Australian prime minister sees record support in coronavirus crisis
Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison has recorded the highest approval rating for a conservative leader in more than a decade, largely due to his handling of the novel coronavirus outbreak, according to a new poll.
According to a Newspoll survey conducted by the conservative newspaper, The Australian, Morrison has the highest approval rating since Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at the height of the financial crisis in 2009.
It showed Morrison’s JobKeeper programme, which will see companies getting 1,500 dollars (992 US dollars) a fortnight in wage subsidies per employee to keep their workers paid during the coronavirus pandemic, enjoyed broad support.
Ninety per cent of Coalition voters, next to 88 per cent of Greens and 84 per cent of Labor voters were in favour of the wage subsidy program, the poll showed.
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Morrison leads opposition Labor leader Anthony Albanese by 53 to 29 per cent, according to the poll.
People also backed the government’s economic response to the crisis, with satisfaction rising from 33 per cent to 47 per cent.
Morrison faced a lot of criticism in the past, particularly for his handling of the recent bush fire crisis. (dpa)
