Essential poll: three-quarters of voters believe cost-of-living crisis will worsen but majority give Albanese thumbs up

Australians are bracing for increased consumer prices, expensive power bills and higher interest rates in the year ahead, but 40% of Guardian Essential poll respondents think 2023 will be better than 2022.

The nascent optimism as the summer break approaches comes ahead of a special sitting of federal parliament on Thursday to pass new legislation capping gas prices, which is the first tranche of an intervention to reduce power bills.

While the Coalition and Greens are telegraphing concerns, the Albanese government seems confident the initial gas price measure will pass.

The final Guardian Essential poll for the year shows Australians are in the grip of a cost-of-living crisis. Of 1,042 respondents, 81% think cost-of-living pressure will increase in 2023, and 79% think power prices will be higher. But more respondents (40%) believe 2023 will be better a year (24% say worse and 25% say no different).

With households and business struggling, the prime minister, premiers and chief ministers agreed last week to cap coal and gas prices, and provide additional rebates for Australians on low and middle incomes, as part of a $1.5bn intervention intended to shave hundreds of dollars off power bills.

The proposed price cap to be considered on Thursday has enraged the gas sector. The states will cap coal prices separately, and any cost sharing of the consumer rebates will be thrashed out between treasurers over the coming weeks.

While the energy intervention has generated noisy pushback, the poll suggests Anthony Albanese has political capital to draw on.

The federal National party confirmed last last month they will oppose the change. The Liberal party is still to settle its party room position on the pending referendum.

The Guardian Essential poll indicates Coalition voters are more likely to oppose the change (54%) than support it (46%). But it also suggests the Liberal party risks further alienating younger voters if it lines up with the National party opposing the voice.

Respondents were asked questions this week to assess their level of understanding about the proposal. Just over half the sample (52%) said they understood the voice was a representative advisory body (38% were unsure if this was right) and a similar percentage (56%) said it would be able to provide advice about any issues affecting Indigenous people (34% were unsure).

Half the sample were unsure about whether the voice could only be abolished by another referendum in the event Australians vote to change the constitution. Similarly, 50% were unsure about whether the voice could reject legislation passed by the parliament.

Supporters of the change said they supported the voice because it would unify the country (39%), it would help governments make better decisions about First Nations policy (37%) and reflected the desire of Indigenous Australians for co-design (23%).