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Performance of Scott Morrison
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Scott Morrison is doing as Prime Minister?
| 29 Mar’21 | 15 Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | |
| TOTAL: Approve | 57% | 62% | 65% | 61% | 62% | 66% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 35% | 29% | 28% | 30% | 28% | 25% |
| Don’t know | 8% | 8% | 7% | 9% | 11% | 9% |
| Base (n) | 1,100 | 1,124 | 1,109 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 |
| TOTAL: Approve | 29 Mar’21 | 15 Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 |
| Men | 65% | 65% | 65% | 62% | 68% | 65% |
| Women | 49% | 59% | 65% | 59% | 56% | 67% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | ||||||
| Men | 30% | 28% | 28% | 32% | 25% | 28% |
| Women | 40% | 30% | 28% | 29% | 30% | 23% |
- The Prime Minister’s approval rating has dropped to 57% (from 62% earlier in the month) driven by lower approval among women (59% to 49%).
- Disapproval of the PM among women has increased to 40%, from 30% two weeks ago.
Performance of Scott Morrison
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Scott Morrison is doing as Prime Minister?
| Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 | Sep’20 | Aug’20 | Jul’20 | Jun’20 | May’20 | Apr’20 | |
| TOTAL: Approve | 62% | 65% | 61% | 62% | 66% | 63% | 64% | 66% | 63% | 65% | 64% | 59% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 29% | 28% | 30% | 28% | 25% | 27% | 28% | 23% | 27% | 26% | 27% | 31% |
| Don’t know | 8% | 7% | 9% | 11% | 9% | 10% | 8% | 11% | 10% | 8% | 9% | 10% |
| 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 |
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Strongly approve | 22% | 7% | 46% | 3% | 20% |
| Approve | 40% | 38% | 46% | 38% | 34% |
| Disapprove | 16% | 25% | 5% | 26% | 16% |
| Strongly disapprove | 13% | 23% | 1% | 26% | 17% |
| Don’t know | 8% | 7% | 3% | 8% | 12% |
| TOTAL: Approve | 62% | 45% | 91% | 40% | 55% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 29% | 48% | 6% | 51% | 33% |
| Base (n) | 1,124 | 375 | 410 | 98 | 142 |
- The Prime Minister’s approval rating has dipped back down to 62%, consistent with results in January (61%) and December (62%).
- Approval of the Prime Minister is now at 91% among Coalition supporters (93% last month) and 45% among Labor voters (49% last month).
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.
Leader attributes – Scott Morrison
Q. Which of the following describe your opinion of the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison?
| Total | Change from May’20 | May’20 | Jan’20 | Oct’19 | Dec’18 | |
| Good in a crisis | 59% | -7% | 66% | 32% | 51% | 41% |
| Trustworthy | 52% | -4% | 56% | 40% | 43% | 39% |
| More honest than most politicians | 50% | -1% | 51% | 39% | 44% | 39% |
| Visionary | 41% | -7% | 48% | 30% | 42% | 38% |
| Out of touch with ordinary people | 56% | +9% | 47% | 62% | 56% | 54% |
| Avoids responsibility | 49% | – | – | – | – | – |
| In control of their team | 56% | – | – | – | – | – |
| Base (n) | 1,074 | – | 1,059 | 1,081 | 1,088 | 1,026 |
- Over half (56%) now think Scott Morrison is out of touch with ordinary people. This is up 9 percentage points since May’20 (47%).
- Fewer Australians think the Prime Minister is good in a crisis (down 7 percentage points since May’20 to 59%) and that he is visionary (also down 7% percentage points since May’20 to 41%).
- Less people also think he is trustworthy (down 4 percentage points to 52%) and about the same number think he is more honest than most politicians (50%).
Performance of Scott Morrison
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Scott Morrison is doing as Prime Minister?
| Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 | Sep’20 | Aug’20 | Jul’20 | Jun’20 | May’20 | Apr’20 | Mar’20 | |
| TOTAL: Approve | 65% | 61% | 62% | 66% | 63% | 64% | 66% | 63% | 65% | 64% | 59% | 41% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 28% | 30% | 28% | 25% | 27% | 28% | 23% | 27% | 26% | 27% | 31% | 49% |
| Don’t know | 7% | 9% | 11% | 9% | 10% | 8% | 11% | 10% | 8% | 9% | 10% | 10% |
| 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 |
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Strongly approve | 23% | 8% | 44% | 6% | 17% |
| Approve | 42% | 40% | 49% | 29% | 40% |
| Disapprove | 16% | 24% | 4% | 30% | 27% |
| Strongly disapprove | 11% | 20% | 1% | 29% | 11% |
| Don’t know | 7% | 7% | 2% | 6% | 5% |
| TOTAL: Approve | 65% | 49% | 93% | 35% | 57% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 28% | 44% | 5% | 59% | 37% |
| Base (n) | 1,109 | 359 | 428 | 101 | 131 |
- The Prime Minister’s approval rating has increased to 65%, the highest rating since November last year.
- Approval of the Prime Minister is now at 93% among Coalition supporters (90% last month) and 49% among Labor voters (47% last month).
Performance of Scott Morrison
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Scott Morrison is doing as Prime Minister?
| Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 | Sep’20 | Aug’20 | Jul’20 | Jun’20 | May’20 | Apr’20 | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | Jan’20 | |
| TOTAL: Approve | 62% | 66% | 63% | 64% | 66% | 63% | 65% | 64% | 59% | 41% | 39% | 40% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 28% | 25% | 27% | 28% | 23% | 27% | 26% | 27% | 31% | 49% | 52% | 52% |
| Don’t know | 11% | 9% | 10% | 8% | 11% | 10% | 8% | 9% | 10% | 10% | 9% | 8% |
| Base (n) | 1,071 | 1,010 | 1,082 | 1,076 | 1,010 | 1,054 | 1,059 | 1,093 | 1,069 | 1,096 | 1,056 | 1,081 |
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Strongly approve | 23% | 12% | 43% | 7% | 21% |
| Approve | 39% | 36% | 47% | 35% | 36% |
| Disapprove | 17% | 27% | 6% | 25% | 20% |
| Strongly disapprove | 11% | 18% | 1% | 26% | 16% |
| Don’t know | 11% | 6% | 3% | 8% | 7% |
| TOTAL: Approve | 62% | 48% | 90% | 41% | 57% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 28% | 45% | 7% | 50% | 35% |
| Base (n) | 1,071 | 356 | 406 | 102 | 107 |
- The Prime Minister’s approval rating is now at 62%, a fall from 66% last month, but equivalent to approval in October.
- Approval of the Prime Minister is at 90% among Coalition supporters (94% last month) and 48% among Labor voters (50% last month).
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 Scott Morrison
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Scott Morrison is doing as Prime Minister?
| 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 | 64% | 66% | 63% | 65% | 64% | 59% | 41% | 39% | 40% | 45% | 45% | 47% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 28% | 23% | 27% | 26% | 27% | 31% | 49% | 52% | 52% | 43% | 41% | 38% |
| Don’t know | 8% | 11% | 10% | 8% | 9% | 10% | 10% | 9% | 8% | 13% | 13% | 15% |
| 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 | 22% | 8% | 41% | 9% | 23% |
| Approve | 42% | 43% | 50% | 38% | 32% |
| Disapprove | 16% | 24% | 5% | 24% | 22% |
| Strongly disapprove | 12% | 20% | 2% | 19% | 17% |
| Don’t know | 8% | 5% | 2% | 10% | 6% |
| TOTAL: Approve | 64% | 51% | 91% | 47% | 55% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 28% | 44% | 7% | 43% | 39% |
| Base (n) | 1,076 | 321 | 390 | 108 | 138 |
- The Prime Minister’s approval rating is consistent with last month, now at 64% compared to 66% in August.
- Approval of the Prime Minister among is at 91% among Coalition supporters, around half among Labor voters (51%) and Greens voters (47%).
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Download this week's ReportEssential Report
Two Party Preferred:
Labor
47%
Coalition
44%
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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