The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

Views towards state border closures

14 Sep 2021

Q. Thinking about state border closures, which of the following is closer to your view?

  Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
States with low or no Covid-19 cases should be allowed to keep their borders to other states closed for as long as they think is necessary 41% 39% 42% 37% 44% 40% 46% 33% 41% 41%
States with low or no Covid-19 cases should be required to reopen their borders to other states when 80% of the adult (16+) population is fully vaccinated 37% 39% 35% 45% 36% 31% 33% 42% 36% 39%
States with low or no Covid-19 cases should be required to reopen their borders to other states when 80% of the total population (including children) is fully vaccinated 23% 22% 23% 18% 20% 29% 21% 24% 23% 20%
Base (n) 1,100 539 561 341 374 385 367 389 103 145
  • 41% of people think states with low or no Covid-19 cases should be allowed to keep their borders to other states closed for as long as they think is necessary.
  • On the other hand, 37% think these states should be required to reopen their borders to other states when 80% of the adult (16+) population is fully vaccinated, and 23% think this should be required when 80% of the total population (including children) is fully vaccinated.
  • Those aged 18-34 are more likely than older cohorts to think states with low or no Covid-19 cases should be required to reopen their borders to other states when 80% of the adult (16+) population is fully vaccinated (45%, compared to 36% of those aged 35-54 and 31% of those over 55).
  • Those aged over 55 are the most likely to think this should only be required when 80% of the total population (including children) is fully vaccinated (29% to 20% of those aged 35-54 and 18% of those aged 18-34).
  State
NSW VIC QLD SA WA
States with low or no Covid-19 cases should be allowed to keep their borders to other states closed for as long as they think is necessary 28% 31% 55% 47% 67%
States with low or no Covid-19 cases should be required to reopen their borders to other states when 80% of the adult (16+) population is fully vaccinated 46% 39% 30% 36% 17%
States with low or no Covid-19 cases should be required to reopen their borders to other states when 80% of the total population (including children) is fully vaccinated 25% 30% 15% 17% 16%
Base (n) 352 274 217 89 111
  • Western Australians and Queenslanders are the most likely to think states with low or no Covid-19 cases should be allowed to keep their borders to other states closed for as long as they think is necessary (67% and 55% respectively).
  • NSW residents are most likely to think these states should be required to reopen their borders to other states when 80% of the adult (16+) population is fully vaccinated (46%).
  • Victorians are most likely to think opening state borders should be required when 80% of the total population (including children) is fully vaccinated (30%).
Error: