AUSTRALIANS REMAIN OPTIMISTIC FOR THEIR FUTURE, DESPITE OMICRON WREAKING HAVOC ON THEIR SUMMER

As we approach the two-year anniversary of the pandemic, we reflect on how omicron turned our Christmas and summer holiday period into another rollercoaster ride.

Concerns for personal and community health and the economy all increased, and concerns of COVID exposure prompted most Australians to change their behaviours again, with 35% choosing to self-isolate, while another 20% isolated due to infections (self or household). This led to flow-on impacts experienced by 86% of Australians and more than one in three Australians cancelling their summer travel plans.

As we approach late February, with the worst of omicron behind us, Australians remain relatively optimistic for their personal futures, but less so for Australia as a country. While they expect a return to ‘normal’ education and shopping behaviour, and even overseas travel in 2022 there are also expectations of a price increases and interest rate rises coming in 2022, and most believe it will be at least two more years before the pandemic is no longer having a significant influence on our lives.

Perceptions of the Federal Government response to COVID has plummeted further this wave. Almost one in two Australians (45%) hold negative perceptions of the Federal Government’s handling of the pandemic and at a state level, perceptions of the Federal and State Government’s COVID response are now lowest in QLD (28% and 41% respectively).