Treasurer Josh Frydenberg emerges as preferred Liberal Leader ahead of Scott Morrison & Peter Dutton
Now 38.5% of Australians prefer Treasurer Josh Frydenberg to lead the L-NP Government, clearly ahead of current Prime Minister Scott Morrison (31%) and Defence Minister Peter Dutton (12.5%) while 2% named someone else and 16% had no preference.
Importantly for Prime Minister Morrison, he is still preferred by L-NP supporters: Morrison (40%) cf. Frydenberg (32.5%), according to a special Roy Morgan SMS Poll of 1,080 Australian electors conducted yesterday and Monday, February 14-15, 2022.
An analysis by gender shows Frydenberg leads Morrison amongst men by 3% points (Frydenberg: 36% cf. Morrison: 33.5%), and by 12% points amongst women (Frydenberg 41% cf. Morrison 29%).
An analysis by age shows Frydenberg with the advantage amongst younger age groups while Morrison leads only amongst those aged 65+ years old:
- 18-34 year olds: Frydenberg 46.5% cf. Morrison 22%;
- 35-49 year olds: Frydenberg 36.5% cf. Morrison 30%;
- 50-64 year olds: Frydenberg 37% cf. Morrison 29.5%;
- 65+ year olds: Morrison 46% cf. Frydenberg 33%.
On a State-by-State basis Frydenberg leads in five States, NSW, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania while Morrison leads only in Queensland.
- NSW: Frydenberg 38% cf. Morrison 35.5%;
- Victoria: Frydenberg 43.5% cf. Morrison 26%;
- Queensland: Morrison 37.5% cf. Frydenberg 32%;
- WA: Frydenberg 38.5% cf. Morrison 25.5%;
- SA: Frydenberg 37% cf. Morrison 30.5%;
- Tasmania: Frydenberg 43.5% cf. Morrison 33%.
A look at who supporters of different parties prefer as Leader shows Prime Minister Morrison retains the support of L-NP voters while Frydenberg is preferred by ALP supporters, Greens supporters and supporters of Independents/Others.
- L-NP supporters: Morrison 47% cf. Frydenberg 38.5%;
- ALP supporters: Frydenberg 50% cf. Morrison 34%;
- Greens supporters: Frydenberg 65% cf. Morrison 27.5%;
- Independents/ Others supporters: Frydenberg 38.5% cf. Morrison 33.5%.
Electors were then asked: “And what would you say your biggest concerns are about Scott Morrison?”
There were several key themes that emerged including Morrison’s poor leadership including lack of empathy, compassion or honesty, his religiosity – including using his religion in a fake way, no real commitment to addressing climate change and global warming and his poor attitude and understanding and handling of women’s issues.
More details on these key themes are available to subscribers.
Michele Levine, CEO Roy Morgan, says:
This special telephone Roy Morgan SMS Poll was conducted on February 14-15, 2022, with an Australia-wide cross section of 1,080 electors.
Preferred Coalition Leader (Scott Morrison vs. Peter Dutton vs. Josh Frydenberg)
Electors were asked: “If you were a Liberal or National Party voter and helping to choose the Coalition Leader for the next Federal Election, who would you prefer: Scott Morrison, Peter Dutton or Josh Frydenberg?
Analysis by Federal Voting intention
Feb 14-15, 2022 |
L-NP | ALP | Greens | Ind/ Other# |
Can’t say# | |
% | % | % | % | % | % | |
Frydenberg | 38.5 | 32.5 | 40.5 | 51 | 31 | 53.5 |
Morrison | 31 | 40 | 27.5 | 21.5 | 27 | 24 |
Dutton | 12.5 | 12.5 | 13 | 6 | 22 | 13 |
Someone else | 2 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
None/ Can’t say | 16 | 12.5 | 17.5 | 18.5 | 19 | 8.5 |
TOTAL | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
Analysis by Gender & Age
Gender | Age | ||||||
Feb 14-15, 2022 |
Men | Women | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | |
% | % | % | % | % | % | % | |
Frydenberg | 38.5 | 36 | 41 | 46.5 | 36.5 | 37 | 33 |
Morrison | 31 | 33.5 | 29 | 22 | 30 | 29.5 | 46 |
Dutton | 12.5 | 16.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 15.5 | 14 | 12 |
Someone else | 2 | 1.5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1.5 | 1 |
None/ Can’t say | 16 | 12.5 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 8 |
TOTAL | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
Analysis by Gender & Age
Region | State | ||||||||
Feb 14-15, 2022 |
Capital Cities |
Country Areas | NSW | VIC | QLD | WA | SA | TAS# | |
% | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | |
Frydenberg | 38.5 | 41 | 35 | 38 | 43.5 | 32 | 38.5 | 37 | 43.5 |
Morrison | 31 | 31 | 31.5 | 35.5 | 26 | 37.5 | 25.5 | 30.5 | 33 |
Dutton | 12.5 | 11 | 15 | 12 | 14.5 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 15.5 |
Someone else | 2 | 1 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 2 | 1.5 | 1 | 0.5 | 2.5 |
None/ Can’t say | 16 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 26 | 21 | 5.5 |
TOTAL | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
#Sample sizes with fewer than 50 respondents should be treated with caution.
Preferred Coalition Leader (Scott Morrison vs. Peter Dutton vs. Josh Frydenberg)
Electors were asked: “If you were a Liberal or National Party voter and helping to choose the Coalition Leader for the next Federal Election, who would you prefer: Scott Morrison, Peter Dutton or Josh Frydenberg?
Analysis by Federal Voting intention (Someone else and None/Can’t say removed)
Feb 14-15, 2022 |
L-NP | ALP | Greens | Ind/ Other# |
Can’t say# | |
% | % | % | % | % | % | |
Frydenberg | 47 | 38.5 | 50 | 65 | 38.5 | 59 |
Morrison | 38 | 47 | 34 | 27.5 | 33.5 | 26.5 |
Dutton | 15 | 14.5 | 16 | 7.5 | 28 | 14.5 |
TOTAL | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
Analysis by Gender & Age (Someone else and None/Can’t say removed)
Gender | Age | ||||||
Feb 14-15, 2022 |
Men | Women | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | |
% | % | % | % | % | % | % | |
Frydenberg | 47 | 42 | 52 | 59.5 | 44.5 | 46 | 36.5 |
Morrison | 38 | 39 | 37 | 28.5 | 37 | 36.5 | 50.5 |
Dutton | 15 | 19 | 11 | 12 | 18.5 | 17.5 | 13 |
TOTAL | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
Analysis by State & Region (Someone else and None/Can’t say removed)
Region | State | ||||||||
Feb 14-15, 2022 |
Capital Cities |
Country Areas | NSW | VIC | QLD | WA | SA | TAS# | |
% | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | |
Frydenberg | 47 | 49 | 43 | 44.5 | 51.5 | 38.5 | 52.5 | 47 | 47.5 |
Morrison | 38 | 37.5 | 39 | 41 | 31.5 | 45 | 35.5 | 39 | 35.5 |
Dutton | 15 | 13.5 | 18 | 14.5 | 17 | 16.5 | 12 | 14 | 17 |
TOTAL | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
#Sample sizes with fewer than 50 respondents should be treated with caution.
For further information:
Contact | Office | Mobile |
Gary Morgan: | +61 3 9224 5213 | +61 411 129 094 |
Michele Levine: | +61 3 9224 5215 | +61 411 129 093 |
For comments or more information please contact:
Roy Morgan - Enquiries
Office: +61 (03) 9224 5309
askroymorgan@roymorgan.com
Margin of Error
The margin of error to be allowed for in any estimate depends mainly on the number of interviews on which it is based. Margin of error gives indications of the likely range within which estimates would be 95% likely to fall, expressed as the number of percentage points above or below the actual estimate. Allowance for design effects (such as stratification and weighting) should be made as appropriate.
Sample Size | Percentage Estimate |
40% – 60% | 25% or 75% | 10% or 90% | 5% or 95% | |
1,000 | ±3.0 | ±2.7 | ±1.9 | ±1.3 |
5,000 | ±1.4 | ±1.2 | ±0.8 | ±0.6 |
7,500 | ±1.1 | ±1.0 | ±0.7 | ±0.5 |
10,000 | ±1.0 | ±0.9 | ±0.6 | ±0.4 |
20,000 | ±0.7 | ±0.6 | ±0.4 | ±0.3 |
50,000 | ±0.4 | ±0.4 | ±0.3 | ±0.2 |