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  • Jul, 2020

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    Preference for elimination or suppression strategy

    Q. Out of the following two strategies, which do you think the Australian government should pursue in its response to the Covid-19 outbreak?

     

        Voting intention
      Total Labor NET: Coalition Greens NET: Other
    Elimination strategy:

    Work towards removing all cases of Covid-19 in Australia

    		 44% 52% 31% 54% 49%
    Suppression strategy:

    Work towards minimising outbreaks and keeping the number of new cases at a manageable level for medical services until an effective vaccine is available

    		 56% 48% 69% 46% 51%
    Base (n) 1,058 334 428 81 107

     

        State  
      Total NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    Elimination strategy:

    Work towards removing all cases of Covid-19 in Australia

    		 44% 42% 46% 41% 42% 46%
    Suppression strategy:

    Work towards minimising outbreaks and keeping the number of new cases at a manageable level for medical services until an effective vaccine is available

    		 56% 58% 54% 59% 58% 54%
    Base (n) 1,058 352 239 220 88 110

     

    • The population is split on the preferred strategy to deal with Covid-19 in Australia. While 56% of participants think the Australian government should pursue a suppression strategy towards Covid-19, 46% opted for elimination of the virus.
    • Suppression was the favoured b the majority of residents in all states.
    • Coalition voters (69%) are more in favour of the Suppression strategy than, Labor (48%), Greens (46%) and voters for other parties (51%).
  • Jul, 2020

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    Mandatory face masks

    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%).
  • Jul, 2020

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    Effectiveness of face masks

    Q. In your opinion, how effective are face masks or coverings at preventing the spread of Covid-19?

        Gender Age group
      Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+
    Very effective 19% 21% 17% 22% 19% 16%
    Quite effective 46% 43% 49% 40% 47% 51%
    Not that effective 20% 22% 17% 24% 19% 17%
    Not effective at all 5% 7% 4% 5% 7% 4%
    Unsure 10% 7% 13% 8% 9% 12%
    Base (n) 1,058 538 520 341 331 386

     

        State
      Total NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    Very effective 19% 18% 19% 20% 19% 13%
    Quite effective 46% 49% 56% 34% 43% 42%
    Not that effective 20% 19% 14% 24% 25% 26%
    Not effective at all 5% 4% 5% 10% 2% 6%
    Unsure 10% 11% 6% 13% 12% 13%
    Base (n) 1,058 352 239 220 88 110

     

    • There is widespread belief that using face masks can reduce the spread of the virus, 19% think they are very effective and 46% quite effective. Just 5% thinking they are not effective at all effective in preventing the spread of Covid-19.
    • Victorians are most likely to believe masks are effective at preventing the spread of Covid-19 with 19% believing they are ‘very effective’ and 56% saying ‘quite effective’.
  • Jul, 2020

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    Expected restriction levels

    Q. In response to the Covid-19 outbreak, what do you expect will happen to the restriction levels in your local area over the next two months?

        Gender State
      Total Male Female NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    I expect restrictions will become tighter 39% 35% 43% 53% 38% 37% 25% 16%
    I expect no change to the restrictions 39% 42% 37% 35% 40% 39% 44% 51%
    I expect restrictions will have eased 22% 23% 20% 12% 22% 24% 31% 33%
    Base (n) 1,058 538 520 352 239 220 88 110

     

    • Australians are preparing for a continuation, or tightening of restrictions over the next few months. 39% expect tighter restrictions in their local area and the same number do not expect any change to the current rules and guidelines. About one in five (22%) believe that restrictions will ease.
    • Women (43%) and residents of New South Wales (53%) are most likely to expect restrictions to become tighter; while men (35%) and Western Australia residents (16%) are less likely to expect this.
  • Jul, 2020

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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.
  • Jul, 2020

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    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%).
  • Jul, 2020

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    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). 
  • Jun, 2020

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    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
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