Nearly two-thirds of Australians (65%) now say Australian Government is handling COVID-19 well – up 22% in a week

Nearly two-thirds of Australians (65%) now say the Australian Government is handling COVID-19 well, up a large 22% in a week. In addition, now 59% of Australians say the ‘worst is yet to come’ over the next month in regards to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic – down a significant 26% in a week according to a special Roy Morgan web survey of an Australia-wide cross-section of 987 Australians aged 18+ conducted over the weekend of April 4-5, 2020.

While previously only 38% of those in New South Wales agreed the Australian Government was handling COVID-19 well this has now increased substantially and now a majority of 59% (up 21% in a week) say the Government is handling COVID-19 well which is similar to clear majorities in other states: Queensland 70% (up 28%), Victoria 66% (up 21%), Western Australia 75% (up 22%) and South Australia 58% (up 11%).

Australians were asked a series of six questions to determine their views regarding the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world. The first five questions were on a five point scale with strongly agree, agree, disagree, strongly disagree and don’t know the available responses.

• Question 1: “I am afraid that either myself or someone in my family may actually catch the Coronavirus?”
• Question 2: “I think the Australian Government is handling the Coronavirus well?”
• Question 3: “I believe the threat from the Coronavirus is exaggerated?”
• Question 4: “I am willing to sacrifice some of my human rights if it helps prevent the spread of the virus?”
• Question 5: “If a new Coronavirus vaccine became publicly available, I would be willing to be vaccinated?”

The final question was posed as a choice between three outcomes. People surveyed were asked: “When thinking about the Coronavirus here in Australia which of the following do you think is most likely to happen over the next month. Either the ‘Worst is yet to come’, the ‘Situation will remain the same’ or ‘Things will begin to improve’.”

Australians are now much happier with the Government’s handling of the crisis

A much increased 65% of Australians agree that the Australian Government is handling the Coronavirus well – up a large 22% in a week. Of Australians that agree the Government is handling the Coronavirus well 21% (up 12%) strongly agree while a further 44% (up 10%) agree.

In contrast a much reduced 29% (down 20%) of Australians disagree that the Australian Government is handling the Coronavirus well. Now just 6% (down 10%) strongly disagree the Australian Government is handling Coronavirus well and a further 23% (down 10%) disagree.

Australians are considerably less negative than a week ago about the next month

A reducing majority of 59% of Australians, down 26% on a week ago say that the ‘Worst is yet to come’ over the next month when it comes to Coronavirus compared to a third 33% (up 22%) who say the ‘Situation will remain the same’ while 8% (up 4%), say ‘Things will begin to improve’.

Analysis by Gender reveals 65% (down 23%) of Women say that the ‘Worst is yet to come’ over the next month compared to only 53% (down 29%) of men. In comparison now well over a third of men, 37%, up 25%, say the ‘Situation will remain the same’ over the next month compared to 29% (up 19%) of women.

There are more Australians positive about the next month than a week ago. Now 10% (up 4%) of men say ‘Things will begin to improve’ over the next month compared to 6% (up 4%) of women.

Now a fifth of Australians agree the threat from Coronavirus is exaggerated

A fifth of Australians now agree that the threat from Coronavirus is exaggerated – up 5% from a week ago compared to 75% (down 6%) that disagree.

Far more men 25% (up 5%) agree the threat from Coronavirus is exaggerated than women 16% (up 6%).

Slightly fewer Australians are now afraid they or someone they know will catch the virus

Just fewer three-quarters of Australians 73% (down 2%) are afraid that they or someone in their family may actually catch the Coronavirus.

A quarter of Australians 25% (down 1%) strongly agree they are afraid they or someone in their family may actually catch the Coronavirus and an additional 48% (down 1%) agree. In contrast only 4% (up 2%) strongly disagree and a further 17% (unchanged) disagree.

Four-fifths of Australians would sacrifice their human rights to help prevent the spread of the virus – unchanged on a week ago

An unchanged 80% of Australians agree they are willing to sacrifice some of their human rights if it helps prevent the spread of the Coronavirus compared to only 14% who disagree.

An increasing 84% (up 3%) of women agree they would willingly sacrifice their human rights if it helps prevent the spread of the Coronavirus compared to 75% (down 4%) of men.

A largely unchanged majority of Australians say they are willing to be vaccinated if a new Coronavirus vaccine became publicly available

A virtually unchanged majority of 87% (up 1%) of Australians say they are willing to be vaccinated for Coronavirus (COVID-19) if a new vaccine became publicly available compared to only 7% (unchanged) who disagree.

Analysis by Gender reveals slightly more men 89% (up 4%) than women 85% (down 1%) say they are willing to be vaccinated if a new Coronavirus vaccine became publicly available.

Question 2: Do you think the Australian Government is handling the Coronavirus well – By States

Source: Roy Morgan web survey of Australians conducted on the weekends of March 28-29, 2020, n=988 and April 4-5, 2020 in Australia, n=987. Base: Australians aged 18+.

Question 6: When thinking about the Coronavirus here in the Australia which of the following do you think is most likely to happen over the next month – ‘The Worst is yet to come’ - By States

Source: Roy Morgan web survey of Australians conducted on the weekend s of March 28-29, 2020, n=988 and April 4-5, 2020 in Australia, n=987. Base: Australians aged 18+.

Question 1:

I am afraid that either myself or someone in my family may actually catch the Coronavirus

I am afraid that either myself or someone in my family may actually catch the Coronavirus – By Gender & Age

I am afraid that either myself or someone in my family may actually catch the Coronavirus – By State

#Sample sizes with fewer than 50 respondents should be treated with caution.

Question 2:

I think the UK/Australian Government is handling the Coronavirus well

I think the UK/Australian Government is handling the Coronavirus well – By Gender & Age

I think the Australian Government is handling the Coronavirus well – By State

#Sample sizes with fewer than 50 respondents should be treated with caution.

Question 3:

I believe the threat from the Coronavirus is exaggerated

I believe the threat from the Coronavirus is exaggerated – By Gender & Age

I believe the threat from the Coronavirus is exaggerated – By State

#Sample sizes with fewer than 50 respondents should be treated with caution.

Question 4: 

I am willing to sacrifice some of my human rights if it helps prevent the spread of the virus

I am willing to sacrifice some of my human rights if it helps prevent the spread of the virus – By Gender & Age

I am willing to sacrifice some of my human rights if it helps prevent spread of the virus – By State

#Sample sizes with fewer than 50 respondents should be treated with caution.

Question 5: If a new Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine became publicly available, I would be willing to be vaccinated

#Sample sizes with fewer than 50 respondents should be treated with caution.

If a new Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine became publicly available, I would be willing to be vaccinated – By Gender & Age

If a new Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine became publicly available, I would be willing to be vaccinated – By State

#Sample sizes with fewer than 50 respondents should be treated with caution.

Question 6:

When thinking about the Coronavirus here in UK/Australia which of the following do you think is most likely to happen over the next month – By Gender & Age

When thinking about the Coronavirus here in UK/Australia which of the following do you think is most likely to happen over the next month – By Gender & Age

When thinking about the Coronavirus here in UK/Australia which of the following do you think is most likely to happen over the next month – By State

#Sample sizes with fewer than 50 respondents should be treated with caution.

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