More of us are feeling stressed and exhausted following May 21 election

Almost 60 per cent of Australians are feeling anxious following the May 21 election as rising interest rates, energy and petrol prices heap pressure.

Jim Chalmers is preparing a cost-of-living relief package ahead of the October budget. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Almost 60 per cent of Australians are feeling “anxious, stressed and exhausted” following the May 21 election as rising interest rates, energy and petrol prices heap pressure on businesses and households.

The first major post-election polling research, surveying more than 1400 voters between May 23 and 27, revealed one in two voters identified cost-of-living pressures as their top concern.

Grocery prices, petrol prices, rent, mortgage repayments, power bills and insurance premiums led the cost-of-living concerns, as soaring inflation and the energy crisis drive up expenses.

Despite Australians believing Anthony Albanese and Labor are better placed to manage cost-of-living pressures, the national mood has deteriorated, with 59 per cent expressing negative sentiment.

Amid increasing pessimism about the direction of the economy over the next three months and 12 months, SECNewgate Research special counsel David Stolper said monthly tracking polling showed voters were anxious. “Australians are optimistic for the new direction but Labor’s honeymoon will be short if it can’t provide relief to an anxious electorate who are increasingly concerned about the cost of living, housing affordability and the economy,” Mr Stolper said.

Jim Chalmers is preparing a cost-of-living relief package ahead of the October budget and will decide whether to extend the fuel excise reduction beyond September 28. With the economy hit hard by global headwinds fuelled by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and disruptions to international energy markets, updated forecasts in the October budget will reveal a gloomier outlook.

Mr Stolper said the rise of the teal independents and Greens at the election had been welcomed by Australians, with female voters moving away from the Liberal Party en masse.

“The rise of the independents is considered positive for Australia, and it appears set to remain a key feature on the political landscape. The availability of quality independent candidates was a key factor although their base is mostly comprised of protest voters rather than solid supporters,” Mr Stolper said.

“Australians had effectively tuned out the Morrison government with little cut-through from its stronger than expected budget or its downsizer housing reforms, which were actually more popular than Labor’s housing policies”.

Mr Stolper said there was strong backing for Mr Albanese’s pledge to adopt the Uluru Statement from the Heart and an Indigenous voice to parliament, which attracted 59 per cent of support compared to 16 per cent opposed.

“At face value, there is strong support for an Indigenous Voice to parliament, but it won’t be easy to convince Australians about the importance of a referendum on an issue that is off the radar for most.”

The polling showed greater support for climate change and plunging concern about the Covid-19 pandemic. “The importance of Covid as a national issue continues to drop, with only 10 per cent mentioning it unprompted as an important issue (down from 21 per cent in April and 32 per cent in March),” the research said.

“However, 24 per cent mentioned climate change (up from 20 per cent in April) and it continues has the third highest ‘political heat score’ of 32 national priorities, with 19 per cent selecting it a top-three issue.”