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Influence of the United States of America
Q. Thinking about Australia’s relationship with the United States of America, how do you rate the influence of the United States of America on each of the following aspects?
| TOTAL: Positive | TOTAL: Negative | Very positive | Somewhat positive | Somewhat negative | Very negative | Unsure | |
| Australia’s defence, military, and national security | 54% | 25% | 15% | 39% | 17% | 8% | 20% |
| Australia’s international trade | 48% | 34% | 11% | 36% | 23% | 11% | 19% |
| Australia’s culture | 43% | 36% | 10% | 33% | 25% | 11% | 20% |
| Australia’s politics | 41% | 39% | 10% | 31% | 26% | 13% | 20% |
| American corporations and businesses operating in Australia | 47% | 32% | 10% | 38% | 22% | 10% | 21% |
| TOTAL: Positive influence | May’20 | Aug’19 | Change |
| Australia’s defence, military, and national security | 54% | 65% | -11% |
| Australia’s international trade | 48% | 56% | -8% |
| Australia’s culture | 43% | 51% | -8% |
| Australia’s politics | 41% | 43% | -2% |
| American corporations and businesses operating in Australia | 47% | 57% | -10% |
| Base | 1,087 | 1,096 | – |
| NET: Positive influence | Gender | Age Group | |||||
| Total | Male | Female | Labor | NET: Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | |
| Australia’s defence, military, and national security | 54% | 60% | 49% | 48% | 67% | 36% | 58% |
| Australia’s international trade | 48% | 53% | 42% | 45% | 58% | 35% | 45% |
| Australia’s culture | 43% | 49% | 38% | 42% | 52% | 28% | 47% |
| Australia’s politics | 41% | 47% | 35% | 34% | 55% | 23% | 39% |
| American corporations and businesses operating in Australia | 47% | 53% | 42% | 40% | 60% | 33% | 45% |
| Base (n) | 1,087 | 534 | 553 | 323 | 428 | 100 | 120 |
- Compared to August 2019, participants are less likely to see the United States of America as a positive influence on Australia; with defence and American corporations operating in Australia seeing the largest drop (down 11% and 10%) respectively.
- Coalition voters are more likely to rate America’s influence on Australia as positive, than Greens voters.
Most beneficial country to strengthen our relationship with
Q. Given the choice between the United States of America and China, which country do you think it would be most beneficial for Australia strengthen our relationship with?
| Gender | Age Group | ||||||
| Total | Male | Female | Labor | NET: Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | |
| United States of America | 42% | 46% | 39% | 36% | 56% | 16% | 48% |
| China | 18% | 22% | 15% | 22% | 15% | 25% | 15% |
| Neither | 24% | 20% | 27% | 29% | 18% | 37% | 26% |
| Don’t know | 16% | 11% | 19% | 12% | 10% | 21% | 10% |
| Base (n) | 1,087 | 534 | 553 | 323 | 428 | 100 | 120 |
| May’20 | Aug’19 | Change | |
| United States of America | 42% | 38% | 4% |
| China | 18% | 28% | -10% |
| Neither | 24% | 18% | 6% |
| Don’t know | 16% | 15% | 1% |
| Base | 1,087 | 1,096 | – |
- Now 42% of participants believe it would be more beneficial to strength our relationship with the United States of America (up 4%), but a quarter say we should strengthen our relationship with neither country (24%, up 6%).
- Coalition voters are most likely to say we should strengthen our relationship with America (56%), while Greens voters would prefer to strengthen our relationship with neither country (37%).
Closer or more distant social connections
Q. Since the start of the lockdown restrictions, do you feel closer or more distant from each of the following people in your life?
| My partner | My children | My extended family | My neighbours | My friends | My workmates | |
| I feel closer | 36% | 35% | 18% | 13% | 13% | 11% |
| It has not affected our relationship | 53% | 52% | 55% | 64% | 52% | 53% |
| I feel more distant | 11% | 13% | 27% | 23% | 34% | 36% |
| Base | 797 | 716 | 964 | 942 | 1,012 | 680 |
| TOTAL: I feel closer | Gender | Age Group | |||||
| Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | ||
| My partner | 36% | 36% | 36% | 49% | 36% | 24% | |
| My children | 35% | 32% | 38% | 50% | 41% | 22% | |
| My extended family | 18% | 18% | 18% | 24% | 19% | 13% | |
| My neighbours | 13% | 14% | 12% | 15% | 13% | 12% | |
| My friends | 13% | 13% | 14% | 19% | 11% | 11% | |
| My workmates | 11% | 11% | 11% | 13% | 11% | 8% | |
| TOTAL: I feel more distant | Gender | Age Group | |||||
| Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | ||
| My partner | 11% | 11% | 11% | 15% | 12% | 6% | |
| My children | 13% | 13% | 12% | 11% | 10% | 15% | |
| My extended family | 27% | 26% | 28% | 31% | 27% | 24% | |
| My neighbours | 23% | 21% | 24% | 23% | 21% | 24% | |
| My friends | 34% | 32% | 36% | 42% | 34% | 28% | |
| My workmates | 36% | 34% | 39% | 47% | 32% | 24% | |
- More than half of participants don’t feel closer or more distant to the social connections in their life, varying between 64% for neighbours and 52% for children and friends.
- 18-34 year olds are most likely to say they feel closer to their partner (49%), children (50%) and extended family (24%) – but more distant from their friends (42%) and workmates (47%).
- Participants over 55 are most likely to say their social connections haven’t been affected by the lockdown restrictions.
Coronavirus concerns
Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Australia?
| 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | 13/04 | 06/04 | 29/03 | 22/03 | 09/03 | 10/02 | |
| Very concerned | 33% | 34% | 32% | 39% | 44% | 45% | 51% | 53% | 39% | 27% | 25% |
| Quite concerned | 47% | 49% | 46% | 44% | 43% | 43% | 37% | 35% | 43% | 36% | 43% |
| Not that concerned | 16% | 14% | 18% | 13% | 11% | 9% | 10% | 10% | 14% | 28% | 26% |
| Not at all concerned | 4% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 9% | 6% |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 | 1,068 | 1,069 | 1,086 | 1,034 | 1,096 | 1,057 |
| Age group | Location | |||||
| Total | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Capital | Non-Capital | |
| Very concerned | 33% | 32% | 33% | 35% | 35% | 30% |
| Quite concerned | 47% | 46% | 45% | 50% | 46% | 48% |
| Not that concerned | 16% | 17% | 18% | 13% | 15% | 16% |
| Not at all concerned | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 5% |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 339 | 349 | 385 | 730 | 343 |
- In the only significant change from last week, the proportion of 35-54 year olds who are very concerned about the threat of Covid-19 drops from 39% to 33%.
Likelihood of developing Coronavirus
Q. How likely do you think it is, that you will develop Covid-19?
| 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | 13/04 | 06/04 | 29/03 | 22/03 | 09/03 | |
| Very likely | 6% | 6% | 5% | 5% | 7% | 5% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 7% |
| Somewhat likely | 25% | 24% | 26% | 21% | 25% | 28% | 33% | 36% | 34% | 24% |
| Somewhat unlikely | 48% | 48% | 46% | 50% | 52% | 49% | 45% | 45% | 45% | 43% |
| Very unlikely | 21% | 21% | 23% | 23% | 17% | 18% | 14% | 12% | 13% | 26% |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1.093 | 1,054 | 1,051 | 1,068 | 1,069 | 1,086 | 1,034 | 1,096 |
| Age group | Location | |||||
| Total | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Capital | Non-Capital | |
| Very likely | 6% | 8% | 8% | 3% | 7% | 4% |
| Somewhat likely | 25% | 25% | 29% | 21% | 26% | 24% |
| Somewhat unlikely | 48% | 43% | 42% | 59% | 48% | 49% |
| Very unlikely | 21% | 24% | 21% | 17% | 19% | 24% |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 339 | 349 | 385 | 730 | 343 |
Government response to Covid-19
Q. Overall, how would you rate the Government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | 13/04 | 06/04 | 29/03 | 22/03 | |
| Very poor | 3% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 11% | 9% |
| Quite poor | 7% | 9% | 9% | 9% | 10% | 12% | 15% | 21% | 20% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 17% | 16% | 20% | 17% | 21% | 20% | 21% | 24% | 26% |
| Quite good | 41% | 39% | 38% | 44% | 42% | 40% | 37% | 34% | 33% |
| Very good | 32% | 32% | 28% | 26% | 23% | 23% | 21% | 11% | 12% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 11% | 13% | 14% | 13% | 15% | 17% | 21% | 31% | 29% |
| TOTAL: Good | 73% | 71% | 66% | 70% | 65% | 63% | 58% | 45% | 45% |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 | 1,068 | 1,069 | 1,086 | 1,034 |
| Gender | Age Group | Location | |||||||
| Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Capital | Non-Capital | ||
| Very poor | 3% | 5% | 2% | 4% | 4% | 2% | 3% | 3% | |
| Quite poor | 7% | 8% | 7% | 10% | 9% | 3% | 7% | 7% | |
| Neither good, nor poor | 17% | 18% | 15% | 25% | 16% | 10% | 15% | 20% | |
| Quite good | 41% | 38% | 43% | 47% | 38% | 38% | 43% | 35% | |
| Very good | 32% | 31% | 33% | 14% | 32% | 47% | 31% | 35% | |
| TOTAL: Poor | 11% | 13% | 8% | 14% | 13% | 5% | 11% | 11% | |
| TOTAL: Good | 73% | 69% | 76% | 61% | 70% | 85% | 74% | 70% | |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 524 | 549 | 339 | 349 | 385 | 730 | 343 | |
State Government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | 13/04 | |
| Very poor | 3% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 5% |
| Quite poor | 8% | 8% | 8% | 9% | 9% | 11% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 17% | 16% | 18% | 17% | 20% | 20% |
| Quite good | 39% | 39% | 38% | 41% | 39% | 38% |
| Very good | 33% | 34% | 31% | 30% | 26% | 26% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 11% | 12% | 12% | 13% | 14% | 16% |
| TOTAL: Good | 72% | 73% | 70% | 70% | 66% | 64% |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 | 1,068 |
| State | |||||||
| Total | NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | ||
| Very poor | 3% | 5% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 0% | |
| Quite poor | 8% | 7% | 10% | 8% | 5% | 4% | |
| Neither good, nor poor | 17% | 18% | 15% | 24% | 13% | 10% | |
| Quite good | 39% | 43% | 38% | 39% | 39% | 33% | |
| Very good | 33% | 27% | 33% | 26% | 41% | 52% | |
| TOTAL: Poor | 11% | 12% | 14% | 10% | 7% | 5% | |
| TOTAL: Good | 72% | 70% | 71% | 66% | 80% | 86% | |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 352 | 267 | 216 | 85 | 104 | |
Easing restrictions
Q. When do you think governments should start to ease the restrictions on travel and gatherings to allow offices, shops, restaurants, other workplaces, and public spaces to start operating again?
| 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | |
| As soon as possible | 9% | 13% | 10% | 10% | 9% |
| Within the next 1 to 2 weeks | 13% | 12% | 9% | 7% | 6% |
| Within the next month | 23% | 22% | 21% | 18% | 14% |
| By the end of next month | 22% | 20% | 15% | 15% | 13% |
| It is too soon to consider easing restrictions | 25% | 27% | 37% | 42% | 49% |
| Unsure | 8% | 6% | 8% | 8% | 10% |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 |
| Gender | Age Group | ||||||
| Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | ||
| As soon as possible | 9% | 12% | 7% | 8% | 9% | 10% | |
| Within the next 1 to 2 weeks | 13% | 15% | 11% | 16% | 12% | 12% | |
| Within the next month | 23% | 24% | 21% | 24% | 19% | 25% | |
| By the end of next month | 22% | 22% | 22% | 22% | 24% | 19% | |
| It is too soon to consider easing restrictions | 25% | 22% | 29% | 19% | 27% | 30% | |
| Unsure | 8% | 5% | 10% | 10% | 8% | 5% | |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 524 | 549 | 339 | 349 | 385 | |
- Openness to easing the lockdown restrictions continues to increase, with just a quarter (25%) now believing it’s too soon to consider easing restrictions.
- Women (29%) and those over 55 years (30%) are most likely to believe it’s too soon to consider easing restrictions.
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Download this week's ReportEssential Report
Two Party Preferred: 14 May 2019
Labor
51.5%-0.5
Coalition
48.5%+0.5
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