PM backs budget despite lukewarm polling response

Labor's third budget has failed to impress voters despite a $300 energy bill rebate. (Jane Dempster/AAP PHOTOS)

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended cost-of-living relief measures despite the federal budget failing to spark a major boost in the polls.

The $300 rebate for household energy bills proved popular, with 72 per cent of people supporting the measure, according to a Resolve poll conducted for Nine newspapers.

There was a similar level of support for a $1 billion package to extend and expand domestic violence programs, while revamped tax cuts received 68 per cent support.

Overall on the budget, 40 per cent believed it was good for them or their household, while 21 per cent thought it was bad.

There were similar figures for people who thought it was good or bad for the country and for the economy. 

But more people thought it was bad for inflation, with support dropping to 34 per cent and disapproval up to 27 per cent.

However, the prime minister said the budget measures would not cause a rise in inflation.

The 2024-25 budget.
Taking the budget as a whole, 40 per cent thought it good for them and 21 per cent thought it bad.

"One of the things that we were determined to do was provide cost-of-living relief without putting pressure on inflation," he told ABC Radio on Monday.

He said the government determined that every single person was worthy of the energy rebates and it was more efficient to do it across the board.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said he was unfazed by the polling numbers on the budget.

"The way that we are managing the budget and the economy responsibly, combined with the way that we've designed our cost-of-living help, will be part of the solution to our inflation challenge, not part of the problem," he told reporters in Gladstone.

"I'll leave it to others to pour over the opinion polls, I've been focused on a whole different set of numbers."

Despite the budget polling, Mr Albanese also led as preferred PM in the latest Newspoll conducted for The Australian 52 to 33 per cent over Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, with 15 per cent uncommitted. 

Labor leads the coalition 52-48 on the two-party preferred vote in Newspoll as well, a change from last month's 51-49.

Newspoll put Labor's primary vote at 34 per cent compared to the coalition's 37.

Those who thought the budget was good and bad sat at 27 per cent a piece, while almost half of Australians remained uncommitted.

Almost 40 per cent thought it would be bad for inflation, compared to 34 per cent who thought it would make no difference and 15 per cent who thought it would make it better.

Opposition finance spokeswoman Jane Hume said the Reserve Bank was unlikely to change its forecasts for inflation purely based on the budget figures.

Tuesday's budget had predicted inflation would return to the target band of between two and three per cent, a year before the Reserve Bank had foreshadowed.

"The Reserve Bank board aren't stupid, they know that an artificial, small reduction in headline inflation isn't enough to help sway their decision to lower interest rates sooner," she said.

"Australians are paying a price for that."

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store