Victoria Labor’s performance rating has fallen to a record low despite Ben Carroll replacing Jacinta Allan as premier, with new polling showing three in five voters believe the state government is doing a poor or very poor job.
Only 19 per cent of Victorians rated the government’s performance as good, very good or excellent, compared with 48 per cent before the 2022 state election. The poll comes as Labor prepares for a state election in November.
The latest Mood of the Nation report, produced by public affairs and strategic communications consultancy SEC Newgate, found that 75 per cent of voters believed Victoria had lost its direction and was heading on the wrong track.
Just 26 per cent said the state was moving in the right direction, down from 51 per cent in November 2022.
Crime becomes top concern for Victorian voters
Crime has overtaken healthcare and the cost of living as the issue of greatest concern, with one in three Victorians identifying it as a top priority — a higher proportion than in any other state.
SEC Newgate partner Nick Maher said the Liberals held a clear lead over Labor on tackling crime, with 27 per cent of voters backing the opposition compared with 16 per cent for Labor. One Nation was on 19 per cent.
Voters also placed greater importance on basic service delivery and essential public services than on major new policy initiatives. Repairing roads and potholes more quickly was considered a high priority by 65 per cent of respondents, rising to 81 per cent in regional Victoria.
Mr Carroll has sought to establish his authority ahead of the election, including by calling a royal commission into Victoria’s scandal-plagued construction sector. However, the polling indicates the leadership change has not restored confidence in Labor’s performance.
“There’s been a collapse of confidence in the direction Victoria is heading since the last state election,” Mr Maher said.
“Our research shows how far behind Ben Carroll is coming into this campaign, but he has a slight lead over the Liberals when it comes to addressing cost of living and improving healthcare services.”
Mr Maher said public confidence in the former Andrews government had stood at 52 per cent four years ago, but had since fallen to 19 per cent — the lowest level recorded in SEC Newgate’s research.
