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  • Apr, 2020

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    Specific Covid-19 concerns

    Q. To what extent are you concerned about these possible impacts of the Covid-19?

      Very concerned Quite concerned Not that concerned Not at all concerned Unsure
    The Australian economy as a whole 45% 40% 10% 3% 2%
    General unemployment if companies are forced out of business 39% 40% 12% 5% 4%
    The physical health of close family members 32% 41% 19% 6% 3%
    My economic situation if I lose my job or have less work 32% 26% 16% 19% 7%
    The impact on my superannuation, savings or investments 31% 32% 18% 12% 7%
    My physical health and catching the virus 27% 35% 26% 8% 3%
    My close family members’ mental health 24% 38% 24% 11% 3%
    My ability to buy food and essential items if stores run out 23% 35% 26% 12% 3%
    Children’s development by missing out on school 21% 31% 23% 17% 8%
    My mental health as a result of social distancing 18% 29% 28% 22% 3%
    • Economic issues are seen as most concerning when thinking about the consequences of the Covid-19 crisis. 45% say they are worried about the economy as a whole and 39% are very concerned about general unemployment.
    • The top concern for 18-34 year olds was their financial position if they lose a job or work (40% said this was very concerning). The economy (37%) and general unemployment (36%) were also main concerns for this age group. Those aged 18-34 were more likely than other age groups to be concerned about the impact on their mental health (25% to 15%), and that of their families (30% to 21%).
    • Concern for children is highest among those in households with dependent children (30% are very concerned).
  • Apr, 2020

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    Likelihood of developing Coronavirus

    Q. How likely do you think it is, that you will develop Covid-19?

      13/04 06/04 29/03 22/03 09/03
    Very likely 5% 8% 8% 8% 7%
    Somewhat likely 28% 33% 36% 34% 24%
    Somewhat unlikely 49% 45% 45% 45% 43%
    Very unlikely 18% 14% 12% 13% 26%
    Base (n) 1,068 1,069 1,086 1,034 1,096

     

        Age group Location
      Total 18-34 35-54 55+ Capital Non-Capital
    Very likely 5% 8% 8% 1% 6% 3%
    Somewhat likely 28% 32% 26% 25% 28% 27%
    Somewhat unlikely 49% 39% 49% 58% 48% 52%
    Very unlikely 18% 20% 17% 16% 17% 18%
    Base (n) 1,068 343 340 385 722 346
    • Catching Covid-19 is seen as less likely this week, with fewer people saying they are very or somewhat likely to contract the virus (33%, down from 42% last week). The biggest decreases in likelihood were in Queensland (from 44% to 28%) and WA (from 38% to 26%).
    • The perceived threat of catching Covid-19 among Greens voters dropped from 56% who thought they were very/somewhat likely to catch Covid-19 (the highest of voter IDs last week) to 35% – which is now in line with voters of other parties.
  • Apr, 2020

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    Reaction to Covid-19

    Q. Which of the following is closer to your personal views of the Covid-19 outbreak?

      13/04 06/04 29/03 22/03
    There has been an over-reaction to the threat of Covid-19 13% 17% 18% 33%
    The response to the threat of Covid-19 is about right 59% 46% 39% 39%
    The threat of Covid-19 has been under-estimated 29% 37% 43% 28%
    Base (n) 1,068 1,069 1,086 1,034

     

        Gender Age Group
      Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+
    There has been an over-reaction to the threat of Covid-19 13% 16% 10% 19% 13% 7%
    The response to the threat of Covid-19 is about right 59% 58% 60% 52% 63% 60%
    The threat of Covid-19 has been under-estimated 29% 26% 31% 29% 23% 33%
    Base (n) 1,068 537 531 343 340 385
    • Over half of people (59%) now believe the reaction to the threat of Covid-19 has been about right.
  • Apr, 2020

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    Economic expectations

    Q. Which of the following is closer to your expectations of what will happen to the economy following the Covid-19 situation?

      13/04 06/04
    The economy will rebound within 2-3 months and grow just as strong or stronger than before Covid-19 12% 11%
    The economy will be impacted for 6-12 months or longer and will stagnate or show slow growth thereafter 49% 51%
    Covid-19 will have long lasting impact on the economy and the country will fall into a lengthy recession 27% 29%
    Unsure 11% 9%
    Base (n) 1,068 1,069

     

        Gender Age Group
    Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+
    The economy will rebound within 2-3 months and grow just as strong or stronger than before Covid-19 12% 13% 11% 12% 13% 11%
    The economy will be impacted for 6-12 months or longer and will stagnate or show slow growth thereafter 49% 51% 48% 52% 49% 48%
    Covid-19 will have long lasting impact on the economy and the country will fall into a lengthy recession 27% 26% 29% 23% 28% 30%
    Unsure 11% 10% 13% 12% 10% 11%
    Base (n) 1,068 537 531 343 340 385
    • Little change in the economic expectations from last week, with half of people (49%) think Covid-19 will impact the economy for up to a year, with slow growth following. A further 27% believe the impact will be even more devastating, with long-lasting impact and recession.
  • Apr, 2020

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    Government response to Covid-19

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

      13/04 06/04 29/03 22/03
    Very poor 6% 6% 11% 9%
    Quite poor 12% 15% 21% 20%
    Neither good, nor poor 20% 21% 24% 26%
    Quite good 40% 37% 34% 33%
    Very good 23% 21% 11% 12%
    NET: Poor 17% 21% 45% 29%
    NET: Good 63% 58% 31% 45%
    Base (n) 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 6% 7% 4% 8% 7% 3% 5% 6%
    Quite poor 12% 13% 11% 22% 7% 7% 12% 10%
    Neither good, nor poor 20% 19% 21% 28% 23% 11% 20% 21%
    Quite good 40% 39% 40% 35% 42% 42% 41% 38%
    Very good 23% 22% 24% 8% 22% 37% 22% 25%
    NET: Poor 17% 19% 15% 30% 14% 10% 18% 16%
    NET: Good 63% 61% 64% 43% 64% 79% 63% 63%
    Base (n) 1,068 537 531 343 340 385 722 346
    • The perception that the Government improved for the second week in a row. 63% now think the Government has done a good job (Very/somewhat) in handling the crisis.
    • The ratings have increased most among people aged 35-54 (55% to 64%), and 55+ (68% to 79%).
    • Increases in the government’s rating were also seen among WA residents (increased from 60% to 74%), Labor voters (from 49% to 58%) and those in capital cities (increased from 55% to 63%).
  • Apr, 2020

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    State Government response to Covid-19

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

        State
      Total NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    Very poor 5% 6% 4% 6% 3% 3%
    Quite poor 11% 15% 5% 16% 7% 8%
    Neither good, nor poor 20% 23% 15% 27% 19% 11%
    Quite good 38% 38% 42% 33% 38% 36%
    Very good 26% 18% 33% 19% 33% 43%
    NET: Poor 16% 21% 10% 21% 10% 11%
    NET: Good 64% 56% 76% 52% 72% 79%
    Base (n) 1,068 328 272 222 87 110
    • Across the country, the overall perception of states’ handling of the crisis in in line with government 64% rating their own state’s handling as Very/Quite good (compared to 63%).
    • Victoria and Western Australia have the highest rating of their state government, while this is lower for Queensland (52%) and NSW (56%).
  • Apr, 2020

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    Managing Physical Isolation

    Q. How are you managing with the physical isolation rules imposed due to the Covid-19 outbreak?

        Gender Age Group
    Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+
    I have no concerns about reduced physical contact with friends and family 26% 27% 25% 17% 29% 31%
    I’m coping with seeing less of friends and family, but may start to miss them in the future 26% 26% 25% 31% 25% 21%
    I’m missing seeing friends and family, but am able to continue with day-to-day-life 37% 35% 38% 34% 33% 42%
    I’m feeling isolated or struggling to maintain my daily routines 12% 12% 12% 18% 13% 6%
    Base (n) 1,068 537 531 343 340 385
    • Over one-in-ten people are already struggling with the physical isolation restrictions (12%). They are most likely to be people aged 18-34 (18%) and people not in paid employment (18%)
    • Those aged 55 and over are most likely to say they have no concerns about the physical isolation restrictions (31%).
  • Apr, 2020

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    Social Activities during Physical Isolation

    Q. Are you doing any of the following to compensate for spending less time with friends and family since the start of physical isolation rules?

        Gender Age Group
    Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+
    I spend more time contacting people by text messaging, phone calls or online chats 57% 50% 64% 61% 53% 58%
    I’ve participated in online group catch ups 28% 29% 26% 43% 28% 14%
    I’ve sent gifts to friends and family 14% 14% 13% 19% 13% 11%
    I’ve started online activities with friends and family (e.g. online fitness, education classes) 21% 22% 20% 38% 20% 8%
    None of these 28% 33% 23% 16% 30% 35%
    Base (n) 1,068 537 531 343 340 385
    • Staying in touch with people by telephone or messaging is the most popular way to overcome issues about social isolation, being used by 57% of people. Since the physical isolation restrictions, 28% have participated in group catch-ups in lieu of physically meeting, and 21% have started online activities such as fitness sessions or online education classes.
    • Women were more likely than men to be calling or texting friends and family (64% to 50%).
    • 84% of those aged 18-34 have engaged in some activity to overcome the isolation. This is higher than those aged over 55 (65% have completed some activity).
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