Voters feel everything is getting worse except China relationship

Other than that, people are down on the government.

Two-thirds, or 67 per cent, believe household finances are worsening, up from 56 per cent a year ago. Despite the government making wages growth a central plank of its efforts, public opinion has worsened from minus 6 per cent to minus 18 per cent.

The government also joined forces with the states in the May budget to provide discounts for power bills. The poll found 70 per cent felt affordability was worsening, which is on par with the 69 per cent a year ago.

The biggest shift was a net 25 point increase in those who felt the behaviour of politicians had worsened, jumping from minus 14 per cent a year ago to minus 39 per cent now.

There was also a large net 20 per cent jump in the number of voters who felt the transparency of political decisions had worsened.

Mr Albanese came to office vowing to restore standards of behaviour and discourse.

Climate change optimism has also dipped sharply with views on Australia reaching net-zero emissions in 2050 dropping from a net 20 per cent last year to 5 per cent now.

The online poll of 1109 voters was taken from Friday to Sunday and has a margin of error of 3 per cent.

It showed Labor had lost its lead and was now level with the Coalition on a two-party preferred basis at 50 per cent apiece. If an election were held today, the government would most likely be pushed into minority.

PM rating plummets

Mr Albanese’s personal ratings had also plummeted over the past 12 months.

Asked on Monday “how will you regain your mojo”, Mr Albanese did not dispute the premise of the question. He all but confirmed there would be more cost-of-living relief next year, similar to or the same as the power bill discounts which Treasury said helped lower inflation.

“We’ll continue to examine ways of taking the pressure off Australians whilst not also adding to inflation,” he said.

He attributed the decline in his personal ratings to the ravages of inflation. “During an inflation issue that has affected the entire globe, there was obviously going to be pressure on the economy,” he said.

“But what we’ve done is to create 700,000 new jobs since we came to office, we’ve continued to prioritise providing that support, $23 billion in cost-of-living support, while we found $50 billion in savings, turning around a $78 billion deficit into a $22 billion surplus.

“It is getting the big calls right that matter for this country and that is what we are doing.”