Victorian pandemic restrictions divide opinions – The Age Nine News Ipsos Poll
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’ pandemic restrictions announced on Sunday 18 October have divided opinions among Victorians, according to the new The Age Nine News Ipsos Poll.
Among the updated restrictions that the State Premier, Daniel Andrews, announced on Sunday 1 October, compulsory mask wearing, being banned from regional areas, and staying within 25kms of home, each receive majority support from Victorians (72%, 61% and 56%, respectively).
However, the remaining restrictions divide opinion, with approximately two in five Victorians supporting and opposing each of the other three restrictions: not visiting friends and family, and restaurants, cafes and shops remaining closed. Support for each of these restrictions is consistently higher among both Labor voters and those who live regionally.
A quarter of metro-based Victorians are re-thinking where they live because of the pandemic. One in ten (10%) are contemplating moving to regional Victoria, and a further 15% are thinking about moving interstate, as a consequence of the Coronavirus pandemic. Moving to regional Victoria appeals more to renters than current home-owners (14% and 8%, respectively), and also more to men than women (14% and 6%, respectively).
Ipsos Director, Jessica Elgood, said: “While there is majority support for the compulsory wearing of masks, and also a ban on Melbournians visiting regional areas, Victorians are more divided on restrictions on spending time with friends and family and on being able to visit restaurants, cafes and shops again. After weeks in lockdown, the findings highlight people’s desire to get back to normal life, and the need for more social interaction”.
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Q. As you may know, the Victorian State Government has introduced a range of restrictions which were updated on Sunday to allow for a gradual easing. Do you support or oppose each of the restrictions?
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Support |
Oppose |
Don’t know |
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Melbournians having to stay within 25km of their home, except for permitted reasons (such as work or education) |
56% |
31% |
1% |
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Melbournians unable to visit family or friends at home until November 2nd (except for a ‘social bubble’ of one person, for those living alone) |
46% |
40% |
1% |
|
Compulsory mask wearing outside |
72% |
20% |
1% |
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Restaurants and cafés to remain closed except for takeaway and delivery until November 2nd |
47% |
41% |
1% |
|
Shops in Melbourne to remain shut (except for food stores) until November 2nd |
45% |
44% |
1% |
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Melbournians being banned from visiting regional areas, and regional residents banned from entering Melbourne (except for permitted and essential work) |
61% |
28% |
1% |
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Base: All (n=858) |
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These are the findings of an online survey of a representative sample of 858 adult Victorians, aged 18+, between 19th – 21st October 2020. ±3.4% is the maximum margin of sampling error that might apply to this sample. The data are weighted to reflect the population distribution.
