Performance of Anthony Albanese
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Anthony Albanese is doing as Opposition Leader?
Apr’20 | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | Jan’20 | Dec’19 | Nov’19 | Oct’19 | Sep’19 | Aug’19 | Jul’19 | |
NET: Approve | 44% | 41% | 41% | 43% | 39% | 37% | 40% | 36% | 38% | 39% |
NET: Disapprove | 29% | 33% | 31% | 30% | 28% | 34% | 29% | 31% | 29% | 24% |
Don’t know | 27% | 26% | 28% | 27% | 33% | 29% | 31% | 33% | 33% | 37% |
Base (n) | 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 | NET: Other | ||
Strongly approve | 8% | 18% | 3% | 4% | 4% |
Approve | 36% | 48% | 32% | 46% | 23% |
Disapprove | 21% | 10% | 33% | 23% | 25% |
Strongly disapprove | 8% | 3% | 13% | 5% | 10% |
Don’t know | 27% | 20% | 19% | 22% | 38% |
NET: Approve | 44% | 66% | 35% | 50% | 26% |
NET: Disapprove | 29% | 13% | 46% | 29% | 36% |
Base (n) | 1,069 | 333 | 387 | 102 | 122 |
- The Opposition Leader’s approval rating has remained consistent this month, at 44% compared to 41% in March.
- Albanese’s approval among Labor voters remains relatively low at 66%, compared to Morrison’s approval among Coalition voters (87%).
Federal opposition during Covid-19
Q. Which of the following is closest to your view on the role of the Federal Labor opposition during the response to the Covid-19 outbreak?
Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||||
Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Coalition | Labor | Greens | NET: Other | ||
Opposition should accept the Government recommendations to ensure decisions are made quickly | 49% | 52% | 45% | 46% | 46% | 54% | 66% | 40% | 35% | 49% | |
Opposition review and challenge Government decisions to ensure the best decisions are made | 33% | 35% | 31% | 33% | 30% | 36% | 24% | 45% | 41% | 33% | |
Unsure | 19% | 13% | 24% | 21% | 24% | 10% | 10% | 15% | 25% | 18% | |
Base (n) | 1,034 | 519 | 515 | 342 | 327 | 365 | 324 | 344 | 108 | 126 | |
- Half of people (49%) prefer decisions to make quickly by to Government to react to the Covid-19 outbreak. This is highest among Coalition voters (66%).
- A third (33%) want decisions reviewed and challenged by the opposition.
Class Warfare
Q. The Federal Opposition has accused the Government of “class warfare” for criticising and increasing taxes for Australia’s richest people and companies. The Government says they are just trying to ensure that all Australians benefit from the mining boom and other wealth derived from Australia’s resources and economic development. Which position do you most agree with?
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
The Government |
46% |
77% |
20% |
77% |
The Opposition |
28% |
5% |
56% |
5% |
Don’t know |
26% |
18% |
25% |
18% |
28% agree with the Federal Opposition’s claim that the Government is carrying out “class warfare” and 46% agree with the Government’s position that they are just trying to ensure that all Australians benefit from the mining boom.
Those on higher incomes were only a little more likely to agree with the Opposition. For those earning less than $600pw, 53% agree with the Government and 23% agree with the Opposition. For those on incomes over $1,600pw, 45% agree with the Government and 31% with the Opposition.
Performance of Tony Abbott
Q. Which of the following statements is closest to your view about the performance of Tony Abbott as Opposition leader?
Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
Tony Abbott is performing the role of Opposition leader well and is keeping the Government accountable | 41% | 11% | 79% | 7% |
Tony Abbott is just opposing everything and is obstructing the work of the Government | 43% | 78% | 12% | 82% |
Don’t know | 16% | 11% | 9% | 12% |
41% think that Tony Abbott is performing the role of Opposition leader well and is keeping the Government accountable and 43% think he is just opposing everything and is obstructing the work of the Government.
Views are strongly correlated with voting intention – 79% of Coalition voters think he is performing the role of Opposition leader well, while 78% of Labor voters and 82% of Greens voters think he is just opposing everything.
Best Leader of Liberal Party
Q. Which of the following do you think would make the best leader of the Liberal Party?
Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens
|
|
Tony Abbott | 26% | 10% | 53% | 2% |
Malcolm Turnbull | 20% | 27% | 15% | 27% |
Joe Hockey | 15% | 15% | 17% | 17% |
Julie Bishop | 5% | 8% | 2% | 10% |
Don’t know | 33% | 41% | 13% | 44% |
26% of people believe that Tony Abbott is the best leader of the Liberal Party. 20% believe Malcolm Turnbull is the best leader of the Liberal Party. 33% don’t know.
27% of Labor voters think that Malcolm Turnbull is the best leader of the Liberal Party. 53% of Lib/Nat voters think that Tony Abbott is the best leader of the Liberal Party. 44% of Green voters don’t know who the best leader of the Liberal Party is.
28% of males, compared with 24% of females think that Tony Abbott is the best leader of the Liberal Party.
42% of females don’t know who the best leader of the Liberal Party is.
38% of those aged 18-24 don’t know who the best leader of the Liberal Party is. 39% of those aged 65+ think that Tony Abbott is the best leader of the Liberal Party.

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
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