LIP-罗伊研究所调查澳大利亚人对冠状病毒大流行的态度（英文）-2020.5-16页_879kb

Summary of COVIDpoll: Lowy Institute Poll on Australian Attitudes to the Coronavirus Pandemic

Core Content

The Lowy Institute Poll (COVIDpoll) conducted in April 2020 provides a detailed analysis of Australian public opinion on the global response to the coronavirus pandemic, the future power of global actors, and preferences for information sources and global cooperation.

Main Findings

1. Perception of Global Response to the Pandemic

• 93% of Australians believe Australia has handled the coronavirus outbreak very or fairly well.
• Only 10% of Australians think the United States has managed the outbreak well, placing it at the bottom of the list.
• China has a more positive rating than the US, with 31% of Australians saying it has handled the outbreak well.
• Singapore is also highly rated, with 79% of Australians believing it has managed the outbreak well.
• The UK and Italy are viewed more negatively, with 30% and 15% respectively rated as having handled the outbreak well.

2. Views on Global Power After the Pandemic

• Australians believe China will be less powerful than before the crisis (27%) or just as powerful (36%), with only 37% thinking it will be more powerful.
• 53% of Australians believe the United States will be less powerful, compared to 41% who think it will remain stable and 6% who think it will be more powerful.
• Europe is seen as less powerful by 48%, with 46% believing it will be just as powerful as before.

3. Attitudes Toward China’s System of Government

• 68% of Australians are less favourable toward China’s system of government due to its handling of the pandemic.
• 27% say they feel about the same, and 5% are more favourable.

4. Preferences for US President

• 73% of Australians prefer Joe Biden as the next US President, matching the level of support for Barack Obama in 2008.
• 23% support Donald Trump for re-election, an increase of 12 points from prior to the 2016 election.

5. Views on Globalisation

• 70% of Australians believe globalisation is mostly good for Australia, consistent with responses from 2019 and slightly higher than in 2006.
• Urban Australians are slightly more supportive of globalisation (72%) than regional Australians (65%).

6. Travel Intentions Post-Pandemic

• 59% of Australians say they will be just as likely to travel as before once the pandemic is contained.
• 35% say they will be less likely to travel, while 6% say they will be more likely.

7. Confidence in Authorities

• Australians are highly confident in the performance of chief medical officers (92%), state/territory governments (86%), and the federal government (82%).
• Only 59% express confidence in the World Health Organization (WHO).

8. Preferred Sources of Information

• 59% prefer the prime minister and government officials.
• 50% choose government websites and the ABC as their preferred sources.
• 31% rely on newspapers and news websites, while 20% use social media, and 5% rely on word of mouth.

Key Information

• Methodology: The survey was conducted by the Social Research Centre using a mixed-mode approach (online and telephone) with a sample size of 3036 Australian adults.
• Margin of Error: Approximately 1.8% on a simple random sample.
• Design Effect: Estimated at 1.86, indicating the survey's results are representative of the broader population.
• Completion Rate: 76.9%.
• Survey Funded: Entirely by the Lowy Institute.

Comparative Context

• The negative perception of the US is notable, especially compared to the 2009 Lowy Institute Poll, where 33% thought the US would be less powerful after the global financial crisis, compared to 53% in 2020.
• Australians' views on China’s power have shifted from 72% in 2009 to 37% in 2020, indicating a more critical stance following the pandemic.

Conclusion

The pandemic has reinforced Australians' confidence in their national authorities while diminishing trust in global powers like the US and WHO. Australians remain pro-globalisation, advocating for more international cooperation during crises. Despite the pandemic, travel intentions remain largely unchanged, with 59% still willing to travel as before. The prime minister and government officials are the most trusted sources of information, highlighting the importance of transparent and authoritative communication during the crisis.