PM Tony Abbott (44%) now leads Opposition Leader Bill Shorten (37%) as ‘Better PM’ but neither Leader has positive job approval

Despite neither Leader having positive job approval, Prime Minister Tony Abbott 44% (up 6% since June 4-6, 2014) now leads Opposition Leader Bill Shorten (37%, down 6%) as the ‘Better PM’ according to a special telephone Morgan Poll conducted over the last three nights September 30 – October 2, 2014.

Job Performance – Approve/Disapprove

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has improved his standing among electors with 44% (up 10%) approving of his handling of his job as Prime Minister although this is still behind the 47% (down 12%) who disapprove while 9% (up 2%) can’t say.

Australian electors have a similar view of Opposition Leader Bill Shorten’s handling of the job as Opposition Leader; 42% (down 3%) disapprove and 37% (up 2%) approve although a much higher 21% (up 1%) can’t say.

Analysis by Gender

Analysis by gender shows men clearly prefer Abbott (49%, up 9%) cf.  Shorten (34%, down 6%) as ‘Better PM’ while women are almost evenly divided with Shorten (41%, down 5%) slightly preferred to Abbott (40%, up 3%).

There is a clear gender split when judging Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s handling of the job as Prime Minister. More men (51%, up 15%) approve than disapprove 43% (down 14%). In complete contrast – more women disapprove (51%, down 11%) than approve (38%, up 5%) of Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s handling of the job as Prime Minister.

However amongst both men and women more disapprove than approve of Opposition Leader Bill Shorten’s handling of the job as Opposition Leader: Nearly half of male electors (45%, down 2%) disapprove of Opposition Leader Bill Shorten’s handling of the job while 40% (up 6%) approve. Among women: (39%, down 4%) disapprove cf. 34% (down 2%) approve.

Gary Morgan says:

“Today’s special telephone Morgan Poll shows Prime Minister Tony Abbott (44%, up 6% since June 2014) now leads Opposition Leader Bill Shorten (37%, down 6%) and is regarded as the ‘Better PM’ by Australian electors.

“However, both Leaders are rated poorly for their handling of their respective jobs. More Australian electors disapprove (47%) of Abbott’s handling of the job as Prime Minister than approve (44%) and the same applies for Shorten as Opposition Leader: Disapprove (42%) cf. approve (37%). There is strong disapproval of Abbott amongst younger Australians (under 35) – this reflects the problems younger Australians and their friends have in finding jobs (Roy Morgan September Unemployment estimate shows real Australian unemployment of 9.9%).

“Although both men and women have a very similar view of Bill Shorten as Opposition Leader, there is a clear gender split with regards to Prime Minister Tony Abbott. A majority of men approve (51%) of Abbott’s handling of the job compared to 43% that disapprove whereas a majority of women disapprove (51%) of Abbott’s handling of the job and only 38% approve.”

This special telephone Morgan Poll was conducted over the last three nights this week, September 30 and October 1-2, 2014, with an Australia-wide cross section of 503 electors.

Visit the Roy Morgan Online Store to browse our Voter Profiles by electorate, detailed Voting Intention Demographics Reports and Most important Political Issue Reports (all 150 electorates ranked by an issue).

Better Prime Minister: Abbott v Shorten

Electors were asked: “Thinking of Mr. Tony Abbott and Mr. Bill Shorten. In your opinion, who would make the better Prime Minister – Mr. Abbott or Mr. Shorten?”

Approval of Leaders – Tony Abbott v Bill Shorten

Prime Minister: Tony Abbott

Electors were asked: “Do you APPROVE or DISAPPROVE of the way Mr. Abbott is handling his job as Prime Minister?”