Essential Report
Federal Budget Approval
Q. Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the Federal Budget that was handed down on Tuesday 2nd April?
Total | Vote Labor | Vote Liberal / National | Vote Greens | NET: Vote Other | |
NET: Approve | 51% | 39% | 79% | 32% | 48% |
NET: Disapprove | 27% | 45% | 8% | 44% | 28% |
Strongly approve | 11% | 5% | 23% | 2% | 8% |
Somewhat approve | 40% | 34% | 56% | 29% | 39% |
Somewhat disapprove | 18% | 28% | 7% | 28% | 17% |
Strongly disapprove | 9% | 16% | 1% | 16% | 11% |
Don’t know | 21% | 16% | 13% | 24% | 25% |
- Just over half (51%) of voters approve of the 2019 Budget, with 27% disapproving and 21% unsure.
- Approval was highest among Coalition voters (79%), males (57%), those aged over 55 (57%), and those with an annual household income of between $52k and $104k (58%).
- However approval was lowest among Greens (32%) and Labour voters (39%), and those not in paid employment (38%).
2019 Budget | 2018
Budget |
2017
Budget |
|
NET: Approve | 51% | 44% | 41% |
NET: Disapprove | 27% | 28% | 33% |
Strongly approve | 11% | 5% | 5% |
Somewhat approve | 40% | 39% | 36% |
Somewhat disapprove | 18% | 19% | 23% |
Strongly disapprove | 9% | 9% | 10% |
Don’t know | 21% | 28% | 25% |
- The 2019 Budget has been met with higher approval than the previous two Budgets. Approval in 2019 is 7%pts higher than last year (44%) and 10%pts higher than 2017.
- Those disapproving of the Budget is similar in 2019 and 2018 (27% and 28%) and slightly lower in 2017, when 33% disapproved.

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- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Views towards re-electing the federal Coalition government
- Party trust to handle issues
- Importance of Australia’s international reputation
- Scott Morrison’s impact on Australia’s international reputation
- Views towards Australia’s international reputation
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