Essential Report
Speed of NSW lockdown
Q. Overall, do you think NSW moved too quickly, too slowly or at about the right speed in terms of enforcing lockdown restrictions?
NSW | This week
19/07 |
Two weeks ago
05/07 |
Moved too quickly | 12% | 10% |
About the right speed | 44% | 51% |
Moved too slowly | 44% | 39% |
Base (n) | 354 | 553 |
- Compared to two weeks ago, more NSW residents now think NSW moved too slowly when enforcing lockdown restrictions (44% from 39%).
- Fewer now think NSW moved at about the right speed (44% from 51% two weeks ago), and about the same proportion think NSW moved too quickly (12% from 10%).
State | |||||
NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | |
Moved too quickly | 12% | 8% | 7% | 20% | 13% |
About the right speed | 44% | 31% | 34% | 28% | 19% |
Moved too slowly | 44% | 62% | 60% | 53% | 68% |
Base (n) | 354 | 277 | 217 | 89 | 108 |
- People from other states mostly think NSW moved too slowly with lockdown. Western Australians are most likely to think this (68%), followed by Victorians (62%), Queenslanders (60%) and South Australians (53%).
Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||
Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
Moved too quickly | 10% | 13% | 7% | 14% | 13% | 4% | 9% | 10% | 10% | 13% |
About the right speed | 34% | 37% | 32% | 39% | 31% | 34% | 25% | 44% | 39% | 33% |
Moved too slowly | 56% | 50% | 61% | 47% | 56% | 63% | 66% | 46% | 51% | 54% |
Base (n) | 1,100 | 539 | 561 | 341 | 373 | 386 | 375 | 414 | 100 | 117 |
State | |||||
NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | |
Moved too quickly | 12% | 8% | 7% | 20% | 13% |
About the right speed | 44% | 31% | 34% | 28% | 19% |
Moved too slowly | 44% | 62% | 60% | 53% | 68% |
Base (n) | 354 | 277 | 217 | 89 | 108 |
- Women are more likely than men to think NSW moved too slowly with lockdown (61% to 50% respectively).
- The sentiment that NSW moved too slowly increases with age – 47% of those aged 18-34 hold this view, compared to 56% of those aged 35-54 and 63% of those over 55.
- Labor voters are the most likely to think NSW moved too slowly with lockdown (66%), followed by minor/independent party voters (54%) and Greens voters (51%). Coalition voters are the least likely to think this (46%).

COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
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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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