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Truth in statements about Covid-19 spread
Q. How confident are you that the following statements about Covid-19 are true?
NET: True NET: Not true Definitely true Probably true Probably not true Definitely not true Unsure Even if children and young people tend to be less affected by Covid-19, they can still catch it and pass it on to others 88% 8% 62% 26% 6% 2% 4% It’s possible for people to have the virus and be contagious even if they don’t feel sick in any way 88% 8% 61% 26% 6% 3% 4% You can still catch Covid-19 even if you have a face mask 82% 12% 50% 32% 9% 3% 6% People are buying up and hoarding large amounts of medicines and toilet paper so they can sell them for inflated profits 74% 20% 38% 36% 16% 5% 5% Busloads of outsiders have been observed coming to small-town supermarkets and buying up most of their stock in response to the Covid-19 outbreak 73% 17% 39% 33% 13% 4% 10% It’s no more dangerous than a typical winter flu 31% 61% 16% 15% 17% 44% 8% - More than four in five participants believe the three statements about the spread of Covid-19 to be true.
NET: True Gender Age Group Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Even if children and young people tend to be less affected by Covid-19, they can still catch it and pass it on to others 88% 85% 92% 81% 88% 95% You can still catch Covid-19 even if you have a face mask 82% 80% 85% 77% 81% 88% Busloads of outsiders have been observed coming to small-town supermarkets and buying up most of their stock in response to the Covid-19 outbreak 73% 70% 75% 65% 70% 81% People are buying up and hoarding large amounts of medicines and toilet paper so they can sell them for inflated profits 74% 71% 77% 69% 70% 82% It’s no more dangerous than a typical winter flu 31% 34% 28% 38% 30% 26% It’s possible for people to have the virus and be contagious even if they don’t feel sick in any way 88% 84% 91% 82% 88% 92% Base (n) 1,086 539 547 341 362 383 -
ER, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberal, politicians, Politicians Lie, Politicians trust, truth
Circumstances in which Politicians Lie
Q. In which of the following situations do you think it is acceptable for a politician to lie:
The most acceptable situation in which respondents condoned lying is ‘where an individual’s safety is concerned’ (43%) and ‘when the information impacts on national security’ (42%). Twenty four (24%) regard it as acceptable to lie ‘when the information impacts on the nation’s economic interests’ and 20% see it as acceptable to lie ‘when new information about a situation comes to hand’.
The most unacceptable circumstance in which a politician can lie is ‘where a change of position is required for political considerations’ (81% not acceptable).