The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • May, 2020

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    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.
  • May, 2020

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    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%).
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