Australian news and politics recap March 14: Anthony Albanese announces $750m metals manufacturers fund boost
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Key Events
Albanese ‘benefited’ from Cyclone Alfred response
The polling coincided with Tropical Cyclone Alfred bearing down on the east coast, leading the prime minister to delay calling the federal election because of the extreme weather.
YouGov’s director of public data Paul Smith said the government’s response to the natural disaster had seen support for the prime minister rise.
“It’s fair to say the prime minister undoubtedly benefited by being seen to act decisively to support the response to Tropical Cyclone Alfred,” he said.
“In the same period as the poll, Peter Dutton was heavily criticised for going to a fundraiser, rather than be in his own electorate.”
The opposition leader had drawn criticism for attending a fundraising event at the Sydney home of billionaire Justin Hemmes as the cyclone was nearing his home city of Brisbane.
Albo and Dutton tied on voter satisfaction
The Prime Minister’s handling of Tropical Cyclone Alfred has seen him draw level with Peter Dutton for voter satisfaction for the first time in a year.
The latest YouGov polling, provided to AAP, showed Labor consolidating its lead over the opposition, ahead 51 to 49 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.
The polling revealed voter satisfaction with Anthony Albanese has increased, rising from minus 12 in February to minus six.
The opposition leader’s standing among the electorate has slipped, falling back from minus two at the end of February to minus six in the latest poll.
It’s the first time since March 2024 the two party leaders had the same satisfaction levels among voters.
