Budget Approval Hits Five-Year Low
- The fifth federal budget delivered by Treasurer Jim Chalmers has received the lowest voter approval rating in five years, according to recent polling data.
- Data from the Resolve Political Monitor, which has tracked voter perceptions of the budget since May 2021, indicates that the economic statement handed down on May 12, 2026,...
- Only 24 per cent of people polled following the budget agreed with the proposition that the policies announced this year would be “good” or “very good” for them...
The fifth federal budget delivered by Treasurer Jim Chalmers has received the lowest voter approval rating in five years, according to recent polling data.
Data from the Resolve Political Monitor, which has tracked voter perceptions of the budget since May 2021, indicates that the economic statement handed down on May 12, 2026, is the worst-received in the period since tracking began.
Only 24 per cent of people polled following the budget agreed with the proposition that the policies announced this year would be “good” or “very good” for them and their household.
The negative reception of the budget coincides with a shift in political support across the Australian landscape. Roy Morgan Research reports that support for both the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and the Liberal-National (L-NP) Coalition has declined following the federal budget.
Conversely, the same data shows an increase in support for One Nation.
Analysis of polling graphs suggests a “preference cascade”, with News.com.au noting that the rise of One Nation echoes the collapse seen during the Voice referendum.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers addressed the political climate and his standing in the polls during a midday news bulletin on May 18, 2026, where he reacted to Newspoll rankings.