		 April’20

    20/04/20

    		 April’20

    13/04/20

    		 April’20

    06/04/20

    		 March’20

    29/03/20

    		 March’20

    22/03/20
    I feel informed about the situation and the impact on me and my family 69% 69% 66% 71% 70% 63% 64%
    I trust the medical experts advising the government on their Covid-19 strategy 68% – – – – – –
    I trust my state/territory government to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 pandemic 63% – – – – – –
    I trust the federal government to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 pandemic 52% 66% 62% 65% 63% 56% 56%
    I trust the media to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 pandemic 40% 50% 41% 42% 51% 42% 35%
    • Since the start of the pandemic, people are just as likely to agree they feel informed about the situation.
    • However, agreement that people trust the federal government to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 pandemic has decreased from 66% in August 2020 to 52%.
    • Agreement that people trust the media to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 pandemic has also decreased in the past 12 months from 50% in August 2020 to 40%.
      TOTAL: Agree TOTAL: Disagree Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither disagree nor agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree
    I feel informed about the situation and the impact on me and my family 69% 13% 23% 45% 19% 8% 5%
    I trust the medical experts advising the government on their Covid-19 strategy 68% 12% 33% 36% 19% 7% 5%
    I trust my state/territory government to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 pandemic 63% 19% 23% 39% 18% 10% 10%
    I trust the federal government to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 pandemic 52% 26% 18% 34% 23% 14% 11%
    I trust the media to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 pandemic 40% 33% 11% 30% 27% 18% 15%
    • 69% agree they feel informed about the current Covid-19 situation. Agreement is highest among those aged over 55 (77%) and Coalition voters (75%).
    • 68% of people agree that they trust the medical experts advising the government on their Covid-19 strategy, while 52% agree that they trust the federal government to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 pandemic.
    • Less than half (40%) of people trust the media to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 pandemic.
    TOTAL: Agree Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    I feel informed about the situation and the impact on me and my family 69% 69% 68% 58% 69% 77% 72% 75% 71% 48%
    I trust the medical experts advising the government on their Covid-19 strategy 68% 69% 68% 57% 69% 78% 70% 77% 65% 50%
    I trust my state/territory government to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 pandemic 63% 62% 63% 60% 61% 68% 67% 69% 62% 43%
    I trust the federal government to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 pandemic 52% 53% 51% 44% 54% 56% 42% 75% 37% 36%
    I trust the media to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 pandemic 40% 43% 37% 38% 42% 40% 42% 47% 36% 30%
    Base (n) 1,100 539 561 341 374 385 388 405 90 119

     

    TOTAL: Agree State
    NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    I feel informed about the situation and the impact on me and my family 66% 66% 66% 72% 78%
    I trust the medical experts advising the government on their Covid-19 strategy 70% 59% 69% 74% 75%
    I trust my state/territory government to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 pandemic 55% 54% 69% 75% 80%
    I trust the federal government to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 pandemic 49% 46% 53% 62% 63%
    I trust the media to provide honest and objective information about the Covid-19 pandemic 42% 32% 39% 49% 52%
    Base (n) 349 276 219 89 111
    • Those aged over 55 are more likely than those aged 18-34 to agree they feel informed and have trust in governments.
    • Trust in state governments is lowest in NSW (55%) and Victoria (54%).
    • Victorians are also less likely than others to trust medical experts and the media for Covid-19 information.
  • Aug, 2021

    Views towards ‘living with’ Covid-19: Preference for elimination vs suppression strategies

    Q. Thinking about Australia’s path out of the Covid-19 pandemic, which of the following strategies do you think Australia should pursue?

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Get Covid-19 cases down as close to zero as possible 44% 42% 46% 53% 44% 36% 52% 37% 53% 31%
    Live with a few cases of Covid-19, as long as there are very few hospitalisations and deaths 44% 43% 45% 39% 45% 47% 41% 48% 38% 41%
    Live with Covid-19, even if there are hospitalisations and deaths 12% 15% 9% 8% 11% 17% 7% 15% 10% 28%
    Base (n) 1,100 539 561 341 374 385 388 405 90 119

     

      State
    NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    Get Covid-19 cases down as close to zero as possible 38% 37% 50% 51% 59%
    Live with a few cases of Covid-19, as long as there are very few hospitalisations and deaths 50% 46% 39% 41% 35%
    Live with Covid-19, even if there are hospitalisations and deaths 11% 18% 11% 8% 6%
    Base (n) 349 276 219 89 111
    • 44% of people prefer a strategy to get Covid-19 cases down as close to zero as possible. The same proportion think we need to live with a few cases of Covid-19, as long as there are very few hospitalisations and deaths (44%).
    • 12% are willing to live with Covid-19, even if there are hospitalisations and deaths. Those most likely to have this position include men (15%), those aged over 55 (17%), and minor/independent party voters (28%).
    • Victorians are more likely than residents in other states to want to live with Covid-19, even if there are hospitalisations and deaths (18%).
  • Aug, 2021

    Number of Covid-19 deaths acceptable to ‘live with’

    Q. How many deaths nationally from Covid-19 do you think is acceptable to ‘live with’ in Australia as lockdown restrictions are removed?

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Less than 100 deaths per year 61% 52% 70% 55% 63% 65% 68% 56% 53% 53%
    Between 100 and 1,000 deaths per year 25% 27% 22% 25% 22% 26% 21% 30% 29% 17%
    Between 1,000 and 3,000 deaths per year 10% 13% 7% 13% 9% 8% 7% 9% 15% 23%
    Between 3,000 and 5,000 deaths per year 2% 3% 1% 3% 2% 0% 1% 2% 1% 3%
    More than 5,000 deaths per year 3% 5% 1% 3% 4% 1% 3% 3% 2% 4%
    Base (n) 1,100 539 561 341 374 385 388 405 90 119

     

      State
    NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    Less than 100 deaths per year 63% 56% 62% 66% 61%
    Between 100 and 1,000 deaths per year 26% 29% 19% 22% 24%
    Between 1,000 and 3,000 deaths per year 8% 10% 12% 11% 8%
    Between 3,000 and 5,000 deaths per year 1% 2% 3% 0% 3%
    More than 5,000 deaths per year 2% 2% 4% 1% 4%
    Base (n) 349 276 219 89 111
    • 61% of people say an ‘acceptable’ number of Covid-19 deaths is less than 100 per year. 25% say between 100 and 1,000 deaths would be ‘acceptable’. Only a small percentage think over 1000 deaths would be acceptable, with 10% saying 1,000 to 3,000, 2% between 3,000 and 5,000, and 3% saying more than 5,000 deaths per year.
      Get Covid-19 cases down as close to zero as possible Live with a few cases of Covid-19, as long as there are very few hospitalisations and deaths Live with Covid-19, even if there are hospitalisations and deaths
    Less than 100 deaths per year 78% 55% 22%
    Between 100 and 1,000 deaths per year 13% 33% 35%
    Between 1,000 and 3,000 deaths per year 5% 10% 28%
    Between 3,000 and 5,000 deaths per year 2% 2% 2%
    More than 5,000 deaths per year 2% 1% 12%
    Base (n) 482 488 130
    • Among those who said Australia should live with Covid-19, even if there are hospitalisations and deaths, 22% would accept up to 100 deaths per year, 35% would accept between 100 and 1,000 deaths, and 28% would accept 1,000 to 3,000.
    • Among those who think we should live with Covid-19 as long as there are only a few cases of hospitalisations and deaths, 55% think this would mean less than 100 deaths per year, and 33% between 100 and 1,000 deaths.
  • Aug, 2021

    ,

    Views towards Covid-19 vaccination thresholds (focus on children)

    Q. The national cabinet has set targets for easing Covid-19 restrictions once 70% of the adult population is fully vaccinated against Covid-19, and for lockdowns to stop once 80% of the adult population is fully vaccinated.

    These targets are based on the percentage of the adult population who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

    How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

      TOTAL: Agree TOTAL: Disagree Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither disagree nor agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree
    Actions to prevent the spread of Covid-19, like wearing masks in crowds and practicing social distancing, should be required even after we achieve the vaccination targets 65% 17% 31% 34% 18% 10% 7%
    We should not be easing Covid-19 lockdown restrictions until a substantial proportion of children are fully vaccinated 58% 19% 26% 32% 24% 10% 9%
    Children should be given priority for the Pfizer vaccine over those in the general population who are eligible for other vaccines 44% 23% 17% 26% 34% 15% 8%

     

    TOTAL: Agree Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Actions to prevent the spread of Covid-19, like wearing masks in crowds and practicing social distancing, should be required even after we achieve the vaccination targets 65% 62% 67% 58% 61% 74% 71% 66% 63% 48%
    We should not be easing Covid-19 lockdown restrictions until a substantial proportion of children are fully vaccinated 58% 58% 58% 52% 55% 66% 65% 58% 59% 43%
    Children should be given priority for the Pfizer vaccine over those in the general population who are eligible for other vaccines 44% 47% 41% 43% 41% 47% 47% 46% 48% 31%
    Base (n) 1,100 539 561 341 374 385 388 405 90 119

     

    TOTAL: Agree State Household Composition
    NSW VIC QLD SA WA Dependent Children No Dependent Children
    Actions to prevent the spread of Covid-19, like wearing masks in crowds and practicing social distancing, should be required even after we achieve the vaccination targets 73% 59% 63% 63% 61% 68% 63%
    We should not be easing Covid-19 lockdown restrictions until a substantial proportion of children are fully vaccinated 60% 48% 58% 59% 71% 57% 58%
    Children should be given priority for the Pfizer vaccine over those in the general population who are eligible for other vaccines 44% 38% 46% 46% 50% 48% 41%
    Base (n) 349 276 219 89 111 392 708
    • Most people (65%) expect actions to prevent the spread of Covid-19, like wearing masks in crowds and practicing social distancing, should be required even after we achieve the vaccination targets.
    • Over half of people agree that we should not be easing Covid-19 lockdown restrictions until a substantial proportion of children are fully vaccinated. Agreement for this is highest among those aged over 55 (66%), Labor voters (65%), and those in WA (71%).
    • 44% agree that children should be given priority for the Pfizer vaccine over those in the general population who are eligible for other vaccines. Those with dependent children are more likely than those without to agree with this statement (48% to 41%).
  • Aug, 2021

    Views towards Australia’s involvement in the Afghanistan conflict

    Q. How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements about Australian involvement in the 20-year conflict in Afghanistan?

      TOTAL: Agree TOTAL: Disagree Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither disagree nor agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree
    Australia should increase its refugee intake to include more people fleeing the violence in Afghanistan 48% 24% 20% 28% 28% 11% 12%
    The government should grant permanent visas to all Afghan nationals currently in Australia 43% 26% 19% 24% 31% 13% 13%
    The deployment of Australian troops in Afghanistan has benefitted Afghanistan and its inhabitants 42% 22% 13% 28% 37% 11% 11%
    The deployment of Australian troops in Afghanistan has improved Australia’s reputation internationally 36% 22% 11% 25% 42% 12% 10%

     

    TOTAL: Agree Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Australia should increase its refugee intake to include more people fleeing the violence in Afghanistan 48% 51% 45% 53% 46% 45% 54% 46% 72% 29%
    The government should grant permanent visas to all Afghan nationals currently in Australia 43% 48% 37% 46% 40% 42% 48% 41% 65% 26%
    The deployment of Australian troops in Afghanistan has benefitted Afghanistan and its inhabitants 42% 43% 40% 38% 45% 42% 36% 55% 38% 33%
    The deployment of Australian troops in Afghanistan has improved Australia’s reputation internationally 36% 42% 31% 35% 40% 33% 30% 47% 38% 27%
    Base (n) 1,100 539 561 341 374 385 388 405 90 119
    • Around half of people would support Australia increasing its refugee intake in light of recent events in Afghanistan (48%), and 43% agree that permanent visas should be granted for all Afghan nationals currently living in Australia.
    • Agreement with increasing Australia’s refugee intake is highest among men (51%), those aged 18-34 (53%), Labor voters (54%) and Greens voters (72%).
    • When thinking about the impact of the Afghan conflict, 42% agree that the deployment of Australian troops in Afghanistan has benefitted Afghanistan and its inhabitants with 22% disagreeing.
    • 36% agree that the deployment of Australian troops in Afghanistan has improved Australia’s reputation internationally, 22% disagree.
Error: