Malcolm Turnbull’s approval enters negative territory, still trusted over Bill Shorten

MALCOLM Turnbull’s approval rating as Prime Minister has fallen into negative territory for the first time since he deposed Tony Abbott.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday, March 16, 2016. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING

MALCOLM Turnbull’s approval rating as prime minister has fallen into negative territory for the first time but voters still expect him to win this year’s election, the latest Newspoll shows.

The poll, taken exclusively for The Australian, show many voters still rank Mr Turnbull overwhelmingly as the best leader to manage the economy and deliver tax reform.

Losing popularity ... Malcolm Turnbull’s approval ­rating as PM has ­fallen into negative territory for the first time since rolling Tony Abbott. Picture: AAP

#NEWSPOLL @australian Turnbull's performance: satisfied​ ​39 (-5), dissatisfied ​44​ (​​+3​) #auspol https://t.co/3V3H12KlmN

— The Australian (@australian) March 20, 2016

It also shows the Coalition has nudged ahead in two-party-preferred terms to lead Labor by 51 per cent to 49 per cent.

The past two Newspolls had the parties deadlocked at 50-50.

The latest poll shows 55 per cent of voters think the Coalition will win the election while only 25 per cent believe Labor can do so.

Still a winner ... Voters still overwhelmingly considerMalcolm Turnbull better than Bill Shorten to manage the economy Picture: Kym Smith

Looks like the honeymoon is over for Turnbull. Now he’s just Malcolm in the middle of a horribly divided partyroom.#Newspoll

— Mari R (@randlight) March 20, 2016

The poll of 2049 voters shows satisfaction with Mr Turnbull’s performance has fallen to 39 per cent, well down on the 60 per cent rating he got in mid-November.

Dissatisfaction with Mr Turnbull has risen three points to 44 per cent, leaving his net satisfaction rating at minus five points.

Negative territory ... voter satisfaction with Mr Turnbull’s performance as PM has fallen to 39 per cent. Picture: AAP

Newspoll shows he is considered best to manage the economy by 54 per cent of voters compared with 20 per cent who favour Bill Shorten, while 45 per cent say the Prime Minister is the more capable of handling tax reform compared with 25 per cent who say it is the Labor leader.

But Mr Turnbull remains by far the preferred prime minister, on 52 per cent, compared with 21 per cent for Labor’s Bill Shorten whose net satisfaction rating is up one point to minus 24 points.

The Coalitions primary vote was unchanged for the third consecutive Newspoll, at 43 per cent while Labor eased back one point to 34 per cent and the Greens stayed on 12 per cent.

Low blow ... Opposition Leader Bill Shorten isn’t polling as our preferred PM. Picture: Kym Smith

Favourite ... Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull remains the preferred PM. Picture: AAP

TURNBULL FACES TIGHT TIMETABLE FOR VOTE

For all the talk of a double dissolution election, a number of issues still need to fall into place for it to happen on July 2.

Mr Turnbull would have to call the election on May 11, the day after the budget is due.

He also wants legislation for the reintroduction of the Australian Building and Construction Commission to be the main double dissolution election trigger as it would likely fail to pass the Senate for a second time.

But Labor senator Sam Dastyari for one does not see how it would be possible to accommodate these two issues given the Senate is not due back until May 10.

However, he confirmed on Sunday that Labor would not stand in the way of the budget’s money bills which would need to pass to keep the business of government working because a July 2 election would eat into the next financial year.

Originally published as Malcolm Turnbull’s approval enters negative territory, still trusted over Bill Shorten