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Performance of Scott Morrison
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Scott Morrison is doing as Prime Minister?
| Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 | Sep’20 | Aug’20 | Jul’20 | Jun’20 | May’20 | Apr’20 | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | |
| TOTAL: Approve | 61% | 62% | 66% | 63% | 64% | 66% | 63% | 65% | 64% | 59% | 41% | 39% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 30% | 28% | 25% | 27% | 28% | 23% | 27% | 26% | 27% | 31% | 49% | 52% |
| Don’t know | 9% | 11% | 9% | 10% | 8% | 11% | 10% | 8% | 9% | 10% | 10% | 9% |
| Base (n) | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 | 1,082 | 1,076 | 1,010 | 1,054 | 1,059 | 1,093 | 1,069 | 1,096 | 1,056 |
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Strongly approve | 20% | 8% | 42% | 4% | 9% |
| Approve | 40% | 39% | 48% | 31% | 30% |
| Disapprove | 18% | 30% | 6% | 22% | 22% |
| Strongly disapprove | 13% | 18% | 2% | 35% | 20% |
| Don’t know | 9% | 5% | 2% | 8% | 19% |
| TOTAL: Approve | 61% | 47% | 90% | 35% | 39% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 30% | 48% | 8% | 57% | 42% |
| Base (n) | 1,084 | 334 | 431 | 118 | 106 |
- The Prime Minister’s approval rating is at 61%, unchanged since last month.
- Approval of the Prime Minister is at 90% among Coalition supporters and 47% among Labor voters, both also unchanged since last month (90% and 48%).
Performance of Anthony Albanese
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Anthony Albanese is doing as Opposition Leader?
| Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 | Sep’20 | Aug’20 | Jul’20 | Jun’20 | May’20 | Apr’20 | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | |
| TOTAL: Approve | 42% | 43% | 40% | 44% | 44% | 44% | 44% | 43% | 42% | 44% | 41% | 41% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 33% | 29% | 33% | 29% | 29% | 30% | 28% | 30% | 27% | 29% | 33% | 31% |
| Don’t know | 25% | 28% | 27% | 27% | 27% | 25% | 28% | 26% | 31% | 27% | 26% | 28% |
| Base (n) | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 | 1,082 | 1,076 | 1,010 | 1,054 | 1,059 | 1,093 | 1,069 | 1,096 | 1,056 |
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Strongly approve | 9% | 16% | 8% | 8% | 3% |
| Approve | 32% | 47% | 26% | 37% | 20% |
| Disapprove | 23% | 14% | 33% | 22% | 25% |
| Strongly disapprove | 10% | 3% | 16% | 7% | 22% |
| Don’t know | 25% | 19% | 16% | 26% | 30% |
| TOTAL: Approve | 42% | 63% | 35% | 45% | 24% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 33% | 18% | 49% | 29% | 47% |
| Base (n) | 1,084 | 334 | 431 | 118 | 106 |
- The Opposition Leader’s approval rating is now 42%, consistent with ratings seen throughout last year.
Preferred Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?
| Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 | Sep’20 | Aug’20 | Jul’20 | Jun’20 | May’20 | Apr’20 | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | |
| Scott Morrison | 51% | 50% | 53% | 50% | 49% | 52% | 50% | 53% | 50% | 46% | 40% | 36% |
| Anthony Albanese | 25% | 24% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 22% | 27% | 23% | 25% | 27% | 35% | 36% |
| Don’t know | 25% | 26% | 24% | 25% | 25% | 26% | 23% | 24% | 25% | 27% | 25% | 28% |
| Base (n) | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 | 1,082 | 1,076 | 1,010 | 1,054 | 1,059 | 1,093 | 1,069 | 1,096 | 1,056 |
| Federal Voting Intention | |||||
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
| Scott Morrison | 51% | 28% | 83% | 24% | 45% |
| Anthony Albanese | 25% | 47% | 8% | 49% | 16% |
| Don’t know | 25% | 26% | 9% | 27% | 39% |
| Base (n) | 1,084 | 334 | 431 | 118 | 106 |
- Half of participants believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (51%), while a quarter would prefer the Opposition Leader (25%). A further quarter (25%) of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
- Morrison is strongly favoured by Coalition voters, with 83% believing Morrison makes the better PM, compared to Albanese (8%).
- Just under half of Labor voters believe Albanese would make the better PM (47%). 26% of Labor voters said they don’t know who would make the better leader.
Top Federal Government priorities for 2021
Q. From the options below, which of the following do you think the Federal Government should prioritise in 2021?
Please rank all the options below by dragging and dropping them in order of highest priority (1) to lowest priority (10).
| TOTAL: Highest priority (Ranked 1) | Total | Federal Voting Intention | |||
| Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Provide the necessary healthcare resources to protect the country from Covid-19 | 24% | 27% | 23% | 10% | 21% |
| Stimulate job growth | 13% | 9% | 17% | 9% | 11% |
| Reduce household bills | 12% | 15% | 10% | 12% | 17% |
| Invest in public systems (e.g. aged care, childcare, healthcare) to safeguard the country from the ongoing effects of Covid-19 | 12% | 13% | 12% | 8% | 9% |
| Minimise environmental damage by addressing the effects of climate change | 10% | 12% | 4% | 25% | 15% |
| Make the increase to the JobSeeker payment permanent | 9% | 10% | 6% | 14% | 12% |
| Reduce the financial deficit in the Federal Budget | 7% | 5% | 11% | 3% | 4% |
| Improve trade relations with China | 5% | 3% | 9% | 4% | 5% |
| Include recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the constitution | 5% | 4% | 6% | 11% | 2% |
| Build closer ties with the US and President-elect Joe Biden | 3% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 4% |
| Base (n) | 1,084 | 334 | 431 | 118 | 106 |
- About a quarter (24%) of people think the highest priority for the Federal Government this year is to provide the necessary healthcare resources to protect the country from Covid-19.
- Following this, investing in public systems (e.g. aged care, childcare, healthcare) to safeguard the country from the ongoing effects of Covid-19 was the top priority for 12% of people. Stimulating job growth and reducing household bills are also front of mind for Australians (13% and 12% respectively).
- Coalition voters consider stimulating job growth as a higher government priority than other voters (17% compared to 9% Labor voters, 9% Greens voters and 11% other voters).
Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine
Q. Once a vaccine for Covid-19 becomes available in Australia, how long would you wait before taking it?
| 18/01 | 14/12 | 10/08 | |
| I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible | 42% | 43% | 56% |
| I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away | 47% | 46% | 35% |
| I’d never get vaccinated | 11% | 10% | 8% |
| Base (n) | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 |
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
| I’d get vaccinated as soon as possible | 42% | 51% | 34% | 30% | 42% | 54% | 48% | 49% | 34% | 33% | ||
| I’d get vaccinated, but wouldn’t do it straight away | 47% | 38% | 55% | 57% | 46% | 39% | 44% | 44% | 57% | 42% | ||
| I’d never get vaccinated | 11% | 11% | 11% | 14% | 13% | 7% | 8% | 7% | 9% | 25% | ||
| Base (n) | 1,084 | 539 | 545 | 341 | 358 | 385 | 334 | 431 | 118 | 106 | ||
- Fewer people say they would get a Covid-19 vaccine immediately than mid last year. 42% would get a vaccine as soon as possible, down from 56% last August. 47% would get vaccinated, but just not straight away (up from 35% in August) and 11% say they would never get vaccinated.
- Those most likely to get the vaccine immediately include men (51%) and those aged over 55 (54%).
- Those voting for independent or minor parties are the most likely to say they would never get vaccinated (25%).
Perceptions of change in the standard of living for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Q. In your opinion, over the past 10 years, have things got better or worse for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia, or have things stayed much the same?
| Jan’21 | Jun’19 | |
| A lot better | 18% | 18% |
| A little better | 30% | 28% |
| Stayed much the same | 32% | 36% |
| A little worse | 7% | 5% |
| A lot worse | 3% | 3% |
| Don’t know | 11% | 10% |
| TOTAL: Better | 48% | 46% |
| TOTAL: Worse | 10% | 8% |
| Base (n) | 1,084 | 1,097 |
- Nearly half (48%) believe things have got better for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples over the last 10 years, unchanged since June 2019 (46%).
- About a third (32%) state that in their opinion, conditions have stayed much the same for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders over the past 10 years, while 10% believe things have got worse. Both figures were also at a similar level in June 2019.
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | |
| A lot better | 18% | 15% | 23% | 9% | 20% |
| A little better | 30% | 32% | 33% | 22% | 27% |
| Stayed much the same | 32% | 34% | 31% | 45% | 26% |
| A little worse | 7% | 8% | 3% | 14% | 10% |
| A lot worse | 3% | 3% | 2% | 7% | 7% |
| Don’t know | 11% | 8% | 8% | 4% | 9% |
| TOTAL: Better | 48% | 47% | 57% | 30% | 47% |
| TOTAL: Worse | 10% | 11% | 4% | 21% | 17% |
| Base (n) | 1,084 | 334 | 431 | 118 | 106 |
- Coalition voters are the most likely to think things have got better for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the last decade (57% compared to 47% Labor voters, 30% Greens voters and 47% other voters).
Changing views towards Australia Day
Q. Will you personally be doing anything to celebrate Australia Day or do you treat it as just a public holiday?
| Jan’21 | Jan’20 | Jan’19 | Jan ‘17 | Jan ‘16 | Jan ‘15 | |
| Doing something to celebrate Australia Day | 29% | 34% | 40% | 34% | 38% | 40% |
| Just a public holiday | 53% | 46% | 45% | 46% | 44% | 41% |
| Working – I don’t get the Australia Day holiday | 6% | 6% | 6% | 5% | 6% | 7% |
| Don’t know | 12% | 14% | 9% | 15% | 12% | 12% |
| Base (n) | 1,084 | 1,080 | 1,652 | 1,015 | 1,028 | 1,020 |
- Under a third (29%) of people are doing something to celebrate Australia Day this year, lower than in previous years (34% in 2020 and 40% in 2019).
- Just over half (53%) say they treat it as just a public holiday, which is the highest recorded since 2015.
- 6% are working and don’t get the holiday, and 12% don’t know.
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
| Doing something to celebrate Australia Day | 29% | 35% | 24% | 23% | 34% | 31% | 30% | 36% | 9% | 32% | ||
| Just a public holiday | 53% | 47% | 58% | 58% | 49% | 53% | 55% | 48% | 76% | 45% | ||
| Working – I don’t get the Australia Day holiday | 6% | 6% | 5% | 8% | 7% | 2% | 4% | 7% | 8% | 7% | ||
| Don’t know | 12% | 11% | 13% | 11% | 11% | 15% | 11% | 9% | 8% | 15% | ||
| Base (n) | 1,084 | 539 | 545 | 341 | 358 | 385 | 334 | 431 | 118 | 106 | ||
- Coalition voters are the most likely to be doing something to celebrate Australia Day compared to other voters (36% followed by 30% Labor voters, 32% other voters and 9% Greens voters). For the majority of Greens voters (76%), Australia Day is just a public holiday.
- Those aged 18-34 are less likely to be doing something to celebrate Australia Day than older cohorts (23% compared to 34% of those 35-54 and 31% of those over 55).
Support towards a separate national day
Q. It has been suggested that Australia should have a separate national day to recognise Indigenous Australians. Do you…?
| Jan‘21 | Jan‘20 | Jan’19 | Oct‘18 | |
| Support a separate day and keep Australia Day | 35% | 32% | 37% | 36% |
| Support a separate day to replace Australia Day | 18% | 18% | 15% | 14% |
| Do not support a separate day | 35% | 40% | 40% | 37% |
| Don’t know | 12% | 11% | 8% | 12% |
| TOTAL: Support a separate day | 53% | 50% | 52% | 50% |
| Base (n) | 1,084 | 1,080 | 1,652 | 1,027 |
- Support for a separate day to recognise Indigenous Australians (either in place, or alongside Australia Day) is now at 53% (50% in 2020).
- 35% support including a separate national day with a further 18% supporting a replacement of Australia Day.
- Over a third (35%) don’t support a separate day.
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
| Support a separate day and keep Australia Day | 35% | 38% | 32% | 39% | 41% | 26% | 43% | 36% | 24% | 30% | ||
| Support a separate day to replace Australia Day | 18% | 16% | 20% | 27% | 16% | 13% | 18% | 13% | 53% | 17% | ||
| Do not support a separate day | 35% | 35% | 34% | 17% | 29% | 55% | 29% | 45% | 14% | 45% | ||
| Don’t know | 12% | 11% | 14% | 16% | 14% | 6% | 11% | 7% | 9% | 8% | ||
| TOTAL: Support a separate day | 53% | 54% | 52% | 67% | 56% | 39% | 61% | 49% | 77% | 47% | ||
| Base (n) | 1,084 | 539 | 545 | 341 | 358 | 385 | 334 | 431 | 118 | 106 | ||
- Support for a separate day is highest among Greens voters (77%), Labor voters (61%) and those aged 18-34 (67%).
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Download this week's ReportEssential Report
Two Party Preferred:
Labor
45%
Coalition
48%
In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Top Federal Government priorities for 2021
- Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine
- Perceptions of change in the standard of living for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Changing views towards Australia Day
- Support towards a separate national day
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