Minns’ popularity soars after Bondi terror attack response

NSW Premier Chris Minns’ popularity has soared after the government’s response to the Bondi terror attacks, with his likeability reaching levels not seen since his post-election honeymoon.

Polling undertaken by Resolve Political Monitor on behalf of the Herald found the major parties’ primary vote remained largely unchanged, although the vote for “other” – a category encompassing One Nation – has shot up four percentage points to 15 per cent.

The poll comes after a turbulent two months in NSW. Father-and-son gunmen killed 15 people and injured scores more during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach on December 14. In response, the premier recalled parliament during the week of Christmas.

As he pushed through a bill tightening gun laws and banning the public display of symbols associated with prohibited terrorist organisations such as Islamic State, Minns announced a state-based royal commission would examine the worst terror attack in the nation’s history.

Since the last poll in November, Minns’ net likeability has risen to plus 25, an increase of 11. Similarly, the Kogarah MP holds a commanding lead as preferred premier, with 40 per cent of the 1145 respondents polled indicating their support.

Minns’ nine percentage point increase as preferred premier came almost entirely from undecided voters.

It is his highest net likeability score since May 2023, and his best preferred premier rating since April last year. Minns has only ever held a higher rating once, in the honeymoon period after the last election.

The result is a considerable reversal since November, when Minns recorded his lowest preferred premier rating since taking office in March 2023.

Resolve’s polling reflected strong support for the premier’s response to the Bondi terror attack, particularly restricting gun ownership and a temporary ban on protests.

Nearly half of respondents said they believed the NSW government’s response had been strong, whereas only 19 per cent found it weak. Conversely, 46 per cent of respondents considered the federal government’s response was weak, with less than one-third saying it was strong.

Resolve director Jim Reed said: “In contrast to the prime minister, voters clearly value the quick and unequivocal response from Chris Minns, and support almost everything he has done.”

Despite the boost for the premier, Labor’s primary vote remained on 37 per cent, while the Coalition edged down one percentage point to 27 per cent. The total vote for Greens, independents and “Other” climbed to 36 per cent.

In her first poll since becoming opposition leader, Kellie Sloane scored 18 per cent as preferred premier, a slight decline on her predecessor Mark Speakman’s final poll. Sloane, the member for Vaucluse, had a likeability of plus 10.

“Kellie Sloane has fairly decent numbers for a new opposition leader, but events have overtaken her so that she doesn’t make impact here,” Reed said.

After months of speculation, Sloane took charge during what was supposed to be Macquarie Street’s final sitting week. Speakman, who insisted he was the right person to lead the party, finally relented to pressure and resigned on November 20.

With 14 months until the next NSW election, Sloane faces a considerable task regaining government. The vote share for the category including One Nation has almost doubled in the past year.

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