Essential Report
Attitude to Bridget McKenzie’s resignation and grant allocation
Q The Deputy Leader of the Nationals resigned last month for having a conflict of interest in awarding a grant to a shooting club of which she was a member. There are ongoing questions about the extent to which other ministers knew and participated in the allocation of regional sporting grants.
| NET: Agree | NET: Disagree | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | Unsure | |
| The investigation needs to continue to investigate any MP involved in the allocation of sports grants | 71% | 16% | 42% | 28% | 10% | 6% | 13% |
| The minister’s resignation should be the end of the matter | 43% | 42% | 19% | 24% | 21% | 21% | 14% |
| NET: Agree | Mar’20 | Feb’20 | Difference |
| The investigation needs to continue to investigate any MP involved in the allocation of sports grants | 71% | 70% | +1 |
| The minister’s resignation should be the end of the matter | 43% | 49% | -6 |
| Base (n) | 1,096 | 1,057 | – |
- 71% of participants agree that the investigation needs to continue to investigate any MP involved in the allocation of sports grants, which is no different to the Feb’20 results.
- On the other hand, now 43% of participants agree that the minister’s resignation should be the end of the matter (43%) down 6pts from Feb’20.
Attitude to Bridget McKenzie’s resignation and grant allocation
Q. The Deputy Leader of the Nationals has resigned for having a conflict of interest in awarding a grant to a shooting club of which she was a member. Which of the following statements do you agree with?
| NET: Agree | NET: Disagree | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | Unsure | |
| The investigation needs to continue to investigate any MP involved in the allocation of sports grants | 70% | 17% | 70% | 17% | 11% | 6% | 13% |
| Giving grants to sports organisations in marginal seats was only done to influence the election result in the Governments favour | 66% | 16% | 36% | 30% | 12% | 5% | 18% |
| The minister’s resignation should be the end of the matter | 49% | 38% | 24% | 26% | 20% | 18% | 13% |
| NET: Agree | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | |
| The investigation needs to continue to investigate any MP involved in the allocation of sports grants | 70% | 77% | 65% | 81% | 71% |
| Giving grants to sports organisations in marginal seats was only done to influence the election result in the Governments favour | 66% | 76% | 56% | 70% | 73% |
| The minister’s resignation should be the end of the matter | 49% | 44% | 61% | 44% | 44% |
| Base (n) | 1,056 | 354 | 320 | 113 | 155 |
- 70% of participants agree that the investigation into the Deputy Nationals Leader needs to continue to investigate any MP involved in the allocation of sports grants. Half (49%) of participants agree that the minister’s resignation should be the end of the matter.
- Coalition voters are more likely to agree that the minister’s resignation should be the end of the matter (61%) than all other voters (44%).
- Additionally, Coalition voters are least likely to agree that the investigation needs to continue (65%) and giving grants to sports organisations in marginal seats was only done to influence the election result in the Governments favour (56%), than all other voters (76% and 74%).
Ministerial Conduct
Q. Over the past few weeks the Opposition has been raising concern about the conduct of Deputy Nationals leader Bridget McKenzie.
It is claimed she allocated $100million to sporting organisations in marginal seats to favour the Coalition in the 2019 Federal election.
Which of the following best describes your perspective on the issue?
| Jan’20 | Dec’19
Following Angus Taylor and Sydney Lord Mayor |
|
| The Prime Minister should have stood the Minister down from Cabinet | 51% | 35% |
| The Prime Minster was right not to stand the Minister down from Cabinet | 15% | 17% |
| I have not been following the issue | 34% | 48% |
| Base (n) | 1,080 | 1,035 |
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | ||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | ||
| The Prime Minister should have stood the Minister down from Cabinet | 51% | 67% | 41% | 51% | 51% |
| The Prime Minster was right not to stand the Minister down from Cabinet | 15% | 7% | 27% | 10% | 15% |
| I have not been following the issue | 34% | 27% | 32% | 40% | 34% |
| Base (n) | 1,080 | 351 | 342 | 110 | 156 |
- One-third (34%) of participants have not been following the issue of Bridget McKenzie and the allocation of Sports grants.
- Half of participants believe the Prime Minister should have stood the Minister down from cabinet over the issue (51%), while just 15% believe Scott Morrison was correct to support his colleague.
- Coalition voters are least likely to say that the PM should have stood the Minister down (41%).
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- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Views towards re-electing the federal Coalition government
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- 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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