Essential Report
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%).
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.
Scott Morrison’s treatment of NSW vs other states during Covid-19
Q. Thinking about how Scott Morrison has treated your state compared to how he has treated NSW during the Covid-19 pandemic, which of the following is closer to your view? [ASKED TO ALL RESPONDENTS EXCEPT FOR THOSE IN NSW]
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Scott Morrison has treated my state less favourably than NSW | 37% | 41% | 33% | 38% | 39% | 34% | 51% | 26% | 43% | 35% |
| Scott Morrison has treated my state more favourably than NSW | 8% | 9% | 7% | 11% | 11% | 4% | 7% | 9% | 16% | 9% |
| Scott Morrison has treated my state the same as NSW | 29% | 29% | 29% | 21% | 27% | 37% | 19% | 47% | 19% | 31% |
| Unsure | 26% | 21% | 31% | 30% | 23% | 25% | 23% | 19% | 21% | 24% |
| Base (n) | 743 | 366 | 377 | 247 | 250 | 246 | 297 | 236 | 61 | 83 |
| State | ||||
| VIC | QLD | SA | WA | |
| Scott Morrison has treated my state less favourably than NSW | 40% | 35% | 22% | 50% |
| Scott Morrison has treated my state more favourably than NSW | 8% | 7% | 11% | 9% |
| Scott Morrison has treated my state the same as NSW | 26% | 32% | 39% | 18% |
| Unsure | 25% | 26% | 28% | 22% |
| Base (n) | 275 | 220 | 87 | 106 |
- Thinking about how Scott Morrison has treated NSW compared to how he has treated other states during the Covid-19 pandemic, which of the following is closer to your view? [ASKED TO RESPONDENTS IN NSW ONLY]
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Scott Morrison has treated NSW less favourably than other states | 14% | 16% | 11% | 19% | 14% | 9% | 18% | 9% | 20% | 9% |
| Scott Morrison has treated NSW more favourably than other states | 23% | 28% | 19% | 27% | 30% | 15% | 29% | 23% | 30% | 13% |
| Scott Morrison has treated NSW the same as other states | 46% | 41% | 50% | 35% | 39% | 59% | 33% | 57% | 40% | 53% |
| Unsure | 18% | 15% | 20% | 19% | 17% | 17% | 20% | 11% | 10% | 24% |
| Base (n) | 553 | 268 | 285 | 147 | 203 | 203 | 182 | 226 | 41 | 44 |
- When thinking about how Scott Morrison has treated their state compared to how he has treated NSW during the Covid-19 pandemic, over a third (37%) of respondents in states besides NSW say Scott Morrison has treated their state less favourably. 29% think Scott Morrison has treated their state the same as NSW and 26% are unsure. Only 8% think the PM has treated their state more favourably than NSW.
- Victorians and Western Australians are more likely than those in other states to think the PM has treated their state less favourably than NSW (40% and 50% respectively).
- When thinking about how Scott Morrison has treated NSW compared to how he has treated other states during the Covid-19 pandemic, just under half (46%) of those in NSW think the PM has treated their state equally, while 23% think he has treated NSW more favourably. 14% think the PM has treated NSW less favourably than other states, and 18% are unsure.
- In other states besides NSW, compared to other voters, Labor voters are most likely to think Scott Morrison has treated their state less favourably (51%), whereas Coalition voters are most likely to think their state has been treated equally (47%).
- In NSW, compared to other voters, Coalition voters are the most likely to think the PM has treated NSW equally (57%), while Labor voters are the least likely to think this (33%).
Performance of Scott Morrison
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Scott Morrison is doing as Prime Minister?
| 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 | Jul’20 | |
| TOTAL: Approve | 57% | 58% | 54% | 57% | 62% | 65% | 61% | 62% | 66% | 63% | 64% | 66% | 63% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 36% | 32% | 37% | 35% | 29% | 28% | 30% | 28% | 25% | 27% | 28% | 23% | 27% |
| Don’t know | 8% | 10% | 9% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 9% | 11% | 9% | 10% | 8% | 11% | 10% |
| Base (n) | 1,104 | 1,092 | 1,368 | 1,100 | 1,124 | 1,109 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 | 1,082 | 1,076 | 1,010 | 1,054 |
- The Prime Minister’s approval rating is at 57% (58% in May).
- Disapproval has increased from 32% last month to 36% this month, on par with level in April (37%).
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.
Change in views towards federal government
Q. In the last year have your views towards Scott Morrison’s federal government become more or less favourable?
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| I view Scott Morrison’s federal government less favourably than I did a year ago | 40% | 40% | 39% | 44% | 40% | 36% | 54% | 24% | 51% | 49% |
| I view Scott Morrison’s federal government more favourably than I did a year ago | 25% | 29% | 22% | 24% | 28% | 24% | 19% | 39% | 17% | 17% |
| My views on Scott Morrison’s federal government have not changed | 35% | 31% | 39% | 32% | 32% | 41% | 27% | 37% | 32% | 34% |
| Base (n) | 1,104 | 542 | 562 | 347 | 364 | 393 | 346 | 404 | 108 | 141 |
| State | |||||
| NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | |
| I view Scott Morrison’s federal government less favourably than I did a year ago | 34% | 48% | 39% | 37% | 45% |
| I view Scott Morrison’s federal government more favourably than I did a year ago | 27% | 25% | 24% | 34% | 19% |
| My views on Scott Morrison’s federal government have not changed | 39% | 27% | 37% | 29% | 35% |
| Base (n) | 349 | 278 | 225 | 89 | 108 |
- 40% of Australians say they now view Scott Morrison’s federal government less favourably than they did a year ago. A quarter (25%) say they view this more favourably than they did a year ago, and 35% say their views on the federal government have not changed.
- Compared to other Australians, Victorians are more likely to say they view Scott Morrison’s federal government less favourably than they did a year ago. Just under half (48%) of Victorians say this, followed by 45% of Western Australians, 39% of Queenslanders, 37% of South Australians and 34% of those in NSW.
Performance of Scott Morrison
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Scott Morrison is doing as Prime Minister?
| May’21 | Apr’21 | End Mar’21 | Mid Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 | Sep’20 | Aug’20 | Jul’20 | Jun’20 | |
| TOTAL: Approve | 58% | 54% | 57% | 62% | 65% | 61% | 62% | 66% | 63% | 64% | 66% | 63% | 65% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 32% | 37% | 35% | 29% | 28% | 30% | 28% | 25% | 27% | 28% | 23% | 27% | 26% |
| Don’t know | 10% | 9% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 9% | 11% | 9% | 10% | 8% | 11% | 10% | 8% |
| Base (n) | 1,092 | 1,368 | 1,100 | 1,124 | 1,109 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 | 1,082 | 1,076 | 1,010 | 1,054 | 1,059 |
| TOTAL: Approve | May’21 | 12 Apr’21 | 29 Mar’21 | 15 Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 |
| Men | 62% | 61% | 65% | 65% | 65% | 62% | 68% | 65% |
| Women | 55% | 46% | 49% | 59% | 65% | 59% | 56% | 67% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | ||||||||
| Men | 31% | 32% | 30% | 28% | 28% | 32% | 25% | 28% |
| Women | 34% | 42% | 40% | 30% | 28% | 29% | 30% | 23% |
- The Prime Minister’s approval rating has risen to 58% (from 54% in April). This is similar to the level at the end of March.
- Approval of the PM among women has increased from 46% to 55%, while disapproval has fallen from 42% to 34%.
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Essential Report
In this week's report:
- Federal voting intention
- Leader attributes: Scott Morrison
- Federal government response to Covid-19
- State government response to Covid-19
- Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine
- Reason those who would get vaccinated against Covid-19 have not been vaccinated yet
- Speed of NSW lockdown
- Time for Covid-19 milestones to occur for NSW
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