TAI Covid-19 global attitudes survey

Bill Browne, Global attitudes to COVID-19 pandemic and response, Australia Institute, 4 May 2020
Key results
The Australia Institute’s International & Security Affairs Program surveyed nationally representative samples of people in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, Italy and South Korea about the COVID-19 pandemic. The government and friends and family are the most trusted sources of advice about the COVID-19 pandemic, and the more trusted a government the higher its response to the pandemic is rated.
- In most countries, government and friends and family are the most trusted sources of advice about the COVID-19 pandemic.
- There is a close relationship between how trusted a government’s advice is and how good their COVID-19 response is rated.
- Trust in government is highest in New Zealand (89%) and Australia (78%).
– The United States has the lowest trust in government (57%). - 83% of New Zealanders rate the government’s overall response to the COVID19 pandemic good, the highest of any country.
– 71% of Australians rate the federal government’s overall response good.
– The lowest rating is the United States (49% rate good).
Fewer than half of those in work are confident they will keep their job.
- Australians are least confident they will keep their jobs and hours, with only one in three confident (34%).
- Australian and United States residents are equally likely to have already lost their job (both 16%).
People want their governments to take the lead in sustaining the economy.
- Australian and UK residents were most likely to say that the government should take the lead (both 64%), followed by NZ (62%).
- Only in the United States did fewer than half say that the government should take the lead (43%).
Download Publication:
April 2020 – Global attitudes to COVID-19 pandemic and response [WEB].pdf