Unpopular leaders punished at the polls in 2022 election

Former prime minister Scott Morrison. Photo: Tracey Nearmy/ANU Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce were the most unpopular leaders of any party since 1987, new analysis of the 2022 federal election from The Australian National University (ANU) shows. The findings come from the joint ANUpoll/Comparative Study of Electoral Systems survey of more than 3,500 voters, which examined Australians' political attitudes before and after the 21 May vote. Study co-author Professor Ian McAllister said the findings show leaders were more important than in previous elections. "Our findings show both Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce were very unpopular, and both were especially not popular with their own voters," Professor McAllister said. "We also found Labor leader and new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was moderately popular across the electorate." According to the findings, Scott Morrison suffered a major decline in popularity between 2019 and 2022, making him the most unpopular Liberal Party leader since 1987 - with a rating of 3.6 out of 10. Barnaby Joyce was the most unpopular Nationals leader since 1987, with a rating of 3 out of 10.