Essential Report

Essential Report

Mandatory face masks

Jul 28, 2020

Q. To what extent do you support or oppose the mandatory use of face masks or coverings in public places to reduce the spread of Covid-19?

			Gender		Age group
	Total	Male		Female	18-34	35-54	55+
Strongly oppose	5%	6%		4%	4%	8%	2%
Somewhat oppose	8%	10%		6%	12%	9%	3%
Neither support nor oppose	20%	21%		19%	25%	18%	17%
Somewhat support	27%	28%		25%	26%	27%	28%
Strongly support	41%	36%		46%	34%	38%	50%
TOTAL: Oppose	13%	16%		10%	16%	17%	6%
TOTAL: Support	68%	64%		71%	59%	65%	77%
Base (n)	1,058	538		520	341	331	386

			State
	Total	NSW		VIC	QLD	SA	WA
Strongly oppose	5%	2%		5%	8%	4%	5%
Somewhat oppose	8%	8%		10%	9%	5%	7%
Neither support nor oppose	20%	20%		12%	25%	26%	27%
Somewhat support	27%	31%		20%	25%	27%	31%
Strongly support	41%	39%		53%	33%	38%	30%
TOTAL: Oppose	13%	10%		14%	17%	9%	12%
TOTAL: Support	68%	70%		74%	58%	65%	61%
Base (n)	1,058	352		239	220	88	110

There is strong support for the mandatory use of face masks and coverings in public places, with two-thirds (68%) of participants supporting this enforcement. (either strongly or somewhat).
Support for this position was highest among women (71% support), those over 55 years old (77%), people in NSW (70%) and Victorian residents (74%).

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