Essential Report
Views towards government support during lockdowns
Q. [Jun’21] As you may be aware, because support such as JobKeeper ended in April, people and businesses affected by the lockdown in Victoria have not been able to get financial support from the federal government.
The Victorian government has offered its own support package but has said the federal government should be helping out too, as support for people out of work is usually the responsibility of the federal government.
Which of the following is closer to your view?
Q. [Aug’21] As you may be aware, because support such as JobKeeper ended in April, people and businesses affected by the lockdowns across the country have not been able to get financial support from the federal government.
Some state governments have offered their own support packages but have said the federal government should be helping out too, as support for people out of work is usually the responsibility of the federal government.
Which of the following is closer to your view?
| Aug’21 | Jun’21 | |
| The federal government should provide financial support to people and businesses affected by future lockdowns | 59% | 55% |
| If state governments choose to lockdown their populations, state governments should be the ones providing financial support to people and businesses affected | 41% | 45% |
| Base (n) | 1,098 | 1,104 |
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | State | ||||||||
| Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | ||
| The federal government should provide financial support to people and businesses affected by future lockdowns | 59% | 68% | 49% | 72% | 52% | 62% | 56% | 55% | 62% | 60% |
| If state governments choose to lockdown their populations, state governments should be the ones providing financial support to people and businesses affected | 41% | 32% | 51% | 28% | 48% | 38% | 44% | 45% | 38% | 40% |
| Base (n) | 1,098 | 371 | 402 | 90 | 128 | 352 | 276 | 220 | 86 | 111 |
- 59% now think the federal government should provide financial support to people and businesses affected by future lockdowns (55% in June). 41% now think if state governments choose to lockdown their populations, state governments should be the ones providing financial support to people and businesses affected (45% in June).
- The view that the federal government should provide financial support to people and businesses affected by future lockdowns remains the majority view across all states.
- Labor and Greens voters are the most likely voters to hold this view (68% and 72% respectively).
- Of all voters, Coalition voters are the most likely to think if state governments choose to lockdown their populations, state governments should be the ones providing financial support to people and businesses affected (51% to 34% all other voters).
Support for returning JobKeeper
Q. To what extent do you support or oppose the return of JobKeeper to assist people and businesses affected by lockdowns in Australia?
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Strongly support | 33% | 28% | 36% | 37% | 36% | 25% | 37% | 23% | 50% | 33% |
| Somewhat support | 33% | 34% | 32% | 31% | 32% | 36% | 39% | 35% | 26% | 27% |
| Neither support nor oppose | 23% | 24% | 23% | 26% | 22% | 23% | 19% | 26% | 16% | 19% |
| Somewhat oppose | 6% | 7% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 10% | 3% | 9% | 4% | 12% |
| Strongly oppose | 5% | 6% | 4% | 1% | 6% | 7% | 2% | 7% | 4% | 8% |
| TOTAL: Support | 66% | 62% | 69% | 69% | 68% | 61% | 77% | 58% | 76% | 60% |
| TOTAL: Oppose | 11% | 13% | 9% | 5% | 10% | 16% | 5% | 16% | 8% | 20% |
| Base (n) | 1,098 | 537 | 561 | 341 | 372 | 385 | 371 | 402 | 90 | 128 |
| State | |||||
| NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | |
| Strongly support | 34% | 34% | 30% | 28% | 25% |
| Somewhat support | 34% | 35% | 28% | 42% | 33% |
| Neither support nor oppose | 22% | 21% | 28% | 19% | 29% |
| Somewhat oppose | 6% | 6% | 6% | 5% | 6% |
| Strongly oppose | 5% | 3% | 6% | 5% | 7% |
| TOTAL: Support | 68% | 69% | 59% | 70% | 58% |
| TOTAL: Oppose | 10% | 10% | 13% | 11% | 13% |
| Base (n) | 352 | 276 | 220 | 86 | 111 |
- Around two-thirds (66%) of people would support the reintroduction of JobKeeper measures during lockdowns.
- Those with the highest support for the return of JobKeeper measures include women (69%), those aged 18-34 (69%), and Labor and Greens voters (77% and 76% respectively).
Stance on anti-lockdown protests
Q. As you may be aware, there were anti-lockdown protests in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane recently. To what extent do you support or oppose these anti-lockdown protests?
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Strongly support | 8% | 10% | 5% | 9% | 9% | 5% | 6% | 7% | 6% | 22% |
| Somewhat support | 10% | 11% | 9% | 18% | 11% | 4% | 13% | 8% | 14% | 9% |
| Neither support nor oppose | 15% | 15% | 15% | 23% | 16% | 7% | 14% | 12% | 17% | 14% |
| Somewhat oppose | 10% | 10% | 10% | 9% | 12% | 10% | 9% | 10% | 15% | 7% |
| Strongly oppose | 57% | 53% | 60% | 41% | 53% | 74% | 58% | 62% | 48% | 48% |
| TOTAL: Support | 18% | 22% | 14% | 27% | 19% | 9% | 19% | 16% | 21% | 31% |
| TOTAL: Oppose | 67% | 64% | 71% | 50% | 65% | 84% | 67% | 72% | 63% | 54% |
| Base (n) | 1,098 | 537 | 561 | 341 | 372 | 385 | 371 | 402 | 90 | 128 |
| State | |||||
| NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | |
| Strongly support | 8% | 6% | 10% | 6% | 9% |
| Somewhat support | 10% | 10% | 12% | 7% | 12% |
| Neither support nor oppose | 15% | 15% | 19% | 14% | 7% |
| Somewhat oppose | 11% | 10% | 9% | 13% | 10% |
| Strongly oppose | 57% | 59% | 49% | 60% | 62% |
| TOTAL: Support | 17% | 17% | 22% | 14% | 21% |
| TOTAL: Oppose | 68% | 69% | 59% | 73% | 72% |
| Base (n) | 352 | 276 | 220 | 86 | 111 |
- Most people (67%) oppose the recent anti-lockdown protests held around the country, with over half (57%) strongly opposing the protests.
- Opposition was highest among women (71%), those aged over 55 (84%), and Coalition voters (72%).
Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine
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?
| 02/08 | 19/07 | 05/07 | 07/06 | 10/05 | 26/04 | 15/03 | 01/03 | 18/01 | 14/12 | 10/08 | |
| I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible / I’ve already been vaccinated / I’ve already had the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine / I’ve already had both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine | 64% | 63% | 51% | 52% | 44% | 42% | 49% | 50% | 42% | 43% | 56% |
| I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away | 25% | 27% | 33% | 36% | 42% | 42% | 40% | 40% | 47% | 46% | 35% |
| I’d never get vaccinated | 11% | 11% | 16% | 13% | 14% | 16% | 12% | 10% | 11% | 10% | 8% |
| Base (n) | 1,098 | 1,100 | 1,099 | 1,104 | 1,092 | 1,090 | 1,124 | 1,074 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,008 |
- The vaccine rollout continues to progress, with 64% who have either received a vaccine, or would do so as soon as possible.
- A quarter (25%) now would wait to receive a vaccine (down from 47% in January).
- Consistent with last month, 11% say they would never get vaccinated.
Preference towards Covid-19 vaccines
Q. As you may be aware, there are currently two vaccines available in Australia – the Pfizer vaccine and the AstraZeneca (Oxford) vaccine.
Which of the following is closer to your view?
[Asked only to those who selected ‘I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible’, ‘I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away’ or ‘I’d never get vaccinated’ when asked the question: ‘The Covid-19 vaccine rollout is underway in Australia. Once a vaccine becomes available to you, how long would you wait before taking it?’]
| 02/08 | 05/07 | 07/06 | 26/04 | |
| I would be willing to get either the AstraZeneca vaccine or the Pfizer vaccine | 24% | 20% | 35% | 34% |
| I would be willing to get the AstraZeneca vaccine but not the Pfizer vaccine | 3% | 4% | 6% | 3% |
| I would be willing to get the Pfizer vaccine but not the AstraZeneca vaccine | 47% | 42% | 30% | 28% |
| I would not be willing to get either the AstraZeneca vaccine or the Pfizer vaccine | 14% | 18% | 14% | 15% |
| Unsure | 12% | 16% | 15% | 20% |
| Base (n) | 698 | 806 | 913 | 1,005 |
- The proportion of Australians who have not yet been vaccinated and are willing to get either the AstraZeneca vaccine or the Pfizer vaccine is now at 24% (20% last month).
- 47% of people have not been vaccinated and would receive the Pfizer, but not the AstraZeneca vaccine. This unwillingness to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine has increased from 28% in April.
| 18-39 | 02/08 | 05/07 | 07/06 | 26/04 |
| I would be willing to get the Pfizer vaccine but not the AstraZeneca vaccine | 48% | 41% | 30% | 28% |
| Base (n) | 371 | 431 | 445 | 439 |
| 40-49 | 02/08 | 05/07 | 07/06 | 26/04 |
| I would be willing to get the Pfizer vaccine but not the AstraZeneca vaccine | 47% | 47% | 36% | 28% |
| Base (n) | 105 | 172 | 174 | 138 |
| 50-59 | 02/08 | 05/07 | 07/06 | 26/04 |
| I would be willing to get the Pfizer vaccine but not the AstraZeneca vaccine | 53% | 43% | 31% | 30% |
| Base (n) | 100 | 184 | 168 | 151 |
| 60-69 | 02/08 | 05/07 | 07/06 | 26/04 |
| I would be willing to get the Pfizer vaccine but not the AstraZeneca vaccine | 41% | 21% | 18% | 27% |
| Base (n) | 84 | 174 | 171 | 188 |
- Unwillingness to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine has increased across all age groups since April.
- Among those aged 50-59, over half (53%) who are unvaccinated would be unwilling to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine (increase from 30% in April).
- Among those aged 60-69, 41% of those who are unvaccinated would be unwilling to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine (increase from 27% in April).
| Total | Gender | Federal Voting Intention | |||||
| Male | Female | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| I would be willing to get either the AstraZeneca vaccine or the Pfizer vaccine | 24% | 29% | 20% | 23% | 30% | 29% | 16% |
| I would be willing to get the AstraZeneca vaccine but not the Pfizer vaccine | 3% | 4% | 3% | 6% | 2% | 1% | 0% |
| I would be willing to get the Pfizer vaccine but not the AstraZeneca vaccine | 47% | 41% | 51% | 51% | 52% | 41% | 33% |
| I would not be willing to get either the AstraZeneca vaccine or the Pfizer vaccine | 14% | 15% | 13% | 9% | 9% | 18% | 40% |
| Unsure | 12% | 11% | 13% | 12% | 8% | 10% | 12% |
| Base (n) | 698 | 316 | 382 | 250 | 223 | 71 | 83 |
- Unwillingness to receive the Pfizer vaccine is highest among women (51%).
- 40% of unvaccinated minor/independent party voters are unwilling to receive either vaccine.
Engagement in ‘risky’ activities
Q. In the last two years, have you engaged in any of the following activities?
| TOTAL: Yes | Total | All respondents who have not been vaccinated and would be willing to get the Pfizer vaccine but not the AstraZeneca vaccine |
| Smoked cigarettes (manufactured or roll-your-own) | 25% | 26% |
| Taken recreational drugs | 11% | 12% |
| TOTAL: Drunk more than 10 standard drinks in a week or Drunk more than 4 standard drinks in a day | 43% | 43% |
| TOTAL: Read or sent a text message while driving or Driven without wearing a seatbelt or Ridden a bicycle on a road | 34% | 34% |
| Base (n) | 1,098 | 323 |
| TOTAL: Yes | Total | All females who have not been vaccinated and would be willing to get the Pfizer vaccine but not the AstraZeneca vaccine |
| Taken the birth control pill (oral contraceptive pill) | 16% | 20% |
| Base (n): All females | 561 | 194 |
- A notable proportion of people who are unwilling to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine still engage in ‘risky’ activities.
- In the past two years, 26% have smoked cigarettes, 43% have drunk alcohol over recommended limits, and 34% have engaged in risky behaviour when driving.
- 20% of women unwilling to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine (but are willing to receive Pfizer) have taken the birth control pill in the past two years.
Support for Covid-19 measures
Q. To what extent would you support or oppose the following measures in relation to Covid-19 vaccines?
| TOTAL: Support | TOTAL: Oppose | Strongly support | Somewhat support | Neither support nor oppose | Somewhat oppose | Strongly oppose | |
| Prioritise Pfizer vaccines for people with high-risk medical conditions or occupations | 75% | 5% | 51% | 23% | 20% | 2% | 3% |
| Require people to prove they are vaccinated before travelling interstate | 72% | 13% | 47% | 25% | 15% | 4% | 9% |
| Require people to prove they are vaccinated before entering public venues (e.g. restaurants, entertainment venues) | 63% | 19% | 36% | 27% | 18% | 8% | 10% |
| TOTAL: Support | Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | ||||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
| Prioritise Pfizer vaccines for people with high-risk medical conditions or occupations | 75% | 73% | 77% | 70% | 74% | 80% | 76% | 80% | 73% | 65% | ||
| Require people to prove they are vaccinated before travelling interstate | 72% | 74% | 70% | 65% | 68% | 82% | 76% | 80% | 62% | 53% | ||
| Require people to prove they are vaccinated before entering public venues (e.g. restaurants, entertainment venues) | 63% | 66% | 60% | 60% | 59% | 70% | 65% | 70% | 64% | 45% | ||
| Base (n) | 1,098 | 537 | 561 | 341 | 372 | 385 | 371 | 402 | 90 | 128 | ||
- Most people support the prioritisation of Pfizer vaccines for people with high-risk medical conditions or occupations (75%).
- 72% would support a requirement for people travelling interstate to prove they are vaccinated, and 63% would support requiring people to prove they are vaccinated before entering public venues.
- Support for all these measures is higher among people aged over 55 than those aged under 55.
Importance for workers to be prioritised to be vaccinated against Covid-19
Q. Thinking about the safety and welfare of Australians, how important to you is it that each of the following workers are prioritised to be vaccinated against Covid-19?
| TOTAL: Extremely important + Very important | TOTAL:
Not that important + Not at all important |
Extremely important | Very important | Fairly important | Not that important | Not at all important | |
| Emergency services workers (e.g. firefighters, police, paramedics) | 86% | 6% | 70% | 16% | 8% | 3% | 3% |
| Healthcare workers | 86% | 5% | 71% | 15% | 9% | 3% | 2% |
| Aged and disability care workers | 85% | 5% | 68% | 17% | 10% | 3% | 3% |
| Quarantine and border workers | 84% | 5% | 66% | 18% | 11% | 2% | 3% |
| Teachers and teachers’ aides | 79% | 7% | 49% | 30% | 14% | 4% | 3% |
| Essential retail workers (e.g. supermarket workers, pharmacy workers) | 77% | 7% | 48% | 29% | 16% | 4% | 3% |
| Social and support services workers (e.g. family violence and sexual assault workers, community housing workers) | 77% | 6% | 50% | 27% | 17% | 3% | 3% |
| Transport, postal and warehousing workers (e.g. Couriers, food delivery workers) | 75% | 8% | 42% | 33% | 17% | 5% | 3% |
| Early childhood educators | 74% | 8% | 46% | 29% | 17% | 5% | 3% |
| Construction workers | 52% | 17% | 26% | 26% | 31% | 12% | 5% |
- Most people say it is extremely important for emergency service workers (70%), healthcare workers (71%), aged and disability care workers (68%), and quarantine and border staff (66%) to be prioritised for Covid-19 vaccines.
- About half (49%) say it is extremely important for teachers and teacher’s aides to be prioritised for vaccines, and 46% think the same for early childhood educators.
- The importance of vaccinating those working in education is similar to essential retail workers (48% extremely important), social and support services workers (50%), and transport, postal and warehousing workers (42%).
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Essential Report
In this week's report:
- Federal government response to Covid-19
- State government response to Covid-19
- Views towards reopening international borders
- Views towards state border closures
- Comprehension and confidence in PM’s plan to ‘safely reopen’ Australia
- Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine
- Necessity of mandatory vaccinations in specific situations
- Views towards easing restrictions for fully vaccinated people
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