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  • Jan, 2021

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    Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine

    Q. Once a vaccine for Covid-19 becomes available in Australia, how long would you wait before taking it?

      18/01 14/12 10/08
    I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible 42% 43% 56%
    I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away 47% 46% 35%
    I’d never get vaccinated 11% 10% 8%
    Base (n) 1,084 1,071 1,010

     

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible 42% 51% 34% 30% 42% 54% 48% 49% 34% 33%
    I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away 47% 38% 55% 57% 46% 39% 44% 44% 57% 42%
    I’d never get vaccinated 11% 11% 11% 14% 13% 7% 8% 7% 9% 25%
    Base (n) 1,084 539 545 341 358 385 334 431 118 106
    • Fewer people say they would get a Covid-19 vaccine immediately than mid last year. 42% would get a vaccine as soon as possible, down from 56% last August. 47% would get vaccinated, but just not straight away (up from 35% in August) and 11% say they would never get vaccinated.
    • Those most likely to get the vaccine immediately include men (51%) and those aged over 55 (54%).
    • Those voting for independent or minor parties are the most likely to say they would never get vaccinated (25%).
  • Jan, 2021

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    Perceptions of change in the standard of living for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

    Q. In your opinion, over the past 10 years, have things got better or worse for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia, or have things stayed much the same?

      Jan’21 Jun’19
    A lot better 18% 18%
    A little better 30% 28%
    Stayed much the same 32% 36%
    A little worse 7% 5%
    A lot worse 3% 3%
    Don’t know 11% 10%
    TOTAL: Better 48% 46%
    TOTAL: Worse 10% 8%
    Base (n) 1,084 1,097
    • Nearly half (48%) believe things have got better for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples over the last 10 years, unchanged since June 2019 (46%).
    • About a third (32%) state that in their opinion, conditions have stayed much the same for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders over the past 10 years, while 10% believe things have got worse. Both figures were also at a similar level in June 2019.
      Total Labor Coalition Greens NET: Other
    A lot better 18% 15% 23% 9% 20%
    A little better 30% 32% 33% 22% 27%
    Stayed much the same 32% 34% 31% 45% 26%
    A little worse 7% 8% 3% 14% 10%
    A lot worse 3% 3% 2% 7% 7%
    Don’t know 11% 8% 8% 4% 9%
    TOTAL: Better 48% 47% 57% 30% 47%
    TOTAL: Worse 10% 11% 4% 21% 17%
    Base (n) 1,084 334 431 118 106
    • Coalition voters are the most likely to think things have got better for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the last decade (57% compared to 47% Labor voters, 30% Greens voters and 47% other voters).
  • Jan, 2021

    Changing views towards Australia Day

    Q. Will you personally be doing anything to celebrate Australia Day or do you treat it as just a public holiday?

      Jan’21 Jan’20 Jan’19 Jan ‘17 Jan ‘16 Jan ‘15
    Doing something to celebrate Australia Day 29% 34% 40% 34% 38% 40%
    Just a public holiday 53% 46% 45% 46% 44% 41%
    Working – I don’t get the Australia Day holiday 6% 6% 6% 5% 6% 7%
    Don’t know 12% 14% 9% 15% 12% 12%
    Base (n) 1,084 1,080 1,652 1,015 1,028 1,020
    • Under a third (29%) of people are doing something to celebrate Australia Day this year, lower than in previous years (34% in 2020 and 40% in 2019).
    • Just over half (53%) say they treat it as just a public holiday, which is the highest recorded since 2015.
    • 6% are working and don’t get the holiday, and 12% don’t know.
      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Doing something to celebrate Australia Day 29% 35% 24% 23% 34% 31% 30% 36% 9% 32%
    Just a public holiday 53% 47% 58% 58% 49% 53% 55% 48% 76% 45%
    Working – I don’t get the Australia Day holiday 6% 6% 5% 8% 7% 2% 4% 7% 8% 7%
    Don’t know 12% 11% 13% 11% 11% 15% 11% 9% 8% 15%
    Base (n) 1,084 539 545 341 358 385 334 431 118 106
    • Coalition voters are the most likely to be doing something to celebrate Australia Day compared to other voters (36% followed by 30% Labor voters, 32% other voters and 9% Greens voters). For the majority of Greens voters (76%), Australia Day is just a public holiday.
    • Those aged 18-34 are less likely to be doing something to celebrate Australia Day than older cohorts (23% compared to 34% of those 35-54 and 31% of those over 55).
  • Jan, 2021

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    Support towards a separate national day

    Q. It has been suggested that Australia should have a separate national day to recognise Indigenous Australians. Do you…?

      Jan‘21 Jan‘20 Jan’19 Oct‘18
    Support a separate day and keep Australia Day 35% 32% 37% 36%
    Support a separate day to replace Australia Day 18% 18% 15% 14%
    Do not support a separate day 35% 40% 40% 37%
    Don’t know 12% 11% 8% 12%
    TOTAL: Support a separate day 53% 50% 52% 50%
    Base (n) 1,084 1,080 1,652 1,027
    • Support for a separate day to recognise Indigenous Australians (either in place, or alongside Australia Day) is now at 53% (50% in 2020).
    • 35% support including a separate national day with a further 18% supporting a replacement of Australia Day.
    • Over a third (35%) don’t support a separate day.
      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Support a separate day and keep Australia Day 35% 38% 32% 39% 41% 26% 43% 36% 24% 30%
    Support a separate day to replace Australia Day 18% 16% 20% 27% 16% 13% 18% 13% 53% 17%
    Do not support a separate day 35% 35% 34% 17% 29% 55% 29% 45% 14% 45%
    Don’t know 12% 11% 14% 16% 14% 6% 11% 7% 9% 8%
    TOTAL: Support a separate day 53% 54% 52% 67% 56% 39% 61% 49% 77% 47%
    Base (n) 1,084 539 545 341 358 385 334 431 118 106
    • Support for a separate day is highest among Greens voters (77%), Labor voters (61%) and those aged 18-34 (67%).
  • Jan, 2021

    Support towards the national anthem change

    Q. On January 1st 2021, the second line of Australia’s national anthem changed from, “For we are young and free” to “For we are one and free”.

    To what extent do you support or oppose this change?

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Strongly support 25% 27% 24% 22% 31% 21% 27% 28% 30% 20%
    Somewhat support 29% 28% 29% 33% 23% 30% 31% 29% 36% 21%
    Neither support nor oppose 30% 28% 32% 32% 29% 30% 29% 26% 30% 28%
    Somewhat oppose 7% 6% 7% 6% 6% 7% 6% 7% 3% 11%
    Strongly oppose 10% 11% 8% 6% 10% 12% 8% 10% 2% 20%
    TOTAL: Support 54% 55% 52% 56% 54% 51% 57% 57% 65% 41%
    TOTAL: Oppose 16% 17% 15% 12% 17% 19% 14% 17% 5% 31%
    Base (n) 1,084 539 545 341 358 385 334 431 118 106
    • Over half (54%) of Australians support the change in the national anthem’s second line from “For we are young and free” to “For we are one and free” which was implemented at the start of the year. A quarter (25%) strongly support this change.
    • Support towards the national anthem change is strongest among Greens voters (65%), followed by Coalition voters (57%), Labor voters (57%) and other voters (41%).
    • Those voting for independent and minor parties are the most opposed to the change (31%).
  • Jan, 2021

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    Attitudes towards bushfires and climate change

    Q. Thinking about the bushfires in some parts of the country, which of the following statements is closest to your view?

    Jan’21 Jan’20 Nov’19 Oct’13
    It is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change and it is appropriate to publicly raise this issue 49% 44% 43% 27%
    It is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change, but it is inappropriate to publicly raise this issue at this this time 18% 19% 17% 14%
    It is unlikely the bushfires are linked to climate change 20% 26% 30% 48%
    Don’t know 12% 11% 11% 11%
    Base (n) 1,084 1,081 1,083 1,075
    •  Just under half (49%) of people think it is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change and it is appropriate to publicly raise this issue, the highest proportion in the last three years (up from 44% this time last year). Correspondingly, fewer think it is unlikely the bushfires are linked to climate change (20%, down from 26%).
    • About the same amount of people as previous years think it is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change, but it is inappropriate to publicly raise this issue at this this time (18%).
      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    It is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change and it is appropriate to publicly raise this issue 49% 49% 50% 49% 51% 48% 58% 42% 65% 42%
    It is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change, but it is inappropriate to publicly raise this issue at this this time 18% 20% 16% 26% 17% 12% 15% 20% 24% 17%
    It is unlikely the bushfires are linked to climate change 20% 21% 20% 10% 18% 32% 15% 28% 4% 32%
    Don’t know 12% 10% 14% 14% 14% 8% 11% 9% 7% 9%
    Base (n) 1,084 539 545 341 358 385 334 431 118 106
    •  About a third (32%) of those over 55 think it is unlikely the bushfires are linked to climate change, the highest among the three age brackets.
    • More people aged 18-34 think it is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change, but it is inappropriate to publicly raise this issue at this this time, than those aged 35-54 and those over 55 (26% to 17% and 12% respectively).
    • The view that it is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change and it is appropriate to publicly raise this issue is high; this is highest among Greens voters (65%), followed by Labor voters (58%), Coalition voters (42%) and other voters (42%).
    • Minor and independent party voters and Coalition voters are the most likely to think it is unlikely the bushfires are linked to climate change (32% and 28% respectively).
  • Jan, 2021

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    Climate change acceptance

    Q. Do you believe that there is fairly conclusive evidence that climate change is happening and caused by human activity or do you believe that the evidence is still not in and we may just be witnessing a normal fluctuation in the earth’s climate which happens from time to time?

    Jan’21 Jan’20 Nov’19 Mar’19 Oct’18 Sep’17 Aug’16
    Climate change is happening and is caused by human activity 58% 56% 61% 62% 63% 64% 57%
    We are just witnessing a normal fluctuation in the earth’s climate 32% 32% 28% 27% 25% 24% 26%
    Don’t know 10% 13% 11% 12% 13% 12% 17%
    Base (n) 1,084 1,081 1,083 1,089 1,027 1,011 1,022
    • There has been little shift in attitudes to the acceptance of climate change over recent years. Over half of people (58%) believe climate change is happening and is caused by human activity.
    • Over a third still believe we are just witnessing a normal fluctuation in the earth’s climate (32%) and 10% aren’t sure which they believe. 
      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Climate change is happening and is caused by human activity 58% 54% 61% 62% 58% 54% 67% 50% 78% 45%
    We are just witnessing a normal fluctuation in the earth’s climate 32% 36% 28% 24% 31% 40% 24% 43% 17% 44%
    Don’t know 10% 9% 11% 15% 11% 6% 9% 7% 5% 11%
    Base (n) 1,084 539 545 341 358 385 334 431 118 106
    • Acceptance that climate change is happening and is caused by human activity is high across all voters, but highest among Greens voters (78%) and Labor voters (67%), followed by Coalition voters (50%) and other voters (45%).
    • Climate change denial is highest among Coalition voters (43%), those over 55 (40%) and men (36%), whom are the most likely to believe we are just witnessing a normal fluctuation in the earth’s climate.
  • Jan, 2021

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    Addressing climate change

    Q. As far as you know, do you think Australia is doing enough, not enough or too much to address climate change?

    Jan’21 Jan’20 Nov’19 Mar’19 Dec’18 Oct’18 Sep’17 Aug’16
    Not doing enough 42% 62% 60% 51% 53% 56% 56% 52%
    Doing enough 35% 19% 22% 27% 24% 23% 20% 22%
    Doing too much 10% 8% 8% 11% 9% 7% 8% 8%
    Don’t know 13% 11% 10% 12% 14% 13% 16% 18%
    Base (n) 1,084 1,081 1,083 1,089 1,032 1,027 1,011 1,022
    • Over a third (35%) of people think Australia is doing enough to address climate change, the highest proportion in the last five years.
    • 42% still think not enough is being done, however this is a significant drop from last year (62%) and the years before.
    • 10% think Australia is doing too much to address climate change and 13% don’t know. Both figures are similar to previous years. 
      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Not doing enough 42% 36% 48% 40% 41% 45% 56% 28% 69% 39%
    Doing enough 35% 38% 33% 33% 34% 39% 29% 52% 17% 28%
    Doing too much 10% 15% 4% 9% 13% 7% 6% 12% 7% 21%
    Don’t know 13% 11% 15% 17% 12% 9% 9% 8% 8% 12%
    Base (n) 1,084 539 545 341 358 385 334 431 118 106
    • Greens voters are the most likely to think Australia is not doing enough to address climate change (69%), followed by Labor voters (56%).
    • Compared to other voters, Coalition voters are the most likely to think enough is being done (52%), and those voting for minor and independent parties are the most likely to think Australia is doing too much for climate change (21%).
    • Women are more likely to think not enough is being done to address climate change than men (48% to 36% respectively).
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