Scott Morrison’s character is in question after a fresh poll suggested voters find the Prime Minister less believable than they did before his ‘miracle’ 2019 election win.
According to Ogilvy PR’s Believability Index, which surveyed 1000 voters, Mr Morrison’s believability rating dropped two points to 41.
Meanwhile, Labor leader Anthony Albanese’s believability rating has risen to 48, two points higher than three years ago.
More than one in three voters said Mr Morrison was out of touch and he lacked authenticity, commitment, integrity and purpose.
The poll also suggests Mr Morrison was less popular with regional voters and women.
But it’s not all smooth sailing for the Labor leader as 54 per cent of respondents said they knew little about him and he has name recognition issues with younger Australians.
Another 15 per cent conceded they had never heard of him.
Cost of living remains front of mind of voters ahead of the election, followed by housing affordability and the economy.
The poll’s release followed a brutal exchange between the Prime Minister and angry locals in a Newcastle pub on Wednesday evening – including one who called him the “worst PM ever”.
The most recent Newspoll indicated the government’s cost-of-living budget failed to produce the bounce of support the Coalition had hoped for on the eve of the election.
Among state premiers, the West Australian Premier Mark McGowan was crowned the most believable (48) with Victoria’s Daniel Andrews and Queensland’s Annastacia Palaszczuk just a point behind.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet was the least believable of the four premiers included in the survey, but stxjmtzywill ahead of his federal counterpart at 44.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg (44), Greens Leader Adam Bandt (47) and former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian (47) also outscored the Prime Minister.
Despite a major fall, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern remained the most believable leader internationally (66) followed by US President Joe Biden (46).
