PM Morrison's Approval Ratings Highest Since Oct-20

Approval ratings for Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison stand at 65% in the latest Essential opinion poll, compared to 40% for Anthony Albanese, leader of the main opposition Australian Labor Party (ALP).

• Preferred Prime Minister poll: Morrison-#LNP (inc): 52% (+1), Albanese-ALP: 24% (-1). Essential, 15/02/21. Chgs w/ 15/12/20
• Approval rating poll:
  • Prime Minister Morrison (LNP): Approve: 65% (+4), Disapprove: 28% (-2). Essential, 15/02/21. Chgs w/ 15/12/20
  • Opposition leader Albanese (ALP): Approve: 40% (-2), Disapprove: 33%. Essential, 15/02/21. Chgs w/ 15/12/20
• The next election is not due to be held until September 2022 at the latest, but the polls should provide Morrison's centre-right Liberal/National gov't with some optimism. The Liberal/National Party (LNP) has led in all primary vote polls for all of 2021 and most of 2020, with the gov'ts response to the COVID-19 pandemic seen as effective and successful.
• The Australian electoral system may cause some concern for Morrison and his team, though. The ALP and LNP are much closer in the 'two-party preferred vote' (2PP) selection - essentially where voters rank their second choice should no candidate win a majority in their constituency - with the ALP frequently coming in first in these polls. Should be noted, though, that in the 2019 election the ALP frequently led the 2PP polls, only for the Liberals to retain a majority. At present the most likely outcome remains a fourth consecutive term for Morrison's LNP.