Essential Report
Federal Voting Intention
Q. If a Federal election was held tomorrow, to which party would you give your first preference vote in the House of Representatives (Lower House)?
[If don’t know] Well which party are you currently leaning towards?
| Q | This week
01/02 |
Two weeks ago
18/01 |
14/12 | 30/11 | 16/11 | 02/11 | 19/10 |
| Liberal / Liberal Nationals / Country Liberals | 35% | 37% | 34% | 37% | 36% | 36% | 36% |
| Nationals | 2% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Total: Coalition | 37% | 40% | 37% | 41% | 38% | 39% | 39% |
| Labor | 35% | 33% | 35% | 33% | 35% | 35% | 35% |
| Greens | 10% | 10% | 8% | 8% | 9% | 9% | 9% |
| Pauline Hanson’s One Nation | 3% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 3% |
| Other/Independent | 7% | 7% | 7% | 6% | 6% | 5% | 7% |
| Undecided | 8% | 7% | 9% | 8% | 7% | 9% | 8% |
| 2 Party Preferred (2PP+) | |||||||
| TOTAL: Coalition | 44% | 48% | 45% | 49% | 45% | 44% | 48% |
| Labor | 47% | 45% | 46% | 43% | 47% | 46% | 45% |
| Undecided | 8% | 7% | 9% | 8% | 7% | 9% | 8% |
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.
Federal Voting Intention
Q. If a Federal election was held tomorrow, to which party would you give your first preference vote in the House of Representatives (Lower House)?
[If don’t know] Well which party are you currently leaning towards?
| Q | This week
19/10 |
Last week
12/10 |
Two weeks ago
05/10 |
21/09 | 07/09 | 24/08 | 10/08 |
| Liberal / Liberal Nationals / Country Liberals | 36% | 38% | 37% | 38% | 35% | 36% | 36% |
| Nationals | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 2% |
| Total: Coalition | 39% | 40% | 39% | 41% | 38% | 39% | 38% |
| Labor | 35% | 33% | 34% | 31% | 32% | 35% | 34% |
| Greens | 9% | 9% | 9% | 10% | 10% | 9% | 9% |
| Pauline Hanson’s One Nation | 3% | 3% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% |
| Other/Independent | 7% | 5% | 6% | 5% | 9% | 6% | 5% |
| Undecided | 8% | 9% | 7% | 9% | 8% | 7% | 10% |
| 2 Party Preferred (2PP+) | |||||||
| TOTAL: Coalition | 48% | 47% | 47% | 49% | 45% | 47% | 46% |
| Labor | 45% | 44% | 46% | 42% | 47% | 45% | 44% |
| Undecided | 8% | 9% | 7% | 9% | 8% | 7% | 10% |
Performance of Scott Morrison
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Scott Morrison is doing as Prime Minister?
| 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 | 63% | 64% | 66% | 63% | 65% | 64% | 59% | 41% | 39% | 40% | 45% | 45% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 27% | 28% | 23% | 27% | 26% | 27% | 31% | 49% | 52% | 52% | 43% | 41% |
| Don’t know | 10% | 8% | 11% | 10% | 8% | 9% | 10% | 10% | 9% | 8% | 13% | 13% |
| 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 | 23% | 10% | 43% | 13% | 20% |
| Approve | 40% | 35% | 46% | 41% | 39% |
| Disapprove | 15% | 24% | 6% | 13% | 21% |
| Strongly disapprove | 12% | 24% | 2% | 21% | 13% |
| Don’t know | 10% | 7% | 3% | 12% | 7% |
| TOTAL: Approve | 63% | 45% | 89% | 54% | 58% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 27% | 48% | 8% | 34% | 35% |
| Base (n) | 1,082 | 352 | 421 | 84 | 123 |
- The Prime Minister’s approval rating is consistent with last month, now at 63% compared to 64% in September.
- Approval of the Prime Minister among is at 89% among Coalition supporters and just under half among Labor voters (45%). More Greens and independent/other party voters approve of the Prime Minister, than disapprove.
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.
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
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
Sign up for updates
Receive the Essential Report in your inbox.Essential Tags
2PP
Abbott
ALP
Anthony Albanese
Approval of opposition leader
Approval of Tony Abbott
asylum seekers
Australian economy
Bill Shorten
Carbon Tax
climate change
coronavirus
covid-19
economy
Education
Election
EMC
environment
ER
Essential Media
Essential Report
Federal Budget
Federal Government
federal politics
Gillard
Greens
Julia Gillard
kevin rudd
Labor
Labor Party
Liberal
Liberal Party
Liberals
mining
Nationals
Opposition leader
peter lewis
Polling
polls
Prime Minister
Scott Morrison
tony abbott
two party preferred
voting
Voting intention
Recent Comments
