Essential Report
Performance of Scott Morrison
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Scott Morrison is doing as Prime Minister?
| Oct’21 | Sep’21 | Aug’21 | Jul’21 | Jun’21 | May’21 | Apr’21 | End Mar’21 | Mid Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | |
| TOTAL: Approve | 54% | 50% | 50% | 51% | 57% | 58% | 54% | 57% | 62% | 65% | 61% | 62% | 66% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 37% | 41% | 40% | 40% | 36% | 32% | 37% | 35% | 29% | 28% | 30% | 28% | 25% |
| Don’t know | 9% | 9% | 10% | 9% | 8% | 10% | 9% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 9% | 11% | 9% |
| Base (n) | 1,097 | 1,100 | 1,098 | 1,099 | 1,104 | 1,092 | 1,368 | 1,100 | 1,124 | 1,109 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 |
| TOTAL: Approve | Oct’21 | Sep’21 | Aug’21 | Jul’21 | Jun’21 | May’21 | Apr’21 |
| NSW | 54% | 48% | 50% | 53% | 59% | 64% | 55% |
| VIC | 52% | 47% | 45% | 49% | 52% | 51% | 51% |
| QLD | 60% | 56% | 54% | 49% | 60% | 60% | 57% |
| SA | 43% | 47% | 53% | 50% | 56% | 52% | 50% |
| WA | 51% | 58% | 53% | 50% | 50% | 63% | 56% |
- The Prime Minister’s approval rating is now at 54% (from 50% last month), with disapproval at 37% (41% in September).
- While approval has increased in NSW (48% to 54%), Victoria (47% to 52%) and Queensland (56% to 60%), these have been drops in SA (47% to 43%) and WA (58% to 51%).
Leader attributes: Scott Morrison
Q. Which of the following describe your opinion of the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison?
| Jul’21 | Change from Mid Mar’21 | Mid Mar’21 | Early
Mar’21 |
May’20 | Jan’20 | Oct’19 | Dec’18 | |
| Plays politics | 73% | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Out of touch with ordinary people | 59% | +8% | 51% | 56% | 47% | 62% | 56% | 54% |
| Avoids responsibility | 54% | +6% | 48% | 49% | – | – | – | – |
| In control of their team | 53% | -9% | 62% | 56% | – | – | – | – |
| Good in a crisis | 49% | -15% | 64% | 59% | 66% | 32% | 51% | 41% |
| Trustworthy | 47% | -8% | 55% | 52% | 56% | 40% | 43% | 39% |
| More honest than most politicians | 45% | -8% | 53% | 50% | 51% | 39% | 44% | 39% |
| Visionary | 39% | -9% | 48% | 41% | 48% | 30% | 42% | 38% |
| Base (n) | 1,100 | – | 1,124 | 1,074 | 1,059 | 1,081 | 1,088 | 1,026 |
- The majority of Australians (73%) think Scott Morrison ‘plays politics’.
- Compared to mid-March, more Australians now think Scott Morrison is ‘out of touch with ordinary people’ (up 8 percentage points to 59%). More also now think the PM ‘avoids responsibility’ (up 6 percentage points to 54%).
- Just under half of people now think Scott Morrison is ‘good in a crisis’ (down 15 percentage points since mid-March to 49%).
- Compared to mid-March, fewer people also now think the PM is ‘in control of their team’ and ‘visionary’ (down 9 percentage points to 53% and 39% respectively), and less than half now think he is ‘trustworthy’ and ‘more honest than most politicians’ (down 8 percentage points to 47% and 45% respectively).
Performance of Scott Morrison
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Scott Morrison is doing as Prime Minister?
| Jul’21 | Jun’21 | May’21 | Apr’21 | End Mar’21 | Mid Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 | Sep’20 | Aug’20 | |
| TOTAL: Approve | 51% | 57% | 58% | 54% | 57% | 62% | 65% | 61% | 62% | 66% | 63% | 64% | 66% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 40% | 36% | 32% | 37% | 35% | 29% | 28% | 30% | 28% | 25% | 27% | 28% | 23% |
| Don’t know | 9% | 8% | 10% | 9% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 9% | 11% | 9% | 10% | 8% | 11% |
| Base (n) | 1,099 | 1,104 | 1,092 | 1,368 | 1,100 | 1,124 | 1,109 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 | 1,082 | 1,076 | 1,010 |
| TOTAL: Approve | Jul’21 | Jun’21 | May’21 | Apr’21 |
| NSW | 53% | 59% | 64% | 55% |
| VIC | 49% | 52% | 51% | 51% |
| QLD | 49% | 60% | 60% | 57% |
| SA | 50% | 56% | 52% | 50% |
| WA | 45% | 41% | 28% | 36% |
- The Prime Minister’s approval rating has dropped to 51% (from 57% in June). This is the lowest approval rating in the last 12 months.
- Disapproval has increased to 40% (from 36% last month). This is the highest disapproval rating in the last 12 months.
- The PM’s approval rating has fallen in all states except for WA. It has dropped the most significantly in QLD (49% from 60% in June).
| TOTAL: Approve | Jul’21 | Jun’21 | May’21 | 12 Apr’21 | 29 Mar’21 | 15 Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 |
| Men | 53% | 61% | 62% | 61% | 65% | 65% | 65% | 62% | 68% | 65% |
| Women | 49% | 52% | 55% | 46% | 49% | 59% | 65% | 59% | 56% | 67% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | ||||||||||
| Men | 41% | 34% | 31% | 32% | 30% | 28% | 28% | 32% | 25% | 28% |
| Women | 39% | 38% | 34% | 42% | 40% | 30% | 28% | 29% | 30% | 23% |
- Approval of Scott Morrison has fallen among both men and women to 53% and 49% respectively (from 61% and 52% in June). This is the lowest approval rating of the PM seen among men since last March, and among women since April.
- Disapproval of the PM among men has increased to 41% (from 34% in June), the highest disapproval rating among men since last March. Disapproval of the PM among women is at 39%, similar to last month but an increase from the level in May (34%).
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).
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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