Newspoll: Scott Morrison backed but voters fearful over economy, health

NEWSPOLL | Australians have swung behind Scott Morrison, anxious over the economy and the health system’s ability to cope.

Australians have swung behind Scott Morrison and his management of the coronavirus crisis with voters gripped by anxiety over the deterioration of the economy and the public health system’s ability to cope.

An exclusive Newspoll conducted for The Australian shows Mr Morrison overtaking Anthony ­Albanese as the preferred prime minister for the first time this year, marking a turnaround in confidence in his leadership since the bushfire crisis.

But opinion is split on whether the federal and state governments have done enough so far to mitigate the economic shock.

Seventy-five per cent of voters supported the government’s decision to jettison the budget surplus in favour of economic stimulus. Yet almost half — 47 per cent — are not happy with the management of the impacts of the economy from both levels of government.

Despite claims of confusion over the government’s messaging, almost two-thirds of voters claimed to be satisfied with the management by federal and state governments in keeping people ­informed on how to protect themselves from COVID-19. While there was confidence that the government had done well in trying to prepare the public health system to cope, there was a lack of faith in the system itself to deal with the crisis.

The first poll to be conducted over a period during which the global impacts of the coronavirus have dramatically escalated shows voters turning back to the major parties during a crisis.

The Coalition’s primary vote jumped two points to 40 per cent, its highest point since early January. Labor also lifted two points to 36 per cent, which also marks a high point since then.

The two-party-preferred vote has remained steady at 51-49 per cent in favour of Labor but the Greens, which fell a point to 12 per cent, and other minor parties have seen a drop in support.

Mr Morrison has regained the lead as the preferred prime minister, lifting two points to 42 per cent. Mr Albanese dropped three points to 38 per cent after having overtaken the Liberal leader in January.

Mr Morrison has also seen a three-point bump in his approval rating to 41 per cent, which is now higher than the 40 per cent for Mr Albanese, who dropped three points. The turnaround marks a rehabilitation in the Prime Minister’s support since a collapse in popularity over his handling of the bushfire crisis, with dissatisfaction in his performance falling sharply to 53 per cent.

However, Mr Albanese is still ahead in net terms with a dissatisfaction rating also at 40 per cent.

The political turnaround for the Coalition and Mr Morrison during the coronavirus crisis comes off strong support for the government’s handling of the ­pandemic.

Support for a stimulus package was universal among voters, with 80 per cent of Coalition voters, 77 per cent of Labor voters and 66 per cent of Greens voters agreeing it was a priority over a balanced budget.

The elderly, who are the most susceptible to severe disease, were the most confident in the health system’s preparedness. Families were the most concerned about the state of the health and hospital system.

However, 51 per cent of all voters believed the government had managed well the preparedness of the system to handle the crisis.

Almost two-thirds, 65 per cent, believed federal and state governments had satisfactorily managed the information campaign to inform people how to protect themselves.

Delivering his own address to the nation on Sunday night, Mr Albanese claimed there was “a lot of misinformation out there” about COVID-19.

The Opposition Leader said the government needed to do more in providing “more consistent ­advice” in relation to when people should self-isolate or get tested, fast-tracking fever clinics and updating travel advice and restrictions more frequently.

“We want to see the government get this right — because ­people’s lives and jobs depend on it. We want to ensure there is substance not spin.”