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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%).
Preferred Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?
| Sep’20 | Aug’20 | Jul’20 | Jun’20 | May’20 | Apr’20 | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | Jan’20 | Nov’19 | Oct’19 | Sep’19 | |
| Scott Morrison | 49% | 52% | 50% | 53% | 50% | 46% | 40% | 36% | 36% | 44% | 43% | 46% |
| Anthony Albanese | 26% | 22% | 27% | 23% | 25% | 27% | 35% | 36% | 39% | 28% | 28% | 25% |
| Don’t know | 25% | 26% | 23% | 24% | 25% | 27% | 25% | 28% | 25% | 29% | 29% | 29% |
| Base (n) | 1,076 | 1,010 | 1,054 | 1,059 | 1,093 | 1,069 | 1,096 | 1,056 | 1,081 | 1,075 | 1,088 | 1,093 |
| Federal Voting Intention | |||||
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
| Scott Morrison | 49% | 29% | 85% | 27% | 40% |
| Anthony Albanese | 26% | 46% | 9% | 39% | 29% |
| Don’t know | 25% | 25% | 6% | 34% | 31% |
| Base (n) | 1,076 | 321 | 390 | 108 | 138 |
- Half of participants believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (49%), while a quarter would prefer the opposition leader. A further quarter (26%) of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
- Morrison is strongly favoured by Coalition voters, with 85% believing Morrison makes the better PM, compared to Albanese (9%).
- Less than half of Labor voters believe Albanese would make the better PM (46%). 25% of Labor voters said they didn’t know who would make the better leader.
Performance of Scott Morrison
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Scott Morrison is doing as Prime Minister?
| Aug’20 | Jul’20 | Jun’20 | May’20 | Apr’20 | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | Jan’20 | Dec’19 | Nov’19 | Oct’19 | Sep’19 | |
| TOTAL: Approve | 66% | 63% | 65% | 64% | 59% | 41% | 39% | 40% | 45% | 45% | 47% | 49% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 23% | 27% | 26% | 27% | 31% | 49% | 52% | 52% | 43% | 41% | 38% | 36% |
| Don’t know | 11% | 10% | 8% | 9% | 10% | 10% | 9% | 8% | 13% | 13% | 15% | 15% |
| Base (n) | 1,010 | 1,054 | 1,059 | 1,093 | 1,069 | 1,096 | 1,056 | 1,081 | 1,035 | 1,075 | 1,088 | 1,093 |
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Strongly approve | 24% | 15% | 46% | 2% | 14% |
| Approve | 42% | 40% | 45% | 39% | 47% |
| Disapprove | 14% | 20% | 4% | 37% | 16% |
| Strongly disapprove | 9% | 15% | 2% | 17% | 10% |
| Don’t know | 11% | 10% | 4% | 5% | 14% |
| TOTAL: Approve | 66% | 56% | 91% | 40% | 61% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 23% | 35% | 6% | 54% | 26% |
| Base (n) | 1,010 | 311 | 413 | 78 | 94 |
- The Prime Minister’s approval rating is on par with the previous month, now at 66% compared to 63% in July.
- Approval of the Prime Minister among is at 91% among Coalition supporters, over half among Labor voters (56%) but lower among Greens voters (40%). 61% of those intending to vote for a minor party or independent candidate approve of the PM.
Performance of Scott Morrison
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Scott Morrison is doing as Prime Minister?
| Jul’20 | Jun’20 | May’20 | Apr’20 | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | Jan’20 | Dec’19 | Nov’19 | Oct’19 | Sep’19 | Aug’19 | |
| TOTAL: Approve | 63% | 65% | 64% | 59% | 41% | 39% | 40% | 45% | 45% | 47% | 49% | 48% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 27% | 26% | 27% | 31% | 49% | 52% | 52% | 43% | 41% | 38% | 36% | 37% |
| Don’t know | 10% | 8% | 9% | 10% | 10% | 9% | 8% | 13% | 13% | 15% | 15% | 16% |
| Base (n) | 1,054 | 1,059 | 1,093 | 1,069 | 1,096 | 1,056 | 1,081 | 1,035 | 1,075 | 1,088 | 1,093 | 1,096 |
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Strongly approve | 23% | 12% | 47% | 3% | 16% |
| Approve | 40% | 37% | 43% | 33% | 42% |
| Disapprove | 17% | 31% | 4% | 24% | 17% |
| Strongly disapprove | 11% | 14% | 2% | 26% | 14% |
| Don’t know | 10% | 6% | 4% | 14% | 10% |
| TOTAL: Approve | 63% | 49% | 90% | 36% | 59% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 27% | 45% | 6% | 50% | 31% |
| Base (n) | 1,054 | 299 | 420 | 108 | 125 |
- The Prime Minister’s approval rating is on par with the previous month, now at 63% compared to 65% in June.
- Approval of the Prime Minister among is at 90% among Coalition supporters, and lower among Labor voters (49%) and Greens voters (36%). 59% of those intending to vote for a minor party or independent candidate approve of the PM.
Preferred Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?
| Jul’20 | Jun’20 | May’20 | Apr’20 | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | Jan’20 | Nov’19 | Oct’19 | Sep’19 | Aug’19 | Jul’19 | |
| Scott Morrison | 50% | 53% | 50% | 46% | 40% | 36% | 36% | 44% | 43% | 46% | 44% | 44% |
| Anthony Albanese | 27% | 23% | 25% | 27% | 35% | 36% | 39% | 28% | 28% | 25% | 28% | 26% |
| Don’t know | 23% | 24% | 25% | 27% | 25% | 28% | 25% | 29% | 29% | 29% | 28% | 31% |
| Base (n) | 1,054 | 1,059 | 1,093 | 1,069 | 1,096 | 1,056 | 1,081 | 1,075 | 1,088 | 1,093 | 1,096 | 1,091 |
| Federal Voting Intention | |||||
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
| Scott Morrison | 50% | 27% | 84% | 17% | 52% |
| Anthony Albanese | 27% | 50% | 11% | 45% | 17% |
| Don’t know | 23% | 23% | 6% | 38% | 30% |
| Base (n) | 1,054 | 299 | 420 | 108 | 125 |
- Half of participants believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (50% to 27%). Around a quarter (23%) of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
- Morrison is strongly favoured by Coalition voters, with 84% believing Morrison makes the better PM, compared to Albanese (11%).
- Half of Labor voters believe Albanese would make the better PM (50%) compared to Morrison (27%). 23% said they didn’t know who would make the better leader.
Preferred Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?
| Jun’20 | May’20 | Apr’20 | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | Jan’20 | Nov’19 | Oct’19 | Sep’19 | Aug’19 | Jul’19 | Jun’19 | |
| Scott Morrison | 53% | 50% | 46% | 40% | 36% | 36% | 44% | 43% | 46% | 44% | 44% | 43% |
| Anthony Albanese | 23% | 25% | 27% | 35% | 36% | 39% | 28% | 28% | 25% | 28% | 26% | 25% |
| Don’t know | 24% | 25% | 27% | 25% | 28% | 25% | 29% | 29% | 29% | 28% | 31% | 32% |
| Base (n) | 1,059 | 1,093 | 1,069 | 1,096 | 1,056 | 1,081 | 1,075 | 1,088 | 1,093 | 1,096 | 1,091 | 1,099 |
| Federal Voting Intention | |||||
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |
| Scott Morrison | 53% | 29% | 84% | 34% | 51% |
| Anthony Albanese | 23% | 45% | 8% | 38% | 19% |
| Don’t know | 24% | 26% | 9% | 28% | 31% |
| Base (n) | 1,059 | 299 | 413 | 95 | 136 |
- Over half of participants believe that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (53% to 23%). Around a quarter (24%) of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
- Morrison is strongly favoured by Coalition voters, with 84% believing Morrison makes the better PM, compared to Albanese.
- Just under half of Labor voters believe Albanese would make the better PM (45%) compared to Morrison (29%). 27% said they didn’t know who would make the better leader.
Performance of Scott Morrison
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Scott Morrison is doing as Prime Minister?
| Jun’20 | May’20 | Apr’20 | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | Jan’20 | Dec’19 | Nov’19 | Oct’19 | Sep’19 | Aug’19 | Jul’19 | |
| TOTAL: Approve | 65% | 64% | 59% | 41% | 39% | 40% | 45% | 45% | 47% | 49% | 48% | 48% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 26% | 27% | 31% | 49% | 52% | 52% | 43% | 41% | 38% | 36% | 37% | 34% |
| Don’t know | 8% | 9% | 10% | 10% | 9% | 8% | 13% | 13% | 15% | 15% | 16% | 18% |
| Base (n) | 1,059 | 1,093 | 1,069 | 1,096 | 1,056 | 1,081 | 1,035 | 1,075 | 1,088 | 1,093 | 1,096 | 1,091 |
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Strongly approve | 21% | 8% | 41% | 6% | 17% |
| Approve | 44% | 45% | 48% | 35% | 39% |
| Disapprove | 18% | 26% | 7% | 41% | 20% |
| Strongly disapprove | 8% | 13% | 2% | 14% | 12% |
| Don’t know | 8% | 7% | 2% | 5% | 11% |
| TOTAL: Approve | 65% | 53% | 89% | 41% | 57% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 26% | 39% | 9% | 54% | 33% |
| Base (n) | 1,059 | 299 | 413 | 95 | 136 |
- The Prime Minister’s approval rating has increased for the fifth straight month, reaching 65% from 39% at the start of February.
- Approval of the Prime Minister among is at 89% of Coalition supporters, with 53% approval among Labor voters, 41% among Greens voters and 57% of all others.
Leader attributes – Scott Morrison
Q. Which of the following describe your opinion of the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison?
| Total | Change (Jan’20) | Jan’20 | Oct’19 | Dec’18 | |
| Intelligent | 73% | +15 | 58% | 64% | 61% |
| Hard-working | 72% | +19 | 53% | 63% | 60% |
| A capable leader | 70% | +25 | 45% | 54% | 49% |
| Good in a crisis | 66% | +34 | 32% | 51% | 41% |
| Understands the problems facing Australia | 65% | +23 | 42% | 50% | 46% |
| Trustworthy | 56% | +16 | 40% | 43% | 39% |
| More honest than most politicians | 51% | +12 | 39% | 44% | 39% |
| Visionary | 48% | +18 | 30% | 42% | 38% |
| Out of touch with ordinary people | 47% | -15 | 62% | 56% | 54% |
| Superficial | 41% | -10 | 51% | 48% | 45% |
| Narrow-minded | 40% | -14 | 54% | 47% | 46% |
| Arrogant | 39% | -12 | 51% | 44% | 43% |
| Intolerant | 34% | -9 | 43% | 41% | 37% |
| Aggressive | 32% | 0 | 32% | 37% | 34% |
| Erratic | 28% | -10 | 38% | 34% | 36% |
| Base (n) | 1,059 | 1,081 | 1,088 | 1,026 |
- The attributes most associated with Scott Morrison are Intelligent (73%), Hard-working (72%) and A capable leader (70%).
- Since the start of the year, Morrison is more likely to be described with positive attributes such as Good in a crisis (up 34%), a capable leader (up 25%) and Understands the problems facing Australia (23%).
- He is now less associated with negative attributes such as Out of touch with ordinary people (-15%), Narrow-minded (-14%) and Arrogant (-12%).
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
45%
In this week's report:
- Coronavirus concerns
- Federal government response to Covid-19
- State government response to Covid-19
- Attitudes to latest Victorian restrictions (VICTORIA ONLY)
- Attitudes towards Queensland border closure
- State of the economy
- Indictors of whether the Australian economy is in a good or poor state
- State of the economy in next six months
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