Essential Report
Performance of Anthony Albanese
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Anthony Albanese is doing as Opposition Leader?
| Jul’21 | Jun’21 | May’21 | Apr’21 | Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 | Sep’20 | Aug’20 | |
| TOTAL: Approve | 41% | 39% | 39% | 39% | 41% | 40% | 42% | 43% | 40% | 44% | 44% | 44% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 35% | 36% | 35% | 34% | 32% | 33% | 33% | 29% | 33% | 29% | 29% | 30% |
| Don’t know | 24% | 24% | 25% | 27% | 27% | 27% | 25% | 28% | 27% | 27% | 27% | 25% |
| Base (n) | 1,099 | 1,104 | 1,092 | 1,368 | 1,124 | 1,109 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 | 1,082 | 1,076 | 1,010 |
- The Opposition Leader’s approval rating has increased slightly to 41% (from 39% in June).
- Similarly, the proportion of people disapproving of Albanese and those unsure are both consistent with last month (35% and 24% respectively).
Preferred Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?
| Jul’21 | Jun’21 | May’21 | Apr’21 | Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 | Sep’20 | Aug’20 | |
| Scott Morrison | 46% | 48% | 50% | 47% | 52% | 52% | 51% | 50% | 53% | 50% | 49% | 52% |
| Anthony Albanese | 28% | 28% | 24% | 28% | 26% | 24% | 25% | 24% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 22% |
| Don’t know | 26% | 24% | 26% | 25% | 22% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 24% | 25% | 25% | 26% |
| Base (n) | 1,099 | 1,104 | 1,092 | 1,368 | 1,124 | 1,109 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 | 1,082 | 1,076 | 1,010 |
- Less than half (46%) of Australians now believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (48% last month).
- 28% think the opposition leader would make the better Prime Minister (same level in June). 26% of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
| Men | Jul’21 | Jun’21 | May’21 | Apr’21 | Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 |
| Scott Morrison | 48% | 54% | 54% | 53% | 52% | 54% | 53% | 54% | 54% | 52% |
| Anthony Albanese | 31% | 30% | 26% | 29% | 30% | 28% | 28% | 29% | 28% | 29% |
| Don’t know | 21% | 16% | 20% | 18% | 19% | 19% | 19% | 17% | 19% | 19% |
| Women | ||||||||||
| Scott Morrison | 43% | 43% | 47% | 42% | 53% | 51% | 48% | 47% | 51% | 47% |
| Anthony Albanese | 26% | 25% | 22% | 26% | 23% | 21% | 22% | 19% | 20% | 22% |
| Don’t know | 31% | 31% | 31% | 32% | 24% | 29% | 31% | 34% | 28% | 31% |
- Less than half (48%) of men now believe Scott Morrison makes the better PM (54% in June), the lowest number since last March. About the same proportion as last month think Albanese would make the better PM (31%). More men are now unsure who would make the better PM (21% from 16% last month).
- The proportion of women who think Scott Morrison makes the better PM has dropped since May to 43% (from 47%). Just over a quarter (26%) of women now think Anthony Albanese would make the better PM (from 22% in May). 31% are undecided, consistent with the past few months.
Performance of Anthony Albanese
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Anthony Albanese is doing as Opposition Leader?
| Jun’21 | May’21 | Apr’21 | Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 | Sep’20 | Aug’20 | Jul’20 | |
| TOTAL: Approve | 39% | 39% | 39% | 41% | 40% | 42% | 43% | 40% | 44% | 44% | 44% | 44% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 36% | 35% | 34% | 32% | 33% | 33% | 29% | 33% | 29% | 29% | 30% | 28% |
| Don’t know | 24% | 25% | 27% | 27% | 27% | 25% | 28% | 27% | 27% | 27% | 25% | 28% |
| Base (n) | 1,104 | 1,092 | 1,368 | 1,124 | 1,109 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 | 1,082 | 1,076 | 1,010 | 1,054 |
- The Opposition Leader’s approval rating is unchanged at 39%.
- Similarly, the proportion of people disapproving of Albanese and those unsure are both consistent with last month (36% and 24% respectively).
Preferred Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?
| Jun’21 | May’21 | Apr’21 | Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 | Sep’20 | Aug’20 | Jul’20 | |
| Scott Morrison | 48% | 50% | 47% | 52% | 52% | 51% | 50% | 53% | 50% | 49% | 52% | 50% |
| Anthony Albanese | 28% | 24% | 28% | 26% | 24% | 25% | 24% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 22% | 27% |
| Don’t know | 24% | 26% | 25% | 22% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 24% | 25% | 25% | 26% | 23% |
| Base (n) | 1,104 | 1,092 | 1,368 | 1,124 | 1,109 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 | 1,082 | 1,076 | 1,010 | 1,054 |
- Just under half (48%) of participants believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (50% last month).
- 28% think the opposition leader would make the better Prime Minister (24% in May). 24% of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
Performance of Anthony Albanese
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Anthony Albanese is doing as Opposition Leader?
| May’21 | Apr’21 | Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 | Sep’20 | Aug’20 | Jul’20 | Jun’20 | |
| TOTAL: Approve | 39% | 39% | 41% | 40% | 42% | 43% | 40% | 44% | 44% | 44% | 44% | 43% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 35% | 34% | 32% | 33% | 33% | 29% | 33% | 29% | 29% | 30% | 28% | 30% |
| Don’t know | 25% | 27% | 27% | 27% | 25% | 28% | 27% | 27% | 27% | 25% | 28% | 26% |
| Base (n) | 1,092 | 1,368 | 1,124 | 1,109 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 | 1,082 | 1,076 | 1,010 | 1,054 | 1,059 |
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Strongly approve | 9% | 13% | 8% | 5% | 11% |
| Approve | 30% | 45% | 21% | 42% | 27% |
| Disapprove | 24% | 17% | 32% | 21% | 22% |
| Strongly disapprove | 12% | 2% | 22% | 5% | 22% |
| Don’t know | 25% | 22% | 17% | 27% | 18% |
| TOTAL: Approve | 39% | 59% | 29% | 47% | 38% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 35% | 20% | 54% | 26% | 44% |
| Base (n) | 1,092 | 371 | 400 | 109 | 111 |
- The Opposition Leader’s approval rating is now at 39%, consistent with the level last month (39%).
- Approval of the Opposition Leader has risen to 59% among Labor voters (from 55% in April) and is at 29% among Coalition voters (33% in April).
Preferred Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?
| May’21 | Apr’21 | Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 | Sep’20 | Aug’20 | Jul’20 | Jun’20 | |
| Scott Morrison | 50% | 47% | 52% | 52% | 51% | 50% | 53% | 50% | 49% | 52% | 50% | 53% |
| Anthony Albanese | 24% | 28% | 26% | 24% | 25% | 24% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 22% | 27% | 23% |
| Don’t know | 26% | 25% | 22% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 24% | 25% | 25% | 26% | 23% | 24% |
| Base (n) | 1,092 | 1,368 | 1,124 | 1,109 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 | 1,082 | 1,076 | 1,010 | 1,054 | 1,059 |
| Men | May’21 | Apr’21 | Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 |
| Scott Morrison | 54% | 53% | 52% | 54% | 53% | 54% | 54% | 52% |
| Anthony Albanese | 26% | 29% | 30% | 28% | 28% | 29% | 28% | 29% |
| Don’t know | 20% | 18% | 19% | 19% | 19% | 17% | 19% | 19% |
| Women | ||||||||
| Scott Morrison | 47% | 42% | 53% | 51% | 48% | 47% | 51% | 47% |
| Anthony Albanese | 22% | 26% | 23% | 21% | 22% | 19% | 20% | 22% |
| Don’t know | 31% | 32% | 24% | 29% | 31% | 34% | 28% | 31% |
| May’21 | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
| Scott Morrison | 50% | 32% | 83% | 29% | 34% |
| Anthony Albanese | 24% | 41% | 7% | 46% | 22% |
| Don’t know | 26% | 26% | 9% | 25% | 44% |
| Base (n) | 1,092 | 371 | 400 | 109 | 111 |
- Half (50%) of participants believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (47% last month).
- Just under a quarter (24%) would prefer the Opposition Leader (28% in April). Just over a quarter (26%) of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
- Preference for Morrison has increased among women to 47% (from 42% last month). Preference is unchanged among men (54% and 53%).
- 41% of Labor voters believe Albanese would make the better PM, a notable drop from levels last month (50%). Just over a third (32%) now think Morrison would make the better leader (27% last month) and about a quarter (26%) don’t know.
Performance of Anthony Albanese
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Anthony Albanese is doing as Opposition Leader?
| Apr’21 | Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 | Sep’20 | Aug’20 | Jul’20 | Jun’20 | May’20 | |
| TOTAL: Approve | 39% | 41% | 40% | 42% | 43% | 40% | 44% | 44% | 44% | 44% | 43% | 42% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 34% | 32% | 33% | 33% | 29% | 33% | 29% | 29% | 30% | 28% | 30% | 27% |
| Don’t know | 27% | 27% | 27% | 25% | 28% | 27% | 27% | 27% | 25% | 28% | 26% | 31% |
| Base (n) | 1,368 | 1,124 | 1,109 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 | 1,082 | 1,076 | 1,010 | 1,054 | 1,059 | 1,093 |
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Strongly approve | 9% | 12% | 9% | 11% | 9% |
| Approve | 29% | 44% | 24% | 30% | 17% |
| Disapprove | 23% | 21% | 28% | 21% | 23% |
| Strongly disapprove | 12% | 1% | 21% | 5% | 22% |
| Don’t know | 27% | 22% | 17% | 32% | 29% |
| TOTAL: Approve | 39% | 55% | 33% | 41% | 26% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 34% | 22% | 49% | 27% | 45% |
| Base (n) | 1,368 | 483 | 471 | 123 | 165 |
- The Opposition Leader’s approval rating is now at 39%, a slight dip from last month’s level (41%).
- Approval of the Opposition Leader has fallen to 55% among Labor voters (from 60% in March) and is 33% among Coalition voters (30% in March.
Preferred Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?
| Apr’21 | Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 | Sep’20 | Aug’20 | Jul’20 | Jun’20 | May’20 | |
| Scott Morrison | 47% | 52% | 52% | 51% | 50% | 53% | 50% | 49% | 52% | 50% | 53% | 50% |
| Anthony Albanese | 28% | 26% | 24% | 25% | 24% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 22% | 27% | 23% | 25% |
| Don’t know | 25% | 22% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 24% | 25% | 25% | 26% | 23% | 24% | 25% |
| Base (n) | 1,368 | 1,124 | 1,109 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 | 1,082 | 1,076 | 1,010 | 1,054 | 1,059 | 1,093 |
| Men | Apr’21 | Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 |
| Scott Morrison | 53% | 52% | 54% | 53% | 54% | 54% | 52% |
| Anthony Albanese | 29% | 30% | 28% | 28% | 29% | 28% | 29% |
| Don’t know | 18% | 19% | 19% | 19% | 17% | 19% | 19% |
| Women | |||||||
| Scott Morrison | 42% | 53% | 51% | 48% | 47% | 51% | 47% |
| Anthony Albanese | 26% | 23% | 21% | 22% | 19% | 20% | 22% |
| Don’t know | 32% | 24% | 29% | 31% | 34% | 28% | 31% |
| Apr’21 | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
| Scott Morrison | 47% | 27% | 80% | 28% | 41% |
| Anthony Albanese | 28% | 50% | 10% | 45% | 20% |
| Don’t know | 25% | 24% | 9% | 26% | 39% |
| Base (n) | 1,368 | 483 | 471 | 123 | 165 |
- Just under half (47%) of participants believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese, a drop since last month (52%) and the lowest figure seen in the last 12 months.
- 28% would prefer the Opposition Leader (no change from 26% in March). A quarter (25%) of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
- Preference for Morrison has dropped among women from 53% last month to 42% in April. Preference is unchanged among men (52% and 53%).
- Half (50%) of Labor voters believe Albanese would make the better PM, consistent with levels last month (49%). Just under a third (27%) think Morrison would make the better leader and about a quarter (24%) don’t know.
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Essential Report
In this week's report:
- Federal voting intention
- Leader attributes: Scott Morrison
- Federal government response to Covid-19
- State government response to Covid-19
- Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine
- Reason those who would get vaccinated against Covid-19 have not been vaccinated yet
- Speed of NSW lockdown
- Time for Covid-19 milestones to occur for NSW
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