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Performance of Scott Morrison
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Scott Morrison is doing as Prime Minister?
| 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 | May’20 | |
| TOTAL: Approve | 54% | 57% | 62% | 65% | 61% | 62% | 66% | 63% | 64% | 66% | 63% | 65% | 64% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 37% | 35% | 29% | 28% | 30% | 28% | 25% | 27% | 28% | 23% | 27% | 26% | 27% |
| Don’t know | 9% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 9% | 11% | 9% | 10% | 8% | 11% | 10% | 8% | 9% |
| Base (n) | 1,368 | 1,100 | 1,124 | 1,109 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 | 1,082 | 1,076 | 1,010 | 1,054 | 1,059 | 1,093 |
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Strongly approve | 19% | 8% | 40% | 12% | 13% |
| Approve | 34% | 28% | 49% | 24% | 22% |
| Disapprove | 21% | 29% | 6% | 26% | 32% |
| Strongly disapprove | 16% | 28% | 2% | 28% | 24% |
| Don’t know | 9% | 7% | 3% | 10% | 9% |
| TOTAL: Approve | 54% | 36% | 88% | 36% | 34% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 37% | 57% | 8% | 55% | 56% |
| Base (n) | 1,368 | 483 | 471 | 123 | 165 |
| TOTAL: Approve | 12 Apr’21 | 29 Mar’21 | 15 Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 |
| Men | 61% | 65% | 65% | 65% | 62% | 68% | 65% |
| Women | 46% | 49% | 59% | 65% | 59% | 56% | 67% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | |||||||
| Men | 32% | 30% | 28% | 28% | 32% | 25% | 28% |
| Women | 42% | 40% | 30% | 28% | 29% | 30% | 23% |
- The Prime Minister’s approval rating has dropped to 54% (from 65% in February). This is the lowest rating seen in the last 12 months.
- Disapproval of the PM among women has increased to 42%, from 28% in February.
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.
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).
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).
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.
Better leadership during Covid-19 – PM vs state leader
Q. Who do you think has demonstrated better leadership qualities throughout the Covid-19 pandemic in Australia?
| TOTAL: All states | |
| Prime Minister Scott Morrison | 30% |
| TOTAL: State Premier / Chief Minister | 52% |
| Don’t know | 19% |
| Base (n) | 1,109 |
- The majority of people (52%) think their state leaders have demonstrated better leadership qualities throughout the Covid-19 pandemic in Australia than the Prime Minister.
- About a third (30%) think the opposite is true – that the PM has performed better than state leaders and 19% don’t know.
- The pattern of people thinking their state leader has demonstrated better leadership qualities throughout the pandemic than the Prime Minister is consistent across each state. This is most apparent in WA where 76% think their premier, Mark McGowan, has demonstrated better leadership than Scott Morrison.
- Note: Due to small base sizes results for ACT, TAS and NT are not shown.
| TOTAL: NSW | TOTAL: VIC | TOTAL: QLD | TOTAL: SA | TOTAL: WA | |
| Prime Minister Scott Morrison | 29% | 34% | 32% | 29% | 19% |
| State Premier / Chief Minister | 44% | 49% | 55% | 50% | 76% |
| Don’t know | 27% | 17% | 13% | 21% | 5% |
| Base (n) | 338 | 297 | 225 | 91 | 107 |
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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