Newspoll: 51-49 to Labor

Newspoll has both major parties up on the primary vote, Scott Morrison’s standing recovering somewhat, and generally positive results for federal and state governments on handling of coronavirus.

For all that our world may have changed over the past three weeks, Newspoll has not: The Australian reports the latest result has Labor’s lead steady at 51-49. There has, however, been primary vote movement in favour of the major parties, with both up by two points: the Coalition to 40%, Labor to 36%. The Greens are down one to 12%, One Nation unchanged on 4% and others down three to 8%.

As with Essential Research, Scott Morrison has recovered somewhat from his post-bushfire slump, with his approval rating up three to 41% and disapproval down five to 53%. He now holds a 42-38 lead over Anthony Albanese as preferred prime minister, who led 41-40 last time. Albanese’s net rating has also improved, his approval rating up one to 40% (The Australian report says down three, but I believe it has its wires crossed from the preferred prime minister movement) and disapproval down four to 40%.

In other findings, 75% support the government’s decision to abandon a budget surplus in favour of economic stimulus; 51% believe the federal government has managed preparedness for the crisis well; 66% are satisfied with federal and state government efforts to inform the public about the virus; but only 47% feel the same way about managing its economic impact.

UPDATE: The Australian’s reportage rather downplays the fact, but the poll found only 33% were satisfied with the economic response of governments (the question emphasised “both federal and state”) to the coronavirus outbreak, with 47% dissatisfied. The 75% rating in favour of stimulus did not relate specifically to the government’s policy, but to the general notion that “the Morrison government should provide a stimulus package to safeguard the economy”, with only 14% favouring the alternative option that it “should prioritise its promise to deliver a budget surplus”.

For the other questions, 76% of respondents were worried about the economic impact of the outbreak, versus only 20% for confident; 51% were worried, and 47% confident, about the preparedness of the public health system, for which 51% were satisified with the federal and state government response and 33% dissatisfied; and 63% were confident, and 35% worried, about “the amount of information available to Australians about how to protect themselves”, for which 65% were satisfied and 28% dissatisfied with the federal and state government response.

The poll was conducted Wednesday to Saturday from a sample of 1501.

Author: William Bowe

William Bowe is a Perth-based election analyst and occasional teacher of political science. His blog, The Poll Bludger, has existed in one form or another since 2004, and is one of the most heavily trafficked websites on Australian politics.

1,631 comments on “Newspoll: 51-49 to Labor”

Comments Page 25 of 33
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  2. Hugh Riminton
    @hughriminton
    ·
    39s
    I have been cleared of #COVID19 after being informed on Saturday a fellow Qantas passenger had tested positive. Results took 69 hrs – not bad under the circumstances, though not quite Peter Dutton’s heroic six hour result! Thank you #StVincents

  4. GG

    Without obviously knowing all the details, it seems like someone who is already on the edge, and lashing out at what he perceives to be making his life a shit show.
    Also wouldn’t be surprised if substance abuse is involved.

  6. Ante Meridian @ #1084 Tuesday, March 17th, 2020 – 10:53 am

    If anyone needs hand sanitiser, try places that sell safety equipment (like hard hats, hi-vis vests, and so on). Someone I know who runs such a business told me they could get it, no problem. In particular, they have 5 litre bottles of the stuff which they can’t shift because everyone only wants the little bottles.

    Mind you, that was a week ago, so thinks might have changed.

    Electronic and electrical stores also have isopropyl/isopropanol in decent sized bottles, because it is used for cleaning circuit boards etc.

  7. Bucephalus:

    [‘Andrew, the little turd is vexatious litigant who deserves to be punished severely.’]

    [‘…a person can only be declared a vexatious litigant by the Supreme Court on application of the Attorney-General and it requires proof of a long history of vexatious litigation before an application can succeed.’]

    If Staindl had been declared to be a vexatious litigant, he would’ve been unable to bring a suit against Frydenberg except with the approval of, in this case, the Federal Court. You may describe him as a vexatious litigant but said description is erroneous. He had every right to launch the action.

  8. Socrates says:
    Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 2:20 pm

    IT is clear that responding to a pandemic is an area of knowledge Australia is proving to be not an expert in. One aspect I have been perturbed by is the lack of clear information on using public transport. Here we could learn from Asia, where they have been dealing with both viruses and crowded public transport for years. This article by a Chinese Australian academic suggests what precautions we should be taking. It is far more detailed and comprehensive than anything I have seen produced locally.
    https://indaily.com.au/opinion/2020/03/17/ticket-to-safer-public-transport-during-pandemic/
    —————————————-

    I remember when I first visited Tokyo in 1964 being surprised at department stores, to see young women at the foot of every escalator on every floor, carefully wiping the handrail and smiling, with a short bow, as you got off.

  9. Given what’s happening in the United States and the entire world right now, only the terminally stupid would be hostile to Sanders’ health policy.

    You can count Trump’s base in that..

  10. Actually the Danish Government will provide up to 75% of the wages of workers in the private sector who are threatened of being fired due to the coronavirus crisis.

    The Government has asked companies to send home staff, but to avoid firing them as business curtails.

    This policy will initially stretch retroactively from March 9 up until June 9.

    http://cphpost.dk/?p=111178

  11. I am a fully qualified Radiographer- I was laid off on Day 1 of the outbreak (my research facility was taken for use as a corona screening centre).
    I sent an email to the State Health Dept and 6 private providers saying I am sitting at home twiddling my thumbs- I can travel state-wide to fill any vacancy…….No one’s interested.
    The State Govt just said keep your eye on the jobs page- I said they already employ me (casually), cant you just call me in?
    Interesting…not much urgency or planning.

  12. Interesting question!

    dan nolan
    @dannolan
    Dutton has posted a picture of himself self-isolating… who took the photo…

  14. citizen @ #1189 Tuesday, March 17th, 2020 – 2:50 pm

    My daughter just received a parcel from China which was ordered in January. Initial inquiries indicated the factory was closed but presumably they are now back in production.

    A news item today said China has maintained imports of iron ore so hopefully production will rebound before too long.

    Not only that but the prices have been very stable about $90 tonne – one of the most stable commodities during this period

  16. Senator Andrew Bragg
    @ajamesbragg
    I was a guest at a friend’s wedding in Stanwell Tops on 6 March. After satisfying the guidelines of direct exposure and flu symptoms, I have tested positive to Coronavirus.

  17. It’s Time @ #1150 Tuesday, March 17th, 2020 – 12:57 pm

    They are council elections and 2 state by-elections. The State government can legislate to cover any legal issue. If elections are cancelled, the whole process would start from scratch for a new electio date.

    Thanks. Makes sense, and presumably this then also applies for a general State election, not just for by-elections. The State government legislates to keep itself working.

  18. I doubt that we will see Murphy as front man again except in totally controlled conditions here on in. Hiding behind Murphy while ignoring Murphy’s advice has been a disaster.

    Colbeck, ditto. Birmingham’s midday presser was a blancmange masterclass in nothingism. It was completely and utterly Yes Minister stuff but without any sense of the absurd or irony.

    It is not that the Virus is making fools of them. It is that the Virus is exposing their foolishness.

    Hunt should be the Fed’s front man on this. But I do note that Hunt is quoting 375 but the Leaderboard has us over 400. Which is right, we wonder.

    Now here is a question. ‘Had the Feds spent $10 billion, starting December, to get ready for health infrastructure for the pandemic would we be in much better shape now?’

  19. “Actually the Danish Government will provide up to 75% of the wages of workers…”

    I think we’re going to have to end up doing something like that. Longer term, I’m hoping a government funded switch to renewables, with most manufacturing done locally, will be a way to use all the unemployed.

  23. Colbeck was a human pinata on Q+A last night. Cripes, he was dreadful. The poor sod was way out of his league – no doubt wheeled on to the stage because Hunt was too gutless to show up.

  24. No mucking about over the Tasman.

    New Zealand on Tuesday deported its first unruly traveller flouting the country’s mandatory 14-day self-isolation rule for almost all arrivals, the health ministry said. The tourist, who had checked into a backpackers hostel in the city of Christchurch, was removed from the accommodation by the police after officials learned she did not have clear self-isolation plans.
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/mar/17/coronavirus-live-news-updates-uk-us-australia-europe-france-italy-who-self-isolation-travel-bans-borders-latest-update

  25. FMD

    Four months after the pandemic started Hunt has discovered that it is a good idea to count the masks we have in stock.

    He was bragging in interview that we would know the answer this afternoon.

    This is clearly a government on top of all the relevant pandemic stocks and flows.

  27. 10th March 100 cases
    11th March 112 cases, 60 in NSW
    12th March 126 cases, 64 in NSW
    13th March 156 cases, 77 in NSW
    14th March 197 cases, 91 in NSW
    15th March 249 cases, 111 in NSW
    16th March 298 cases, 134 in NSW
    17th March 375 cases, 170 in NSW

    https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert/coronavirus-covid-19-current-situation-and-case-numbers

    Doubling time is now around 4 days.
    Given the real cases is probably 10-20x those reported here we’re now looking at several thousand infectious and untested people in the community.

  28. If people in Australia are knifing each other over toilet roll or the last packet of chops (until they restock the shelves overnight FFS) then I shudder to think what will happen in parts of the US.
    I’m very much afraid the Doomsday preppers and Pentecostals who are praying for end times might go out on the streets with guns to self-fulfil their own prophecy’s.

  29. “Dutton has posted a picture of himself self-isolating… who took the photo…”

    Selfie?

    When the headline said “At Home with Dutton, the Virus, and Ralph”. Is Ralph the dog? Or is it an invitation to throw up?

  33. Danama Papers: “From what you’ve described I’m perfectly sure that the short-seller and not UniSuper bears ALL of the risk on that transaction.”

    How about if the short-selling strategy goes awry (as it might have done for some on Wall St last Friday and on the ASX today)? And then the person who borrowed and then sold the shares is unable to purchase same shares at a lower price and return them to the super fund? And then declares themselves bankrupt?

  34. LR

    Is that simply because worldometer is updated more frequently.. or do they have different sources/methods to the government site?

  36. Morrison and/or Hunt should have fronted up on Q&A last night, not the Aged Care Minister, who was way out of his comfort zone. Morrison is gutless. He only appears on shows where he knows he’ll get a free ride, like Alan Jones, who’s dangerously informing his audience that seasonal flu is worse than
    C-19 – dangerous due to the age cohort he preaches to:

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8118869/Alan-Jones-hits-critics-coronavirus-comments.html

  37. The whole of Luzon in quarantine. This at least makes it theoretically possibly for the 3 million workers who commute into Manila Metro on a daily basis to continue to scratch together a living.

    The police (PNP) to provide escorts to food trucks.

    https://www.inquirer.net/

  39. ‘Mavis says:
    Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 3:51 pm

    Morrison and/or Hunt should have fronted up on Q&A last night, not the Aged Care Minister, who was way out of his comfort zone. Morrison is gutless. He only appears on shows where he knows he’ll get a free ride, like Alan Jones, who’s dangerously informing his audience that seasonal flu is worse than
    C-19 – dangerous due to the age cohort he preaches to’

    Somewhat of a self-solving problem.

  40. Cud Chewer @ #1234 Tuesday, March 17th, 2020 – 2:47 pm

    LR

    Is that simply because worldometer is updated more frequently.. or do they have different sources/methods to the government site?

    Yeah, I don’t know how they do it. I track a few different aggregators. Sometimes worldometer
    is “behind” other times “ahead”.
    * https://www.covid19data.com.au/
    * https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19/tree/master/csse_covid_19_data/csse_covid_19_time_series

  41. Two liberal senators down.

    How does that affect the BOP in the Senate? Provided, of course, that no others fall on either side.

  42. C Ch

    They have zero interest in fudging the figures and 100% interest in getting the figures right.

    Compare and contrast the chronic lying, deflection, silence and misrepresentation of the most corrupt fed government since Federation.

  43. FS
    Parliament no longer sits much at all under the most corrupt government since Federation, so the issue is somewhat moot.

  45. Disappointingly, the regressions in my spreadsheet show an uptick in c19 infections 6 days ago. An exponential curve fit from March 12 AM to March 17 PM projects that we reach 1000 cases approx midnight March 20/21. (r2=0.995)

  46. Apparently the 7-8am opening for the elderly and disabled today by Colesworths hasn’t gone so well. Many complaints of empty shelves. Woolworths CEO now says that early closing from Wednesday night onwards will improve the situation by allowing better restocking.

    I’ll give it a go on Thursday morning but will obviously need to watch out for any knife and machine gun wielding oldies competing for the goodies!

  47. lizzie @ #1216 Tuesday, March 17th, 2020 – 3:31 pm

    Senator Andrew Bragg
    @ajamesbragg
    I was a guest at a friend’s wedding in Stanwell Tops on 6 March. After satisfying the guidelines of direct exposure and flu symptoms, I have tested positive to Coronavirus.

    Lizzie, that’s the wedding I was referring to yesterday, where my UNSW classmate contracted it. I believe the latest positive result count from that wedding is 19.

    Must have been quite a night.

  48. meher baba @ #1233 Tuesday, March 17th, 2020 – 3:46 pm

    Danama Papers: “From what you’ve described I’m perfectly sure that the short-seller and not UniSuper bears ALL of the risk on that transaction.”

    How about if the short-selling strategy goes awry (as it might have done for some on Wall St last Friday and on the ASX today)? And then the person who borrowed and then sold the shares is unable to purchase same shares at a lower price and return them to the super fund? And then declares themselves bankrupt?

    Already answered above –

    The short seller bears the total risk and can in fact be required to place substantial funds – up to 100% of the proceeds of the short sale with the lender of the shares. If/ when the shares drop the lender has more money in hand then what they are then trading at.

    Lending of shares for short sale is very widespread across across the industry including retail & Industry super funds, bank nominee holding companies, large investors etc etc.

    As at the latest ASIC short selling data on 11 thMarch, the value of shares short sold is $26.640 Billion covering 5.550 Billion shares.

    Australian Super make regular disclosure of their lending shares at meetings etc and have done so publicly for over 10 years and answered questions on it. No doubt other instos etc do the same.

  49. I see that Morrison was doing the habitual chicanery with respect to parliamentary arrangements for the coming Sitting and the all-important Stimulus Package No 2.

    He does not have Labor in the War Cabinet.

    He is fucking around with the Parliamentary protocols.

    Even during a global crisis the Fucker-in-Chief simply cannot help himself.

  50. ‘Spray says:
    Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 3:59 pm

    lizzie @ #1216 Tuesday, March 17th, 2020 – 3:31 pm

    Senator Andrew Bragg
    @ajamesbragg
    I was a guest at a friend’s wedding in Stanwell Tops on 6 March. After satisfying the guidelines of direct exposure and flu symptoms, I have tested positive to Coronavirus.

    Lizzie, that’s the wedding I was referring to yesterday, where my UNSW classmate contracted it. I believe the latest positive result count from that wedding is 19.

    Must have been quite a night.’

    Lots of saliva exchanged?

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