CHRIS RODWELL
CCIWA CHIEF EXECUTIVE
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia has today released results from a landmark nation-wide survey on attitudes towards vaccination, migration and border restrictions. The survey, with more than 3,880 respondents, reveals that Australians in every State and Territory —regardless of gender or income — are ready to move forward from COVID restrictions and re-open the Australian economy.
There is strong support for vaccinated Australian to be exempt from border restrictions and for travel bubbles to be negotiated with nations who reach a 70% vaccination threshold. A majority of Australians support exemptions from border restrictions for those who are vaccinated (53.4%), strongest among people from NSW (58.7%) and Victoria (60.3%). Just 22.4% of Australians are opposed. In Western Australia, 45.5% support exemptions from border restrictions compared to 27.3% who do not.
An even greater proportion of Australians are keen to see travel bubbles negotiated with nations which reach a 70% vaccination threshold. Across Australia, 57.3% support travel bubbles being negotiated, compared to just 16.6% who disagree. Young Australians are especially supportive of travel bubbles, with support climbing to over 60% for Australians under the age of 40. Just over 55% of Western Australians support the concept.
A near majority (46.8%) of Australians believe that interstate travel restrictions should come to an end once vulnerable people have had the opportunity to get vaccinated. Those in favour nearly double those opposed, with just 25.5% against. This is a powerful indication that Australians do not want to be held back by those who elect not to participate in vaccination efforts.
More Australians also expressed support for home quarantine for returning travellers as more of the population is vaccinated. Nearly half (49.3%) support this, with the strongest support in WA (50.1%) and Queensland (52.2%). Fewer than one in three (30.9%) are opposed, with opposition to the idea most likely from students, retirees and the unemployed.
The poll also shows Australians understand the contribution of overseas migration to our economy. 57.1% of respondents agreed that migration is an important source of economic growth, with 53.1% backing the need for a plan to reopen international migration flows.
These results come following the release of National Cabinet’s four-stage approach to lead our economy out of COVID-19 through vaccination.
The National Cabinet plan gives the clearest signal that Australians need to roll up our sleeves if we want to get back to life and business as usual. Today’s results show a strong majority of Australians in every State and walk of life are ready to support that. Australians don’t want to be held back by those who are not prepared to be vaccinated. It’s critical that the vaccination levels developed to underpin National Cabinet’s four-stage approach reflect the best health advice, in full knowledge that Australians across the country are committed to reopening our nation. As the State leading the nation’s trade effort, it is particularly important for Western Australia that we can resume business with the rest of the world. Vaccination and a plan for reopening are critical for this to happen.
| Australia should negotiate ‘travel bubbles’ with nations that vaccinate at least 70% of the population (herd immunity) | |||||||||||||
| Support/
Oppose (AUS%) |
NSW |
WA
|
VIC
|
QLD
|
SA | Other | |||||||
| 57.3 | 16.6 | 60.4 | 14.9 | 55.1 | 18.7 | 60.9 | 14.7 | 56.4 | 16.5 | 49.5 | 20.6 | 60.9 | 14.8 |
| Australians that are fully vaccinated should be exempt from border restrictions
|
|||||||||||||
| Support/
oppose (AUS%) |
NSW |
WA
|
VIC
|
QLD
|
SA | Other | |||||||
| 53.4 | 22.4 | 58.7 | 17.5 | 45.5 | 27.2 | 60.3 | 18.0 | 52.2 | 23.1 | 49.2 | 25.0 | 48.4 | 29.8 |
| Once everyone eligible for phase 1A & 1B of the vaccination rollout has had the opportunity to be vaccinated, interstate border controls should be lifted
|
|||||||||||||
| Support/
oppose (AUS %) |
NSW |
WA
|
VIC
|
QLD
|
SA | Other | |||||||
| 46.8 | 25.5 | 55.6 | 20.1 | 41.1 | 32.4 | 54.3 | 18.4 | 39.4 | 29.6 | 40.6 | 27.6 | 44.2 | 29.8 |
| As more of the Australian population is vaccinated, returning travellers should be allowed to quarantine from home | |||||||||||||
| Support/
oppose (AUS %) |
NSW |
WA
|
VIC
|
QLD
|
SA | Other | |||||||
| 49.3 | 30.7 | 49.3 | 31.1 | 50.1 | 29.6 | 46.5 | 34.3 | 52.2 | 25.9 | 46.8 | 35.9 | 52.6 | 24.3 |
| Overseas migration is an important source of economic growth | |||||||||||||
| Support/
oppose (AUS %) |
NSW |
WA
|
VIC
|
QLD
|
SA | Other | |||||||
| 57.1 | 17.3 | 58.9 | 18.1 | 55.1 | 17.9 | 58.7 | 16.4 | 55.8 | 16.8 | 54.4 | 18.8 | 59.6 | 15.4 |
| Australia needs to develop a plan to reopen international migration flows now so we don’t get left behind when it is finally safe to reopen | |||||||||||||
| Support/
oppose (AUS %) |
NSW |
WA
|
VIC
|
QLD
|
SA | Other | |||||||
| 53.1 | 24.2 | 55.2 | 22.8 | 53.0 | 26.7 | 55.5 | 22.4 | 50.7 | 24.3 | 47.4 | 26.0 | 57.6 | 23.5 |
