Newspoll: Breathing space for Scott Morrison but he’s not there yet

The recovery in Scott Morrison’s approval ratings and a return to more normal levels of popular support for the Coalition appear to reflect an electorate that would prefer him to succeed. Picture: Christian Gilles

Scott Morrison is beginning to wrestle back control of the political agenda ahead of the budget. And he needed to.

The past three months have tested his leadership and the integrity and competence of his government. After steering the economy through the worst ravages of the pandemic, he was at risk of being swamped by events and issues he was ­accused of failing to grasp.

The recovery in his approval ratings and a return to more normal levels of popular support for the Coalition appear to reflect an electorate that would prefer him to succeed. He is not there yet.

His personal numbers are still well below the level of satisfaction people expressed in his leadership in February, before the troubles began. And at 41 per cent primary vote, the Coalition is only just back to the levels that slipped it over the line with the slimmest of margins at the last election.

Yet it would appear the underlying trend is returning in the absence of the heated parliamentary contest and the perception this helped create of a government thrashing around in the shallows.

While the issue of women’s economic and personal security will persist, and may yet still have inflicted some degree of permanent damage, core issues around the economy and COVID are still determining voter temperament.

Voters also appear to be giving him the benefit of the doubt over the vaccine rollout and his ­attempts to remedy the debacle.

Morrison will be equally reassured that the end of JobKeeper has had little, if any, impact electorally.

Anthony Albanese’s decision to vacate the field while the government stewed has failed to cement his improved position in March.

Having allowed Morrison some breathing space to rescue his position, and having remained virtually mute on climate change while Morrison pressed Australia’s case to the global summit, the Labor leader has slid into negative territory and allowed the margin Morrison maintains over him as preferred prime minister to once again widen.

On these numbers, despite being behind on the two-party-preferred split, the Morrison government could expect to be returned at an election.

Anthony Albanese’s decision to vacate the field while the government stewed has failed to cement his improved position in March. Picture: Bianca De Marchi