50% of Australian voters says it’s too soon to ease lockdown, poll finds

Another 14% of Australians say they are prepared to wait until the end of May, according to an Essential Research poll released yesterday. The survey found 49% of all voters believed it was too early to consider relaxing limitations.  The younger generation were less supportive of the restrictions, with 56% of voters aged 55 and above agreeing with that statement, compared with 37% of those aged 18 to 34.  The findings suggest the majority of Australians will support the measures staying in place if needed.  However, the falling rate of new cases – now in the single digits or less across the States and Territories –suggests that the Government will be able to roll back its lockdown measures from mid-May.  Providers will need to decide whether they maintain strict restrictions on visitors – or ease their lockdowns too.  Given the situation in aged care homes overseas, that may be premature.  Interestingly, the poll also found increasing public trust in the Government with 65% of voters rating the Government’s response as quite good or very good – useful if it wants to get its controversial COVID-19 tracing app over the line.