Essential Report
Preferred Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?
| Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 | Sep’20 | Aug’20 | Jul’20 | Jun’20 | May’20 | Apr’20 | Mar’20 | |
| Scott Morrison | 52% | 51% | 50% | 53% | 50% | 49% | 52% | 50% | 53% | 50% | 46% | 40% |
| Anthony Albanese | 24% | 25% | 24% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 22% | 27% | 23% | 25% | 27% | 35% |
| Don’t know | 24% | 25% | 26% | 24% | 25% | 25% | 26% | 23% | 24% | 25% | 27% | 25% |
| Base (n) | 1,109 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 | 1,082 | 1,076 | 1,010 | 1,054 | 1,059 | 1,093 | 1,069 | 1,096 |
| Federal Voting Intention | |||||
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
| Scott Morrison | 52% | 33% | 83% | 33% | 40% |
| Anthony Albanese | 24% | 42% | 7% | 39% | 28% |
| Don’t know | 24% | 25% | 11% | 28% | 31% |
| Base (n) | 1,109 | 359 | 428 | 101 | 131 |
- Just over half of participants believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (52%), while around a quarter would prefer the Opposition Leader (24%). About a further quarter (24%) 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 (7%).
- 42% of Labor voters believe Albanese would make the better PM, a decrease since last month (47%). A quarter (25%) of Labor voters said they don’t know who would make the better leader.
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.
Performance of Anthony Albanese
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Anthony Albanese is doing as Opposition Leader?
| Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 | Sep’20 | Aug’20 | Jul’20 | Jun’20 | May’20 | Apr’20 | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | Jan’20 | |
| TOTAL: Approve | 43% | 40% | 44% | 44% | 44% | 44% | 43% | 42% | 44% | 41% | 41% | 43% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 29% | 33% | 29% | 29% | 30% | 28% | 30% | 27% | 29% | 33% | 31% | 30% |
| Don’t know | 28% | 27% | 27% | 27% | 25% | 28% | 26% | 31% | 27% | 26% | 28% | 27% |
| Base (n) | 1,071 | 1,010 | 1,082 | 1,076 | 1,010 | 1,054 | 1,059 | 1,093 | 1,069 | 1,096 | 1,056 | 1,081 |
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Strongly approve | 9% | 13% | 7% | 11% | 15% |
| Approve | 34% | 48% | 29% | 30% | 22% |
| Disapprove | 19% | 14% | 30% | 20% | 18% |
| Strongly disapprove | 10% | 3% | 17% | 5% | 17% |
| Don’t know | 28% | 21% | 17% | 35% | 29% |
| TOTAL: Approve | 43% | 62% | 36% | 40% | 36% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 29% | 17% | 47% | 25% | 35% |
| Base (n) | 1,071 | 356 | 406 | 102 | 107 |
- The Opposition Leader’s approval rating is now 43% (40% in November) and about the same as ratings seen throughout the year.
Preferred Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?
| Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 | Sep’20 | Aug’20 | Jul’20 | Jun’20 | May’20 | Apr’20 | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | Jan’20 | |
| Scott Morrison | 50% | 53% | 50% | 49% | 52% | 50% | 53% | 50% | 46% | 40% | 36% | 36% |
| Anthony Albanese | 24% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 22% | 27% | 23% | 25% | 27% | 35% | 36% | 39% |
| Don’t know | 26% | 24% | 25% | 25% | 26% | 23% | 24% | 25% | 27% | 25% | 28% | 25% |
| Base (n) | 1,071 | 1,010 | 1,082 | 1,076 | 1,010 | 1,054 | 1,059 | 1,093 | 1,069 | 1,096 | 1,056 | 1,081 |
| Federal Voting Intention | |||||
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
| Scott Morrison | 50% | 27% | 84% | 36% | 53% |
| Anthony Albanese | 24% | 46% | 8% | 34% | 19% |
| Don’t know | 26% | 28% | 8% | 31% | 28% |
| Base (n) | 1,071 | 356 | 406 | 102 | 107 |
- Half of participants believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (50%), while a quarter would prefer the opposition leader (24%). A further quarter (26%) of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
- Morrison is strongly favoured by Coalition voters, with 84% believing Morrison makes the better PM, compared to Albanese (8%).
- Over half of Labor voters believe Albanese would make the better PM (46%). 28% of Labor voters said they don’t know who would make the better leader.
Preferred Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?
| Nov’20 | Oct’20 | Sep’20 | Aug’20 | Jul’20 | Jun’20 | May’20 | Apr’20 | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | Jan’20 | Nov’19 | |
| Scott Morrison | 53% | 50% | 49% | 52% | 50% | 53% | 50% | 46% | 40% | 36% | 36% | 44% |
| Anthony Albanese | 24% | 25% | 26% | 22% | 27% | 23% | 25% | 27% | 35% | 36% | 39% | 28% |
| Don’t know | 24% | 25% | 25% | 26% | 23% | 24% | 25% | 27% | 25% | 28% | 25% | 29% |
| Base (n) | 1,010 | 1,082 | 1,076 | 1,010 | 1,054 | 1,059 | 1,093 | 1,069 | 1,096 | 1,056 | 1,081 | 1,075 |
| Federal Voting Intention | |||||
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
| Scott Morrison | 53% | 31% | 87% | 28% | 48% |
| Anthony Albanese | 24% | 48% | 6% | 37% | 20% |
| Don’t know | 24% | 22% | 7% | 35% | 31% |
| Base (n) | 1,010 | 323 | 404 | 80 | 122 |
- Just over half of participants believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (53%), while a quarter would prefer the opposition leader (24%). A further quarter (24%) of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
- Morrison is strongly favoured by Coalition voters, with 87% believing Morrison makes the better PM, compared to Albanese (6%).
- Half of Labor voters believe Albanese would make the better PM (48%). 22% of Labor voters said they didn’t know who would make the better leader.
Performance of Anthony Albanese
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Anthony Albanese is doing as Opposition Leader?
| Oct’20 | Sep’20 | Aug’20 | Jul’20 | Jun’20 | May’20 | Apr’20 | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | Jan’20 | Dec’19 | Nov’19 | |
| TOTAL: Approve | 44% | 44% | 44% | 44% | 43% | 42% | 44% | 41% | 41% | 43% | 39% | 37% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 29% | 29% | 30% | 28% | 30% | 27% | 29% | 33% | 31% | 30% | 28% | 34% |
| Don’t know | 27% | 27% | 25% | 28% | 26% | 31% | 27% | 26% | 28% | 27% | 33% | 29% |
| Base (n) | 1,082 | 1,076 | 1,010 | 1,054 | 1,059 | 1,093 | 1,069 | 1,096 | 1,056 | 1,081 | 1,035 | 1,075 |
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Strongly approve | 10% | 15% | 7% | 16% | 11% |
| Approve | 33% | 50% | 27% | 27% | 30% |
| Disapprove | 20% | 12% | 30% | 16% | 19% |
| Strongly disapprove | 10% | 1% | 18% | 4% | 19% |
| Don’t know | 27% | 21% | 18% | 36% | 20% |
| TOTAL: Approve | 44% | 65% | 34% | 43% | 41% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 29% | 13% | 47% | 21% | 38% |
| Base (n) | 1,082 | 352 | 421 | 84 | 123 |
- The Opposition Leader’s approval rating remains consistent for the fourth consecutive month at 44%.
- Albanese’s approval among Labor voters is steady at 65% following the decline from 70% to 62% between July and August. The proportion of Labor voters who strongly approve of his performance remains at 15%.
Preferred Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?
| Oct’20 | Sep’20 | Aug’20 | Jul’20 | Jun’20 | May’20 | Apr’20 | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | Jan’20 | Nov’19 | Oct’19 | |
| Scott Morrison | 50% | 49% | 52% | 50% | 53% | 50% | 46% | 40% | 36% | 36% | 44% | 43% |
| Anthony Albanese | 25% | 26% | 22% | 27% | 23% | 25% | 27% | 35% | 36% | 39% | 28% | 28% |
| Don’t know | 25% | 25% | 26% | 23% | 24% | 25% | 27% | 25% | 28% | 25% | 29% | 29% |
| Base (n) | 1,082 | 1,076 | 1,010 | 1,054 | 1,059 | 1,093 | 1,069 | 1,096 | 1,056 | 1,081 | 1,075 | 1,088 |
| Federal Voting Intention | |||||
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
| Scott Morrison | 50% | 25% | 82% | 32% | 48% |
| Anthony Albanese | 25% | 50% | 8% | 38% | 20% |
| Don’t know | 25% | 24% | 10% | 29% | 32% |
| Base (n) | 1,082 | 352 | 421 | 84 | 123 |
- Half of participants believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (50%), while a quarter would prefer the opposition leader. A further quarter (25%) of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
- Morrison is strongly favoured by Coalition voters, with 82% believing Morrison makes the better PM, compared to Albanese (8%).
- Half of Labor voters believe Albanese would make the better PM (50%, up from 46% in September). 24% of Labor voters said they didn’t know who would make the better leader.
Performance of Anthony Albanese
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Anthony Albanese is doing as Opposition Leader?
| Sep’20 | Aug’20 | Jul’20 | Jun’20 | May’20 | Apr’20 | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | Jan’20 | Dec’19 | Nov’19 | Oct’19 | |
| TOTAL: Approve | 44% | 44% | 44% | 43% | 42% | 44% | 41% | 41% | 43% | 39% | 37% | 40% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 29% | 30% | 28% | 30% | 27% | 29% | 33% | 31% | 30% | 28% | 34% | 29% |
| Don’t know | 27% | 25% | 28% | 26% | 31% | 27% | 26% | 28% | 27% | 33% | 29% | 31% |
| Base (n) | 1,076 | 1,010 | 1,054 | 1,059 | 1,093 | 1,069 | 1,096 | 1,056 | 1,081 | 1,035 | 1,075 | 1,088 |
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Strongly approve | 11% | 15% | 8% | 8% | 20% |
| Approve | 33% | 47% | 28% | 42% | 24% |
| Disapprove | 20% | 12% | 31% | 18% | 15% |
| Strongly disapprove | 9% | 2% | 15% | 2% | 15% |
| Don’t know | 27% | 25% | 17% | 30% | 27% |
| TOTAL: Approve | 44% | 62% | 36% | 50% | 44% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 29% | 14% | 47% | 20% | 30% |
| Base (n) | 1,076 | 321 | 390 | 108 | 138 |
- The Opposition Leader’s approval rating remains consistent for the third consecutive month at 44%.
- Albanese’s approval among Labor voters has fallen from 70% in July to 62% in August. The proportion of Labor voters who strongly approve of his performance has dropped from 22% to 15%. Labor voters are now more likely to say they are unsure of his performance, which has increased from 15% to 25%. Those that disapprove remains consistent from last month (15% in August, 14% in September).
COVID-19 RESEARCH
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Essential Report
In this week's report:
- 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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