Australians are divided over whether our international border should still remain closed to those who are vaccinated against Covid – so where do you stand?
- New research shows Australians are divided about international border rules
- Some believe only those with special exemptions should be allowed to leave
- While others are of the opinion if you’re vaccinated it’s fair to leave
Australians are divided on the continued closure of international borders for those vaccinated against Covid-19, new research shows.
The Lowy Institute polled more than 2200 people in March on their attitudes towards the pandemic, with 41 per cent of respondents saying only those with special exemptions should be allowed to leave Australia.
Some 40 per cent said those vaccinated against Covid-19 should be free to depart, while 18 per cent said all people should be free to jet off.
The Lowy Institute polled more than 2200 people in March on their attitudes towards the pandemic, with 41 per cent of respondents saying only those with special exemptions should be allowed to leave Australia
Outbound travel without a special exemption from the Department of Home Affairs has been banned for more than 12 months.
Meanwhile, about 95 per cent of respondents said Australia has handled the pandemic either ‘fairly well’ or ‘very well’.
This is in stark contrast with the United States, for which only seven per cent of respondents expressed praise.
For Australia, this outcome was two percentage points higher than last year.
Meanwhile, about 95 per cent of respondents said Australia has handled the pandemic either ‘fairly well’ or ‘very well’
Australia’s Covid-19 death toll stands at 910, while more than 575,000 people have died in the US – the highest national toll in the world.
More than half of Australians also said the federal government had ‘done the right amount’ in helping Aussies overseas return home, with just a third declaring the government had not done enough.
‘As thousands of Australians continue to seek repatriation during the Covid-19 pandemic, the majority of Australians appear to support the federal government’s current approach,’ the Lowy report says.
Elsewhere, the poll also found a large majority of Australians believe the country should provide vaccine aid to the Pacific and Southeast Asia.
Some 83 per cent of respondents said Australia should help Pacific Islands countries pay for Covid-19 vaccines, while 60 per cent said Australia should tip in for Covid-19 vaccinations in Southeast Asia.
This is in contrast with Lowy polling in 2019 that found almost half of Australians supported a reduction in the country’s foreign aid activity.
‘Over the course of the past six months, the Australian government has pledged over $800 million in funding for vaccines in Pacific Island and Southeast Asian countries,’ the report says.
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