Guardian Essential poll: Albanese approval rating dips in sign of gruelling political year ahead

The National party confirmed late last year it would oppose the voice to parliament, effectively ending the prospect of bipartisanship. Dutton also has to manage hardline opponents inside the Liberal party room. The Liberal leader has spent the summer demanding more detail about the reform as a prelude to the referendum campaign later in 2023.

Albanese is seeking to have Australians vote first on the principle of enshrining a voice, with the precise design to follow, ultimately determined by the parliament. But the prime minister said on Monday that more detail would be released by the referendum working group, which is due to meet again on 2 February.

A growing number of respondents also believe life has improved for Indigenous Australians over the past 10 years. Last January, 36% of respondents thought things were better for First Nations peoples than they were a decade ago, and now 43% of the sample agrees with that proposition.

Last January, 20% of respondents were positive about that idea, and that has climbed now to 26%. But voters remain divided about the best approach. A third of the sample supports keeping Australia Day and adding another holiday to recognise Indigenous Australians, and the same percentage would not support a separate day to recognise the original inhabitants of the continent.

With an election looming in New South Wales, Guardian Essential respondents resident in the state were also asked their view of the performance of the premier and the opposition leader.