Essential Report
Attitudes towards Craig Kelly controversy and Scott Morrison’s leadership
Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about Liberal MP Craig Kelly sharing Covid-19 misinformation (e.g. advocating unproven treatments, claiming vaccines cannot be trusted, comparing masks to child abuse)?
| TOTAL: Agree | Total | Federal Voting Intention | |||
| Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Scott Morrison has shown poor leadership in how he has responded to Craig Kelly’s behaviour | 41% | 52% | 32% | 52% | 47% |
| Craig Kelly is more interested in sharing Covid-19 misinformation and building his media profile than representing his constituency | 56% | 60% | 58% | 70% | 56% |
| Craig Kelly’s behaviour is undermining Scott Morrison’s leadership by contradicting the Prime Minister on Covid-19 facts | 57% | 61% | 60% | 63% | 55% |
| Base (n) | 1,109 | 359 | 428 | 101 | 131 |
- Over half (57%) agree that Craig Kelly’s behaviour is undermining Scott Morrison’s leadership by contradicting the Prime Minister on Covid-19 facts and over half (56%) also agree that Craig Kelly is more interested in sharing Covid-19 misinformation and building his media profile than representing his constituency.
- Greens voters are more likely to agree with these two statements than other voters. Minor and independent party voters are the least likely to agree.
- 41% agree Scott Morrison has shown poor leadership in how he has responded to Craig Kelly’s behaviour. Labor and Greens voters are more likely to agree with this statement than Coalition and minor and independent party voters (52% and 52% to 32% and 47% respectively).
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.
Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine
Q. Once a vaccine for Covid-19 becomes available in Australia, how long would you wait before taking it?
| 18/01 | 14/12 | 10/08 | |
| I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible | 42% | 43% | 56% |
| I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away | 47% | 46% | 35% |
| I’d never get vaccinated | 11% | 10% | 8% |
| Base (n) | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 |
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
| I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible | 42% | 51% | 34% | 30% | 42% | 54% | 48% | 49% | 34% | 33% | ||
| I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away | 47% | 38% | 55% | 57% | 46% | 39% | 44% | 44% | 57% | 42% | ||
| I’d never get vaccinated | 11% | 11% | 11% | 14% | 13% | 7% | 8% | 7% | 9% | 25% | ||
| Base (n) | 1,084 | 539 | 545 | 341 | 358 | 385 | 334 | 431 | 118 | 106 | ||
- Fewer people say they would get a Covid-19 vaccine immediately than mid last year. 42% would get a vaccine as soon as possible, down from 56% last August. 47% would get vaccinated, but just not straight away (up from 35% in August) and 11% say they would never get vaccinated.
- Those most likely to get the vaccine immediately include men (51%) and those aged over 55 (54%).
- Those voting for independent or minor parties are the most likely to say they would never get vaccinated (25%).
Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine
Q. Once a vaccine for Covid-19 becomes available in Australia, how long would you wait before taking it?
| 14/12 | 10/08 | |
| I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible | 43% | 56% |
| I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away | 46% | 35% |
| I’d never get vaccinated | 10% | 8% |
| Base (n) | 1,071 | 1,010 |
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
| I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible | 43% | 53% | 35% | 35% | 41% | 53% | 44% | 48% | 45% | 42% | ||
| I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away | 46% | 41% | 51% | 54% | 48% | 38% | 52% | 43% | 44% | 39% | ||
| I’d never get vaccinated | 10% | 6% | 14% | 11% | 11% | 9% | 5% | 8% | 11% | 19% | ||
| Base (n) | 1,071 | 539 | 532 | 339 | 374 | 358 | 356 | 406 | 102 | 107 | ||
- Fewer people say they would get a Covid-19 vaccine immediately than earlier in the year. 43% would get a vaccine as soon as possible, down from 56% in August. 46% would get vaccinated, but just not straight away (up from 35%) and 10% say they would never get vaccinated.
- Those most likely to get the vaccine immediately include men (53%), those aged over 55 (53%).
- Those voting for independent of minor parties are most likely to say they would never get a vaccine (19%).
Interest in news stories
Q. How closely have you been following these news stories in the last fortnight?
The trial results of Covid-19 vaccines
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Very closely | 23% | 28% | 18% | 16% | 27% | 25% | 21% | 27% | 25% | 22% |
| Fairly closely | 43% | 42% | 44% | 47% | 37% | 46% | 51% | 44% | 35% | 33% |
| Not that closely | 25% | 23% | 26% | 28% | 25% | 22% | 21% | 23% | 31% | 29% |
| Not closely at all | 9% | 7% | 11% | 9% | 11% | 7% | 7% | 5% | 10% | 15% |
| TOTAL: Closely | 66% | 70% | 63% | 63% | 63% | 72% | 72% | 71% | 59% | 55% |
| TOTAL: Not closely | 34% | 30% | 37% | 37% | 37% | 28% | 28% | 29% | 41% | 45% |
| Base (n) | 1,034 | 528 | 506 | 329 | 320 | 385 | 322 | 430 | 88 | 107 |
Uptake of Covid-19 vaccine
Q. If and when a vaccine for Covid-19 becomes available, how long would you wait before taking it?
| Gender | Age group | |||||
| Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | |
| I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible | 56% | 60% | 53% | 50% | 54% | 64% |
| I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away | 35% | 33% | 37% | 38% | 37% | 30% |
| I’d never get vaccinated | 8% | 7% | 10% | 11% | 9% | 6% |
| Base (n) | 1,010 | 505 | 505 | 302 | 331 | 377 |
| Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
| I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible | 66% | 57% | 43% | 44% |
| I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away | 29% | 36% | 45% | 34% |
| I’d never get vaccinated | 5% | 7% | 10% | 21% |
| Base (n) | 311 | 413 | 78 | 94 |
Time to return to normal
Q. Thinking about the future, how long do you think it will take for the following to occur?
| Within the next six months | Seven months up to one year | One to two years | More than two years | Never | |
| Quarantine will no longer required after international travel | 12% | 27% | 35% | 22% | 4% |
| A Covid-19 vaccine will be developed | 11% | 22% | 43% | 20% | 4% |
| The housing market will return pre-pandemic levels | 11% | 22% | 38% | 25% | 4% |
| International travel will be allowed without restriction | 10% | 23% | 39% | 24% | 4% |
| Unemployment will return to pre-pandemic levels | 8% | 17% | 37% | 33% | 6% |
| The population will build resistance to Covid-19 through exposure (herd immunity) | 8% | 15% | 31% | 27% | 20% |
| Australia will pay off its national debt | 5% | 9% | 12% | 52% | 22% |
| WITHIN NEXT SIX MONTHS | Gender | Age Group | |||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | |
| Quarantine will no longer required after international travel | 13% | 10% | 14% | 14% | 7% |
| A Covid-19 vaccine will be developed | 15% | 8% | 16% | 12% | 7% |
| The housing market will return pre-pandemic levels | 13% | 8% | 15% | 11% | 6% |
| International travel will be allowed without restriction | 12% | 9% | 16% | 13% | 4% |
| Unemployment will return to pre-pandemic levels | 8% | 7% | 13% | 8% | 3% |
| The population will build resistance to Covid-19 through exposure (herd immunity) | 9% | 7% | 11% | 9% | 3% |
| Australia will pay off its national debt | 7% | 3% | 9% | 6% | 1% |
| Base (n) | 525 | 554 | 332 | 362 | 385 |
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
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