Q. The national cabinet has set targets for easing Covid-19 restrictions once 70% of the adult population is fully vaccinated against Covid-19, and for lockdowns to stop once 80% of the adult population is fully vaccinated.

These targets are based on the percentage of the adult population who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

• Most people (65%) expect actions to prevent the spread of Covid-19, like wearing masks in crowds and practicing social distancing, should be required even after we achieve the vaccination targets.
• Over half of people agree that we should not be easing Covid-19 lockdown restrictions until a substantial proportion of children are fully vaccinated. Agreement for this is highest among those aged over 55 (66%), Labor voters (65%), and those in WA (71%).
• 44% agree that children should be given priority for the Pfizer vaccine over those in the general population who are eligible for other vaccines. Those with dependent children are more likely than those without to agree with this statement (48% to 41%).

Q. Overall, how would you rate the federal government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?

• 41% of people rate the federal government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak as quite good or very good (38% earlier in the month), with 35% rating it as quite poor or very poor (35% earlier in the month).
• Just 9% of people say the response of the federal government has been very good- the lowest recorded since the start of the pandemic.
• Positive rating of the federal government’s handling of Covid-19 has dropped further in NSW and SA compared to earlier this month (down 5% to 34%, and 3% to 45% respectively). This is the lowest recorded rating for both states.

Positive rating has improved in WA (up 16% to 53%).

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

• Amid the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak and lockdown in NSW, positive rating of the state government’s response to Covid-19 continues to drop, now at 42% from 47% earlier this month.
• Positive rating of the state government in Victoria is at a consistent level with earlier this month (now at 56%, 54% earlier this month), and has improved compared to this time last month (49%).
• Positive rating of the WA government’s handling of Covid-19 has increased to 82%, an improvement from a month ago (77%).

Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the Covid-19 pandemic and its effects?:

• Compared to last year, many effects of lockdowns have become no more manageable.
• 38% are able to get more things done around the house (37% in April 2020), and 37% say they feel lonelier than before the pandemic (36% in April 2020).
• However, more people than last year say they are worried about the effect of social distancing on their personal relationships (34%, up from 29%), and fewer people say social distancing will get easier (56%, down from 61%), and they are more productive around the house (54%, down from 61%).

Q. Thinking about Covid-19 lockdowns across Australia, to what extent are you concerned about the effect of lockdowns on the following?

• The effect of lockdowns is not getting any easier on people’s mental health, with 51% saying they are concerned with their mental wellbeing (50% in July 2021). 43% say they are concerned for their personal relationships (39% in July 2021), and 43% of people in employment are concerned about their work-life balance (49% in July 2021).

• The biggest cause of concern for people is their financial situation (54%). Around half are concerned for their mental wellbeing (51%) and physical health (50%).
• 48% of those in employment are concerned that the lockdowns will result in unemployment or reduced hours.

Q. And now thinking about Covid-19 lockdowns and their impact on children, to what extent are you concerned about the effect of lockdowns on the following?

[Asked only to those with dependent children in the household]

• Parents’ concern for the impact of lockdowns on children has increased since July.
• 65% are now concern for their children’s wellbeing (59% in July), and 61% are concerned their children are falling behind at school (55% in July).

• The greatest concern for parents is their children missing out on socialising (69%), followed by children’s mental wellbeing (65%).
• Among parents with school-aged children, teenagers or older dependent children, 58% are concerned that the lockdowns will affect their children’s readiness for life beyond school, and 56% are concerned about extra exam stress.

Q. The Covid-19 vaccine rollout is underway in Australia.

Once a vaccine becomes available to you, how long would you wait before taking it?

•  The vaccine rollout continues to progress, with 68% who have either received a vaccine, or would do so as soon as possible.
• A quarter (24%) now would wait to receive a vaccine (down from 47% in January).
• 8% say they would never get vaccinated (11% earlier in August).

Q. It has recently been announced that children aged 12-15 with underlying health conditions can receive the Pfizer vaccine in Australia once enough vaccines are available.

Once a vaccine becomes available to your child(ren), how long would you wait before getting them to take it?

[Asked only to those with dependent children in the household]

*Caution: Small base sizes

• Half of parents say would have their children vaccinated as soon as they are eligible, while 41% would not do it straight away. 10% say they would never vaccinate their children against Covid-19.
• Intention to vaccinate their children as soon as possible is highest among parents who are men (54%), those aged over 55 (74%), and Labor and Coalition voters (54% respectively). Parents in NSW are most likely to vaccinate their children as soon as possible (58%).