Support for Aussie govt rises following landmark COVID-19 budget

CANBERRA - Popular support for the Australian government has risen following the COVID-19 response budget, a poll has revealed.

The latest Newspoll, which was published on Sunday night, revealed that the governing coalition leads the opposition Labor Party 52-48 on a two-party preferred basis compared to 51-49 in mid-September.

The poll of more than 1,500 voters was conducted after the government handed down the federal budget for financial year 2020/21.

It found that it was one of the best-received budgets in the last decade despite record debt and deficit projections.

More than 90 percent of coalition voters and 79 percent of Labor voters were supportive of the decision to fast-track personal income tax cuts for low and middle income earners.

Almost 50 percent said it would provide the stimulus needed to reboot the economy in the wake of the pandemic compared to 20 percent who said it would hurt the economy.

"The Morrison government sees the government itself as a catalyst for the economic recovery, not the solution," Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) television on Sunday.

"The solution lies around every kitchen table in every Australian household."

"The solution lies in every factory floor, in every farm, in every shopfront. They are the people who have to take the decisions to employ more people."

Amid criticism from Labor that women were "left behind" by the budget, Newspoll found that it was received more favorably by men than by women who were less likely to agree that they would be better off.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison's high approval rating remained unchanged at 65 percent, marking the longest period of sustained popularity for a prime minister since 2008.

However, Morrison fell two points as preferred prime minister to 57 percent compared to 28 percent for Labor leader Anthony Albanese.