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Coronavirus concerns
Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Australia?
| 27/07 | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | |
| Very concerned | 43% | 36% | 25% | 28% | 27% | 32% | 30% | 33% | 34% | 32% | 39% |
| Quite concerned | 44% | 48% | 50% | 45% | 48% | 49% | 49% | 47% | 49% | 46% | 44% |
| Not that concerned | 9% | 12% | 21% | 23% | 21% | 15% | 16% | 16% | 14% | 18% | 13% |
| Not at all concerned | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 3% |
| Base (n) | 1,058 | 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 | 43% | 48% | 47% | 36% | 40% | 38% | |
| Quite concerned | 44% | 43% | 43% | 47% | 46% | 48% | |
| Not that concerned | 9% | 7% | 7% | 10% | 11% | 9% | |
| Not at all concerned | 4% | 2% | 3% | 7% | 3% | 6% | |
| Base (n) | 1,058 | 352 | 239 | 220 | 88 | 110 | |
- Concern about Covid-19 has increased again – two weeks ago 36% of participants were very concerned about the threat of Covid-19 which has increased to 43%.
- Concern is highest in New South Wales (48% are very concerned) and Victoria (47%), while states where Covid-19 cases aren’t increasing are less concerned (36% very concerned, QLD; 40% SA, 38% WA).
State Government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| All States | 27/07 | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 |
| Very poor | 7% | 7% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 4% |
| Quite poor | 11% | 11% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 7% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 9% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 18% | 18% | 17% | 17% | 17% | 20% | 17% | 17% | 16% | 18% | 17% |
| Quite good | 36% | 36% | 41% | 38% | 39% | 38% | 38% | 39% | 39% | 38% | 41% |
| Very good | 28% | 28% | 28% | 33% | 32% | 30% | 35% | 33% | 34% | 31% | 30% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 18% | 17% | 13% | 12% | 11% | 12% | 11% | 11% | 12% | 12% | 13% |
| TOTAL: Good | 65% | 64% | 69% | 71% | 71% | 68% | 73% | 72% | 73% | 70% | 70% |
| Base (n) | 1,058 | 1,054 | 1,079 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 |
| TOTAL: Good | 27/07 | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 |
| NSW | 62% | 63% | 70% | 65% | 67% | 62% | 65% | 70% | 70% | 68% | 63% |
| VIC | 53% | 49% | 65% | 75% | 72% | 71% | 73% | 71% | 71% | 72% | 77% |
| QLD | 67% | 69% | 64% | 67% | 68% | 69% | 74% | 66% | 70% | 65% | 67% |
| SA | 76% | 79% | 79% | 76% | 79% | 70% | 84% | 80% | 78% | 76% | 77% |
| WA | 82% | 77% | 75% | 77% | 84% | 79% | 83% | 86% | 83% | 79% | 76% |
| VICTORIA ONLY | 27/07 | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 |
| Very poor | 13% | 14% | 8% | 6% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 3% |
| Quite poor | 17% | 12% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 7% | 9% | 10% | 11% | 8% | 6% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 17% | 25% | 22% | 13% | 16% | 17% | 16% | 15% | 15% | 17% | 14% |
| Quite good | 34% | 32% | 38% | 39% | 38% | 39% | 37% | 38% | 34% | 32% | 40% |
| Very good | 19% | 17% | 26% | 36% | 34% | 33% | 36% | 33% | 37% | 40% | 37% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 30% | 26% | 13% | 11% | 12% | 11% | 11% | 14% | 14% | 11% | 9% |
| TOTAL: Good | 53% | 49% | 65% | 75% | 72% | 71% | 73% | 71% | 71% | 72% | 77% |
| Base (n) | 239 | 281 | 261 | 275 | 275 | 275 | 275 | 267 | 275 | 275 | 272 |
- Victoria’s rating of their State Government’s performance is still well below their results in June and is steady during the last fortnight (53%).
- South Australia (76%) and Western Australia (82%) have the highest state government ratings for handling the crisis.
Government response to Covid-19
Q. Overall, how would you rate the Government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 27/07 | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | |
| Very poor | 6% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 4% |
| Quite poor | 11% | 10% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 7% | 9% | 9% | 9% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 20% | 20% | 17% | 16% | 18% | 20% | 16% | 17% | 16% | 20% | 17% |
| Quite good | 40% | 40% | 43% | 42% | 40% | 39% | 43% | 41% | 39% | 38% | 44% |
| Very good | 24% | 24% | 27% | 30% | 30% | 28% | 30% | 32% | 32% | 28% | 26% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 16% | 16% | 12% | 11% | 12% | 12% | 11% | 11% | 13% | 14% | 13% |
| TOTAL: Good | 64% | 64% | 71% | 72% | 70% | 68% | 73% | 73% | 71% | 66% | 70% |
| Base (n) | 1,058 | 1,054 | 1,079 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,059 | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 |
- Participants’ rating of the Federal Government’s handling of the crisis is stable from last fortnight, with 64% rating the response as good (either very or quite good).
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%).
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%).
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’.
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.
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.
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
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