i wonder about the how the questions are phrased, do i think the borders should be open today? i can see an argument for no.
do i think the borders should be open in 6 months? absolutely.
set the date, let the public know the gates to the global zombie apocalypse is going to be opened and they have 6 months to get immunised
As I've said before in
this thread. All depends on how a polll is positioned.
But you can forget any concept or border opening, or even a plan for border opening, if we're talking 70+% support for border closures. It's not worth even risking announcing a plan. It's actually very easy to understand why there's no political will. Just too dangerous politically.
1) Those wanting family reunions are probably most widely dispersed, and not sufficient numbers to sway things. This is probably the most likely to create change, if there's sufficient numbers (particularly migrant citizens) in marginal electorates.
2) Vast majority have shown a willingness to sacrifice overseas holidays. One wonders which electorate those who don't want to sacrifice them sit in.
3) International tourism's impact is probably most keenly felt in far north Queensland (Cairns and Whitsundays) - the electorates of Dawson & Kennedy, the Gold Coast (Fadden, Moncrief and Macpherson) which all have two party preferred votes for federal labor of <40%, so no chance of those going to ALP. Also inner Sydney and Melbourne are suffering, but this is probably either concentrated in inner city electorates that are not going to change hands either, or widely dispersed.
4) International students - predominantly causing problems in University sector and inner city electorates which a very left leaning, and not potential wins. Anything that weakens the university sector is politically advantageous for conservative politics. Just a fact.
5) Labour shortages- affects everyone, but very easy to sell the message about "jobs for Australians" - and have already been managing critical shortages, such as fruit picking.
Which, provided you can keep on pumping money into the economy until after the election, gives zero imperative for any other outcome. Simple fact that is not going to change.