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  • Mar, 2020

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    Coronavirus concerns

    Q To what extent are you concerned about the threat of the Coronavirus in Australia?

      Mar’20 Feb’20 Difference
    Very concerned 27% 25% +2
    Quite concerned 36% 43% -7
    Not that concerned 28% 26% +2
    Not at all concerned 9% 6% +3
    Base (n) 1,096 1,057 –
    • Net concern about the threat of Coronavirus has decreased overall with 36% of participants now ‘quite concerned’, down from 43% in Feb’20.
    • 9% of participants are now ‘not at all concerned’ about Coronavirus, up from 6% last month.

    Likelihood of developing Coronavirus

    Q How likely do you think it is, that you will develop Coronavirus?

        Age group Federal Voting Intention
      Total 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor Coalition Greens NET: Other
    Very likely 7% 11% 9% 2% 6% 7% 6% 10%
    Somewhat likely 24% 25% 27% 21% 27% 26% 18% 21%
    Somewhat unlikely 43% 35% 42% 49% 40% 48% 37% 38%
    Very unlikely 26% 29% 22% 27% 27% 19% 38% 31%
    Base (n) 1,096 341 370 385 347 359 92 171
    • Overall, two-thirds (68%) of participants think it’s unlikely that they will develop Coronavirus.
    • Especially those over 55 years old (77%) tend to believe it’s unlikely they will develop Coronavirus.
    • Greens voters tend to believe it’s very unlikely they will develop Coronavirus (38%) compared to all other voters (24%).
  • Feb, 2020

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    Actions taken since Coronavirus outbreak

    Q. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, do any of the following statements apply to you?

        Age
    Total 18-34 35-54 55+
    I have stayed away from cities or town centres 20% 27% 22% 13%
    I have avoided going to restaurants 20% 26% 23% 11%
    I have stayed away from shopping centres 17% 23% 19% 9%
    I have cancelled an overseas trip 15% 26% 16% 4%
    None of these 70% 57% 66% 84%
    Base (n) 1,090 341 374 375
    • 30% of participants have changed their behaviour in some way listed – with 20% saying they have either stayed away from cities or town centres, or avoided going to restaurants.
    • 18-34 year olds (43%), university educated (39%), capital city residents (34%) and those with dependent children (36%) are most likely to report changing their behaviour since the Coronavirus outbreak.
    • Whereas 55+ year olds (16%), those with a secondary school education (20%), non-capital residents (23%) and participants without dependent children (27%) are least likely to report behavioural changes.
  • Feb, 2020

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    Attitudes towards border protection and Coronavirus

    Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the Coronavirus?

      NET: Agree NET: Disagree Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree
    Because of global movements in people we are more vulnerable to the spread of viruses like this 81% 5% 43% 38% 14% 3% 2%
    The Australian government has been right to prevent people from mainland China entering Australia 80% 6% 53% 27% 14% 4% 3%
    The government and the media have done a good job in keeping the public informed about the virus 62% 15% 22% 40% 23% 10% 5%
    The border with China should be kept open to keep money from tourism and students coming into the country 20% 54% 6% 14% 26% 22% 32%

     

    NET: Agree   Age Federal Voting Intention (Lower House)
    Total 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor Coalition Greens NET: Other
    Because of global movements in people we are more vulnerable to the spread of viruses like this 81% 70% 82% 90% 80% 86% 76% 84%
    The Australian government has been right to prevent people from mainland China entering Australia 80% 71% 80% 88% 79% 88% 66% 82%
    The government and the media have done a good job in keeping the public informed about the virus 62% 53% 59% 73% 61% 73% 49% 53%
    The border with China should be kept open to keep money from tourism and students coming into the country 20% 28% 20% 13% 21% 21% 22% 13%
    Base (n) 1,090 341 374 375 336 390 104 146
    • Four out of five participants agree that because of global movements in people we are more vulnerable to the spread of viruses like this (81%) or the Australian government has been right to prevent people from mainland China entering Australia (80%).
    • Three in five agree the government and the media have done a good job in keeping the public informed about the virus (62%); but only one in five agree that the border with China should be kept open to keep money from tourism and students coming into the country (20%).
    • Participants over 55 years old (90%, 88% and 73% agreement respectively) and Liberal voters (86%, 88% and 73%) are more likely to agree with the top three statements.
    • Capital residents are more likely to agree that government and the media have done a good job in keeping the public informed about the virus than those in non-capital cities (65% compared to 57%).
    • Men, 18-34 year olds and participants with a university education are more likely to agree that the border with China should be kept open to keep money from tourism and students coming into the country (24%, 28%, 29% respectively); than women, participants over 55 or with a secondary school education (16%, 13%, 12% respectively).
  • Feb, 2020

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    Coronavirus concerns and government actions

    Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of the Coronavirus in Australia?

      Total
    Very concerned 25%
    Quite concerned 43%
    Not that concerned 26%
    Not at all concerned 6%
    Base (n) 1,056

     

    Q. Do you think the Government is doing enough to protect Australians from the threat of Coronavirus?

        Age Federal Voting Intention
    Total 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor Coalition Greens NET: Other
    Government is doing enough 49% 43% 45% 57% 43% 68% 34% 37%
    Government is not doing enough 30% 38% 35% 19% 38% 16% 38% 40%
    Don’t know 21% 19% 20% 24% 19% 15% 28% 23%
    Base (n) 1,056 341 366 349 354 320 113 155
    • 25% are very concerned about the threat of the Coronavirus to Australia and 43% are quite concerned. 26% are not at all concerned and 6% say they are not at all concerned.
    • 49% of participants believe the government is doing enough to protect Australians from Coronavirus; those over 55 years old (57%) and Coalition voters (68%) are most likely to say that the Government is doing enough.
    • Those aged 18-54 year old (37%), with dependent children (35%), Greens voters (38%) and other/independent party voters (40%) are more likely to believe that the government isn’t doing enough.

    Attitudes towards Coronavirus management

    Q. To what extent do you support or oppose the following measures to limit the spread of the Coronavirus to Australia?

      NET: Agree NET: Disagree Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Unsure
    Stopping all flights to and from China until more is known about the disease 85% 10% 59% 25% 8% 2% 5%
    Stopping anyone from entering the country who has who has been to China in the last 14 days 84% 11% 59% 25% 8% 3% 5%
    People entering Australia from affected areas in China will be quarantined on Christmas Island for 14 days 82% 12% 59% 23% 8% 4% 6%

     

    NET: Agree   Age Federal Voting Intention
    Total 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor Coalition Greens NET: Other
    Stopping all flights to and from China until more is known about the disease 85% 77% 83% 92% 84% 91% 72% 82%
    Stopping anyone from entering the country who has who has been to China in the last 14 days 84% 76% 84% 90% 84% 90% 71% 86%
    People entering Australia from affected areas in China will be quarantined on Christmas Island for 14 days 82% 73% 82% 90% 79% 92% 67% 83%
    Base (n) 1,056 341 366 349 354 320 113 155

     

    • More than four-fifths of participants agree with each of the three measures to limit to the spread of the Coronavirus; stopping all flights to and from China has 85% agreement, stopping anyone entering the country who has been to China in the last 14 days has 84% agreement, and 82% agree that people entering Australia from affected areas in China should be quarantined.
    • Participants over 55 years old and Coalition voters are more likely to agree with these measures, than participants 18-34 and Greens voters.
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