Essential Report
Views towards interstate travel during Covid-19
Q. The federal government recently announced incentives for Australians to travel to tourist destinations in Australia that have been badly affected by the lack of international visitors.
How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
| TOTAL: Agree | TOTAL: Disagree | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Neither agree nor disagree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | |
| As the Brisbane lockdown shows, there’s not much point in the federal government encouraging people to travel to other parts of Australia until the vaccine program has been completed | 57% | 18% | 24% | 33% | 24% | 12% | 6% |
| I would be nervous about booking a trip to another state because it’s impossible to predict if the trip will suddenly be cancelled because of a Covid-19 outbreak | 69% | 14% | 34% | 35% | 17% | 8% | 5% |
| TOTAL: Agree | Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | ||||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
| As the Brisbane lockdown shows, there’s not much point in the federal government encouraging people to travel to other parts of Australia until the vaccine program has been completed | 57% | 58% | 57% | 51% | 58% | 63% | 60% | 58% | 59% | 56% | ||
| I would be nervous about booking a trip to another state because it’s impossible to predict if the trip will suddenly be cancelled because of a Covid-19 outbreak | 69% | 69% | 69% | 64% | 69% | 75% | 71% | 72% | 72% | 63% | ||
| Base (n) | 1,368 | 669 | 699 | 426 | 460 | 482 | 483 | 471 | 123 | 165 | ||
- The majority (69%) of Australians agree they would be nervous about booking a trip to another state because it’s impossible to predict if the trip will suddenly be cancelled because of a Covid-19 outbreak.
- Most (57%) also agree that as the Brisbane lockdown shows, there’s not much point in the federal government encouraging people to travel to other parts of Australia until the vaccine program has been completed.
- Those over 55 are more likely to agree with these statements than younger cohorts.
Federal government response to Covid-19
Q. Overall, how would you rate the federal government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 15/03 | 01/03 | 15/02 | 01/02 | 30/11 | 16/11 | 02/11 | 05/10 | 21/09 | 07/09 | 24/08 | 10/08 | 27/07 | |
| Very poor | 5% | 6% | 5% | 4% | 6% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 8% | 6% | 7% | 6% |
| Quite poor | 7% | 8% | 7% | 11% | 8% | 9% | 10% | 12% | 13% | 12% | 11% | 8% | 11% |
| Neither good nor poor | 18% | 24% | 19% | 19% | 19% | 18% | 24% | 22% | 21% | 22% | 22% | 21% | 20% |
| Quite good | 39% | 39% | 42% | 42% | 41% | 41% | 39% | 39% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% |
| Very good | 31% | 23% | 27% | 25% | 26% | 26% | 22% | 21% | 21% | 18% | 22% | 24% | 24% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 12% | 14% | 12% | 14% | 13% | 15% | 15% | 18% | 18% | 19% | 17% | 16% | 16% |
| TOTAL: Good | 70% | 62% | 69% | 67% | 67% | 67% | 61% | 60% | 61% | 59% | 61% | 63% | 64% |
| Base (n) | 1,124 | 1,074 | 1,109 | 1,092 | 1,034 | 1,010 | 1,063 | 1,066 | 1,081 | 1,076 | 1,068 | 1,010 | 1,058 |
- Rating of the federal government’s handling of Covid-19 has bounced back up to 70%, the highest rating seen in the last six months.
- This result is driven by the increase within Victoria (65% rating quite or very good, up from 51% earlier in the month).
State government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| TOTAL: Good | 15/03 | 01/03 | 15/02 | 01/02 | 30/11 | 16/11 | 02/11 | 05/10 | 21/09 | 07/09 | 24/08 | 10/08 | 27/07 |
| NSW | 75% | 72% | 72% | 71% | 76% | 75% | 68% | 65% | 67% | 57% | 59% | 61% | 62% |
| VIC | 62% | 49% | 59% | 61% | 60% | 59% | 55% | 45% | 47% | 50% | 47% | 49% | 53% |
| QLD | 75% | 73% | 76% | 78% | 72% | 71% | 69% | 69% | 68% | 66% | 73% | 68% | 67% |
| SA | 85% | 78% | 79% | 80% | 70% | 76% | 77% | 81% | 81% | 74% | 65% | 72% | 76% |
| WA | 91% | 85% | 88% | 80% | 83% | 82% | 81% | 83% | 84% | 87% | 84% | 86% | 82% |
- Positive rating of state governments’ response to the Covid-19 outbreak has increased in all states since earlier this month.
- Notably, the rating of the VIC government has risen to 62% (from 49% earlier in March). This is the highest rating in the last six months.
- Positive rating of the WA and SA governments have also increased to 91% and 85% respectively (from 85% and 73% mid last month). This rating of the WA government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak is the highest seen for any state government to date.
- Rating of the NSW and QLD governments remain stable at 75% respectively.
Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine
Q. The Covid-19 vaccine rollout has begun in Australia.
Once a vaccine becomes available to you, how long would you wait before taking it?
| 15/03 | 01/03 | 18/01 | 14/12 | 10/08 | |
| I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible / I’ve already been vaccinated | 47% | 50% | 42% | 43% | 56% |
| I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away | 40% | 40% | 47% | 46% | 35% |
| I’d never get vaccinated | 12% | 10% | 11% | 10% | 8% |
| Base (n) | 1,124 | 1,074 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 |
- With the launch of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout underway nationwide, just under half (47%) now say they would get vaccinated as soon as possible – a slight dip from earlier in March but still noticeably higher than levels at the end of 2020 and at the start of this year.
- The same proportion of people as earlier in the month say that would get vaccinated but not straight away (40%).
- Just over 1 in 10 (12%) say that would never get vaccinated, consistent with levels seen in the last few months.
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
| I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible / I’ve already been vaccinated | 47% | 51% | 42% | 33% | 44% | 60% | 46% | 55% | 45% | 42% | ||
| I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away | 40% | 36% | 43% | 50% | 38% | 32% | 42% | 35% | 42% | 33% | ||
| I’d never get vaccinated | 12% | 9% | 15% | 16% | 13% | 7% | 11% | 8% | 12% | 20% | ||
| Base (n) | 1,124 | 553 | 571 | 337 | 383 | 404 | 375 | 410 | 98 | 142 | ||
- Those most likely to get the vaccine immediately include men (51%) and those aged over 55 (60%).
- Those voting for independent or minor parties are the most likely to say they would never get vaccinated (20%).
Federal government response to Covid-19
Q. Overall, how would you rate the federal government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| 01/03 | 15/02 | 01/02 | 30/11 | 16/11 | 02/11 | 05/10 | 21/09 | 07/09 | 24/08 | 10/08 | 27/07 | |
| Very poor | 6% | 5% | 4% | 6% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 8% | 6% | 7% | 6% |
| Quite poor | 8% | 7% | 11% | 8% | 9% | 10% | 12% | 13% | 12% | 11% | 8% | 11% |
| Neither good nor poor | 24% | 19% | 19% | 19% | 18% | 24% | 22% | 21% | 22% | 22% | 21% | 20% |
| Quite good | 39% | 42% | 42% | 41% | 41% | 39% | 39% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% |
| Very good | 23% | 27% | 25% | 26% | 26% | 22% | 21% | 21% | 18% | 22% | 24% | 24% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 14% | 12% | 14% | 13% | 15% | 15% | 18% | 18% | 19% | 17% | 16% | 16% |
| TOTAL: Good | 62% | 69% | 67% | 67% | 67% | 61% | 60% | 61% | 59% | 61% | 63% | 64% |
| Base (n) | 1,074 | 1,109 | 1,092 | 1,034 | 1,010 | 1,063 | 1,066 | 1,081 | 1,076 | 1,068 | 1,010 | 1,058 |
- Rating of the federal government’s handling of Covid-19 has fallen to 62% since last month, the lowest rating we’ve seen since November last year.
State government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| TOTAL: Good | 01/03 | 15/02 | 01/02 | 30/11 | 16/11 | 02/11 | 05/10 | 21/09 | 07/09 | 24/08 | 10/08 | 27/07 |
| NSW | 72% | 72% | 71% | 76% | 75% | 68% | 65% | 67% | 57% | 59% | 61% | 62% |
| VIC | 49% | 59% | 61% | 60% | 59% | 55% | 45% | 47% | 50% | 47% | 49% | 53% |
| QLD | 73% | 76% | 78% | 72% | 71% | 69% | 69% | 68% | 66% | 73% | 68% | 67% |
| SA | 78% | 79% | 80% | 70% | 76% | 77% | 81% | 81% | 74% | 65% | 72% | 76% |
| WA | 85% | 88% | 80% | 83% | 82% | 81% | 83% | 84% | 87% | 84% | 86% | 82% |
- The rating of the VIC government has dropped further down to 49% (from 59% mid last month). This is the lowest rating since October last year.
- Positive rating of the QLD and WA governments has decreased slightly to 73% and 85% respectively (from 76% and 88% mid last month).
- Rating of the NSW and SA governments remain virtually unchanged at 72% and 78% respectively.
Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine
Q. The Covid-19 vaccine rollout has begun in Australia.
Once a vaccine becomes available to you, how long would you wait before taking it?
| 01/03 | 18/01 | 14/12 | 10/08 | |
| I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible / I’ve already been vaccinated | 50% | 42% | 43% | 56% |
| I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away | 40% | 47% | 46% | 35% |
| I’d never get vaccinated | 10% | 11% | 10% | 8% |
| Base (n) | 1,074 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 |
- With the launch of the Covid-19 vaccine nationwide rollout last week, about half (50%) now say they would get vaccinated as soon as possible – a noticeable rise from the 42% in January. Correspondingly, fewer people now say that would get vaccinated but not straight away (40% to 47% in January).
- 1 in 10 say that would never get vaccinated, consistent with levels seen in the last few months.
Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine
Q. The Covid-19 vaccine rollout has begun in Australia.
Once a vaccine becomes available to you, how long would you wait before taking it?
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
| I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible / I’ve already been vaccinated | 50% | 58% | 42% | 41% | 44% | 63% | 50% | 56% | 58% | 45% | ||
| I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away | 40% | 34% | 46% | 47% | 43% | 31% | 41% | 38% | 33% | 37% | ||
| I’d never get vaccinated | 10% | 7% | 12% | 11% | 13% | 6% | 10% | 6% | 8% | 18% | ||
| Base (n) | 1,074 | 527 | 547 | 326 | 363 | 385 | 335 | 396 | 106 | 138 | ||
- Those most likely to get the vaccine immediately include men (58%) and those aged over 55 (63%).
- Those voting for independent or minor parties are the most likely to say they would never get vaccinated (18%).
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Essential Report
In this week's report:
- Federal voting intention
- Leader attributes: Scott Morrison
- Federal government response to Covid-19
- State government response to Covid-19
- Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine
- Reason those who would get vaccinated against Covid-19 have not been vaccinated yet
- Speed of NSW lockdown
- Time for Covid-19 milestones to occur for NSW
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