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  • Sep, 2020

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    Statements about Covid-19 Outbreak in Aged Care

    Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the recent Covid-19 outbreaks and spread of the virus within aged care facilities?

    TOTAL: AGREE 07/09 24/08
    Authorities failed to prepare an adequate Covid-19 strategy to deal with outbreaks in aged care facilities 77% 77%
    Hygiene and care standards in private care homes are poor which has contributed to the spread of Covid-19 69% 71%
    Covid-19 has entered and spread through aged care facilities because of community transmission from friends and families of residents 67% 67%
    The impact of Covid-19 in aged care facilities has been worsened by long-term underfunding of the aged care sector 72% 70%

     

      TOTAL: AGREE TOTAL: DISAGREE Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Unsure
    Authorities failed to prepare an adequate Covid-19 strategy to deal with outbreaks in aged care facilities 77% 15% 38% 39% 11% 4% 8%
    Hygiene and care standards in private care homes are poor which has contributed to the spread of Covid-19 69% 20% 30% 39% 15% 5% 11%
    Covid-19 has entered and spread through aged care facilities because of community transmission from friends and families of residents 67% 20% 26% 41% 15% 5% 13%
    The impact of Covid-19 in aged care facilities has been worsened by long-term underfunding of the aged care sector 72% 17% 36% 36% 12% 5% 11%

     

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    TOTAL: AGREE Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor Liberal + National Greens TOTAL: Other
    Authorities failed to prepare an adequate Covid-19 strategy to deal with outbreaks in aged care facilities 77% 77% 78% 66% 78% 86% 83% 79% 78% 79%
    Hygiene and care standards in private care homes are poor which has contributed to the spread of Covid-19 69% 71% 67% 58% 70% 78% 74% 72% 62% 77%
    Covid-19 has entered and spread through aged care facilities because of community transmission from friends and families of residents 67% 71% 63% 66% 74% 61% 67% 69% 70% 71%
    The impact of Covid-19 in aged care facilities has been worsened by long-term underfunding of the aged care sector 72% 71% 73% 64% 74% 76% 79% 71% 84% 69%
    Base (n) 1,076 524 552 326 365 385 321 390 108 138
    • Perceptions of the causes of the spread of Covid-19 within aged care facilities are consistent with previous results. A majority of people believe that there was insufficient preparation from authorities (77% agreement) and that long-term underfunding of aged care facilities has worsened the impact (72%)
    • Similar numbers also agree that the hygiene and care standards in private care homes has contributed to the spread of (69%) and that community transmission from friends and families of residents has also contributed to the spread (67%).
  • Sep, 2020

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    Coronavirus concerns

    Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Australia?

      07/09 24/08 10/08 27/07 13/07 22/06 15/06 08/06 01/06 25/05 18/05
    Very concerned 37% 40% 50% 43% 36% 25% 28% 27% 32% 30% 33%
    Quite concerned 45% 46% 40% 44% 48% 50% 45% 48% 49% 49% 47%
    Not that concerned 13% 10% 7% 9% 12% 21% 23% 21% 15% 16% 16%
    Not at all concerned 5% 4% 3% 4% 3% 4% 4% 5% 4% 5% 4%
    Base (n) 1,076 1,068 1,010 1,058 1,054 1,079 1,087 1,073 1,059 1,087 1,073
    • Concern about Covid-19 has eased this week with 37% very concerned about the threat (down from 50% in early August).
  • Sep, 2020

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    State and Federal Government Working Together

    Q. How well do you think your State or Territory government and the Federal government are working together on issues to address the Covid-19 pandemic?

      Total   State
      NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    Very well 17% 21% 8% 15% 19% 24%
    Quite well 46% 46% 49% 48% 47% 40%
    Quite poorly 22% 19% 28% 19% 21% 23%
    Very poorly 8% 8% 10% 10% 6% 3%
    Unsure 6% 7% 5% 7% 7% 8%
    TOTAL: Well 64% 66% 57% 64% 66% 65%
    TOTAL: Poorly 30% 27% 38% 29% 27% 27%
    Base (n) 1,076 352 275 215 88 99
    • People believe that more could be done between the Federal and State governments to address the Covid-19 pandemic. Less than a fifth of people (17%) think the Federal government and their state government are working together very well. While 46% say they are working together quite well, 30% rate the working relationship as poor.
    • The Federal and Victorian governments are seen to have the worst relationship, with 57% of Victorians saying the Federal government is working well with their state government, but just 8% believe they are working very well together.
  • Aug, 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?

      24/08 10/08 27/07 13/07 22/06 15/06 08/06 01/06 25/05 18/05 11/05
    Very poor 6% 7% 6% 6% 4% 3% 4% 5% 4% 3% 4%
    Quite poor 11% 8% 11% 10% 8% 8% 8% 7% 6% 7% 9%
    Neither good, nor poor 22% 21% 20% 20% 17% 16% 18% 20% 16% 17% 16%
    Quite good 40% 40% 40% 40% 43% 42% 40% 39% 43% 41% 39%
    Very good 22% 24% 24% 24% 27% 30% 30% 28% 30% 32% 32%
    TOTAL: Poor 17% 16% 16% 16% 12% 11% 12% 12% 11% 11% 13%
    TOTAL: Good 61% 63% 64% 64% 71% 72% 70% 68% 73% 73% 71%
    Base (n) 1,068 1,010 1,058 1,054 1,079 1,087 1,073 1,059 1,087 1,073 1,067

     

    • Participants’ rating of the Federal Government’s handling of the crisis slips again this week, with 61% rating their response as very or quite good. This is progressively down from 72% positive rating in June.
    • Men are more likely than women to rate the Government’s performance as very poor or quite poor (21% to 13%).
    • Rating of the Government among Labor supporters has fallen from 69% rating their handling very or quite good in May to 55% this week. Positive rating among Coalition supporters remains high at 77%
  • Aug, 2020

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    State Government response to Covid-19

    Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?

    TOTAL: Good 24/08 10/08 27/07 13/07 22/06 15/06 08/06 01/06 25/05 18/05 11/05
    NSW 59% 61% 62% 63% 70% 65% 67% 62% 65% 70% 70%
    VIC 47% 49% 53% 49% 65% 75% 72% 71% 73% 71% 71%
    QLD 73% 68% 67% 69% 64% 67% 68% 69% 74% 66% 70%
    SA 65% 72% 76% 79% 79% 76% 79% 70% 84% 80% 78%
    WA 84% 86% 82% 77% 75% 77% 84% 79% 83% 86% 83%

     

    • Positive rating of the NSW Government’s handling of the crisis moved -2%pts this week to 59%, this is down from a peak of 70% in June.
    • Positive rating of the Victorian Government also moved -2%pts this week (to 47%). This is consistent with ratings since the outbreak in Victoria in July.
    • Western Australia (84%) have the highest state government ratings for handling the crisis.
    VICTORIA ONLY 24/08 10/08 27/07 13/07 22/06 15/06 08/06 01/06 25/05 18/05 11/05
    Very poor 15% 16% 13% 14% 8% 6% 6% 4% 3% 3% 4%
    Quite poor 20% 14% 17% 12% 5% 5% 6% 7% 9% 10% 11%
    Neither good, nor poor 17% 21% 17% 25% 22% 13% 16% 17% 16% 15% 15%
    Quite good 29% 28% 34% 32% 38% 39% 38% 39% 37% 38% 34%
    Very good 18% 21% 19% 17% 26% 36% 34% 33% 36% 33% 37%
    TOTAL: Poor 36% 30% 30% 26% 13% 11% 12% 11% 11% 14% 14%
    TOTAL: Good 47% 49% 53% 49% 65% 75% 72% 71% 73% 71% 71%
    Base (n) 275 499 239 281 261 275 275 275 275 267 275

  • Aug, 2020

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    Responsibility for Covid-19 Outbreak in Aged Care

    Q. In your opinion, who is most responsible for the recent Covid-19 outbreaks and spread of the virus within aged care facilities?

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
      Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor Liberal + National Greens TOTAL: Other
    Federal Government 28% 32% 24% 31% 32% 21% 34% 25% 28% 31%
    State or Territory governments 30% 29% 31% 37% 30% 24% 26% 32% 35% 28%
    Aged Care providers 42% 39% 45% 32% 37% 55% 40% 43% 37% 41%
    Base (n) 1,068 513 555 317 370 381 313 447 96 118

     

    • Similar proportions of people attribute responsibility to the spread of Covid-19 within aged care facilities to Federal (28%) and state (30%) governments. However more (42%) place the responsibility on the providers of aged care.
    • Men are more likely than women to say the Federal government is responsible (32% to 24%).
    • Coalition voters are least likely to believe the Federal government is responsible for the outbreaks of Covid-19 within aged care facilities (25%).
  • Aug, 2020

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    Statements about Covid-19 Outbreak in Aged Care

    Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the recent Covid-19 outbreaks and spread of the virus within aged care facilities?

      TOTAL: AGREE TOTAL: DISAGREE Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Unsure
    Authorities failed to prepare an adequate Covid-19 strategy to deal with outbreaks in aged care facilities 77% 14% 38% 39% 11% 3% 9%
    Hygiene and care standards in private care homes are poor which has contributed to the spread of Covid-19 71% 17% 32% 39% 13% 4% 12%
    Covid-19 has entered and spread through aged care facilities because of community transmission from friends and families of residents 67% 19% 24% 42% 13% 6% 14%
    The impact of Covid-19 in aged care facilities has been worsened by long-term underfunding of the aged care sector 70% 18% 34% 26% 14% 4% 12%

     

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    TOTAL: AGREE Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor Liberal + National Greens TOTAL: Other
    Authorities failed to prepare an adequate Covid-19 strategy to deal with outbreaks in aged care facilities 77% 77% 77% 69% 78% 83% 82% 79% 79% 73%
    Hygiene and care standards in private care homes are poor which has contributed to the spread of Covid-19 71% 73% 69% 62% 70% 78% 74% 74% 63% 73%
    Covid-19 has entered and spread through aged care facilities because of community transmission from friends and families of residents 67% 72% 62% 69% 72% 61% 68% 73% 68% 58%
    The impact of Covid-19 in aged care facilities has been worsened by long-term underfunding of the aged care sector 70% 70% 70% 69% 71% 70% 77% 68% 85% 67%
    Base (n) 1,068 513 555 317 370 381 313 447 96 118

     

    • There is acknowledgement in the community of a range of factors that have contributed to the spread of Covid-19 within aged care facilities. A majority of people believe that there was insufficient preparation from authorities (77% agreement) and that long-term underfunding of aged care facilities has worsened the impact.
    • Similar numbers also agree that the hygiene and care standards in private care homes has contributed to the spread of (71%) and that community transmission from friends and families of residents has also contributed to the spread (67%).
  • Aug, 2020

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    Support for Measures to Limit Covid-19 Outbreak

    Q. To what extent would you support or oppose the following measures to limit the spread of Covid-19 in the community?

      TOTAL: SUPPORT TOTAL: OPPOSE Strongly support Somewhat support Neither support nor oppose Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose
    All aged care facility residents who are diagnosed with Covid-19 are automatically transferred to a public hospital 63% 17% 35% 28% 20% 10% 7%
    Any person diagnosed with Covid-19 is required to quarantine in a dedicated facility and not isolate from home 52% 23% 27% 24% 25% 14% 9%
    The closure of international borders to all foreign travellers and returning Australian citizens 65% 18% 39% 26% 17% 10% 8%
    Any person diagnosed with Covid-19 must wear a tracking bracelet while self-isolating to ensure they don’t leave their homes 60% 20% 31% 29% 20% 11% 10%

     

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    TOTAL: SUPPORT Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor Liberal + National Greens TOTAL: Other
    All aged care facility residents who are diagnosed with Covid-19 are automatically transferred to a public hospital 63% 63% 63% 49% 62% 78% 65% 67% 60% 57%
    Any person diagnosed with Covid-19 is required to quarantine in a dedicated facility and not isolate from home 52% 52% 52% 44% 51% 60% 55% 53% 47% 43%
    The closure of international borders to all foreign travellers and returning Australian citizens 65% 63% 68% 51% 65% 78% 68% 69% 56% 61%
    Any person diagnosed with Covid-19 must wear a tracking bracelet while self-isolating to ensure they don’t leave their homes 60% 60% 60% 45% 61% 71% 63% 62% 47% 59%
    Base (n) 1,068 513 555 317 370 381 313 447 96 118

     

    • Around two-thirds of people support the closure of international borders to all foreign travellers and returning Australian citizens (65%), with similar numbers also supporting the transfer to a public hospital of all aged care facility residents who are diagnosed with Covid-19 (63%) and the compulsory wearing of a tracking bracelet during self-isolation for people diagnosed with Covi-19 (60%).
    • Just over half of people support the requirement for any person diagnosed with Covid-19 is required to quarantine in a dedicated facility and not isolate from home (52%). Support for this proposition is lowest among those aged 18-34 (44%) and Greens voters (47%).

     

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