Exclusive YouGov poll reveals Victorians want school and sport restrictions eased
As other states ease their coronavirus restrictions, Victorians reveal what they really think about our strict bans on Mother’s Day, schools, playgrounds, golf and fishing.
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Victorians are urging Premier Daniel Andrews to start easing restrictions on their everyday lives, with strong support to reopen playgrounds, kick off non-contact sport and get kids back into classrooms.
An exclusive Herald Sun/YouGov poll of more than 1000 people also reveals 58 per cent of Victorians want strict coronavirus rules to be relaxed so families can celebrate Mother’s Day this Sunday.
Three-quarters of those surveyed believe the time is right for outdoor sports such as golf, fishing, tennis and bowls to be given the green light, while 56 per cent say playgrounds should be reopened for kids as long as parents maintain social distancing.
>>SCROLL DOWN FOR FULL YOUGOV POLL RESULTS
The National Cabinet is expected to decide on Friday on a plan to start lifting restrictions, with a specific three-step framework agreed for each industry which the states can move through at their own speed.
But while other states have already started easing restrictions, the Andrews Government has stood firm on maintaining Victoria’s existing rules until Monday, when the state of emergency expires.
In New South Wales, two adults and their children are allowed to visit other homes, enabling small Mother’s Day celebrations this weekend, while gatherings of up to 10 people are permitted in South Australia and Western Australia. But Mr Andrews insists Victorian families should catch up over video calls instead.
The YouGov poll found 68 per cent of parents supported easing restrictions so children and grandchildren could see their mothers and grandmothers on Sunday.
Victoria’s stringent rules also mean all sporting activities except “basic exercise” are prohibited. But 74 per cent of those surveyed said non-contact outdoor sports should be given the go-ahead.
Support was even higher among Victorians aged over 65, at 83 per cent.
Four out of five Victorians surveyed who lived outside of Melbourne also backed the immediate return of activities such as fishing, tennis, bowls and golf.
The decision to close public playgrounds was made by the National Cabinet at the end of March, with local councils taping off play areas in parks across the state.
The YouGov research — which surveyed 1022 Victorians on Monday and Tuesday — found 62 per cent of parents were now in favour of reopening playgrounds, as long as adults kept their distance from each other.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Wednesday the National Cabinet would lock in “a framework that will take us out over the next few months”.
“At the end of the day, the individual states and territories, they’re the ones who have to make the calls about what gets opened when, they’re the ones who have the authority over that,” he said.
He said people would be able to “find inconsistencies” between the states, which was a “fair question”.
“I can assure you as much consistency is being achieved as is possible,” he said.
The national medical experts panel has been drafting the three-step frameworks, based on everything now known about the way the virus is transmitted and controlled.
The low transmission rate from kids, the highly infectious nature of the virus and its deadly impact on elderly and vulnerable people are key features being considered before the panel’s advice is given to the National Cabinet.
“There are a number of metrics in that plan that looks at, for example, how long it takes to find a case and to make sure they’re isolated,” Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said.
“These are now strengthening our resolve in terms of our general principles as to how we are going to look at reopening society, reopening the economy in a COVID-safe way.”
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