The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Feb, 2021

    , , ,

    Attitudes towards Covid-19 pandemic and reopening Australia’s borders

    Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the Covid-19 pandemic in Australia and our national borders?

      TOTAL:  Agree TOTAL: Disagree   Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Unsure
    I want things to return to how they were before the Covid-19 pandemic 71% 8%   45% 26% 19% 7% 2% 2%
    I don’t think I could stand another lockdown 43% 29%   24% 19% 25% 18% 11% 3%
    After the vaccine has been rolled out, Australia should slowly and safely reopen its borders 67% 11%   31% 36% 17% 6% 4% 5%
    We should keep our borders closed until the pandemic is under control globally 71% 12%   43% 28% 15% 7% 5% 3%
    • While 7 in 10 (71%) agree that we should keep our borders closed until the pandemic is under control globally, 67% agree that after the vaccine has been rolled out, Australia should slowly and safely reopen its borders.
    • 7 in 10 (71%) agree that they want things to return to how they were before the Covid-19 pandemic.
    • 43% don’t think they could stand another lockdown. About a third (29%) disagree and a quarter (25%) neither agree nor disagree with this statement.
  • Jun, 2020

    , , ,

    Speed of Easing Restrictions

    Q. Overall, do you think your state or territory is moving too quickly, too slowly or at about the right speed when it comes to lifting lockdown restrictions?

        State
      Total NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    Moving too quickly 20% 24% 20% 13% 18% 16%
    About the right speed 67% 67% 70% 63% 71% 68%
    Moving too slowly 13% 9% 9% 23% 10% 16%
    Base (n) 1,073 336 275 214 85 108

    Reopening pubs and clubs with patron restrictions

        State
      Total NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    Moving too quickly 30% 33% 40% 19% 19% 25%
    About the right speed 59% 60% 49% 62% 71% 63%
    Moving too slowly 11% 7% 11% 19% 9% 12%
    Base (n) 1,073 336 275 214 85 108

    Reopening restaurants and cafes with patron restrictions

        State
      Total NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    Moving too quickly 22% 23% 28% 13% 20% 19%
    About the right speed 65% 67% 60% 64% 75% 68%
    Moving too slowly 13% 10% 11% 23% 6% 14%
    Base (n) 1,073 336 275 214 85 108

    Allowing outside group exercise classes

        State
      Total NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    Moving too quickly 16% 19% 19% 12% 13% 14%
    About the right speed 72% 70% 72% 73% 76% 77%
    Moving too slowly 12% 12% 9% 16% 11% 10%
    Base (n) 1,073 336 275 214 85 108

    Reopening schools for all students

        State
      Total NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    Moving too quickly 23% 27% 30% 17% 14% 16%
    About the right speed 67% 67% 57% 72% 79% 77%
    Moving too slowly 10% 6% 13% 11% 7% 7%
    Base (n) 1,073 336 275 214 85 108

    Reopening borders between states and territories

        State
      Total NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    Moving too quickly 24% 22% 25% 20% 36% 23%
    About the right speed 58% 57% 57% 60% 52% 64%
    Moving too slowly 18% 21% 18% 20% 12% 13%
    Base (n) 1,073 336 275 214 85 108
    • Two-thirds (67%) of participants believe that their state/territory is moving at about the right speed when it comes to removing restrictions. 24% believe that the restrictions are being eased too quickly and another 18% say they are moving too slowly.
    • Queensland residents are most likely to say their state is moving too slowly (23%) while New South Wales residents are more likely to say their state is moving too quickly (24%).
    • Participants 18-34 years and those living capital cities are generally more likely to say that their state is lifting restrictions too quickly.
    • When asked about specific restrictions, participants are more likely to say allowing outside group exercise classes is moving at the right speed (72%) and less likely to say reopening pubs and clubs (59%) or reopening borders between states and territories (58%).
    • 40% Victorians think their government is moving too quickly to reopen pubs and clubs and 30% think schools are being reopened too quickly.
  • May, 2020

    , , , ,

    Closer or more distant social connections

    Q. Since the start of the lockdown restrictions, do you feel closer or more distant from each of the following people in your life?

      My partner My children My extended family My neighbours My friends My workmates
    I feel closer 36% 35% 18% 13% 13% 11%
    It has not affected our relationship 53% 52% 55% 64% 52% 53%
    I feel more distant 11% 13% 27% 23% 34% 36%
    Base 797 716 964 942 1,012 680

     

    TOTAL: I feel closer   Gender Age Group
    Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+
    My partner 36% 36% 36% 49% 36% 24%
    My children 35% 32% 38% 50% 41% 22%
    My extended family 18% 18% 18% 24% 19% 13%
    My neighbours 13% 14% 12% 15% 13% 12%
    My friends 13% 13% 14% 19% 11% 11%
    My workmates 11% 11% 11% 13% 11% 8%

     

    TOTAL: I feel more distant   Gender Age Group
    Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+
    My partner 11% 11% 11% 15% 12% 6%
    My children 13% 13% 12% 11% 10% 15%
    My extended family 27% 26% 28% 31% 27% 24%
    My neighbours 23% 21% 24% 23% 21% 24%
    My friends 34% 32% 36% 42% 34% 28%
    My workmates 36% 34% 39% 47% 32% 24%
    • More than half of participants don’t feel closer or more distant to the social connections in their life, varying between 64% for neighbours and 52% for children and friends.
    • 18-34 year olds are most likely to say they feel closer to their partner (49%), children (50%) and extended family (24%) – but more distant from their friends (42%) and workmates (47%).
    • Participants over 55 are most likely to say their social connections haven’t been affected by the lockdown restrictions.
  • May, 2020

    , , ,

    Easing restrictions

    Q. When do you think governments should start to ease the restrictions on travel and gatherings to allow offices, shops, restaurants, other workplaces, and public spaces to start operating again?

      11/05 04/05 27/04 20/04
    As soon as possible 13% 10% 10% 9%
    Within the next 1 to 2 weeks 12% 9% 7% 6%
    Within the next month 22% 21% 18% 14%
    By the end of next month 20% 15% 15% 13%
    It is too soon to consider easing restrictions 27% 37% 42% 49%
    Unsure 6% 8% 8% 10%
    Base (n) 1,067 1,093 1,054 1,051

     

      Federal Voting Intention
    Labor Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    As soon as possible 11% 15% 4% 17%
    Within the next 1 to 2 weeks 10% 15% 4% 18%
    Within the next month 17% 25% 35% 17%
    By the end of next month 24% 17% 15% 17%
    It is too soon to consider easing restrictions 33% 23% 35% 20%
    Unsure 5% 4% 6% 10%
    Base (n) 306 418 86 143
    • People are becoming increasingly open to easing the lockdown restrictions – now just over a quarter (27%) believe it’s too soon to consider easing restrictions and 20% say that the government could ease restrictions by the end of June.
    • Labor and Greens voters (33% and 35% respectively) are more likely to say it’s too soon to consider easing restrictions than Coalition and other voters (23% and 20%).
  • Apr, 2020

    , , ,

    Easing Restrictions

    Q. When do you think governments should start to ease the restrictions on travel and gatherings to allow offices, shops, restaurants, other workplaces and public spaces to start operating again?

        Age Group Employment Status
      Total 18-34 35-54 55+ In paid employment Not in paid employment Retired
    As soon as possible 9% 17% 7% 4% 11% 10% 3%
    Within the next 1 to 2 weeks 6% 9% 3% 5% 7% 5% 4%
    Within the next month 14% 15% 13% 13% 14% 15% 10%
    By the end of next month 13% 13% 12% 15% 13% 13% 16%
    It is too soon to consider easing restrictions 49% 37% 51% 56% 48% 40% 63%
    Unsure 10% 8% 14% 6% 8% 16% 4%
    Base (n) 1,051 341 325 385 533 268 202

     

        State
      Total NSW VIC QLD SA WA  
    As soon as possible 9% 11% 8% 9% 8% 7%  
    Within the next 1 to 2 weeks 6% 5% 7% 6% 5% 5%  
    Within the next month 14% 15% 14% 13% 12% 12%  
    By the end of next month 13% 14% 13% 15% 14% 14%  
    It is too soon to consider easing restrictions 49% 44% 53% 46% 48% 54%  
    Unsure 10% 11% 6% 12% 14% 9%  
    Base (n) 1,051 322 275 216 88 106  
    • Half of people think it is too soon to consider lifting restrictions. 29% think restrictions should be lifted within the next month (9% as soon as possible, 6% within the next fortnight and 14% within the next month).
    • Those most likely to want an immediate easing of restrictions are aged 18-34 (17%), those in paid employment (11%) and people with a high household income (Over $104k p/a, 14%).
    • People who are retired (63%) and residents of Victoria (53%) and WA (54%) are most likely to think it too soon to lift restrictions.
Error: