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

• 41% of people rate the federal government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak as quite good or very good (38% earlier in the month), with 35% rating it as quite poor or very poor (35% earlier in the month).
• Just 9% of people say the response of the federal government has been very good- the lowest recorded since the start of the pandemic.
• Positive rating of the federal government’s handling of Covid-19 has dropped further in NSW and SA compared to earlier this month (down 5% to 34%, and 3% to 45% respectively). This is the lowest recorded rating for both states.

Positive rating has improved in WA (up 16% to 53%).

Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?

• Amid the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak and lockdown in NSW, positive rating of the state government’s response to Covid-19 continues to drop, now at 42% from 47% earlier this month.
• Positive rating of the state government in Victoria is at a consistent level with earlier this month (now at 56%, 54% earlier this month), and has improved compared to this time last month (49%).
• Positive rating of the WA government’s handling of Covid-19 has increased to 82%, an improvement from a month ago (77%).

Q. Please indicate which is closest to your view about the federal government’s plan for each of the following issues:

• Since May, the federal government has not convinced any more people it has a long-term plan to deal with the major challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.
• 26% say they are confident the government has a plan, and it’s clear what it is for the vaccine roll-out (25% in May), 23% are clear on the government’s plans for quarantine facilities (21% in May), and 21% think there is a clear long-term plan to reopen international borders (21% in May).

• There is uncertainty about the federal government’s long-term plans, or a perception that these plans have not been communicated clearly to the public.
• 43% of people aren’t confident there is a long-term plan from minimising the long-term impact of remote learning on children and young people’s education. 39% are confident a plan exists but think it hasn’t been communicated well.
• Over a third (35%) are not confident the federal government has a long-term plan for protecting children and young people from getting Covid-19. A further third (39%) are confident a plan exists but think it hasn’t been communicated well.

Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the Covid-19 pandemic and its effects?:

• Compared to last year, many effects of lockdowns have become no more manageable.
• 38% are able to get more things done around the house (37% in April 2020), and 37% say they feel lonelier than before the pandemic (36% in April 2020).
• However, more people than last year say they are worried about the effect of social distancing on their personal relationships (34%, up from 29%), and fewer people say social distancing will get easier (56%, down from 61%), and they are more productive around the house (54%, down from 61%).

Q. Thinking about Covid-19 lockdowns across Australia, to what extent are you concerned about the effect of lockdowns on the following?

• The effect of lockdowns is not getting any easier on people’s mental health, with 51% saying they are concerned with their mental wellbeing (50% in July 2021). 43% say they are concerned for their personal relationships (39% in July 2021), and 43% of people in employment are concerned about their work-life balance (49% in July 2021).

• The biggest cause of concern for people is their financial situation (54%). Around half are concerned for their mental wellbeing (51%) and physical health (50%).
• 48% of those in employment are concerned that the lockdowns will result in unemployment or reduced hours.

Q. And now thinking about Covid-19 lockdowns and their impact on children, to what extent are you concerned about the effect of lockdowns on the following?

[Asked only to those with dependent children in the household]

• Parents’ concern for the impact of lockdowns on children has increased since July.
• 65% are now concern for their children’s wellbeing (59% in July), and 61% are concerned their children are falling behind at school (55% in July).

• The greatest concern for parents is their children missing out on socialising (69%), followed by children’s mental wellbeing (65%).
• Among parents with school-aged children, teenagers or older dependent children, 58% are concerned that the lockdowns will affect their children’s readiness for life beyond school, and 56% are concerned about extra exam stress.

Q. Thinking about how you feel currently, how would you rate yourself on the scales below?

[Asked on a 0-10 scale where 0-negative emotion and 10-positive emotion (e.g. 0-Uncertain, 10-Certain)]

• When thinking about their current state of emotions, people are mostly less angry than angry (48% to 24%), and optimistic than pessimistic (42% to 25%).
• However, attitudes towards certainty are split (36% say they are certain, 34% uncertain) and many are frustrated (31% to 37% who are content).

• Men are more positive than women, with men more likely to say they have certainty (43%), they are content (43%), and calm (47%) among others. While women are more likely to be uncertain (36%), frustrated (34%) and stressed (32%).
• People aged 18-34 are more likely to say they are stressed than those aged over 55 (35% to 24%).
• Those voting for the Coalition are most likely to be feeling positive, with a higher incidence of those who are happy (52%), optimistic (55%) and calm (52%).

Q. The Covid-19 vaccine rollout is underway in Australia.

Once a vaccine becomes available to you, how long would you wait before taking it?

•  The vaccine rollout continues to progress, with 68% who have either received a vaccine, or would do so as soon as possible.
• A quarter (24%) now would wait to receive a vaccine (down from 47% in January).
• 8% say they would never get vaccinated (11% earlier in August).