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Uptake of Covid-19 vaccine
Q. If and when a vaccine for Covid-19 becomes available, how long would you wait before taking it?
| Gender | Age group | |||||
| Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | |
| I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible | 56% | 60% | 53% | 50% | 54% | 64% |
| I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away | 35% | 33% | 37% | 38% | 37% | 30% |
| I’d never get vaccinated | 8% | 7% | 10% | 11% | 9% | 6% |
| Base (n) | 1,010 | 505 | 505 | 302 | 331 | 377 |
| Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
| I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible | 66% | 57% | 43% | 44% |
| I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away | 29% | 36% | 45% | 34% |
| I’d never get vaccinated | 5% | 7% | 10% | 21% |
| Base (n) | 311 | 413 | 78 | 94 |
Truth in statements about Covid-19
Q. How confident are you that the following statements about Covid-19 are true?
| TOTAL: True | TOTAL: Not true | Definitely true | Probably true | Probably not true | Definitely not true | Unsure | |
| It’s possible for people to have the virus and be contagious even if they don’t feel sick in any way | 81% | 12% | 54% | 27% | 9% | 3% | 7% |
| Masks trap the carbon dioxide people exhale close to their faces and make it harder to breathe in oxygen | 33% | 51% | 11% | 22% | 23% | 28% | 16% |
| It’s no more dangerous than a typical winter flu | 32% | 60% | 15% | 17% | 15% | 45% | 9% |
| You don’t need to wear a mask if you are physically distancing | 29% | 61% | 8% | 21% | 26% | 35% | 10% |
| The malaria drug, Hydroxychloroquine, has been shown to be a safe and effective treatment for Covid-19 | 20% | 55% | 7% | 13% | 21% | 33% | 26% |
VIC: State Government response to Covid-19
Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
| VICTORIA ONLY | 10/08 | 27/07 | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 |
| Very poor | 16% | 13% | 14% | 8% | 6% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 3% |
| Quite poor | 14% | 17% | 12% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 7% | 9% | 10% | 11% | 8% |
| Neither good, nor poor | 21% | 17% | 25% | 22% | 13% | 16% | 17% | 16% | 15% | 15% | 17% |
| Quite good | 28% | 34% | 32% | 38% | 39% | 38% | 39% | 37% | 38% | 34% | 32% |
| Very good | 21% | 19% | 17% | 26% | 36% | 34% | 33% | 36% | 33% | 37% | 40% |
| TOTAL: Poor | 30% | 30% | 26% | 13% | 11% | 12% | 11% | 11% | 14% | 14% | 11% |
| TOTAL: Good | 49% | 53% | 49% | 65% | 75% | 72% | 71% | 73% | 71% | 71% | 72% |
| Base (n) | 499 | 239 | 281 | 261 | 275 | 275 | 275 | 275 | 267 | 275 | 275 |
| TOTAL: Good | 10/08 | 27/07 | 13/07 | 22/06 | 15/06 | 08/06 | 01/06 | 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 |
| NSW | 61% | 62% | 63% | 70% | 65% | 67% | 62% | 65% | 70% | 70% | 68% |
| VIC | 49% | 53% | 49% | 65% | 75% | 72% | 71% | 73% | 71% | 71% | 72% |
| QLD | 68% | 67% | 69% | 64% | 67% | 68% | 69% | 74% | 66% | 70% | 65% |
| SA | 72% | 76% | 79% | 79% | 76% | 79% | 70% | 84% | 80% | 78% | 76% |
| WA | 86% | 82% | 77% | 75% | 77% | 84% | 79% | 83% | 86% | 83% | 79% |
- Victorian’s rating of their State Government’s performance has decreased with only 49% of Victorians saying their Government’s performance has been good. This is on par with the results a month ago.
- Western Australia (86%) have the highest state government ratings for handling the crisis.
VIC: Covid-19 outbreak impact on favourability
Q. How has the Covid-19 outbreak affected your views of the following people…?
| VICTORIA ONLY | Daniel Andrews | Scott Morrison |
| Much more favourable | 24% | 25% |
| A little more favourable | 20% | 33% |
| No difference | 26% | 27% |
| A little less favourable | 10% | 7% |
| Much less favourable | 19% | 8% |
| TOTAL: More favourable | 44% | 58% |
| TOTAL: Less favourable | 29% | 15% |
| Base (n) | 499 | 499 |
- 58% of Victorians say they now have a more favourable opinion of Scott Morrison due to the Covid-19 outbreak, while 44% say the same for Daniel Andrews.
- Victorians over 55 years old and capital city residents are more likely to say their opinion of Scott Morrison has become more favourable (65% and 60% respectively) than 18-34 year olds and non-capital city residents (51% and 49%).
- Victorians over 55 years old are more likely to have a less favourable opinion of Daniel Andrews (40%) than 18-34 year olds (19%).
- Perception of the State Government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak is tied to perceptions of Daniel Andrews – those who say their state’s response is poor are more likely to say their opinion of Daniel Andrews is now less favourable, and vice versa.
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%).
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Download this week's ReportEssential Report
Two Party Preferred:
Labor
45%
Coalition
48%
In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Top Federal Government priorities for 2021
- Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine
- Perceptions of change in the standard of living for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Changing views towards Australia Day
- Support towards a separate national day
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