YouGov’s latest public data poll, conducted pre the federal budget, has found that Australians think “Housing Affordability” is the top issue the Federal Government should focus on.
Housing Affordability was nominated by 36% of Australians. Living Standards was 34%, while Health Quality and Affordability was backed by 29%.
Other issues included Growing the Economy (16%), Growing Income and Wages (15%) and Climate Change (13%).
YouGov’s Director of Polling, Amir Daftari said, “Going into the next federal election, housing affordability has become the country's number one issue. This is a change driven by one in two younger Australians, aged 18-34. In analysis, this age group is the emerging majority who will decide the next federal election, and likely other elections to come.”
With this in perspective, 61% of Australians have indicated that they generally think that Australia is heading in the wrong direction.
Party vote divides perception of right direction wrong direction, Coalition voters are more negative (71% wrong direction versus 29% right direction), whereas only 42% of Labor voters are negative (versus 58% right direction).
This poll also measured voter intention.
This YouGov poll found that the two-party preferred voting intention is 50% Labor – 50% Coalition, the lowest YouGov polling 2PP result for Labor since the 2022 Federal election. This result is down 2% from our last poll which was 52%-48% to Labor.
Labor’s primary vote has dropped 3% to 30%, while the Greens once again remain unchanged at 13%.
The Coalition’s primary vote has risen by 2% to 38%, and Pauline Hansen’s One Nation Party remains steady at 8%.
YouGov’s Director of Polling, Amir Daftari said “Our poll has the Federal Labor in its weakest electoral position this term, going into the budget. With only 50% of the two-party preferred vote, and 61% of voters who think the country is going in the wrong direction, Labor would most likely lose its parliamentary majority in an election held now.”
The satisfaction rating for both party leaders remains negative. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has received a score of -12 (41% satisfied, 53% dissatisfied).
Comparatively, Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton’s score has come in less negatively at -6 (42% satisfied, 48% dissatisfied).
Anthony Albanese remains as the preferred Prime Minister, however this margin has been reducing and is now at 7pp, with 44% in favour, and 37% preferred Peter Dutton.
19% of Australians don’t prefer either party leader as Prime Minister.
Methodology: This survey was conducted between 10 and 14 May with a sample of 1506. Results are weighted to be representative of the population by age, gender, education, AEC region, household income, weighting by past vote (Federal vote and Voice referendum), with an effective margin of error of 3.4%. See Australian Polling Council methodology statement for full weightings.
YouGov correctly predicted the result of the recent referendum at 40% Yes, 60% No, and is a founding member of the Australian Polling Council, as well as a global leader in polling research. We are the only polling company to have polled our entire panel of survey participants to ensure our polls are representative of how Australians vote in the Voice referendum.
For further information or comment contact Paul Smith, Director of Government paul.smith@yougov.com or Amir Daftari, Director of Polling amir.daftari@yougov.com.
