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Exclusive research has offered insight into how the Australian defence industry rates the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the sentiment of the industry as the nation looks to emerge from the pandemic.
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Since the pandemic was declared, the Australian government has introduced a series of restrictions that impact the defence industry, most notably the ban on large-scale public gatherings, affecting industry briefings and large scale manufacturing programs that dominate the industry locally.
To understand how the measures are being digested across the Australian marketplace, Defence Connect sister brand My Business commissioned Momentum Intelligence to create an ongoing survey of a cross-section of Australian business owners and employees — including those operating in the Australian defence industry.
The COVID-19 Business Confidence Survey encouraged participants across a range of Momentum Media’s professional services brands (accounting, aviation, defence, financial services, law, mortgage and finance broking, and real estate) to take part in an online questionnaire between 2 and 22 April.
A total of 6,740 responses were received, and the results have been evenly weighted across each industry.
One of the components of the survey asked about the perceptions of business owners/managers and employees towards the Australian government’s response to COVID-19.
Looking at business owner satisfaction to government's response, feedback showed 79 per cent of business owners feeding into the defence supply chain were satisfied with the government's response to COVID-19, while 13 per cent business owners were neutral, with 8 per cent of business owners dissatisfied with the government's response.
For employees, 83 per cent were satisfied by the government's response, 12 per cent of employees were neutral to the government's response, with 5 per cent of employees dissatisfied with the government's response.
Interestingly, when comparing the feedback provided across the various service brands, business owners within the defence industry are more satisfied with the government’s response than employees, with 71 per cent of respondents selecting this option; 16 per cent selected neutral and 13 per cent selected dissatisfied.
When looking at the clarity of the government's messaging regarding the response, 81 per cent of the combined defence industry responders believed that the government's messaging was clear, with 7 per cent neutral and 7 per cent dissatisfied with the government's messaging.
More about the survey
The dynamic COVID-19 Business Confidence Survey serves as a barometer of how businesses, and working Australians, are adapting to the changed working and social environment throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
This will enable us to map attitudes, confidence and business activities as they evolve by market sectors, revealing which industries and professions are adapting most effectively to the “new normal”.
The first instalment of the survey report is expected to be released next week.
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
