Essential Report
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).
Preferred Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?
| Sep’20 | Aug’20 | Jul’20 | Jun’20 | May’20 | Apr’20 | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | Jan’20 | Nov’19 | Oct’19 | Sep’19 | |
| Scott Morrison | 49% | 52% | 50% | 53% | 50% | 46% | 40% | 36% | 36% | 44% | 43% | 46% |
| Anthony Albanese | 26% | 22% | 27% | 23% | 25% | 27% | 35% | 36% | 39% | 28% | 28% | 25% |
| Don’t know | 25% | 26% | 23% | 24% | 25% | 27% | 25% | 28% | 25% | 29% | 29% | 29% |
| Base (n) | 1,076 | 1,010 | 1,054 | 1,059 | 1,093 | 1,069 | 1,096 | 1,056 | 1,081 | 1,075 | 1,088 | 1,093 |
| Federal Voting Intention | |||||
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
| Scott Morrison | 49% | 29% | 85% | 27% | 40% |
| Anthony Albanese | 26% | 46% | 9% | 39% | 29% |
| Don’t know | 25% | 25% | 6% | 34% | 31% |
| Base (n) | 1,076 | 321 | 390 | 108 | 138 |
- Half of participants believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (49%), while a quarter would prefer the opposition leader. A further quarter (26%) of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
- Morrison is strongly favoured by Coalition voters, with 85% believing Morrison makes the better PM, compared to Albanese (9%).
- Less than half of Labor voters believe Albanese would make the better PM (46%). 25% 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?
| Aug’20 | Jul’20 | Jun’20 | May’20 | Apr’20 | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | Jan’20 | Dec’19 | Nov’19 | Oct’19 | Sep’19 | |
| TOTAL: Approve | 44% | 44% | 43% | 42% | 44% | 41% | 41% | 43% | 39% | 37% | 40% | 36% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 30% | 28% | 30% | 27% | 29% | 33% | 31% | 30% | 28% | 34% | 29% | 31% |
| Don’t know | 25% | 28% | 26% | 31% | 27% | 26% | 28% | 27% | 33% | 29% | 31% | 33% |
| Base (n) | 1,010 | 1,054 | 1,059 | 1,093 | 1,069 | 1,096 | 1,056 | 1,081 | 1,035 | 1,075 | 1,088 | 1,093 |
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Strongly approve | 11% | 22% | 6% | 8% | 2% |
| Approve | 33% | 47% | 31% | 46% | 15% |
| Disapprove | 20% | 13% | 28% | 15% | 26% |
| Strongly disapprove | 10% | 2% | 18% | 8% | 21% |
| Don’t know | 25% | 15% | 18% | 23% | 36% |
| TOTAL: Approve | 44% | 70% | 36% | 53% | 17% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 30% | 15% | 46% | 24% | 47% |
| Base (n) | 1,010 | 311 | 413 | 78 | 94 |
- The Opposition Leader’s approval rating is consistent this month, at 44%, the same in July (44%).
- Albanese’s approval among Labor voters remains relatively low at 70%, compared to Morrison’s approval among Coalition voters (91%).
Performance of Anthony Albanese
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Anthony Albanese is doing as Opposition Leader?
| Jul’20 | Jun’20 | May’20 | Apr’20 | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | Jan’20 | Dec’19 | Nov’19 | Oct’19 | Sep’19 | Aug’19 | |
| TOTAL: Approve | 44% | 43% | 42% | 44% | 41% | 41% | 43% | 39% | 37% | 40% | 36% | 38% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 28% | 30% | 27% | 29% | 33% | 31% | 30% | 28% | 34% | 29% | 31% | 29% |
| Don’t know | 28% | 26% | 31% | 27% | 26% | 28% | 27% | 33% | 29% | 31% | 33% | 33% |
| Base (n) | 1,054 | 1,059 | 1,093 | 1,069 | 1,096 | 1,056 | 1,081 | 1,035 | 1,075 | 1,088 | 1,093 | 1,096 |
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Strongly approve | 10% | 18% | 7% | 5% | 8% |
| Approve | 34% | 47% | 31% | 41% | 16% |
| Disapprove | 19% | 15% | 25% | 16% | 31% |
| Strongly disapprove | 9% | 1% | 17% | 4% | 12% |
| Don’t know | 28% | 19% | 21% | 34% | 32% |
| TOTAL: Approve | 44% | 65% | 37% | 46% | 25% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 28% | 16% | 42% | 20% | 43% |
| Base (n) | 1,054 | 299 | 420 | 108 | 125 |
- The Opposition Leader’s approval rating is consistent this month, at 44% compared to 43% in June.
- Albanese’s approval among Labor voters remains relatively low at 65%, compared to Morrison’s approval among Coalition voters (90%).
Preferred Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?
| Jul’20 | Jun’20 | May’20 | Apr’20 | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | Jan’20 | Nov’19 | Oct’19 | Sep’19 | Aug’19 | Jul’19 | |
| Scott Morrison | 50% | 53% | 50% | 46% | 40% | 36% | 36% | 44% | 43% | 46% | 44% | 44% |
| Anthony Albanese | 27% | 23% | 25% | 27% | 35% | 36% | 39% | 28% | 28% | 25% | 28% | 26% |
| Don’t know | 23% | 24% | 25% | 27% | 25% | 28% | 25% | 29% | 29% | 29% | 28% | 31% |
| Base (n) | 1,054 | 1,059 | 1,093 | 1,069 | 1,096 | 1,056 | 1,081 | 1,075 | 1,088 | 1,093 | 1,096 | 1,091 |
| Federal Voting Intention | |||||
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
| Scott Morrison | 50% | 27% | 84% | 17% | 52% |
| Anthony Albanese | 27% | 50% | 11% | 45% | 17% |
| Don’t know | 23% | 23% | 6% | 38% | 30% |
| Base (n) | 1,054 | 299 | 420 | 108 | 125 |
- Half of participants believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (50% to 27%). Around a quarter (23%) 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 (11%).
- Half of Labor voters believe Albanese would make the better PM (50%) compared to Morrison (27%). 23% said they didn’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?
| Jun’20 | May’20 | Apr’20 | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | Jan’20 | Nov’19 | Oct’19 | Sep’19 | Aug’19 | Jul’19 | Jun’19 | |
| Scott Morrison | 53% | 50% | 46% | 40% | 36% | 36% | 44% | 43% | 46% | 44% | 44% | 43% |
| Anthony Albanese | 23% | 25% | 27% | 35% | 36% | 39% | 28% | 28% | 25% | 28% | 26% | 25% |
| Don’t know | 24% | 25% | 27% | 25% | 28% | 25% | 29% | 29% | 29% | 28% | 31% | 32% |
| Base (n) | 1,059 | 1,093 | 1,069 | 1,096 | 1,056 | 1,081 | 1,075 | 1,088 | 1,093 | 1,096 | 1,091 | 1,099 |
| Federal Voting Intention | |||||
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
| Scott Morrison | 53% | 29% | 84% | 34% | 51% |
| Anthony Albanese | 23% | 45% | 8% | 38% | 19% |
| Don’t know | 24% | 26% | 9% | 28% | 31% |
| Base (n) | 1,059 | 299 | 413 | 95 | 136 |
- Over half of participants believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (53% to 23%). Around a quarter (24%) 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.
- Just under half of Labor voters believe Albanese would make the better PM (45%) compared to Morrison (29%). 27% 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?
| Jun’20 | May’20 | Apr’20 | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | Jan’20 | Dec’19 | Nov’19 | Oct’19 | Sep’19 | Aug’19 | Jul’19 | |
| TOTAL: Approve | 43% | 42% | 44% | 41% | 41% | 43% | 39% | 37% | 40% | 36% | 38% | 39% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 30% | 27% | 29% | 33% | 31% | 30% | 28% | 34% | 29% | 31% | 29% | 24% |
| Don’t know | 26% | 31% | 27% | 26% | 28% | 27% | 33% | 29% | 31% | 33% | 33% | 37% |
| Base (n) | 1,059 | 1,093 | 1,069 | 1,096 | 1,056 | 1,081 | 1,035 | 1,075 | 1,088 | 1,093 | 1,096 | 1,091 |
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Strongly approve | 8% | 12% | 5% | 7% | 14% |
| Approve | 36% | 51% | 31% | 43% | 26% |
| Disapprove | 21% | 14% | 30% | 21% | 24% |
| Strongly disapprove | 9% | 2% | 15% | 5% | 12% |
| Don’t know | 26% | 22% | 20% | 24% | 25% |
| TOTAL: Approve | 43% | 63% | 35% | 50% | 40% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 30% | 16% | 45% | 26% | 35% |
| Base (n) | 1,059 | 299 | 413 | 95 | 136 |
- The Opposition Leader’s approval rating has remained consistent this month, at 43% compared to 42% in May and 44% April.
- Albanese’s approval among Labor voters remains relatively low at 63%, compared to Morrison’s approval among Coalition voters (89%).
Leader attributes – Anthony Albanese
Q. Which of the following describe your opinion of the Opposition Leader, Anthony Albanese?
| Total | Change (Oct’19) | Oct’19 | |
| Hard-working | 67% | +3 | 64% |
| Intelligent | 67% | +1 | 66% |
| Understands the problems facing Australia | 62% | +9 | 53% |
| A capable leader | 54% | +3 | 51% |
| Trustworthy | 48% | +7 | 41% |
| Good in a crisis | 47% | +7 | 40% |
| More honest than most politicians | 42% | 0 | 42% |
| Visionary | 41% | 0 | 41% |
| Out of touch with ordinary people | 41% | -3 | 44% |
| Superficial | 38% | -1 | 39% |
| Narrow-minded | 36% | -1 | 37% |
| Arrogant | 34% | +1 | 33% |
| Intolerant | 31% | +1 | 30% |
| Erratic | 31% | +1 | 30% |
| Aggressive | 30% | +3 | 27% |
| Base (n) | 1,059 | 1,088 |
- The attributes mainly associated with Anthony Albanese are Hard-working (67%), Intelligent (67%) and Understands the problems facing Australia (62%), He is less likely to be seen as Intolerant (31%), Erratic (31%) or Aggressive (30%).
- Since October last year, Anthony Albanese is more likely to be associated with Understands the problems facing Australia (up 9%), Trustworthy (up 7%) and Good in a crisis (up 7%). However, the Leader of the Opposition hasn’t seen as much of an increase in these measures when compared to the Prime Minister.
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