Is all the talk of budget benevolence already boosted Scott Morrison’s standing? Today’s Essential Poll provides some support for the suggestion, with an improvement in his approval ratings of four per cent and a drop in disapproval of five.

This, you’ll note, has been driven by a significant improvement in his standing among women, suggesting the media storms from earlier this year have done little lasting damage.

Morrison has also gained ground marginally in the preferred prime minister stakes — where, you’ll also see, women back him over Anthony Albanese 47 to 22 per cent.

The budget leaks we have so far suggest that the Prime Minister and Josh Frydenberg are ticking voters boxers (note how climate hysteria fades in the face of a genuine crisis).

The advice is still the same. Never consider one poll in isolation. But what we’ve got here is a starting point based on budget eve, a starting point that shows a lift in Scott Morrison’s standing since the height of the sex and gender fury and that what we know of the budget in the hours before it will get handed down is in line with community priorities.

It’s no surprise then that The Australian today is giving further credence to the SpecOz’s report from last week of an election this year.