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Easing restrictions
Q. When do you think governments should start to ease the restrictions on travel and gatherings to allow offices, shops, restaurants, other workplaces, and public spaces to start operating again?
| 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | |
| As soon as possible | 14% | 9% | 13% | 10% | 10% | 9% |
| Within the next 1 to 2 weeks | 10% | 13% | 12% | 9% | 7% | 6% |
| Within the next month | 23% | 23% | 22% | 21% | 18% | 14% |
| By the end of next month | 17% | 22% | 20% | 15% | 15% | 13% |
| It is too soon to consider easing restrictions | 27% | 25% | 27% | 37% | 42% | 49% |
| Unsure | 9% | 8% | 6% | 8% | 8% | 10% |
| Base (n) | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 |
| Gender | Age Group | ||||||
| Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | ||
| As soon as possible | 14% | 18% | 10% | 17% | 12% | 14% | |
| Within the next 1 to 2 weeks | 10% | 11% | 10% | 12% | 9% | 10% | |
| Within the next month | 23% | 24% | 23% | 24% | 22% | 23% | |
| By the end of next month | 17% | 17% | 17% | 15% | 18% | 18% | |
| It is too soon to consider easing restrictions | 27% | 22% | 31% | 23% | 29% | 28% | |
| Unsure | 9% | 8% | 9% | 9% | 10% | 7% | |
| Base (n) | 1,087 | 534 | 553 | 341 | 364 | 382 | |
Continuation of short-term measures
Q. The Federal Government has introduced some short-term measures to help people financially deal with the Covid-19 outbreak. For each of the following, how long do you think do you think the schemes should continue?
| Should end as soon as possible | Should end at current set date | Should continue after the current end date | Unsure | |
| Providing free childcare for children in early childhood education
(Due to end 28th June 2020) |
14% | 33% | 36% | 17% |
| Increase to JobSeeker payments to $1,115 per fortnight
(Due to end 24th September 2020) |
21% | 28% | 36% | 15% |
| Provision of JobKeeper wage subsidy of $1,500 per fortnight to eligible employers for each eligible worker
(Due to end 24th September 2020) |
17% | 36% | 32% | 14% |
| TOTAL: Should continue after the current end date | Gender | Age Group | ||||
| Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | |
| Providing free childcare for children in early childhood education | 36% | 39% | 33% | 43% | 34% | 31% |
| Increase to JobSeeker payments to $1,115 per fortnight | 36% | 39% | 33% | 42% | 36% | 30% |
| Provision of JobKeeper wage subsidy of $1,500 per fortnight to eligible employers for each eligible worker | 32% | 35% | 30% | 38% | 32% | 27% |
| Base (n) | 1,087 | 534 | 553 | 341 | 364 | 382 |
- One-third of participants say that providing feed childcare, and increasing JobSeeker payments should continue after the current end date (both 36%).
- 18-34 year olds are most likely to say any of the short-term measures should continue after the current end date, whereas 55+ year olds are least likely to support continuing these measures.
- Men are more likely to support continuing the increased JobSeeker payments after 24th September 2020 (39%) than women (33%).
Closer or more distant social connections
Q. Since the start of the lockdown restrictions, do you feel closer or more distant from each of the following people in your life?
| My partner | My children | My extended family | My neighbours | My friends | My workmates | |
| I feel closer | 36% | 35% | 18% | 13% | 13% | 11% |
| It has not affected our relationship | 53% | 52% | 55% | 64% | 52% | 53% |
| I feel more distant | 11% | 13% | 27% | 23% | 34% | 36% |
| Base | 797 | 716 | 964 | 942 | 1,012 | 680 |
| TOTAL: I feel closer | Gender | Age Group | |||||
| Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | ||
| My partner | 36% | 36% | 36% | 49% | 36% | 24% | |
| My children | 35% | 32% | 38% | 50% | 41% | 22% | |
| My extended family | 18% | 18% | 18% | 24% | 19% | 13% | |
| My neighbours | 13% | 14% | 12% | 15% | 13% | 12% | |
| My friends | 13% | 13% | 14% | 19% | 11% | 11% | |
| My workmates | 11% | 11% | 11% | 13% | 11% | 8% | |
| TOTAL: I feel more distant | Gender | Age Group | |||||
| Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | ||
| My partner | 11% | 11% | 11% | 15% | 12% | 6% | |
| My children | 13% | 13% | 12% | 11% | 10% | 15% | |
| My extended family | 27% | 26% | 28% | 31% | 27% | 24% | |
| My neighbours | 23% | 21% | 24% | 23% | 21% | 24% | |
| My friends | 34% | 32% | 36% | 42% | 34% | 28% | |
| My workmates | 36% | 34% | 39% | 47% | 32% | 24% | |
- More than half of participants don’t feel closer or more distant to the social connections in their life, varying between 64% for neighbours and 52% for children and friends.
- 18-34 year olds are most likely to say they feel closer to their partner (49%), children (50%) and extended family (24%) – but more distant from their friends (42%) and workmates (47%).
- Participants over 55 are most likely to say their social connections haven’t been affected by the lockdown restrictions.
Likelihood of developing Coronavirus
Q. How likely do you think it is, that you will develop Covid-19?
| 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | 13/04 | 06/04 | 29/03 | 22/03 | 09/03 | |
| Very likely | 6% | 6% | 5% | 5% | 7% | 5% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 7% |
| Somewhat likely | 25% | 24% | 26% | 21% | 25% | 28% | 33% | 36% | 34% | 24% |
| Somewhat unlikely | 48% | 48% | 46% | 50% | 52% | 49% | 45% | 45% | 45% | 43% |
| Very unlikely | 21% | 21% | 23% | 23% | 17% | 18% | 14% | 12% | 13% | 26% |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1.093 | 1,054 | 1,051 | 1,068 | 1,069 | 1,086 | 1,034 | 1,096 |
| Age group | Location | |||||
| Total | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Capital | Non-Capital | |
| Very likely | 6% | 8% | 8% | 3% | 7% | 4% |
| Somewhat likely | 25% | 25% | 29% | 21% | 26% | 24% |
| Somewhat unlikely | 48% | 43% | 42% | 59% | 48% | 49% |
| Very unlikely | 21% | 24% | 21% | 17% | 19% | 24% |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 339 | 349 | 385 | 730 | 343 |
Government response to Covid-19
Q. Overall, how would you rate the Government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | 13/04 | 06/04 | 29/03 | 22/03 | |
| Very poor | 3% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 11% | 9% |
| Quite poor | 7% | 9% | 9% | 9% | 10% | 12% | 15% | 21% | 20% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 17% | 16% | 20% | 17% | 21% | 20% | 21% | 24% | 26% |
| Quite good | 41% | 39% | 38% | 44% | 42% | 40% | 37% | 34% | 33% |
| Very good | 32% | 32% | 28% | 26% | 23% | 23% | 21% | 11% | 12% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 11% | 13% | 14% | 13% | 15% | 17% | 21% | 31% | 29% |
| TOTAL: Good | 73% | 71% | 66% | 70% | 65% | 63% | 58% | 45% | 45% |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 | 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 | 3% | 5% | 2% | 4% | 4% | 2% | 3% | 3% | |
| Quite poor | 7% | 8% | 7% | 10% | 9% | 3% | 7% | 7% | |
| Neither good, nor poor | 17% | 18% | 15% | 25% | 16% | 10% | 15% | 20% | |
| Quite good | 41% | 38% | 43% | 47% | 38% | 38% | 43% | 35% | |
| Very good | 32% | 31% | 33% | 14% | 32% | 47% | 31% | 35% | |
| TOTAL: Poor | 11% | 13% | 8% | 14% | 13% | 5% | 11% | 11% | |
| TOTAL: Good | 73% | 69% | 76% | 61% | 70% | 85% | 74% | 70% | |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 524 | 549 | 339 | 349 | 385 | 730 | 343 | |
State Government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | 13/04 | |
| Very poor | 3% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 5% |
| Quite poor | 8% | 8% | 8% | 9% | 9% | 11% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 17% | 16% | 18% | 17% | 20% | 20% |
| Quite good | 39% | 39% | 38% | 41% | 39% | 38% |
| Very good | 33% | 34% | 31% | 30% | 26% | 26% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 11% | 12% | 12% | 13% | 14% | 16% |
| TOTAL: Good | 72% | 73% | 70% | 70% | 66% | 64% |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 | 1,068 |
| State | |||||||
| Total | NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | ||
| Very poor | 3% | 5% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 0% | |
| Quite poor | 8% | 7% | 10% | 8% | 5% | 4% | |
| Neither good, nor poor | 17% | 18% | 15% | 24% | 13% | 10% | |
| Quite good | 39% | 43% | 38% | 39% | 39% | 33% | |
| Very good | 33% | 27% | 33% | 26% | 41% | 52% | |
| TOTAL: Poor | 11% | 12% | 14% | 10% | 7% | 5% | |
| TOTAL: Good | 72% | 70% | 71% | 66% | 80% | 86% | |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 352 | 267 | 216 | 85 | 104 | |
Easing restrictions
Q. When do you think governments should start to ease the restrictions on travel and gatherings to allow offices, shops, restaurants, other workplaces, and public spaces to start operating again?
| 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | |
| As soon as possible | 9% | 13% | 10% | 10% | 9% |
| Within the next 1 to 2 weeks | 13% | 12% | 9% | 7% | 6% |
| Within the next month | 23% | 22% | 21% | 18% | 14% |
| By the end of next month | 22% | 20% | 15% | 15% | 13% |
| It is too soon to consider easing restrictions | 25% | 27% | 37% | 42% | 49% |
| Unsure | 8% | 6% | 8% | 8% | 10% |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 |
| Gender | Age Group | ||||||
| Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | ||
| As soon as possible | 9% | 12% | 7% | 8% | 9% | 10% | |
| Within the next 1 to 2 weeks | 13% | 15% | 11% | 16% | 12% | 12% | |
| Within the next month | 23% | 24% | 21% | 24% | 19% | 25% | |
| By the end of next month | 22% | 22% | 22% | 22% | 24% | 19% | |
| It is too soon to consider easing restrictions | 25% | 22% | 29% | 19% | 27% | 30% | |
| Unsure | 8% | 5% | 10% | 10% | 8% | 5% | |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 524 | 549 | 339 | 349 | 385 | |
- Openness to easing the lockdown restrictions continues to increase, with just a quarter (25%) now believing it’s too soon to consider easing restrictions.
- Women (29%) and those over 55 years (30%) are most likely to believe it’s too soon to consider easing restrictions.
Belief in Conspiracy Theories
Q. Here are some things people have been saying about Covid-19. They’re all things that some people say are true and others say aren’t true. To what extent do you believe each of the following to true or false?
| TOTAL:
True |
TOTAL: False | Definitely true | Probably true | Probably false | Definitely false | I don’t know enough to make a decision | |
| The outbreak in China is actually much worse than the official Chinese statistics show | 77% | 11% | 33% | 44% | 7% | 4% | 12% |
| The Covid-19 virus was engineered and released from a Chinese laboratory in Wuhan | 39% | 39% | 14% | 25% | 22% | 17% | 22% |
| The number of Covid-19 deaths have been exaggerated by the media and governments to scare the population | 20% | 71% | 7% | 13% | 23% | 48% | 10% |
| Bill Gates played a role in the creation and spread of Covid-19 | 13% | 71% | 4% | 9% | 17% | 55% | 15% |
| The Covid-19 virus is not dangerous and is being used to force people to get vaccines | 13% | 79% | 4% | 10% | 14% | 65% | 8% |
| The 5G wireless network is being used to spread the Covid-19 virus | 12% | 75% | 4% | 8% | 14% | 61% | 13% |
| TOTAL: True | Gender | Age Group | ||||
| Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | |
| The outbreak in China is actually much worse than the official Chinese statistics show | 77% | 79% | 75% | 69% | 75% | 85% |
| The Covid-19 virus was engineered and released from a Chinese laboratory in Wuhan | 39% | 40% | 39% | 41% | 39% | 37% |
| The number of Covid-19 deaths have been exaggerated by the media and governments to scare the population | 20% | 23% | 16% | 30% | 21% | 10% |
| Bill Gates played a role in the creation and spread of Covid-19 | 13% | 14% | 13% | 20% | 13% | 8% |
| The Covid-19 virus is not dangerous and is being used to force people to get vaccines | 13% | 17% | 10% | 20% | 15% | 6% |
| The 5G wireless network is being used to spread the Covid-19 virus | 12% | 15% | 9% | 20% | 13% | 4% |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 524 | 549 | 339 | 349 | 385 |
- There is widespread belief that the outbreak in China is actually much worse than the official Chinese statistics show with three-quarters (77%) believe this to be definitely, or probably true.
- Around the same number of people believe it’s true that the Covid-19 virus was engineered and released from a Chinese laboratory in Wuhan as believe it to be false (both 39%).
- Only a small minority believe other conspiracy theories to be true.
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
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