The latest Newspoll conducted for News Corp’s The Australian has revealed that voters perceive Prime Minister Scott Morrison to be far more experienced than Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese but less trustworthy.
The periodical poll, which reveals what Australian voters think about their leaders and who they would vote for if an election were held that day, found that the current ruling Liberal-National coalition would lose with a 5.63 percent swing towards Labor.
The poll also focussed on the character traits of the leading candidates for the top job, which favoured the opposition in almost every factor.
However, he also scored higher in arrogance with 60 percent to 38 percent for Albanese.
Where voters scored Morrison lower than Albanese was in perception on understanding the major issues, trailing the opposition 53 percent to 58 percent.
Voters also thought Morrison was less likable than Albanese, with 44 percent to 51 percent.
This is the second time the prime minister scored lower than the opposition leader on this trait since the previous Newspoll in November 2021. In both the August 2020 and April 2021 polls, Morrison scored higher on this trait.
Voter ranked Morrison lower than Albanese in a perception that he cared less for people, with 48 percent to 57 percent. This is also the second time the prime minister has scored lower on this trait since the previous November 2021 poll.
Prior to that, Morrison outpaced Albanese 63 percent to 59 percent in April 2021 and 68 percent to 60 percent in August 2020.
Voters also think the prime minister has less of a vision for Australia than the opposition leader with 53 percent to 55 percent. This is a factor on which Morrison has generally outdone Albanese in previous polls.
On this trait, Morrison beat Albanese 57 percent t0 53 percent in November 2021, 70 percent to 54 percent in April 2021, 72 percent to 52 percent in August 2020, and 60 percent to 54 percent in December 2019.
There is also a perception amongst voters that Morrison is less in touch with voters, with 37 percent to Albanese’s 51 percent; and that he is less trustworthy, with 40 percent t0 Albanese’s 44 percent.
The poll also found that if an election were held today the current governing Liberal-National Party would lose with a 6.53 percent swing towards Labor.
However, Newspoll noted that swing percentage was based on a two party preferred basis and represented changes in seats for the Coalition and Labor only, not the minor parties.
