Political junkies hanging out for a Newspoll yesterday or today have been disappointed, but won’t need to go completely cold turkey with the fortnightly Essential Report out this morning.

Indeed, it contains some fascinating figures on Anthony Albanese’s performance. At a time when all eyes have been on the PM, it’s fallen through the floor.

Essential Research

Albo’s approval rating has decreased to 34%, down from 41% last month — way outside any margin of error.

The proportion of people disapproving of Albanese has also increased since last month, now at 38% (from 35%). Twenty-eight per cent of people now say they are unsure of his performance.

During the parliamentary recess, Albo has been skirting lockdown bans in his home state of New South Wales by travelling through regions free of coronavirus restrictions. His spin doctors have boasted he’s been taking his policy pitch directly to the people.

They may need a new approach

Essential indicates the folks on the ground haven’t been much impressed — while everyone else is wonder where the alternative prime minister is at such a time of turmoil.

PS: Preferred prime minister is a completely pointless metric for predicting election outcomes but here it is — with Essential’s comments — just for the record.

Essential Research