Scott Morrison wins back women’s support

Scott Morrison has recovered lost ground with women voters in recent months and has built up a larger lead over Anthony Albanese on the question of preferred PM among women than men.

Scott Morrison in Perth this week. Picture: Getty Images

Scott Morrison has recovered lost ground with women voters in recent months and has built up a larger lead over Anthony Albanese on the question of preferred prime minister among women than men, despite an onslaught of criticism on various gender ­issues.

Although the Prime Minister lost his lead over the Labor leader in Monday’s fortnightly Newspoll, Mr Morrison consistently outranks the Opposition Leader on satisfaction ratings among women voters, an analysis of quarterly demographic breakdowns reveals.

The Coalition and Mr Morrison lost support among women last year after a rash of allegations about the sexual assault of former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins, and sexual misbehaviour and even assault by male Liberal ministers.

The Liberal Party was accused of having a problem with women, having insufficient female candidates and ignoring public campaigns and rallies, including a campaign by former Australian of the Year Grace Tame.

The Prime Minister’s wife, Jenny Morrison, even faced criticism after she accused Ms Tame of being discourteous when she reacted frostily to Mr Morrison at a public function at The Lodge.

But Newspoll surveys show that, at the end of last year, Mr Morrison had a lower dissatisfaction rate among women than men and the same net satisfaction rate – the difference between voters’ satisfaction and dissatisfaction – among men and women.

Since becoming Labor leader, Mr Albanese has consistently had a lower dissatisfaction rate and a better net satisfaction rate among women than men.

But, on the question of who would be the better prime minister, Mr Morrison has had a bigger lead among women since late 2020 and has always had a better net satisfaction rating among females.

Now, Labor’s position of bullying of women has been thrust into the spotlight following revelations about the treatment senator Kimberley Kitching, who died of a suspected heart attack nine days ago, allegedly received from fellow female ALP senators.

Mr Morrison’s better ratings with women voters and the fact that about a quarter of women remain uncommitted on Mr Albanese’s performance as Opposition Leader are likely pointers to the Labor leader’s decision to do a soft, “at home” interview with Women’s Weekly last month alongside partner Jodie Haydon.

Notably, Mrs Morrison joined her husband on the campaign trail in Tasmania late last month, before the Prime Minister’s bout of Covid-19,

Both leaders have seen their net satisfaction rating decline since August 2020. But in the December quarter, total voter satisfaction with Mr Morrison was 45 per cent and dissatisfaction was 51 per cent, with higher satisfaction among men and lower dissatisfaction among women but the same net satisfaction – the first time in nine months his rating with women had drawn level with that of men.

Support for Mr Morrison as better prime minister began to fall in the March 2021 quarter, as the sexual assault and gender debate broke out, and Mr Albanese narrowed the difference between the two leaders. But Mr Morrison kept ahead of Mr Albanese throughout 2021, including among women.

The latest Newspoll survey, published last week, showed a small two-week drop in voter satisfaction for Mr Morrison from 43 to 41 per cent, with dissatisfaction unchanged – for a net satisfaction rate of minus 14.

Satisfaction with Mr Albanese was steady at 44 per cent and dissatisfaction fell one point to 42 per cent – a net satisfaction rate of plus two. Mr Albanese drew level on the question of better prime minister at 42 per cent.

But in specific questions in the previous poll on who was better able to handle the issues of Chinese aggression, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Covid pandemic, Mr Morrison led, particularly among women.