Essential Report
Preferred Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?
| Oct’21 | Sep’21 | Aug’21 | Jul’21 | Jun’21 | May’21 | Apr’21 | Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | |
| Scott Morrison | 45% | 47% | 45% | 46% | 48% | 50% | 47% | 52% | 52% | 51% | 50% | 53% |
| Anthony Albanese | 29% | 26% | 26% | 28% | 28% | 24% | 28% | 26% | 24% | 25% | 24% | 24% |
| Don’t know | 26% | 27% | 29% | 26% | 24% | 26% | 25% | 22% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 24% |
| Base (n) | 1.097 | 1,100 | 1,098 | 1,099 | 1,104 | 1,092 | 1,368 | 1,124 | 1,109 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 |
- 45% of Australians continue to think that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (47% last month).
- 29% think the opposition leader would make the better Prime Minister (26% last month). 27% of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
Performance of Scott Morrison
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Scott Morrison is doing as Prime Minister?
| 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 | Oct’20 | |
| TOTAL: Approve | 50% | 50% | 51% | 57% | 58% | 54% | 57% | 62% | 65% | 61% | 62% | 66% | 63% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 41% | 40% | 40% | 36% | 32% | 37% | 35% | 29% | 28% | 30% | 28% | 25% | 27% |
| Don’t know | 9% | 10% | 9% | 8% | 10% | 9% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 9% | 11% | 9% | 10% |
| Base (n) | 1,100 | 1,098 | 1,099 | 1,104 | 1,092 | 1,368 | 1,100 | 1,124 | 1,109 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 | 1,082 |
| TOTAL: Approve | Sep’21 | Aug’21 | Jul’21 | Jun’21 | May’21 | Apr’21 |
| NSW | 48% | 50% | 53% | 59% | 64% | 55% |
| VIC | 47% | 45% | 49% | 52% | 51% | 51% |
| QLD | 56% | 54% | 49% | 60% | 60% | 57% |
| SA | 47% | 53% | 50% | 56% | 52% | 50% |
| WA | 58% | 53% | 50% | 50% | 63% | 56% |
- The Prime Minister’s approval rating is now at 50% – this is unchanged from last month. Disapproval remains similar to last month at 41% – the highest disapproval rating in the last 12 months.
- The PM’s approval rating continues to decrease in NSW (48%, from 64% in May).
- The PM’s approval rating in WA has increased to 58% from 53% last month, but still has not recovered to the level in May (63%).
Preferred Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?
| Sep’21 | Aug’21 | Jul’21 | Jun’21 | May’21 | Apr’21 | Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 | |
| Scott Morrison | 47% | 45% | 46% | 48% | 50% | 47% | 52% | 52% | 51% | 50% | 53% | 50% |
| Anthony Albanese | 26% | 26% | 28% | 28% | 24% | 28% | 26% | 24% | 25% | 24% | 24% | 25% |
| Don’t know | 27% | 29% | 26% | 24% | 26% | 25% | 22% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 24% | 25% |
| Base (n) | 1,100 | 1,098 | 1,099 | 1,104 | 1,092 | 1,368 | 1,124 | 1,109 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 | 1,082 |
- 47% of Australians continue to think that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (45% last month).
- Just over a quarter (26%) think the opposition leader would make the better Prime Minister (same last month). 27% of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
Performance of Scott Morrison
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Scott Morrison is doing as Prime Minister?
| Aug’21 | 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 | |
| TOTAL: Approve | 50% | 51% | 57% | 58% | 54% | 57% | 62% | 65% | 61% | 62% | 66% | 63% | 64% |
| TOTAL: Disapprove | 40% | 40% | 36% | 32% | 37% | 35% | 29% | 28% | 30% | 28% | 25% | 27% | 28% |
| Don’t know | 10% | 9% | 8% | 10% | 9% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 9% | 11% | 9% | 10% | 8% |
| Base (n) | 1,098 | 1,099 | 1,104 | 1,092 | 1,368 | 1,100 | 1,124 | 1,109 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 | 1,082 | 1,076 |
| TOTAL: Approve | Aug’21 | Jul’21 | Jun’21 | May’21 | Apr’21 |
| NSW | 50% | 53% | 59% | 64% | 55% |
| VIC | 45% | 49% | 52% | 51% | 51% |
| QLD | 54% | 49% | 60% | 60% | 57% |
| SA | 53% | 50% | 56% | 52% | 50% |
| WA | 53% | 50% | 50% | 63% | 56% |
- The Prime Minister’s approval rating is now at 50% – this is the lowest approval rating in the last 12 months.
- Disapproval remains the same as last month at 40%. This continues to be the highest disapproval rating in the last 12 months.
- The PM’s approval rating has decreased in NSW (50%, from 53% last month) and VIC (45% this month, from 49% last month).
Preferred Prime Minister
Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?
| Aug’21 | Jul’21 | Jun’21 | May’21 | Apr’21 | Mar’21 | Feb’21 | Jan’21 | Dec’20 | Nov’20 | Oct’20 | Sep’20 | |
| Scott Morrison | 45% | 46% | 48% | 50% | 47% | 52% | 52% | 51% | 50% | 53% | 50% | 49% |
| Anthony Albanese | 26% | 28% | 28% | 24% | 28% | 26% | 24% | 25% | 24% | 24% | 25% | 26% |
| Don’t know | 29% | 26% | 24% | 26% | 25% | 22% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 24% | 25% | 25% |
| Base (n) | 1,098 | 1,099 | 1,104 | 1,092 | 1,368 | 1,124 | 1,109 | 1,084 | 1,071 | 1,010 | 1,082 | 1,076 |
- Less than half (45%) of Australians now think that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (46% last month).
- Just over a quarter (26%) think the opposition leader would make the better Prime Minister (28% in June). 29% of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
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.
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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