Australian PM's popularity slumps amid Covid lockdowns

Canberra

AUSTRALIANS' approval of Prime Minister Scott Morrison has fallen to the lowest level since the pandemic began, with voters wearying of virus-induced lockdowns amid his government's tardy vaccine rollout.

Support for his handling of the crisis has fallen from 85 per cent in April last year - when his conservative government imposed strict border controls that helped keep virus fatalities to less than 1,000 - to 48 per cent, showed a Newspoll survey published on Monday.

On the question of who would make the better prime minister, which traditionally favours incumbents, Mr Morrison's lead over the opposition's Anthony Albanese also slid to the lowest level since the pandemic began.

Government lawmakers may be getting jittery about the key measure of voters' party preference: Labor maintains a six-point lead over the ruling coalition, 53 per cent to 47 per cent, ahead of an election due by May.

Mr Albanese has attacked Mr Morrison's handling of the pandemic, blaming the government for failing to adjust the hotel-quarantine system for returning residents, which has seen at least 20 leaks of coronavirus into local communities this year. He also criticised Mr Morrison for not signing sufficient contracts for vaccines with a wide enough range of suppliers.

The government says its vaccine rollout is ramping up and all adults will be offered a jab this year. Yet in the meantime, Australians remain vulnerable to snap lockdowns, with the nation's two largest cities currently under stay-at-home orders.

While countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom have largely opened up with more than half their populations fully vaccinated, just 17 per cent of Australians have received two jabs, among the lowest levels in the developed world.

Sydney is currently in its seventh week of lockdown, with the race to increase vaccinations now key to prospects for an easing of restrictions.

The delta variant of coronavirus is placing increased pressure on Australia's so-called "Covid-zero" strategy, which has relied on closed international borders and rigorous testing to eliminate community transmission of the virus.

New South Wales state recorded 283 new cases on Monday, the vast bulk in Sydney, after posting a record 319 infections on Saturday. Meanwhile, Melbourne recorded 11 new cases on Monday, with regional Victoria state to exit its lockdown from midnight.

The creeping spread of the variant into regional New South Wales was highlighted by authorities announcing that Tamworth - an inland city of about 60,000 people that is 250 miles north of Sydney - will be placed into a seven-day lockdown. BLOOMBERG