Newspoll: Scott Morrison’s ratings slump over Delta debacle

Scott Morrison’s approval ratings have plummeted, leaving the government in its worst position since the Black Summer bushfires.

Scott Morrison’s approval ratings have plummeted into negative territory and the government is looking at its worst electoral position since the Black Summer bushfires as frustration grows over the slow vaccine rollout and lockdowns across Australia’s three most populated states.

According to the latest Newspoll, conducted by The Australian, the numbers also show a lack of confidence in the federal government’s management of the pandemic as the NSW, Victoria and Queensland state governments try to stop the spread of the dangerous Delta Covid-19 variant.

Many Australians are not happy with Scott Morrison’s handling of the pandemic. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Mr Morrison once enjoyed strong support from Australians at the beginning of the pandemic, but those numbers have almost halved over the course of the past 12 months from a high of 85 per cent in April last year, during the peak of the first wave, to just 48 per cent in the latest poll.

For the first time more Australians – 49 per cent – say they are unhappy with Mr Morrison’s handling of the pandemic, with clear divisions now established among voters along party lines.

It comes as confidence in the administration of the vaccine rollout also continues to drop despite the release last week of a four-step plan linking vaccination rates to the reopening of the country.

Popular support for the LNP and Labor remains tied at 39 per cent with no change in the main numbers for the major parties since the last poll was conducted three weeks ago.

The two-party-preferred split of 53-47 per cent, in Labor’s favour, also remains the same as the government faces its worst electoral position since the bushfire crisis of summer 2020.

And with almost half of the Australian population under some form of government-imposed restrictions, approval of Mr Morrison’s performance has fallen into net negative territory for the first time.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese’s numbers have not improved. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The latest poll has shown a four-point fall in the number of voters happy with the PM’s performance. It is the second time in a month, Mr Morrison’s approval ratings have fallen, leaving him with a rating of 47 per cent.

The number of Australians unhappy with his overall performance as Prime Minister has gone up by the same level – to 49 per cent, leaving Mr Morrison with a net approval rating of minus two.

It is the first time since March 2020 that Mr Morrison has found his personal support falling into negative territory.

The numbers represent a large shift in sentiment from the peak of the pandemic in 2020, when Mr Morrison had an approval rating of more than plus-40 per cent.

People queue to get vaccinated in Sydney. Australians have been largely unhappy with the slow rollout. Picture: Getty Images

Separately, the Prime Minister still retains a lead over Labor leader, Anthony Albanese, whose net negative approval rating of minus eight remains the same at 38 per cent satisfied and 46 per cent dissatisfied.

Mr Morrison also maintains a strong lead over his rival as preferred prime minister, although the gap has narrowed to its smallest margin since the last election.

Mr Morrison dropped two points to 49 per cent while Mr Albanese picked up three points to 36 per cent.