Essential Report
Preferred Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?
| Oct’21 | Sep’21 | Aug’21 | Jul’21 | Jun’21 | May’21 | Apr’21 | Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | |
| Scott Morrison | 45% | 47% | 45% | 46% | 48% | 50% | 47% | 52% | 52% | 51% | 50% | 53% |
| Anthony Albanese | 29% | 26% | 26% | 28% | 28% | 24% | 28% | 26% | 24% | 25% | 24% | 24% |
| Don’t know | 26% | 27% | 29% | 26% | 24% | 26% | 25% | 22% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 24% |
| Base (n) | 1.097 | 1,100 | 1,098 | 1,099 | 1,104 | 1,092 | 1,368 | 1,124 | 1,109 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 |
- 45% of Australians continue to think that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (47% last month).
- 29% think the opposition leader would make the better Prime Minister (26% last month). 27% 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?
| Sep’21 | Aug’21 | Jul’21 | Jun’21 | May’21 | Apr’21 | Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 | |
| Scott Morrison | 47% | 45% | 46% | 48% | 50% | 47% | 52% | 52% | 51% | 50% | 53% | 50% |
| Anthony Albanese | 26% | 26% | 28% | 28% | 24% | 28% | 26% | 24% | 25% | 24% | 24% | 25% |
| Don’t know | 27% | 29% | 26% | 24% | 26% | 25% | 22% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 24% | 25% |
| Base (n) | 1,100 | 1,098 | 1,099 | 1,104 | 1,092 | 1,368 | 1,124 | 1,109 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 | 1,082 |
- 47% of Australians continue to think that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (45% last month).
- Just over a quarter (26%) think the opposition leader would make the better Prime Minister (same last month). 27% 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?
| Jul’21 | Jun’21 | May’21 | Apr’21 | Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 | Sep’20 | Aug’20 | |
| Scott Morrison | 46% | 48% | 50% | 47% | 52% | 52% | 51% | 50% | 53% | 50% | 49% | 52% |
| Anthony Albanese | 28% | 28% | 24% | 28% | 26% | 24% | 25% | 24% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 22% |
| Don’t know | 26% | 24% | 26% | 25% | 22% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 24% | 25% | 25% | 26% |
| Base (n) | 1,099 | 1,104 | 1,092 | 1,368 | 1,124 | 1,109 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 | 1,082 | 1,076 | 1,010 |
- Less than half (46%) of Australians now believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (48% last month).
- 28% think the opposition leader would make the better Prime Minister (same level in June). 26% of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
| Men | Jul’21 | Jun’21 | May’21 | Apr’21 | Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 |
| Scott Morrison | 48% | 54% | 54% | 53% | 52% | 54% | 53% | 54% | 54% | 52% |
| Anthony Albanese | 31% | 30% | 26% | 29% | 30% | 28% | 28% | 29% | 28% | 29% |
| Don’t know | 21% | 16% | 20% | 18% | 19% | 19% | 19% | 17% | 19% | 19% |
| Women | ||||||||||
| Scott Morrison | 43% | 43% | 47% | 42% | 53% | 51% | 48% | 47% | 51% | 47% |
| Anthony Albanese | 26% | 25% | 22% | 26% | 23% | 21% | 22% | 19% | 20% | 22% |
| Don’t know | 31% | 31% | 31% | 32% | 24% | 29% | 31% | 34% | 28% | 31% |
- Less than half (48%) of men now believe Scott Morrison makes the better PM (54% in June), the lowest number since last March. About the same proportion as last month think Albanese would make the better PM (31%). More men are now unsure who would make the better PM (21% from 16% last month).
- The proportion of women who think Scott Morrison makes the better PM has dropped since May to 43% (from 47%). Just over a quarter (26%) of women now think Anthony Albanese would make the better PM (from 22% in May). 31% are undecided, consistent with the past few months.
Preferred Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?
| Jun’21 | May’21 | Apr’21 | Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 | Sep’20 | Aug’20 | Jul’20 | |
| Scott Morrison | 48% | 50% | 47% | 52% | 52% | 51% | 50% | 53% | 50% | 49% | 52% | 50% |
| Anthony Albanese | 28% | 24% | 28% | 26% | 24% | 25% | 24% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 22% | 27% |
| Don’t know | 24% | 26% | 25% | 22% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 24% | 25% | 25% | 26% | 23% |
| Base (n) | 1,104 | 1,092 | 1,368 | 1,124 | 1,109 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 | 1,082 | 1,076 | 1,010 | 1,054 |
- Just under half (48%) of participants believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (50% last month).
- 28% think the opposition leader would make the better Prime Minister (24% in May). 24% 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?
| May’21 | Apr’21 | Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 | Sep’20 | Aug’20 | Jul’20 | Jun’20 | |
| Scott Morrison | 50% | 47% | 52% | 52% | 51% | 50% | 53% | 50% | 49% | 52% | 50% | 53% |
| Anthony Albanese | 24% | 28% | 26% | 24% | 25% | 24% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 22% | 27% | 23% |
| Don’t know | 26% | 25% | 22% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 24% | 25% | 25% | 26% | 23% | 24% |
| Base (n) | 1,092 | 1,368 | 1,124 | 1,109 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 | 1,082 | 1,076 | 1,010 | 1,054 | 1,059 |
| Men | May’21 | Apr’21 | Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 |
| Scott Morrison | 54% | 53% | 52% | 54% | 53% | 54% | 54% | 52% |
| Anthony Albanese | 26% | 29% | 30% | 28% | 28% | 29% | 28% | 29% |
| Don’t know | 20% | 18% | 19% | 19% | 19% | 17% | 19% | 19% |
| Women | ||||||||
| Scott Morrison | 47% | 42% | 53% | 51% | 48% | 47% | 51% | 47% |
| Anthony Albanese | 22% | 26% | 23% | 21% | 22% | 19% | 20% | 22% |
| Don’t know | 31% | 32% | 24% | 29% | 31% | 34% | 28% | 31% |
| May’21 | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
| Scott Morrison | 50% | 32% | 83% | 29% | 34% |
| Anthony Albanese | 24% | 41% | 7% | 46% | 22% |
| Don’t know | 26% | 26% | 9% | 25% | 44% |
| Base (n) | 1,092 | 371 | 400 | 109 | 111 |
- Half (50%) of participants believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (47% last month).
- Just under a quarter (24%) would prefer the Opposition Leader (28% in April). Just over a quarter (26%) of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
- Preference for Morrison has increased among women to 47% (from 42% last month). Preference is unchanged among men (54% and 53%).
- 41% of Labor voters believe Albanese would make the better PM, a notable drop from levels last month (50%). Just over a third (32%) now think Morrison would make the better leader (27% last month) and about a quarter (26%) don’t know.
Preferred Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?
| Apr’21 | Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 | Sep’20 | Aug’20 | Jul’20 | Jun’20 | May’20 | |
| Scott Morrison | 47% | 52% | 52% | 51% | 50% | 53% | 50% | 49% | 52% | 50% | 53% | 50% |
| Anthony Albanese | 28% | 26% | 24% | 25% | 24% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 22% | 27% | 23% | 25% |
| Don’t know | 25% | 22% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 24% | 25% | 25% | 26% | 23% | 24% | 25% |
| Base (n) | 1,368 | 1,124 | 1,109 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 | 1,082 | 1,076 | 1,010 | 1,054 | 1,059 | 1,093 |
| Men | Apr’21 | Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 |
| Scott Morrison | 53% | 52% | 54% | 53% | 54% | 54% | 52% |
| Anthony Albanese | 29% | 30% | 28% | 28% | 29% | 28% | 29% |
| Don’t know | 18% | 19% | 19% | 19% | 17% | 19% | 19% |
| Women | |||||||
| Scott Morrison | 42% | 53% | 51% | 48% | 47% | 51% | 47% |
| Anthony Albanese | 26% | 23% | 21% | 22% | 19% | 20% | 22% |
| Don’t know | 32% | 24% | 29% | 31% | 34% | 28% | 31% |
| Apr’21 | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
| Scott Morrison | 47% | 27% | 80% | 28% | 41% |
| Anthony Albanese | 28% | 50% | 10% | 45% | 20% |
| Don’t know | 25% | 24% | 9% | 26% | 39% |
| Base (n) | 1,368 | 483 | 471 | 123 | 165 |
- Just under half (47%) of participants believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese, a drop since last month (52%) and the lowest figure seen in the last 12 months.
- 28% would prefer the Opposition Leader (no change from 26% in March). A quarter (25%) of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
- Preference for Morrison has dropped among women from 53% last month to 42% in April. Preference is unchanged among men (52% and 53%).
- Half (50%) of Labor voters believe Albanese would make the better PM, consistent with levels last month (49%). Just under a third (27%) think Morrison would make the better leader and about a quarter (24%) don’t know.
Preferred Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?
| Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 | Sep’20 | Aug’20 | Jul’20 | Jun’20 | May’20 | Apr’20 | |
| Scott Morrison | 52% | 52% | 51% | 50% | 53% | 50% | 49% | 52% | 50% | 53% | 50% | 46% |
| Anthony Albanese | 26% | 24% | 25% | 24% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 22% | 27% | 23% | 25% | 27% |
| Don’t know | 22% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 24% | 25% | 25% | 26% | 23% | 24% | 25% | 27% |
| Base (n) | 1,124 | 1,109 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 | 1,082 | 1,076 | 1,010 | 1,054 | 1,059 | 1,093 | 1,069 |
| Federal Voting Intention | |||||
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
| Scott Morrison | 52% | 31% | 86% | 25% | 46% |
| Anthony Albanese | 26% | 49% | 8% | 41% | 26% |
| Don’t know | 22% | 20% | 6% | 33% | 28% |
| Base (n) | 1,124 | 375 | 410 | 98 | 142 |
- 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 (26%). 22% of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
- Morrison is strongly favoured by Coalition voters, with 86% believing Morrison makes the better PM, compared to Albanese (8%).
- Just under half (49%) of Labor voters now believe Albanese would make the better PM, a notable increase since last month (42%). A third (31%) still think Morrison would make the better leader and 20% don’t know.
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.
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
