Government Confidence rises above 100 pre Federal Budget as more Australiansbelieve the country is going in the right direction than the wrong direction

Roy Morgan’s Government Confidence Rating increased by 11pts to 101.5 for thefortnight of March 16/17 & 23/24, 2019 compared to a month ago with 41.5% (up4.5%) of electors now saying Australia is now heading in the ‘right direction’and 40% (down 6.5%) saying Australia is heading in the ‘wrong direction’.

Government Confidence is now in positive territory for the first time sinceScott Morrison became Prime Minister in August 2018 as the Government preparesto deliver it’s pre-election Federal Budget next Tuesday.

Driving the increase over the past month are strong increases in GovernmentConfidence amongst a number of key demographics including L-NP supporters andsupporters of Independents/Others, electors in Country Areas, electors in theStates of Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania, electors agedbetween 50-64 years old and electors of both genders.

Government Confidence jumps for L-NP supporters and supporters ofIndependent/Others

Government Confidence has jumped for L-NP supporters over the past monthincreasing by a significant 16.5pts to 126.5 with more than half of L-NPsupporters 54.5% (up 6.5%) now saying Australia is heading in the ‘rightdirection’ and only 28% (down 10%) now saying Australia is heading in the‘wrong direction’.

ALP supporters are also more confident about the country than a month ago witha Government Confidence of 98, up 4pts on late February. Now 40% (up 1.5%) ofALP supporters say Australia is heading in the ‘right direction’ while 42%(down 2.5%) say Australia is heading in the ‘wrong direction’.

Supporters of the Greens have also seen an increase in Government Confidencefrom a month ago although the rating remains well into negative territory fortheir supporters at 83, an increase of 8pts on a month ago. Now 30% (up 2.5%)of Greens supporters say Australia is heading in the ‘right direction’ and 47%(down 5.5%) say Australia is heading in the ‘wrong direction’.

Although this group still has a largely negative view of Government Confidencethere has been a significant jump over the past month up by 13.5pts to 66.5.Now 24.5% (up 5%) of supporters of Independents/Others (such as One Nation,Katter Party, Centre Alliance, United Australia Party and others) sayAustralia is heading in the ‘right direction’ while 58% (down 8.5%) sayAustralia is heading in the ‘wrong direction’.

Government Confidence up strongly in regional Australia and also up in metroareas

Australians in Country Areas are feeling more confident about the direction ofthe country than a month ago although overall Government Confidence remainsnegative for Country folk at 92.5, up by 14.5pts on a month ago. Now 38% (up6.5%) of electors in Country Areas say Australia is going in the ‘rightdirection’ compared to 45.5% (down 8%) that say Australia is going in the‘wrong direction’.

Government Confidence has also increased for Australians in Capital Cities andis now in positive territory at 106, up by 7.5pts from a month ago. Now 43%(up 2.5%) of Australians in Capital Cities say Australia is heading in the‘right direction’ and 37% (down 5%) now say Australia is heading in the ‘wrongdirection’.

Government Confidence up strongly for both women and men

Government Confidence has increased strongly for both genders with Women’sGovernment Confidence up 10pts to 93.5 with 38% (up 5.5%) now saying Australiais heading in the ‘right direction’ and 44.5% (down 4.5%) now saying Australiais heading in the ‘wrong direction’.

However, this is still well behind Government Confidence for men which is nowwell into positive territory at 109.5, up 11pts from a month ago. Now 45% (up3%) of men say Australia is heading in the ‘right direction’ and only 35.5%(down 8%) say Australia is heading in the ‘wrong direction’.

Government Confidence up for all age groups but up the most for 50-64 yearolds

Government Confidence increased for strongly for Australians aged 50-64 yearsold over the past month up by 18.5pts to 95.5. Now 41% (up 8%) of 50-64 yearolds say Australia is heading in the ‘right direction’ and 45.5% (down 10.5%)say Australia is heading in the ‘wrong direction’.

However, despite the big increase for 50-64 year olds, Government Confidenceremains highest for younger Australians and highest of all for 18-34 year oldsat 110.5, up by 3.5pts from a month ago. Now 45% (up 3%) of 18-34 year oldssay Australia is heading in the ‘right direction’ and 34.5% (down 0.5%) sayAustralia is heading in the ‘wrong direction’.

Australians aged 35-49 years old are close behind their younger counterpartsand now have a positive Government Confidence of 106, up by 8.5pts from amonth ago. Now 42% (up 2%) of Australians aged 35-49 years old say Australiais heading in the ‘right direction’ and 36% (down 6.5%) say Australia isheading in the ‘wrong direction’.

Older Australians aged 65+ years old are also more positive than a month agoand their Government Confidence is up 7.5pts to 92. Now 37% (up 2.5%) ofAustralians aged 65+ years old say Australia is heading in the ‘rightdirection’ and 45% (down 5%) say Australia is heading in the ‘wrongdirection’.

Michele Levine, CEO, Roy Morgan says, the increase in Government Confidenceover the past month is a good sign for the Morrison Government as it preparesto deliver a Federal Budget on Tuesday designed to bolster its chances of re-election:

“Roy Morgan Government Confidence has increased into positive territory overthe past month, up by 11pts to 101.5 for the last two weekends of March 16/17& 23/24, 2019. This is the first time the leading indicator has been above theneutral level of 100 since Scott Morrison became Prime Minister in late August2018.

“The increases were broad based with strong increases for L-NP supporters up16.5pts to 126.5, supporters of Independents/Others up 13.5pts to a still low66.5, for Australians in Country Areas an increase of 14.5pts to 92.5 and forAustralians aged 50-64 years old an increase of 18.5pts to 95.5.

“There were strong increases in Government Confidence for both genders withwomen’s Government Confidence increasing 10pts to 93.5 and men’s GovernmentConfidence up 11pts to 109.5.

“Analysing the geographic spread of the increase revealed the strongestincreases were in Queensland, up 21pts to 102, in Victoria in which GovernmentConfidence increased 12pts to 103 and Tasmania in which Government Confidenceincreased 28.5pts to 101.

“There was little change in New South Wales although this poll was takenduring the last week of the New South Wales Election campaign with significantuncertainty about who would form the State Government following the election.

“The increasing Government Confidence on the eve of a Federal Budget expectedto deliver a surplus for the first time in over a decade may reflectanticipation of several stimulatory measures expected in the Budget.Stimulatory measures are likely to include taxation reform including incometax cuts and increased spending on infrastructure and essential services suchas health and education.

“As we noted a month ago it is vital for Government Confidence to be moving inthe right direction and above the neutral level if the Morrison Government isto have any chance of re-election. The final Morgan Poll prior to the 2016Federal Election showed Government Confidence at just above neutral at 102pts.At that election the Turnbull Government lost 14 seats to win with a majorityof only 1 seat.”

Electors were asked: “Generally speaking, do you feel that things in Australiaare heading in the right direction or would you say things are seriouslyheading in the wrong direction?”

Finding No. 7931 – This Roy Morgan Poll on Roy Morgan Government Confidencewas conducted via face-to-face interviewing during the month of March. RoyMorgan interviewed 1,549 Australian electors aged 18+ on the weekends of March16/17 & 23/24, 2019.

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