Support for The Lodge as Prime Minister's home following Scott Morrison Father's Day trip backlash

Results from a survey of 1000 people, conducted by The Australia Institute think tank last week, show 44 per cent agreed and 45 per cent disagreed with Prime Minister Scott Morrison's travel exemption allowing him to travel between Sydney and Canberra.

Three in four Australians surveyed believed the Prime Minister should live in The Lodge, where prime ministers have traditionally settled upon taking office.

The polling follows backlash to Mr Morrison's Father's Day weekend visit to Sydney, where he lives at Kirribilli House. The Prime Minister again stayed in Sydney, his home city, last weekend.

Australia Institute executive director Ben Oquist said the community was split on the Prime Minister's travel.

"We actually need to cut politicians a bit more slack, they need to be able to move around the country to do their jobs," Mr Oquist said.

"The Prime Minister's job is to run the country, so with the necessary health precautions, he should be able to travel."

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However there was a clear community desire for Mr Morrison to live in The Lodge, Mr Oquist said.

"It is high time for the official residence in Canberra to become the full-time home for all prime ministers again," he said.

"Canberra is the heart and home of our democracy for a reason, and the Prime Minister should treat it as such.

"It seems obvious that the leader of Australia should lead from Australia's capital, where the public service, the Parliament and the bulk of expertise are all located at the Prime Minister's service."

Mr Morrison made Kirribilli House his primary home, for family reasons, when taking office in 2018. John Howard also based himself primarily in Kirribilli House when he was prime minister.

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