Anthony Albanese’s personal approval rating has spiked off the back of his election win, as an overwhelming majority of Australians call on Labor to rapidly initiate health, housing and energy reform.
More than 40% of voters say Labor’s large parliamentary majority should encourage Albanese to set out an even more ambitious schedule of reform, according to the latest GuardianEssential poll. The prime minister’s popularity has risen to its highest level for a year, the poll showed.
With Labor’s tally of seats rising on Monday to 93 out of the 150-seat parliament, and Albanese unveiling his new ministry list, voters have urged the government to move quickly on key promises.
The Essential poll found 75% of Australians wanted the government to move faster on improving health services; another 70% wanted faster moves on building more homes, while 51% wanted quicker reforms on regulating tech and 49% on developing renewables and making childcare cheaper.
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The poll of 1,137 people conducted after the 3 May election found cost of living was still the main issue worrying Australians, with 47% of voters calling it the number one issue the government must deal with. Affordable housing was the most important issue for 14% of people, with Medicare at 8%.
Despite Labor’s huge majority in the lower house, and the party needing only the support of the Greens to pass legislation in the upper house, 58% of respondents said Albanese should stick to the policies he took to the election; but 42% said Labor should be more ambitious.
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In his first press conference after the election, Albanese said hisgovernment had already been “ambitious”, but cautioned “we’re not getting carried away, we’ve been an orderly government”.
The prime minister’s approval ratings have surged since the last Essential poll in late April.
His personal approval rating stands at 50%, with 39% disapproving, producing a net approval rating of +11. The last poll had him at 44% approval and 47% disapproval, for a -3 rating.
Despite Albanese’s own popularity increase and Labor’s thumping majority, Australians who think the country is on the wrong track still outnumber those who think it is on the right one: only 37% backed the direction of the country (an increase from 31% in late April) compared with 42% saying it was on the wrong track (down from 52%), with 21% undecided.
Following the election, 87% of people said cost of living was one of the top three issues influencing their vote: next was health on 58%, and energy, nuclear and renewables at 48%.
Many voters did not have a clear preference for the Liberal leadership ballot, to be decided on Tuesday.
Asked who they thought would be the best Liberal leader, 16% said Sussan Ley, 12% Angus Taylor, 7% Dan Tehan and 20% wanted someone else, while 45% were unsure.