Preferred Prime Minister
Q Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?
Mar’20 | Feb’20 | Jan’20 | Nov’19 | Oct’19 | Sep’19 | Aug’19 | Jul’19 | Jun’19 | |
Scott Morrison | 40% | 36% | 36% | 44% | 43% | 46% | 44% | 44% | 43% |
Anthony Albanese | 35% | 36% | 39% | 28% | 28% | 25% | 28% | 26% | 25% |
Don’t know | 25% | 28% | 25% | 29% | 29% | 29% | 28% | 31% | 32% |
Base (n) | 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 | NET: Other | |
Scott Morrison | 40% | 13% | 78% | 15% | 38% |
Anthony Albanese | 35% | 66% | 11% | 58% | 23% |
Don’t know | 25% | 21% | 12% | 27% | 39% |
Base (n) | 1,096 | 347 | 359 | 92 | 171 |
- 40% of participants believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (35%).
- Three-quarters (78%) of Coalition voters prefer Morrison whereas 66% of Labor voters prefer Albanese.
- A quarter (25%) of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
Preferred Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?
Feb’20 | Jan’20 | Nov’19 | Oct’19 | Sep’19 | Aug’19 | Jul’19 | Jun’19 | |
Scott Morrison | 36% | 36% | 44% | 43% | 46% | 44% | 44% | 43% |
Anthony Albanese | 36% | 39% | 28% | 28% | 25% | 28% | 26% | 25% |
Don’t know | 28% | 25% | 29% | 29% | 29% | 28% | 31% | 32% |
Base (n) | 1,056 | 1,081 | 1,075 | 1,088 | 1,093 | 1,096 | 1,091 | 1,099 |
Federal Voting Intention | |||||
Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | |
Scott Morrison | 36% | 14% | 77% | 5% | 31% |
Anthony Albanese | 36% | 64% | 12% | 58% | 24% |
Don’t know | 28% | 23% | 11% | 37% | 45% |
Base (n) | 1,056 | 354 | 320 | 113 | 155 |
- Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese are considered equally capable of being Prime Minister (both 36%).
- 28% are unsure who would make the better PM.
Better Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott?
Rudd/ |
Gillard/ Abbott |
Gillard/ Abbott |
|
Rudd/ Abbott |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
Julia Gillard/Kevin Rudd |
47% |
53% |
39% |
50% |
94% |
10% |
84% |
|
Tony Abbott |
30% |
26% |
40% |
35% |
2% |
72% |
6% |
|
Don’t know |
23% |
21% |
21% |
15% |
3% |
18% |
10% |
50% believe Kevin Rudd would make the better Prime Minister and 35% prefer Tony Abbott.
Men prefer Kevin Rudd 51%/36% and women prefer Kevin Rudd 49%/33%.
Better Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott?
5 |
14 June |
12 Dec |
12 Mar 12 |
12 Jun |
10 Sept |
10 Dec |
14 |
11 Feb |
11 Mar |
15 |
Vote ALP |
Vote Lib |
Vote Greens |
|
Julia Gillard |
53% |
41% |
39% |
40% |
37% |
40% |
43% |
42% |
39% |
39% |
37% |
81% |
6% |
62% |
Tony Abbott |
26% |
36% |
35% |
37% |
37% |
37% |
34% |
33% |
37% |
39% |
39% |
6% |
78% |
6% |
Don’t know |
21% |
24% |
26% |
23% |
26% |
24% |
23% |
24% |
24% |
22% |
24% |
13% |
16% |
32% |
37% (down 2%) believe Julia Gillard would make the better Prime Minister and 39% (no change) prefer Tony Abbott. This is the first time since August 2012 that Tony Abbott has been preferred over Julia Gillard.
Men prefer Tony Abbott 42%/36% and women prefer Julia Gillard 38%/36%.
Better Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott?
5 Jul 2010 |
14 Mar 2011 |
14 June |
12 Sept |
12 Dec |
12 Mar 2012 |
12 Jun |
10 Sept |
10 Dec |
14 Jan 2013 |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
Julia Gillard |
53% |
44% |
41% |
36% |
39% |
40% |
37% |
40% |
43% |
42% |
89% |
5% |
84% |
Tony Abbott |
26% |
33% |
36% |
40% |
35% |
37% |
37% |
37% |
34% |
33% |
1% |
73% |
3% |
Don’t know |
21% |
23% |
24% |
24% |
26% |
23% |
26% |
24% |
23% |
24% |
10% |
22% |
14% |
42% (down 1%) believe Julia Gillard would make the better Prime Minister and 33% (down 1%) prefer Tony Abbott.
Men prefer Julia Gillard 39%/38% and women prefer Julia Gillard 46%/29%.
Better Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott?
5 |
14 Mar 11 |
14 June |
12 Sept |
12 Dec |
12 Mar 12 |
12 Jun |
10 Sept |
15 Oct |
12 Nov |
10 Dec |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
Julia Gillard |
53% |
44% |
41% |
36% |
39% |
40% |
37% |
40% |
43% |
45% |
43% |
92% |
6% |
80% |
Tony Abbott |
26% |
33% |
36% |
40% |
35% |
37% |
37% |
37% |
36% |
32% |
34% |
4% |
71% |
1% |
Don’t know |
21% |
23% |
24% |
24% |
26% |
23% |
26% |
24% |
20% |
23% |
23% |
5% |
23% |
19% |
43% (down 2%) believe Julia Gillard would make the better Prime Minister and 34% (up 2%) prefer Tony Abbott.
Men prefer Julia Gillard 40%/39% and women prefer Julia Gillard 46%/29%. Compared to last month’s figures, Julia Gillard’s margin over Tony Abbott has dropped 3 points among men (from 40%/36%) and 4 points among women (from 49%/28%).
Better Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott?
5 Jul 2010 | 17 Jan 2011 | 14 Feb | 14 Mar | 11 Apr | 9 May | 14 June | 11 July | 15 Aug | 12 Sept | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
Julia Gillard | 53% | 47% | 48% | 44% | 42% | 43% | 41% | 37% | 38% | 36% | 81% | 5% | 69% |
Tony Abbott | 26% | 32% | 31% | 33% | 33% | 35% | 36% | 39% | 36% | 40% | 5% | 79% | 8% |
Don’t know | 21% | 21% | 20% | 23% | 24% | 22% | 24% | 24% | 26% | 24% | 13% | 16% | 23% |
36% believe Julia Gillard would make the better Prime Minister and 40% prefer Tony Abbott – a net improvement for Tony Abbott of 6% on last month’s figures (from -2% to +4%).
Men prefer Tony Abbott 43%/37% and women favour Tony Abbott 37%/36%.
Better Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott?
5 Jul 2010 | 17 Jan 2011 | 14 Feb | 14 Mar | 11 Apr | 9 May | 14 June | 11 July | 15 Aug | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
Julia Gillard | 53% | 47% | 48% | 44% | 42% | 43% | 41% | 37% | 38% | 82% | 7% | 73% |
Tony Abbott | 26% | 32% | 31% | 33% | 33% | 35% | 36% | 39% | 36% | 1% | 73% | 7% |
Don’t know | 21% | 21% | 20% | 23% | 24% | 22% | 24% | 24% | 26% | 17% | 20% | 20% |
38% believe Julia Gillard would make the better Prime Minister and 36% prefer Tony Abbott – a net improvement for Julia Gillard of 4% on last month’s figures (from -2% to +2%).
Men prefer Tony Abbott 41%/35% and women favour Julia Gillard 40%/32%.

COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Download this week's ReportEssential Report
Two Party Preferred:
In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Federal government response to Covid-19
- State government response to Covid-19
- Confidence in Labor government handling of Covid-19 pandemic
- Satisfaction with speed of Covid-19 vaccine rollout
- Party most responsible for slow vaccine rollout
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