Hockey's approval creeps higher

Joe Hockey's approval rating with voters has crept higher since budget day, but most of them still disapprove of his work as treasurer.

The weekly Essential Research online survey found 34 per cent of 1025 respondents approved of the job Mr Hockey is doing - up from 27 per cent in March - while 44 per cent disapprove, down from 51 per cent previously.

However, the survey still puts Mr Hockey ahead of shadow treasurer Chris Bowen as more trusted to run the economy - 29 per cent against 23 per cent - although almost half didn't know.