This contrasts with Lowy polling in 2019 found that 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 AUD 800 million ($61.8 million) in funding for vaccines in Pacific Island and Southeast Asian countries,” as per the report.
The key findings of the Lowy Institute CovidPoll 2021: 59 percent of Australians are of the view that the federal government has done the right amount in helping Australians overseas return home. However, 41 percent claim that a special exemption should still be required to leave Australia.
Meanwhile, 40 percent of respondents claim that those with a Covid-19 jab should be free to leave.
95 percent of respondents believe that Australia has handled the pandemic “fairly” or “very” well.
83 percent of respondents claim Australia should help Pacific Islands countries pay for Covid-19 vaccines, and 60 percent claims it should also help in Southeast Asia.
(Edited by Vaibhav Vishwanath Pawar and Pallavi Mehra)
