Essential Research leadership ratings and end-of-year review

Scott Morrison’s personal ratings maintain a downward trend, as the government scores middling ratings for its overall performance for the year.

Essential Research has published its final fortnightly poll for the year, which includes its monthly leadership ratings. Scott Morrison is down two on approval to 46% and up two on disapproval to 44%, his weakest numbers since the onset of COVID-19 and a continuation of a downward trend since March. Anthony Albanese is steady on 40% approval and up one on disapproval to 36%. Essential’s numbers for both leaders are consistently more favourable than those for other pollsters. Morrison’s lead on preferred prime minister is down from 44-28 to 42-31, the narrowest it has been all term.

The federal government’s ratings for COVID-19 response have deteriorated after a three-month improving trend, down six on good to 41% and up seven on poor to 32%. The equivalent results for the states record a one point drop in the New South Wales government’s good rating to 54%, an eight point drop in the Victorian government’s rating to 43% and a three point drop for Queensland to 57%. The Western Australian government is up four to 78% and the South Australian government is down three to 57%, with due caution to the tiny sample sizes in these cases.

Respondents were asked about the Coalition’s performance on various matters since it came to power in 2013, and were interestingly given the opportunity to indicate whether the issue was important or unimportant to them in addition to evaluating the government’s performance. Its worst results came for handling sexual assault and misconduct, with 35% from the 50% who rated it poorly considering it an important issue, and handling of corruption allegations, rated likewise by 35% from 49%. However, the government now records neutral ratings on the vaccine rollout and is rated very favourably for the legalisation of same-sex marriage.

As it does at the end of each year, the pollster asked if had been a good or a bad year for various actors, with the federal government deemed to have had a good year by 34% and a poor year by 38%. Thirty-eight per cent considered it had been a good year for them and their family compared with 23% for poor; 37% rated their personal financial situation favourably compared with 30% for unfavourably. As usual, large companies and corporations were deemed to have done best of all, at 52% for good and 21% for poor. The poll was conducted Wednesday to Sunday from a sample of around 1000.

Another poll worth noting is a Western Australian survey for Painted Dog Research, published today in The West Australian, which found more respondents considering the state’s recently announced opening up date of February 5 to be too soon (36%) than too late (18%), with 46% deeming it right. Mark McGowan was credited with a 77% approval rating, down from 88% in a previous survey in February. The poll was conducted Monday and Tuesday from a sample of 811.

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.

2,431 comments on “Essential Research leadership ratings and end-of-year review”

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  2. That may be what they were implying, mindful of backlash perhaps. Imagine the flood of verbal diarrhoea that would flow in their direction otherwise!

  4. As all religions require the suspension of reality (faith), Scotty has a very narrow view of the Worlds religions.


    May those of us who have faith find great encouragement as we reflect on God’s great gift to us and his son, Jesus Christ. And may all of us experience something of the joy and the wonder of Christmas, especially our children. Jen and I wish you from our family to yours, a very merry Christmas and a happy new year in 2022. Merry Christmas Australia and God Bless.

  7. It’s a very snazzy can opener though. Grips to fit any size bottle or jar and automatically opens the toughest nut to crack. Looxury! It’s quite heavy actually. Probably the motor inside of it.

    I also won $11 on the Scratchies. 🙂

  9. Good morning all and a merry, happy and safe 25 December.

    As many would say long time lurker and first time poster although I did contribute years ago when PB was part of the Crikey stable of interesting blogs.

    So why PB? I think it this blog generally reflects society at large… there are posters that we agree with and disagree with, there is content that is informative, funny, tragic, offensive and trite. There are views expressed that underline the feelings of the majority and those that expose festering sentiment or new ideas worth teasing out more. There are posters that we eagerly await their contribution, e.g. BK’s excellent morning roundup of the news and cartoons and others that we shake our heads and scroll by.

    The last two years have been and I won’t use this descriptor again – unprecedented – it has brought people together but torn families and societies apart. It has perhaps enabled a pause to reflect on what is important to us as a whole.

    Like many I am wanting 2021 to end and look towards 2022 – with a sense of unease and anxiety but also perhaps hope. Next year’s election calendar will be fascinating (SA, Vic and course the Feds). I live in Melbourne on the border of Chisholm and Higgins so will be observing proceedings with much interest.

    Like never before we need people in 2022 to be engaged politically and to debate issues, policy and philosophy in an open and constructive framework – not the shrill, loud and tiresome verbiage from the likes of certain individuals such as Palmer, Kelly, Hanson and others.

    The fourth estate – media -also needs to be held very much to account. Living in Melbourne and experiencing the relentless undermining of the State Government by certain journalists and commentators in the last two years has been exhausting and demoralising. Australia is, with some minor exceptions, is served poorly by our media outlets across all platforms.

    Finally let’s be kind to each other, hope for a competitive Boxing Day test and look towards 2022. If anyone asks I follow Geelong in the AFL so feel free to lob brickbats my way which will be cheerfully returned.

  10. She will be the first Member for Fowler to live there for over 20 years…

    Keneally makes the move from north to west
    Kristina Keneally has officially moved from her family’s secluded Scotland Island hideaway on Sydney’s northern beaches to a new home in the south western Sydney electorate of Fowler

  11. Huge if true! Scott Bolton is a retired NRL player for North Queensland. Are the Aussies that short of bowlers?

    There is a 32 year old Victorian hanging round the Test Team – Scott Boland…

  13. sprocket_ says:
    Saturday, December 25, 2021 at 8:10 am
    Huge if true! Scott Bolton is a retired NRL player for North Queensland. Are the Aussies that short of bowlers?
    ————————-

    Lol Sprocket

  16. Merry Xmas to all.

    Thanks once again to BK for his wonderful dawn patrol and William for continuing to host this blog.

    Let’s hope 2022 is a lot calmer and manageable than the past two years

    As a collective we need it!

  18. Victoria says: Saturday, December 25, 2021 at 8:34 am

    Merry Xmas to all.

    Let’s hope 2022 is a lot calmer and manageable than the past two years

    *******************************

    May you and your family and especially your parents have the bestest Christmas together that you can

    I am relying on that subtle *female intuition * of yours to come to the full and see the Orange Mussolini get his just deserts in 2022

  22. VicGovDH@VicGovDH · 11m
    Doses at state run clinics yesterday: 2,208
    Total: 5,024,192
    Fully vaccinated (12+): 92%
    Hospitalised: 361
    7 Day Average: 383
    In ICU (active): 71
    In ICU (cleared): 41
    Ventilated: 42
    Tests: 83,456
    New cases: 2,108
    Lives lost: 6
    Active cases: 17,599

    NSW Health@NSWHealth · 14m
    – 81.6% of people aged 12-15 have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
    – 78.3% of people aged 12-15 have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine
    – 149,261 tests
    – 6,288 total new cases
    – 388 people in hospital
    – 52 people in ICU
    – 0 deaths

  23. PhoenixRed

    Thanks. All the very best to you and your family too!

    The wheels of justice move slowly, if at all . Especially in the USA.

    Having said that, I am confident that the Trump spell will break and he and his cronies will be exposed for the traitors they all are.
    Don’t know how long it is going to take, but I’m hoping sooner than later.
    Fingers crossed.

  24. A Happy, Healthy Xmas and New Year to all
    From Nellis. (Lurker from way back)
    At 83 you keep me going, I may not comment but I feel I know you all. Vale to those we have lost..
    I have a large family but I have added all of you.

  32. Thanks everyone for contributions through the year
    Hope you all have a great Christmas
    Well done William, and BK for all th ehard work that keeps us engaged

  45. Merry Christmas to all bludgers. I wish you good health, rest and hopefully a new government in the new year. I hope Santa’s listening.

    Thanks especially to William for his informative posts and polltracker. And thanks to BK for his wonderful morning roundup, which saves me time every morning.

  46. My Christmas present from Albo this morning was that this very day, Christmas Day 2021, I became eligible for my booster shot due to his insistence that the layover period be reduced from five to four months, thus giving all the incentive needed to his future employees at ATAGI to rubber stamp his “irresponsible” suggestion.

    What we are seeing here in Australia today is a highly questionable ideological political decision to open up with “Delta”(put in place to assuage the rabid fantasies of cabals of hairdressers, Q-Anon crazies, Yoga Mummies, UAP fanatics and other outright demented ratbags), turned into an act of stubborn, dogmatic idiocy by doubling down on it, despite the game-changing arrival of the “Omicron” variant.

    The desire of Morrison to cement a memory of him as the Nation’s Father who delivered us a Happy Christmas 2021 prior to his triumphant re-election, and of Perrotet to rid himself of the last vestiges of Berejiklianism by abandoning even her pathetic attempts at leadership, has ended up with them both gambling their political fates with other people’s chips: in this case, our lives.

    I haven’t even bothered try to make an earlier booking than the one we have (February 2nd), as even that had to be wrung out of the local medical centre with the tears of Her Indoors.

    The truth is, of course, that there is not very much vaccine around. As we now know, bookings are one thing. Actual jabs are another. This is because, in a Ponzi-like piece of devilment, and a shithouse exercise in forward management, ScoMo borrowed millions of doses from the UK and Singapore a few months ago and now – right now, just as Omicron strikes – he has to pay them back. Melissa Caddick and Bernie Madoff must be wherever in Hell they are lodging, applauding him in ecstasy as they count the suckers and mugs who fell for it… yet again. It’s come time to cash out, and there’s very little left in the kitty.

    Like all of Morrison’s “Promise Now, Pay Later” schemes – from BACK IN BLACK to Railway Carparks, to the Bushfire Rebuilding Fund, to Federal ICAC – we find ourselves forced to the realization that (in the immortal words of Kerry Packer when asked if he saw the Pearly Gates while experiencing one of his many heart attacks): “There’s nothing fucking there”.

    A Merry and Safe Christmas to all Bludgers, one of personal responsibility, despite the decreasing levels of merriment and safety that have been foisted upon us, and the lack of responsibility shown by the idiots who actually brag about how their plan is to get government out of our lives and hope we’ll thank them for it.

  47. Thank you all, I am not alone, 6 children and umpteen grand- and great grandchildren-children, visiting with masks and distancing. Husband in Nursing-Home being brought over. Not all at once so can keep distance. Myself and several others are nurses and know how to stay safe.
    I hope none of you are lonely today but at least you can talk to friends online. Best wishes from Cairns. Pat

  49. BB
    They have only had two years to get ready for this critical moment. That is why the booster supply to jab locations is slow, lumpy, and chaotic. My advice is to shop around.

  50. “NSW hits new vaccine milestone”

    So positive.

    “Victoria has q’s for testing”

    So negative.

    9 Entertainment headlines.

    Go to the e-mail address of the hacks who put this rubbish in the line of sight and call them out for exactly who and what they are.

    Sutton called them out, and so should we.

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