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Employment and Job prospects – Employed
Q. To what extent you agree or disagree with the following statements about work after the Covid-19 outbreak?
THOSE WHO ARE STILL IN EMPLOYMENT (n=488)
| TOTAL:
Agree |
TOTAL: Disagree | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Neither agree, nor disagree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | |
| I’m confident I’ll receive a pay rise soon after things are back to normal | 21% | 50% | 6% | 16% | 28% | 24% | 27% |
| I’m confident I’ll be able to get a promotion if I want one | 22% | 44% | 6% | 16% | 34% | 22% | 22% |
| I don’t think my wages will keep up with increases in the cost of living | 48% | 19% | 17% | 31% | 33% | 13% | 6% |
- There is low optimism for wage growth following Covid-19. Just 21% agree (strongly/somewhat) that they expect a pay rise soon after things are back to normal and 22% expect to be able to gain a promotion.
- Around half of people (48%) don’t think their wages will keep up with increases in the cost of living.
Coronavirus concerns
Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Australia?
| 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | 13/04 | 06/04 | 29/03 | 22/03 | 09/03 | 10/02 | |
| Very concerned | 34% | 32% | 39% | 44% | 45% | 51% | 53% | 39% | 27% | 25% |
| Quite concerned | 49% | 46% | 44% | 43% | 43% | 37% | 35% | 43% | 36% | 43% |
| Not that concerned | 14% | 18% | 13% | 11% | 9% | 10% | 10% | 14% | 28% | 26% |
| Not at all concerned | 3% | 4% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 9% | 6% |
| Base (n) | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 | 1,068 | 1,069 | 1,086 | 1,034 | 1,096 | 1,057 |
| Age group | Location | |||||
| Total | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Capital | Non-Capital | |
| Very concerned | 34% | 31% | 39% | 31% | 36% | 29% |
| Quite concerned | 49% | 52% | 47% | 48% | 48% | 50% |
| Not that concerned | 14% | 15% | 11% | 16% | 13% | 18% |
| Not at all concerned | 3% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 4% |
| Base (n) | 1,067 | 341 | 341 | 385 | 718 | 349 |
- Concern about the threat of Covid-19 increased this week with 34% saying they are very concerned and 49% saying they are quite concerned.
Likelihood of developing Coronavirus
Q. How likely do you think it is, that you will develop Covid-19?
| 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | 13/04 | 06/04 | 29/03 | 22/03 | 09/03 | |
| Very likely | 6% | 5% | 5% | 7% | 5% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 7% |
| Somewhat likely | 24% | 26% | 21% | 25% | 28% | 33% | 36% | 34% | 24% |
| Somewhat unlikely | 48% | 46% | 50% | 52% | 49% | 45% | 45% | 45% | 43% |
| Very unlikely | 21% | 23% | 23% | 17% | 18% | 14% | 12% | 13% | 26% |
| Base (n) | 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% | 7% | 11% | 2% | 7% | 5% |
| Somewhat likely | 24% | 27% | 28% | 18% | 26% | 20% |
| Somewhat unlikely | 48% | 43% | 42% | 58% | 46% | 52% |
| Very unlikely | 21% | 23% | 19% | 23% | 20% | 23% |
| Base (n) | 1,067 | 341 | 341 | 385 | 718 | 349 |
Government response to Covid-19
Q. Overall, how would you rate the Government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | 13/04 | 06/04 | 29/03 | 22/03 | |
| Very poor | 4% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 11% | 9% |
| Quite poor | 9% | 9% | 9% | 10% | 12% | 15% | 21% | 20% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 16% | 20% | 17% | 21% | 20% | 21% | 24% | 26% |
| Quite good | 39% | 38% | 44% | 42% | 40% | 37% | 34% | 33% |
| Very good | 32% | 28% | 26% | 23% | 23% | 21% | 11% | 12% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 13% | 14% | 13% | 15% | 17% | 21% | 31% | 29% |
| TOTAL: Good | 71% | 66% | 70% | 65% | 63% | 58% | 45% | 45% |
| Base (n) | 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 | 4% | 5% | 3% | 5% | 4% | 2% | 4% | 3% | |
| Quite poor | 9% | 9% | 8% | 12% | 11% | 4% | 9% | 7% | |
| Neither good, nor poor | 16% | 16% | 17% | 25% | 15% | 10% | 15% | 18% | |
| Quite good | 39% | 38% | 40% | 43% | 38% | 37% | 41% | 35% | |
| Very good | 32% | 31% | 32% | 14% | 31% | 47% | 29% | 36% | |
| TOTAL: Poor | 13% | 15% | 11% | 17% | 15% | 6% | 14% | 11% | |
| TOTAL: Good | 71% | 69% | 73% | 57% | 70% | 84% | 71% | 71% | |
| Base (n) | 1,067 | 532 | 535 | 341 | 341 | 385 | 718 | 349 | |
State Government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | 13/04 | |
| Very poor | 4% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 5% |
| Quite poor | 8% | 8% | 9% | 9% | 11% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 16% | 18% | 17% | 20% | 20% |
| Quite good | 39% | 38% | 41% | 39% | 38% |
| Very good | 34% | 31% | 30% | 26% | 26% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 12% | 12% | 13% | 14% | 16% |
| TOTAL: Good | 73% | 70% | 70% | 66% | 64% |
| Base (n) | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 | 1,068 |
| State | ||||||
| Total | NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | |
| Very poor | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 1% | 1% |
| Quite poor | 8% | 7% | 11% | 9% | 3% | 4% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 16% | 18% | 15% | 18% | 19% | 12% |
| Quite good | 39% | 42% | 34% | 44% | 36% | 30% |
| Very good | 34% | 28% | 37% | 26% | 42% | 54% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 12% | 12% | 14% | 12% | 4% | 5% |
| TOTAL: Good | 73% | 70% | 71% | 70% | 78% | 83% |
| Base (n) | 1,067 | 337 | 275 | 215 | 88 | 103 |
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?
| 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | |
| As soon as possible | 13% | 10% | 10% | 9% |
| Within the next 1 to 2 weeks | 12% | 9% | 7% | 6% |
| Within the next month | 22% | 21% | 18% | 14% |
| By the end of next month | 20% | 15% | 15% | 13% |
| It is too soon to consider easing restrictions | 27% | 37% | 42% | 49% |
| Unsure | 6% | 8% | 8% | 10% |
| Base (n) | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 |
| Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
| As soon as possible | 11% | 15% | 4% | 17% |
| Within the next 1 to 2 weeks | 10% | 15% | 4% | 18% |
| Within the next month | 17% | 25% | 35% | 17% |
| By the end of next month | 24% | 17% | 15% | 17% |
| It is too soon to consider easing restrictions | 33% | 23% | 35% | 20% |
| Unsure | 5% | 4% | 6% | 10% |
| Base (n) | 306 | 418 | 86 | 143 |
- People are becoming increasingly open to easing the lockdown restrictions – now just over a quarter (27%) believe it’s too soon to consider easing restrictions and 20% say that the government could ease restrictions by the end of June.
- Labor and Greens voters (33% and 35% respectively) are more likely to say it’s too soon to consider easing restrictions than Coalition and other voters (23% and 20%).
Attitudes towards the tracing app
Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with these statements about the suggested COVIDSafe app?
| TOTAL: Agree | TOTAL: Disagree | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Neither agree, nor disagree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | |
| This app would help limit the spread of Covid-19 | 55% | 20% | 20% | 34% | 25% | 11% | 9% |
| This app would speed up the removal of physical distancing restrictions | 48% | 21% | 15% | 33% | 31% | 14% | 7% |
| I would be concerned with the security of my personal data if this app was on my phone | 47% | 29% | 23% | 24% | 24% | 17% | 12% |
| I’m confident the government will adequately protect any data it collects about me via the app | 45% | 31% | 18% | 27% | 24% | 17% | 13% |
| I’m confident the government will not misuse any data it collects about me via the app | 44% | 29% | 18% | 27% | 26% | 16% | 13% |
| I would be comfortable being in close contact with others who didn’t have the app | 39% | 25% | 13% | 26% | 37% | 16% | 9% |
| TOTAL: Agree | Gender | Age Group | ||||
| Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | |
| This app would help limit the spread of Covid-19 | 55% | 55% | 54% | 49% | 51% | 63% |
| This app would speed up the removal of physical distancing restrictions | 48% | 50% | 47% | 45% | 48% | 51% |
| I would be concerned with the security of my personal data if this app was on my phone | 47% | 47% | 47% | 49% | 54% | 39% |
| I’m confident the government will adequately protect any data it collects about me via the app | 45% | 47% | 44% | 42% | 44% | 49% |
| I’m confident the government will not misuse any data it collects about me via the app | 44% | 45% | 43% | 39% | 42% | 51% |
| I would be comfortable being in close contact with others who didn’t have the app | 39% | 42% | 36% | 40% | 41% | 35% |
| Base (n) | 1,067 | 532 | 535 | 341 | 341 | 385 |
| TOTAL: Agree | Federal Voting Intention | |||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
| This app would help limit the spread of Covid-19 | 55% | 64% | 44% | 44% |
| This app would speed up the removal of physical distancing restrictions | 47% | 57% | 40% | 37% |
| I would be concerned with the security of my personal data if this app was on my phone | 54% | 38% | 53% | 57% |
| I’m confident the government will adequately protect any data it collects about me via the app | 43% | 58% | 25% | 35% |
| I’m confident the government will not misuse any data it collects about me via the app | 40% | 56% | 33% | 33% |
| I would be comfortable being in close contact with others who didn’t have the app | 43% | 40% | 31% | 44% |
| Base (n) | 306 | 418 | 86 | 143 |
- Less than half agree that they are confident the government will adequately protect any data it collects (45%) and not misuse that data (44%).
- 55% agree the app would help limit the spread of Covid-19, 48% agree it would speed up the removal of physical distancing restrictions and 39% would be comfortable being in close contact with others who don’t have the app.
- 47% are concerned with the security of their personal data if this app was on their phone.
Support for Government reactions to new clusters
Q. To what extent do you support or oppose the following actions the government could take if future clusters of new infections appear?
| TOTAL: Support | TOTAL: Oppose | Strongly support | Somewhat support | Neither support, nor oppose | Somewhat oppose | Strongly oppose | |
| Restrict any travel to or from geographic areas with infection clusters | 77% | 9% | 48% | 29% | 14% | 5% | 4% |
| Increase fines for people found to be breaching the existing restrictions | 67% | 14% | 37% | 30% | 19% | 8% | 6% |
| Return to restrictions on physical distance, movement and work types nation-wide | 63% | 14% | 31% | 33% | 22% | 9% | 5% |
| Make downloading the COVIDSafe app mandatory | 38% | 38% | 16% | 21% | 24% | 17% | 22% |
| TOTAL: Support | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | ||||||
| Total | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
| Restrict any travel to or from geographic areas with infection clusters | 77% | 64% | 74% | 90% | 80% | 83% | 65% | 70% |
| Increase fines for people found to be breaching the existing restrictions | 67% | 60% | 64% | 76% | 71% | 73% | 52% | 53% |
| Return to restrictions on physical distance, movement and work types nation-wide | 63% | 55% | 62% | 72% | 67% | 67% | 55% | 53% |
| Make downloading the COVIDSafe app mandatory | 38% | 38% | 36% | 39% | 35% | 47% | 27% | 26% |
| Base (n) | 1,067 | 341 | 341 | 385 | 306 | 418 | 86 | 143 |
- Three-quarters of participants (77%) support restricting any travel to or from geographic areas with infection clusters, another 67% support increasing fines for people found to be breaching the existing restrictions and 63% support returning to restrictions on physical distance, movement and work types nation-wide.
- Participants over 55 are more likely to support geographic restrictions around infection clusters (90%), increasing fines (76%) and returning to previous restrictions (72%), than those aged 18-34 (64%, 60% and 55% respectively).
- Labor and Coalition voters are more in favour of the government implementing these measures (aside from making downloading the COVIDSafe app mandatory), than Greens or other party voters.
- Participants are polarised in their support of mandatory downloading the COVIDSafe app if new clusters appear (38% support, 38% oppose) – Coalition voters are most likely to support this measure (47%) than all other voters (31%).
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Download this week's ReportEssential Report
Two Party Preferred: 14 May 2019
Labor
51.5%-0.5
Coalition
48.5%+0.5
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