Essential Report
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.
Essential Report
In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Views towards re-electing the federal Coalition government
- Party trust to handle issues
- Importance of Australia’s international reputation
- Scott Morrison’s impact on Australia’s international reputation
- Views towards Australia’s international reputation
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