51 per cent of working women dissatisfied with Morrison government, survey suggests

A new survey has revealed what Australian women think of Scott Morrison’s approach to the issues that matter to them.

More than half of working Australian women are unhappy with the Morrison government and they aren’t impressed by its cost of living policies, a new survey suggests.

Australian unions have released a poll that found women are more likely than men to consider cost of living, increasing wages and housing affordability as key election issues.

The majority of the women surveyed said they were dissatisfied with the Coalition’s approach to all three of these issues.

Fifty-one per cent of working women who responded said they were dissatisfied with the Morrison government, while 17 per cent said they were satisfied.

ACTU president Michele O'Neil says even women who aren’t particularly engaged in politics care about the cost of living. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The Australian Council of Trade Unions enlisted pollster Evolved Group to conduct an online survey of 1001 voters in April, as the campaign got under way and Anthony Albanese and Scott Morrison began making their respective pitches to female voters.

The peak union body is expected to use the results to bolster its position as it calls for a minimum-wage increase of 5.5 per cent and throws its support behind many of Labor’s policies for workers.

ACTU president Michele O’Neil said the survey showed women “don’t trust Scott Morrison” or “believe” he cared about the issues that mattered to them.

She said even women who weren’t particularly engaged in politics were concerned about inflation, wages and housing prices.

“These are critical issues and the government ignores them to their own peril,” she told NCA NewsWire.

“Every party and every politician needs to understand that you can't just pay lip service to what matters to women. Women need to have policies and plans that will deliver real change.”

Scott Morrison has promised a $53m reproductive healthcare package, which he announced on Mother’s Day. Picture: Jason Edwards

Ms O’Neil has backed Labor as the better choice for female voters, which is unsurprising, given the union movement’s close ties to the Labor Party.

The union boss highlighted Labor’s promises to lift wages, improve job security and reduce the cost of childcare as key reasons for her public support.

Female voters in certain marginal electorates and in blue ribbon Liberal seats under threat from teal independents are expected to have a significant impact on the outcome of the election.

Mr Albanese and the Prime Minister both announced policies targeted towards women on Mother’s Day, respectively pledging funding for playgroups and a $53m reproductive healthcare package.

Labor has zeroed in on the female vote in the last fortnight of the campaign by highlighting its promised economic measures to help bridge the wage gap and support working women and mothers.

Women in Australia earn on average $255.30 or 13.8 per cent less each week than men, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Mr Albanese has promised to make gender pay equity an objective of the Fair Work Act.

He conceded on Sunday he couldn’t guarantee wages would rise faster than inflation under a Labor government.

Originally published as 51 per cent of working women dissatisfied with Morrison government, survey suggests