Roy Morgan Research
October 14, 2020

Victorians want COVID Stage 4 restrictions ended now – 75% of Melburnians want the 5km travel limit scrapped now

Topic: Press Release, Special Poll
Finding No: 8541
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A rapidly increasing majority of Melburnians (75%, up 9% from  two weeks ago ) want the 5km travel limit scrapped now, as do for the first time a majority (60%) of Victorians outside Melbourne (up 15% from 2 weeks ago).

Almost three-quarters of Victorians, 73% (up 14% from two weeks ago) say Melburnians should be allowed to visit the homes of their immediate families, and 62% (up 6% from two weeks ago) want Melbourne’s restaurants/hotels/clubs/cafes to be allowed to provide table service with proper social distancing according to the seventh Roy Morgan SMS survey on Victoria’s Stage 4 restrictions.

Victorians surveyed were each asked the following questions to determine their attitudes towards the current Victorian Government Stage 4 directives:

  • Question 1“Melbourne residents are currently banned from visiting the homes of immediate family members with the exception of singles, delivering care or essential services. Should Melbourne residents now be able to visit the homes of their immediate families?” Yes 73% (up 14% from two weeks ago) cf. No 27% (down 14%).
  • Question 2“Melbourne’s restaurants/hotels/clubs/cafes are only allowed to offer take-away or food delivery services. Should Melbourne’s restaurants/hotels/clubs/cafes now be allowed to provide table service with proper social distancing?” Yes 62% (up 6% from two weeks ago) cf. No 38% (down 6%).
  • Question 3“Melbourne residents are currently restricted from travelling more than 5km from their homes for exercise or buying essential items such as food. Should Melbourne residents now be free to travel more than 5km from their home?” Yes 72% (up 11% from two weeks ago) cf. No 28% (down 11%).
  • Question 4"If a new Coronavirus vaccine became publicly available, would you be willing to be vaccinated?" Yes 85% cf. No 15%. Little changed from April 2020: Yes 87% cf. No 7%. Don't know 6%.

This special Roy Morgan Snap SMS survey was conducted with a Victoria-wide cross-section of 2,030 Victorians aged 18+ including 1,163 asked Questions 1-3 and a further 867 asked Question 4 conducted on Monday October 13 – Tuesday October 14, 2020.


Michele Levine CEO Roy Morgan, says:

“This is the seventh Roy Morgan SMS survey on Victoria’s Stage 4 restrictions conducted since Victoria and Melbourne went into lockdown- COVID Stage 4. Initially Victorians, and Melburnians who bore the brunt of the restrictions, were willing to comply. However, each week has shown increasing numbers of Victorians and Melburnians wanting the restrictions lifted.

“It is now up to the Victorian Government to create a COVID Safe environment. Last week the Sixth Roy Morgan SMS survey showed only 56% of Victorians had the COVID Safe app on their phone. It is unlikely Victoria will see a reduction in cases until proper tracing is in place. This latest research shows clearly Victorians don’t simply want to sit at home and wait.

Question 1:

Should Melbourne residents now be able to visit the homes of their immediate families?

Should Melbourne residents now be able to visit the homes of their immediate families?
By Gender & Age

Should Melbourne residents now be able to visit the homes of their immediate families?
By Melbourne & Country Victoria

Should Melbourne residents now be able to visit the homes of their immediate families?
By Party Vote (Federal)

Question 2:

Should Melbourne restaurants/hotels/clubs/cafes now be allowed to provide table service with proper social distancing?

Should Melbourne restaurants/hotels/clubs/cafes now be allowed to provide table service with proper social distancing? By Gender & Age

Should Melbourne restaurants/hotels/clubs/cafes now be allowed to provide table service with proper social distancing? By Melbourne & Country Victoria

Should Melbourne restaurants/hotels/clubs/cafes now be allowed to provide table service with proper social distancing? By Party Vote (Federal)

Question 3:

Should Melbourne residents now be free to travel more than 5km from their home?

Should Melbourne residents now be free to travel more than 5km from their home?
By Gender & Age

Should Melbourne residents now be free to travel more than 5km from their home?
By Melbourne & Country Victoria

Should Melbourne residents now be free to travel more than 5km from their home?
By Party Vote (Federal)

Question 4:

If a new Coronavirus vaccine became publicly available, would you be willing to be vaccinated?
By Gender & Age

If a new Coronavirus vaccine became publicly available, would you be willing to be vaccinated?
By Melbourne & Country Victoria

If a new Coronavirus vaccine became publicly available, would you be willing to be vaccinated?
By Party Vote (Federal)

For comments or more information please contact:
Roy Morgan - Enquiries
Office: +61 (03) 9224 5309
askroymorgan@roymorgan.com

Margin of Error

The margin of error to be allowed for in any estimate depends mainly on the number of interviews on which it is based. Margin of error gives indications of the likely range within which estimates would be 95% likely to fall, expressed as the number of percentage points above or below the actual estimate. Allowance for design effects (such as stratification and weighting) should be made as appropriate.

Sample Size Percentage Estimate
40% – 60% 25% or 75% 10% or 90% 5% or 95%
1,000 ±3.0 ±2.7 ±1.9 ±1.3
5,000 ±1.4 ±1.2 ±0.8 ±0.6
7,500 ±1.1 ±1.0 ±0.7 ±0.5
10,000 ±1.0 ±0.9 ±0.6 ±0.4
20,000 ±0.7 ±0.6 ±0.4 ±0.3
50,000 ±0.4 ±0.4 ±0.3 ±0.2

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