Newspoll: Voters back Future Made in Australia plan but no reward for Anthony Albanese
A majority of voters back Anthony Albanese’s Future Made in Australia policy, but his approval ratings remain stuck in negative territory.
A majority of voters have backed Anthony Albanese’s budget plan to use taxpayer subsidies for renewable energy projects and sovereign manufacturing, despite criticism that it was a return to protectionism.
But the Prime Minister has failed to convert support for the new policy agenda into an electoral benefit ahead of the May budget, with the contest between Labor and Coalition remaining unchanged and Mr Albanese’s approval ratings still stuck in negative territory.
An exclusive Newspoll conducted for The Australian shows both major parties have lifted a point in primary vote at the expense of the Greens and other minor parties or independents.
The poll comes amid a news cycle dominated by the teen-terrorist attack and mass stabbing murders in Sydney, and war in the Middle East.
The Albanese government last week also announced its 10-year defence strategy at a total cost of $330bn. Labor’s primary vote at 33 per cent is back in line with the last election result, while the Coalition at 38 per cent is almost two points up on the May 2022 result.
The Greens fell a point to 12 per cent, while Pauline Hanson’s One Nation is unchanged on seven per cent.
Other minor parties and independents were down a point and are now sitting at 10 per cent, which is 4.5 points below on the election result.
The two-party-preferred vote of 51/49 per cent in Labor’s favour also remains unchanged on the previous poll, but it is a point below the election outcome. This suggests Labor would retain government if an election were held today, but with a strong chance that it would be forced into minority government with either the Greens or independents.
Mr Albanese’s net approval rating of minus 6 was a one point improvement.
Mr Dutton’s net approval rating of minus 15 was unchanged.
Mr Dutton improved by a point in the head-to-head contest over which leader was regarded as making the better prime minister, with Mr Albanese’s lead now cut to a margin of 13 points.
The latest Newspoll also tested voter reaction to Labor’s clean energy and industry agenda, which Mr Albanese has signalled would funnel taxpayer-backed tax breaks, loans and subsidies through A Future Made in Australia Act.
Voters were asked to identify which of two propositions was closer to their view.
The first asked whether the Australian government should actively invest in projects that help Australia transition to a clean energy economy and create new local industries and jobs in Australia.
The second question asked whether the Australian government should stay out of the way and provide a better environment for business by reducing energy costs, cutting red tape and reforming the industrial relations sector.
A majority of voters backed the move to drive greater government intervention in the economy, while 38 per cent believed that the government involvement should be contained to reducing energy costs, cutting red tape and reforming the industrial relations sector and creating an environment for business to thrive.
Younger voters were more likely to support bigger government with 64 per cent of 18-34-year-olds agreeing with state intervention, compared with 31 per cent citing the alternative.
The only demographic where a larger number picked the “better environment for business” proposition was those aged over 65 – 49 per cent, compared with 48 per cent in favour of intervention.
There was also a clear partisan effect, with 74 per cent of Labor voters backing
state-backed investment, compared with 40 per cent of Coalition voters – although the proportion of Coalition voters in favour of the government’s agenda was relatively high.
Voter approval of the government’s agenda clashes with the view of some economists and the Productivity Commission, which has warned against wasting taxpayer dollars on favoured industries that might otherwise might be unviable.
Mr Albanese argued that Australia risked being left behind in the global race for transition to cleaner economies and sovereign manufacturing through local industries without greater government involvement in driving investment.
This latest survey was conducted between April 15 and April 18 with 1236 voters throughout Australia interviewed online.
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