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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 | 07/09 | 24/08 |
| Authorities failed to prepare an adequate Covid-19 strategy to deal with outbreaks in aged care facilities | 77% | 77% |
| Hygiene and care standards in private care homes are poor which has contributed to the spread of Covid-19 | 69% | 71% |
| Covid-19 has entered and spread through aged care facilities because of community transmission from friends and families of residents | 67% | 67% |
| The impact of Covid-19 in aged care facilities has been worsened by long-term underfunding of the aged care sector | 72% | 70% |
| 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% | 15% | 38% | 39% | 11% | 4% | 8% |
| Hygiene and care standards in private care homes are poor which has contributed to the spread of Covid-19 | 69% | 20% | 30% | 39% | 15% | 5% | 11% |
| Covid-19 has entered and spread through aged care facilities because of community transmission from friends and families of residents | 67% | 20% | 26% | 41% | 15% | 5% | 13% |
| The impact of Covid-19 in aged care facilities has been worsened by long-term underfunding of the aged care sector | 72% | 17% | 36% | 36% | 12% | 5% | 11% |
| 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% | 78% | 66% | 78% | 86% | 83% | 79% | 78% | 79% |
| Hygiene and care standards in private care homes are poor which has contributed to the spread of Covid-19 | 69% | 71% | 67% | 58% | 70% | 78% | 74% | 72% | 62% | 77% |
| Covid-19 has entered and spread through aged care facilities because of community transmission from friends and families of residents | 67% | 71% | 63% | 66% | 74% | 61% | 67% | 69% | 70% | 71% |
| The impact of Covid-19 in aged care facilities has been worsened by long-term underfunding of the aged care sector | 72% | 71% | 73% | 64% | 74% | 76% | 79% | 71% | 84% | 69% |
| Base (n) | 1,076 | 524 | 552 | 326 | 365 | 385 | 321 | 390 | 108 | 138 |
- Perceptions of the causes of the spread of Covid-19 within aged care facilities are consistent with previous results. 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 (72%)
- Similar numbers also agree that the hygiene and care standards in private care homes has contributed to the spread of (69%) and that community transmission from friends and families of residents has also contributed to the spread (67%).
Coronavirus concerns
Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Australia?
| 07/09 | 24/08 | 10/08 | 27/07 | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | |
| Very concerned | 37% | 40% | 50% | 43% | 36% | 25% | 28% | 27% | 32% | 30% | 33% |
| Quite concerned | 45% | 46% | 40% | 44% | 48% | 50% | 45% | 48% | 49% | 49% | 47% |
| Not that concerned | 13% | 10% | 7% | 9% | 12% | 21% | 23% | 21% | 15% | 16% | 16% |
| Not at all concerned | 5% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 4% |
| Base (n) | 1,076 | 1,068 | 1,010 | 1,058 | 1,054 | 1,079 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 |
- Concern about Covid-19 has eased this week with 37% very concerned about the threat (down from 50% in early August).
State and Federal Government Working Together
Q. How well do you think your State or Territory government and the Federal government are working together on issues to address the Covid-19 pandemic?
| Total | State | |||||
| NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | ||
| Very well | 17% | 21% | 8% | 15% | 19% | 24% |
| Quite well | 46% | 46% | 49% | 48% | 47% | 40% |
| Quite poorly | 22% | 19% | 28% | 19% | 21% | 23% |
| Very poorly | 8% | 8% | 10% | 10% | 6% | 3% |
| Unsure | 6% | 7% | 5% | 7% | 7% | 8% |
| TOTAL: Well | 64% | 66% | 57% | 64% | 66% | 65% |
| TOTAL: Poorly | 30% | 27% | 38% | 29% | 27% | 27% |
| Base (n) | 1,076 | 352 | 275 | 215 | 88 | 99 |
- People believe that more could be done between the Federal and State governments to address the Covid-19 pandemic. Less than a fifth of people (17%) think the Federal government and their state government are working together very well. While 46% say they are working together quite well, 30% rate the working relationship as poor.
- The Federal and Victorian governments are seen to have the worst relationship, with 57% of Victorians saying the Federal government is working well with their state government, but just 8% believe they are working very well together.
Change in Working together
Q. And, how do you think your State or Territory government and the Federal government are working together now compared to earlier in the pandemic?
| Total | State | |||||
| NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | ||
| A lot better | 13% | 14% | 10% | 14% | 16% | 14% |
| A little better | 27% | 32% | 28% | 25% | 26% | 16% |
| No better or worse | 30% | 30% | 26% | 31% | 33% | 33% |
| A little worse | 15% | 14% | 20% | 14% | 12% | 19% |
| A lot worse | 7% | 6% | 12% | 8% | 4% | 5% |
| Unsure | 6% | 5% | 4% | 8% | 10% | 12% |
| TOTAL: Better | 41% | 46% | 38% | 39% | 41% | 31% |
| TOTAL: Worse | 23% | 20% | 32% | 22% | 16% | 24% |
| Base (n) | 1,076 | 352 | 275 | 215 | 88 | 99 |
- Overall, most people believe the working relationship between the Federal and their state government has improved (41%) or stayed the same (30%) during the pandemic. 25% think the relationship between the governments has deteriorated.
- Victorians are most likely to think the relationship between the Federal and state governments has got worse (32%).
State and Federal governments working together on specific issues
Q. How well do you think your State or Territory government and the Federal government are working together on the following issues?
| Total | State | |||||
| TOTAL: Working well together | NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | |
| To minimise the spread of Covid-19 within aged care facilities | 51% | 49% | 42% | 58% | 58% | 50% |
| To maintain interstate trade and ensure shops and supermarkets are fully stocked | 68% | 64% | 66% | 65% | 77% | 75% |
| The promotion of tourism and travel within states | 52% | 54% | 37% | 57% | 67% | 59% |
| To manage a safe environment in schools and childcare facilities for children and staff | 67% | 65% | 61% | 71% | 73% | 74% |
| To control the spread of Covid-19 across state borders | 68% | 67% | 65% | 67% | 81% | 68% |
| Base (n) | 1,076 | 352 | 275 | 215 | 88 | 99 |
- Around two-thirds think their state and Federal governments are working well together to address the issues of inter-state infections (68%), Trade and supply (68%) and education (67%). While half think they are working well together to minimise the spread in aged-care facilities (51%) and promoting inter-state travel (52%).
- Victorians have the lowest rating of the relationship – particularly for issues of aged care facilities (42% say Federal and state governments are working well together) and interstate travel (37%).
| NSW | TOTAL: Well | TOTAL: Poorly | Very well | Quite well | Quite poorly | Very poorly | Unsure |
| To minimise the spread of Covid-19 within aged care facilities | 49% | 42% | 18% | 31% | 25% | 17% | 9% |
| To maintain interstate trade and ensure shops and supermarkets are fully stocked | 64% | 27% | 19% | 45% | 18% | 9% | 9% |
| The promotion of tourism and travel within states | 54% | 33% | 18% | 36% | 21% | 12% | 13% |
| To manage a safe environment in schools and childcare facilities for children and staff | 65% | 26% | 19% | 45% | 17% | 9% | 10% |
| To control the spread of Covid-19 across state borders | 67% | 29% | 22% | 45% | 18% | 10% | 4% |
| VIC | TOTAL: Well | TOTAL: Poorly | Very well | Quite well | Quite poorly | Very poorly | Unsure |
| To minimise the spread of Covid-19 within aged care facilities | 42% | 51% | 10% | 32% | 31% | 20% | 7% |
| To maintain interstate trade and ensure shops and supermarkets are fully stocked | 66% | 29% | 18% | 48% | 19% | 9% | 6% |
| The promotion of tourism and travel within states | 37% | 42% | 11% | 26% | 27% | 15% | 21% |
| To manage a safe environment in schools and childcare facilities for children and staff | 61% | 30% | 14% | 47% | 22% | 8% | 9% |
| To control the spread of Covid-19 across state borders | 65% | 29% | 20% | 45% | 19% | 10% | 6% |
| QLD | TOTAL: Well | TOTAL: Poorly | Very well | Quite well | Quite poorly | Very poorly | Unsure |
| To minimise the spread of Covid-19 within aged care facilities | 58% | 33% | 17% | 41% | 20% | 13% | 9% |
| To maintain interstate trade and ensure shops and supermarkets are fully stocked | 65% | 25% | 19% | 45% | 17% | 8% | 10% |
| The promotion of tourism and travel within states | 57% | 28% | 18% | 39% | 21% | 8% | 15% |
| To manage a safe environment in schools and childcare facilities for children and staff | 71% | 20% | 15% | 56% | 12% | 8% | 9% |
| To control the spread of Covid-19 across state borders | 67% | 29% | 23% | 44% | 19% | 10% | 4% |
| SA | TOTAL: Well | TOTAL: Poorly | Very well | Quite well | Quite poorly | Very poorly | Unsure |
| To minimise the spread of Covid-19 within aged care facilities | 58% | 32% | 17% | 41% | 14% | 18% | 10% |
| To maintain interstate trade and ensure shops and supermarkets are fully stocked | 77% | 11% | 16% | 61% | 7% | 3% | 12% |
| The promotion of tourism and travel within states | 67% | 16% | 16% | 51% | 9% | 7% | 18% |
| To manage a safe environment in schools and childcare facilities for children and staff | 73% | 16% | 21% | 52% | 10% | 6% | 11% |
| To control the spread of Covid-19 across state borders | 81% | 14% | 33% | 48% | 8% | 6% | 5% |
| WA | TOTAL: Well | TOTAL: Poorly | Very well | Quite well | Quite poorly | Very poorly | Unsure |
| To minimise the spread of Covid-19 within aged care facilities | 50% | 35% | 19% | 30% | 22% | 13% | 16% |
| To maintain interstate trade and ensure shops and supermarkets are fully stocked | 75% | 17% | 24% | 51% | 13% | 4% | 8% |
| The promotion of tourism and travel within states | 59% | 28% | 22% | 36% | 22% | 6% | 13% |
| To manage a safe environment in schools and childcare facilities for children and staff | 74% | 17% | 18% | 56% | 14% | 4% | 9% |
| To control the spread of Covid-19 across state borders | 68% | 24% | 28% | 40% | 16% | 8% | 8% |
Medicare tax increase
Q. It has been proposed that the Medicare levy could be increased from 2% to 2.65% to fund improvements to the aged care sector.
To what extent would you support or oppose this increase?
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | Liberal + National | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Strongly oppose | 15% | 17% | 13% | 10% | 22% | 12% | 11% | 13% | 11% | 37% |
| Somewhat oppose | 17% | 18% | 16% | 23% | 16% | 13% | 17% | 18% | 23% | 13% |
| Neither support, nor oppose | 32% | 28% | 36% | 38% | 28% | 31% | 31% | 28% | 33% | 29% |
| Somewhat support | 23% | 24% | 22% | 21% | 22% | 27% | 28% | 27% | 17% | 13% |
| Strongly support | 12% | 13% | 12% | 8% | 12% | 17% | 14% | 13% | 15% | 7% |
| TOTAL: Oppose | 32% | 35% | 29% | 33% | 38% | 25% | 28% | 31% | 35% | 51% |
| TOTAL: Support | 36% | 37% | 35% | 29% | 34% | 44% | 41% | 41% | 32% | 21% |
| Base (n) | 1,076 | 524 | 552 | 326 | 365 | 385 | 321 | 390 | 108 | 138 |
- The proposal to increase the Medicare levy to help fund the aged care sector could be a polarising issue for Australians. Similar proportions say they support (36%) and oppose (32%) the proposal
- Support for increasing the levy is highest mong those aged over 55 years (44%).
- There is net support among voters of the two major parties – 41% support, 28% opposition among Labor voters and 41% support, 31% oppose among Coalition voters). Those voting for minor, or independent candidates generally oppose the proposal (51% oppose, 21% support).
Frequency of reading news on social media platforms
Q. How frequently do you use technology platforms like Google and Facebook to search for, and read news articles?
| Total | Age Group | |||
| 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | ||
| At least daily | 52% | 46% | 64% | 46% |
| At least once a week | 22% | 26% | 20% | 21% |
| At least once a month | 8% | 16% | 5% | 4% |
| Less frequently than one a month | 6% | 5% | 4% | 9% |
| Never | 11% | 6% | 7% | 19% |
| Base (n) | 1,076 | 326 | 365 | 385 |
- Half of adult Australians use social media platforms like Facebook and Google to search and read news on a daily basis (52%). A further 22% use social media weekly to access news.
- People aged 35-54 are the heaviest consumers of news through social media, with 64% using a platform on a daily basis.
Google agreement statements
Q. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is drafting code of conduct legislation to force technology platforms, like Google and Facebook, to pay media organisations for the news content they distribute.
In response Facebook has threatened to stop its users sharing news and Google has warned its free web search is at risk.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
| TOTAL: Agree | TOTAL: Disagree | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Neither agree, nor disagree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | |
| A strong media is essential to Australian democracy and the government is right to ask Google and Facebook to pay for news | 49% | 22% | 23% | 26% | 29% | 13% | 9% |
| It is not up to Facebook and Google to support media companies | 38% | 26% | 15% | 23% | 36% | 15% | 12% |
| Big tech companies like Google and Facebook should support Australian media rather than bullying the government | 54% | 17% | 26% | 28% | 29% | 11% | 6% |
| Big technology companies like Google and Facebook have too much power and its time they were pulled into line | 51% | 19% | 23% | 27% | 30% | 12% | 7% |
| If Facebook stopped offering news on its platform, I would use it less often | 29% | 35% | 12% | 18% | 35% | 19% | 16% |
| Total | Age Group | Frequency of news consumption on social media | ||||||
| TOTAL: AGREEMENT | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | At least daily | At least once a week | Less than once a week | Never | |
| A strong media is essential to Australian democracy and the government is right to ask Google and Facebook to pay for news | 49% | 36% | 49% | 60% | 51% | 48% | 42% | 49% |
| It is not up to Facebook and Google to support media companies | 38% | 45% | 39% | 32% | 42% | 38% | 31% | 27% |
| Big tech companies like Google and Facebook should support Australian media rather than bullying the government | 54% | 38% | 54% | 66% | 55% | 55% | 43% | 60% |
| Big technology companies like Google and Facebook have too much power and its time they were pulled into line | 51% | 36% | 53% | 61% | 51% | 49% | 43% | 61% |
| If Facebook stopped offering news on its platform, I would use it less often | 29% | 35% | 33% | 21% | 34% | 30% | 22% | 16% |
| Base (n) | 1,076 | 326 | 365 | 385 | 570 | 239 | 149 | 118 |
| Total | Age Group | Frequency of news consumption on social media | ||||||
| TOTAL: DISAGREEMENT | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | At least daily | At least once a week | Less than once a week | Never | |
| A strong media is essential to Australian democracy and the government is right to ask Google and Facebook to pay for news | 22% | 30% | 20% | 17% | 23% | 21% | 28% | 15% |
| It is not up to Facebook and Google to support media companies | 26% | 22% | 24% | 33% | 27% | 23% | 26% | 30% |
| Big tech companies like Google and Facebook should support Australian media rather than bullying the government | 17% | 25% | 16% | 12% | 20% | 17% | 17% | 10% |
| Big technology companies like Google and Facebook have too much power and its time they were pulled into line | 19% | 27% | 18% | 14% | 22% | 16% | 19% | 11% |
| If Facebook stopped offering news on its platform, I would use it less often | 35% | 31% | 34% | 40% | 35% | 36% | 31% | 42% |
| Base (n) | 1,076 | 326 | 365 | 385 | 570 | 239 | 149 | 118 |
- Around half of people agree that big technology companies like Google and Facebook have too much power (51%) and they should support Australian media rather than bullying the government (54%).
- People aged 18-34 were more sympathetic to social media platforms and had the lowest agreement that government is right to ask Google and Facebook to pay for news (36%), they have too much power (36%).
- 34% of daily social media users agree they would use the platform less frequently if it stopped offering news content.
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
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