Newspoll: Coalition support plunges to record low in wake of Morrison controversy

Anthony Albanese has extended his lead over Peter Dutton, as support for the Opposition slumped to its lowest level on record.

Support for the Coalition has dropped to its lowest level on record following the Morrison ministry controversy, as Anthony Albanese extends his lead over Peter Dutton as preferred prime minister.

An exclusive Newspoll conducted for The Australian shows the Liberal and Nationals primary vote falling for a second time since the election, slumping another two points to land at a historic low of 31 per cent.

The drop of almost five points since the May election result places the Coalition at its equal lowest level of support since 2008.

Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese pictured speaking at a press conference with Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Underlying support for Labor remains unchanged at 37 per cent but it has widened its two party preferred lead by two points to 57/43.

This represents an almost 10-point gain for Labor since the election. Labor won the election with a primary vote of 32.6 per cent but a two-party preferred split of 52.1/47.9 per cent.

The last time the Coalition primary vote was this low, Labor held a 63/37 per cent two-party preferred lead.

Australia's former prime minister Scott Morrison was accused by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of secretly seizing control of five ministerial posts, labelling it a "trashing of our democracy". Picture: AFP

The fall in support for the Coalition and the relative low primary vote for Labor indicates erosion in electoral approval across the two major parties has not changed since the election, with a third of voters still claiming to support minor parties or independents.

Pauline Hanson’s One Nation rose a point for the second poll in a row, reaching a three-year high of seven per cent.

The Greens also lifted a point to 13 per cent, almost a point higher than its election result.

The Newspoll result comes as Mr Albanese claimed a successful jobs and skills summit which locked in an increase in migration to fill the skills gap and promised industrial relations reform.

Leader of the Federal Opposition and Member for Dickson, Peter Dutton in Lilydale. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

However, former prime-minister Scott Morrison’s secret ministry controversy, which dominated the political landscape during the period of the survey, has been reflected in the poll.

Mr Albanese increased his lead over Opposition Leader Peter Dutton as preferred prime minister adding two points to 61 per cent against a three point drop for Mr Dutton to 22 per cent.

While Mr Albanese maintained his high approval ratings of 61 per cent, his disapproval ratings increased three points to 29 per cent, leading to a drop in his net approval ratings to plus 32 per cent.

Mr Dutton’s overall approval ratings also fell four points to minus eight.

Originally published as Newspoll: Coalition support plunges to record low in wake of Morrison controversy