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Likelihood of developing Coronavirus
Q. How likely do you think it is, that you will develop Covid-19?
| 22/08 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | |
| Very likely | 8% | 6% | 6% | 7% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 5% | 5% | 7% |
| Somewhat likely | 23% | 19% | 22% | 23% | 22% | 25% | 24% | 26% | 21% | 25% |
| Somewhat unlikely | 49% | 49% | 47% | 48% | 51% | 48% | 48% | 46% | 50% | 52% |
| Very unlikely | 21% | 26% | 25% | 22% | 23% | 21% | 21% | 23% | 23% | 17% |
| Base (n) | 1,079 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1.093 | 1,054 | 1,051 |
Likelihood of second wave
Q. How likely do you think it is, that there will be a second wave of Covid-19 infections will occur as a result of easing restrictions?
| Total | Gender | Age Group | ||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | ||
| Very likely | 20% | 18% | 21% | 18% | 24% | 17% |
| Quite likely | 43% | 41% | 45% | 40% | 40% | 50% |
| Neither likely nor unlikely | 24% | 26% | 23% | 28% | 24% | 21% |
| Quite unlikely | 10% | 11% | 8% | 11% | 8% | 10% |
| Very unlikely | 3% | 4% | 2% | 4% | 4% | 2% |
| TOTAL: Likely | 63% | 59% | 67% | 58% | 64% | 67% |
| TOTAL: Unlikely | 13% | 15% | 10% | 14% | 12% | 12% |
| Base (n) | 1,079 | 525 | 554 | 332 | 362 | 385 |
| State | |||||
| NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | |
| Very likely | 21% | 24% | 20% | 14% | 14% |
| Quite likely | 41% | 45% | 43% | 45% | 43% |
| Neither likely nor unlikely | 27% | 21% | 24% | 23% | 24% |
| Quite unlikely | 9% | 7% | 10% | 11% | 15% |
| Very unlikely | 3% | 2% | 3% | 6% | 4% |
| TOTAL: Likely | 62% | 70% | 63% | 59% | 57% |
| TOTAL: Unlikely | 12% | 9% | 13% | 18% | 19% |
| Very likely | 352 | 261 | 216 | 88 | 110 |
- 63% of participants think a second wave of Covid-19 infections is probable with women (67%) and 55+ year olds (67%) more likely to say this will happen.
- Victorians (70%) are more likely than other state residents to think a second wave is probable (61%), which coincides with the announcement of 19 new cases over the weekend.
- There are no significant differences across voting intentions.
Time to return to normal
Q. Thinking about the future, how long do you think it will take for the following to occur?
| Within the next six months | Seven months up to one year | One to two years | More than two years | Never | |
| Quarantine will no longer required after international travel | 12% | 27% | 35% | 22% | 4% |
| A Covid-19 vaccine will be developed | 11% | 22% | 43% | 20% | 4% |
| The housing market will return pre-pandemic levels | 11% | 22% | 38% | 25% | 4% |
| International travel will be allowed without restriction | 10% | 23% | 39% | 24% | 4% |
| Unemployment will return to pre-pandemic levels | 8% | 17% | 37% | 33% | 6% |
| The population will build resistance to Covid-19 through exposure (herd immunity) | 8% | 15% | 31% | 27% | 20% |
| Australia will pay off its national debt | 5% | 9% | 12% | 52% | 22% |
| WITHIN NEXT SIX MONTHS | Gender | Age Group | |||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | |
| Quarantine will no longer required after international travel | 13% | 10% | 14% | 14% | 7% |
| A Covid-19 vaccine will be developed | 15% | 8% | 16% | 12% | 7% |
| The housing market will return pre-pandemic levels | 13% | 8% | 15% | 11% | 6% |
| International travel will be allowed without restriction | 12% | 9% | 16% | 13% | 4% |
| Unemployment will return to pre-pandemic levels | 8% | 7% | 13% | 8% | 3% |
| The population will build resistance to Covid-19 through exposure (herd immunity) | 9% | 7% | 11% | 9% | 3% |
| Australia will pay off its national debt | 7% | 3% | 9% | 6% | 1% |
| Base (n) | 525 | 554 | 332 | 362 | 385 |
Government response to Covid-19
Q. Overall, how would you rate the Government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 22/08 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | |
| Very poor | 4% | 3% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 5% |
| Quite poor | 8% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 7% | 9% | 9% | 9% | 10% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 17% | 16% | 18% | 20% | 16% | 17% | 16% | 20% | 17% | 21% |
| Quite good | 43% | 42% | 40% | 39% | 43% | 41% | 39% | 38% | 44% | 42% |
| Very good | 27% | 30% | 30% | 28% | 30% | 32% | 32% | 28% | 26% | 23% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 12% | 11% | 12% | 12% | 11% | 11% | 13% | 14% | 13% | 15% |
| TOTAL: Good | 71% | 72% | 70% | 68% | 73% | 73% | 71% | 66% | 70% | 65% |
| Base (n) | 1,079 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 |
| Gender | Age Group | Location | ||||||
| Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Capital | Non-Capital | |
| Very poor | 4% | 6% | 2% | 5% | 5% | 2% | 4% | 4% |
| Quite poor | 8% | 9% | 8% | 12% | 7% | 6% | 9% | 7% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 17% | 18% | 16% | 23% | 21% | 8% | 16% | 19% |
| Quite good | 43% | 39% | 47% | 44% | 43% | 43% | 43% | 43% |
| Very good | 27% | 28% | 27% | 17% | 24% | 40% | 28% | 27% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 12% | 14% | 10% | 17% | 12% | 9% | 13% | 11% |
| TOTAL: Good | 71% | 67% | 74% | 61% | 67% | 83% | 71% | 70% |
| Base (n) | 1,079 | 525 | 554 | 332 | 362 | 385 | 728 | 351 |
State Government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 22/08 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | |
| Very poor | 5% | 4% | 4% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 5% |
| Quite poor | 8% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 7% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 9% | 9% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 17% | 17% | 17% | 20% | 17% | 17% | 16% | 18% | 17% | 20% |
| Quite good | 41% | 38% | 39% | 38% | 38% | 39% | 39% | 38% | 41% | 39% |
| Very good | 28% | 33% | 32% | 30% | 35% | 33% | 34% | 31% | 30% | 26% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 13% | 12% | 11% | 12% | 11% | 11% | 12% | 12% | 13% | 14% |
| TOTAL: Good | 69% | 71% | 71% | 68% | 73% | 72% | 73% | 70% | 70% | 66% |
| Base (n) | 1,079 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 |
| State | |||||||
| Total | NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | ||
| Very poor | 5% | 4% | 8% | 6% | 4% | 4% | |
| Quite poor | 8% | 8% | 5% | 14% | 5% | 4% | |
| Neither good, nor poor | 17% | 18% | 22% | 15% | 13% | 17% | |
| Quite good | 41% | 45% | 38% | 42% | 39% | 27% | |
| Very good | 28% | 25% | 26% | 22% | 40% | 48% | |
| TOTAL: Poor | 13% | 12% | 13% | 20% | 8% | 8% | |
| TOTAL: Good | 69% | 70% | 65% | 64% | 79% | 75% | |
| Base (n) | 1,079 | 352 | 261 | 216 | 88 | 110 | |
- Victorian rating of their state government’s response is down 10% this week (from 75% to 65%) with 19 new cases of Covid-19 recorded this weekend.
Agreement with removal of monuments and memorials
Q. Protesters are arguing for the removal of monuments and memorials of individuals or organisations connected to the slave trade, genocide of Indigenous Australians and racism. In some cases, the protesters have destroyed the monuments and memorials themselves.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with these statements about removing public monuments and memorials?
| NET: Agree | NET: Disagree | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | Unsure | |
| The protesters should focus on making changes for people living now, rather than things that happened in the past | 80% | 14% | 54% | 26% | 8% | 6% | 7% |
| Instead of removing monuments and memorials, we should include more information about the historical context of public figures | 78% | 15% | 47% | 30% | 10% | 5% | 7% |
| Every public figure has their positive and negative aspects, and this isn’t a good reason to remove their monuments or memorials | 76% | 16% | 45% | 31% | 9% | 7% | 8% |
| We lose part of our history when monuments and memorials are removed | 76% | 17% | 49% | 27% | 8% | 8% | 8% |
| It’s wrong to judge historical figures by our modern standards of morality | 72% | 19% | 44% | 28% | 11% | 8% | 9% |
| Monuments and memorials provide a constant reminder of racial discrimination in society | 48% | 42% | 19% | 29% | 20% | 21% | 11% |
| Monuments and memorials of people who support racism, segregation or slavery glorify their actions | 45% | 41% | 19% | 26% | 22% | 19% | 14% |
| NET: Agree | Total | Federal Voting Intention | |||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| The protesters should focus on making changes for people living now, rather than things that happened in the past | 80% | 77% | 89% | 61% | 83% |
| Instead of removing monuments and memorials, we should include more information about the historical context of public figures | 78% | 75% | 85% | 62% | 81% |
| Every public figure has their positive and negative aspects, and this isn’t a good reason to remove their monuments or memorials | 76% | 71% | 87% | 52% | 79% |
| We lose part of our history when monuments and memorials are removed | 76% | 71% | 88% | 54% | 71% |
| It’s wrong to judge historical figures by our modern standards of morality | 72% | 65% | 83% | 55% | 74% |
| Monuments and memorials provide a constant reminder of racial discrimination in society | 48% | 55% | 38% | 69% | 43% |
| Monuments and memorials of people who support racism, segregation or slavery glorify their actions | 45% | 50% | 37% | 65% | 41% |
| Base (n) | 1,079 | 315 | 445 | 107 | 108 |
- Four-fifths of participants agree protesters should focus on making changes for people living now, rather than things that happened in the past (80%) while another 78% agree that instead of removing monuments and memorials, we should include more information about the historical context of public figures.
- Less than half of participants agree that monuments and memorials provide a constant reminder of racial discrimination in society (48%) and monuments and memorials of people who support racism, segregation or slavery glorify their actions (45%).
- 18-34 year olds are more likely than those over 55, to agree that monuments and memorials of people who support racism, segregation or slavery glorify their actions (58% of 18-34 year olds and 35% of 55+) or agree that monuments and memorials provide a constant reminder of racial discrimination in society (58% and 37% respectively).
- Participants over 55 are more likely to agree that we lose part of our history when monuments and memorials are removed (87% of those aged 55+ and 64% of 18-34) and it’s wrong to judge historical figures by our modern standards of morality (80% of 55+ and 64% of 18-34).
- Broadly Greens voters are most likely to agree with negative statements about the impact of these monuments, while Coalition voters are least likely to agree with those statements.
Coronavirus concerns
Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Australia?
| 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | 13/04 | |
| Very concerned | 28% | 27% | 32% | 30% | 33% | 34% | 32% | 39% | 44% | 45% |
| Quite concerned | 45% | 48% | 49% | 49% | 47% | 49% | 46% | 44% | 43% | 43% |
| Not that concerned | 23% | 21% | 15% | 16% | 16% | 14% | 18% | 13% | 11% | 9% |
| Not at all concerned | 4% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 2% | 3% |
| Base (n) | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 | 1,068 |
Likelihood of developing Coronavirus
Q. How likely do you think it is, that you will develop Covid-19?
| 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | 13/04 | |
| Very likely | 6% | 6% | 7% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 5% | 5% | 7% | 5% |
| Somewhat likely | 19% | 22% | 23% | 22% | 25% | 24% | 26% | 21% | 25% | 28% |
| Somewhat unlikely | 49% | 47% | 48% | 51% | 48% | 48% | 46% | 50% | 52% | 49% |
| Very unlikely | 26% | 25% | 22% | 23% | 21% | 21% | 23% | 23% | 17% | 18% |
| Base (n) | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1.093 | 1,054 | 1,051 | 1,068 |
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Download this week's ReportEssential Report
Two Party Preferred:
Labor
47%
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45%
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