Essential Report
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Time to return to normal
Q. Thinking about the future, how long do you think it will take for the following to occur?
| LAST MONTH (22/06) | Within the next six months | Seven months up to one year | One to two years | More than two years | Never |
| A Covid-19 vaccine will be developed | 11% | 22% | 43% | 20% | 4% |
| Quarantine will no longer required after international travel | 12% | 27% | 35% | 22% | 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% |
- Expectations of the effect of the Covid-19 have lengthened in the past month, with more people now thinking the impacts will last for more than two years.
- 32% expect it will be over two years before quarantine following international travel is removed (up from 22% last month). Similarly more people now think it will be over two years before housing prices (25% to 38%), unrestricted international travel (24% to 38%) and unemployment (33% to 48%) return to pre-Covid levels.
- 26% do not think a population-wide resistance to the disease will ever be achieved.
Coronavirus concerns
Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Australia?
| 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | |
| Very concerned | 36% | 25% | 28% | 27% | 32% | 30% | 33% | 34% | 32% | 39% |
| Quite concerned | 48% | 50% | 45% | 48% | 49% | 49% | 47% | 49% | 46% | 44% |
| Not that concerned | 12% | 21% | 23% | 21% | 15% | 16% | 16% | 14% | 18% | 13% |
| Not at all concerned | 3% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 3% |
| Base (n) | 1,054 | 1,079 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 |
| State | |||||||
| Total | NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | ||
| Very concerned | 36% | 42% | 46% | 25% | 33% | 26% | |
| Quite concerned | 48% | 46% | 45% | 49% | 44% | 55% | |
| Not that concerned | 12% | 8% | 8% | 19% | 21% | 13% | |
| Not at all concerned | 3% | 3% | 1% | 6% | 1% | 7% | |
| Base (n) | 1,054 | 320 | 281 | 226 | 82 | 98 | |
- Concern about Covid-19 has increased from last month. In June 25% said they were very concerned about the threat of Covid-19 – this has increased to 36% this week.
- Concern is highest in Victoria (46% are very concerned) and NSW (42%), while lower in Queensland (25% and Western Australia (26%).
Government response to Covid-19
Q. Overall, how would you rate the Government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | |
| Very poor | 6% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 4% |
| Quite poor | 10% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 7% | 9% | 9% | 9% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 20% | 17% | 16% | 18% | 20% | 16% | 17% | 16% | 20% | 17% |
| Quite good | 40% | 43% | 42% | 40% | 39% | 43% | 41% | 39% | 38% | 44% |
| Very good | 24% | 27% | 30% | 30% | 28% | 30% | 32% | 32% | 28% | 26% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 16% | 12% | 11% | 12% | 12% | 11% | 11% | 13% | 14% | 13% |
| TOTAL: Good | 64% | 71% | 72% | 70% | 68% | 73% | 73% | 71% | 66% | 70% |
| Base (n) | 1,054 | 1,079 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 |
- Rating of the Federal Government’s handling of the crisis has declined from last month. 64% now rate the Governments response as good (Very good or quite good), down from 71% in June.
- Victoria has the lowest rating (60% rated very/quite good, down from 70% in June).
Coronavirus concerns
Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Australia?
| 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | |
| Very concerned | 25% | 28% | 27% | 32% | 30% | 33% | 34% | 32% | 39% | 44% |
| Quite concerned | 50% | 45% | 48% | 49% | 49% | 47% | 49% | 46% | 44% | 43% |
| Not that concerned | 21% | 23% | 21% | 15% | 16% | 16% | 14% | 18% | 13% | 11% |
| Not at all concerned | 4% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 2% |
| Base (n) | 1,079 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 |
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 |
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
45%
Coalition
48%
In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Top Federal Government priorities for 2021
- Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine
- Perceptions of change in the standard of living for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Changing views towards Australia Day
- Support towards a separate national day
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