Coalition numbers dip in latest Newspoll as Julie Bishop’s Twitter likes disaster results

Tony Abbott claims the government is in “better shape” than it was despite the latest Newspoll showing the Coalition faces an election wipe-out, potentially losing up to 25 seats.

Tony Abbott has boldly claimed the government is doing better now than it was in January despite the latest Newspoll showing the Coalition faces a wipe-out at the next election, potentially losing up to 25 seats.

The former prime minister acknowledged “the polls aren’t great” today as the latest Newspoll showed the Coalition ended the year in a slump with voters, trailing Labor on a two-party preferred vote of 45-55 for the third consecutive poll.

But Mr Abbott urged voters to ignore the polls and look at the “objective reality” as he backed Mr Morrison’s leadership following a tumultuous fortnight which saw Victorian Liberal MP Julia Banks quit the government and move to the crossbench.

“I think we’re ending the year in much better shape than we started the year as a party and as a government,” Mr Abbott told Sydney radio 2GB today.

His claim is not backed up by Newspoll data which shows the Coalition started the year much closer to Labor, trailing by just 48-52 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.

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PM Scott Morrison shaking hands with Tony Abbott after he made a Statement on Remote Indigenous Education at Parliament House last Thursday. Picture Kym Smith

“I know the polls aren’t great but if you look at the objective reality, the objective reality is we’ve got very strong border protection, we’ve got very strong national security, we’ve had record job creation,” Mr Abbott told 2GB host Ray Hadley.

“Under this government the carbon tax has gone, we are within sight of a surplus and the biggest infrastructure program in Australia’s history is under way largely thanks to this government because it has spent a lot itself and incentivised the states to spend their own money on infrastructure.

“The reality is this has been a good government, even if the politics hasn’t always been great.”

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton also talked up the government’s election chances this morning, saying: “I’ve seen John Howard in a much worse position than what we are at the moment and he came back.”

Mr Dutton added that Mr Morrison would campaign better than Malcolm Turnbull had in 2016 and that voters had “a real hesitation about Bill Shorten”.

“They think there’s something dodgy in his background,” Mr Dutton told Sky News.

Meanwhile, Julie Bishop raised eyebrows today after her Twitter account “liked” a post about the latest Newspoll, which shows Labor would win the next federal election in a landslide victory, while the Coalition would face a wipe-out loss of 25 seats.

The poll, taken exclusively for The Australian, is the 46th consecutive Newspoll loss for the Coalition and the seventh for Prime Minister Morrison.

Julie Bishop's twitter page 'likes' the latest Newspoll results. Source: Twitter

The Coalition’s primary vote moved up a point to 35 per cent in the latest poll but is still more than seven points down on the 2016 election result.

Labor leader Bill Shorten has closed the gap on Mr Morrison, jumping two points to 36 per cent as preferred prime minister while the PM dropped two points to 44 per cent.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has gained a point but still trails Bill Shorten. Picture: AAP

With an election just six months away, Labor’s primary vote has gone up a point to 41 per cent, marginally below that registered in the 2007 election that resulted in Labor’s massive win under Kevin Rudd.

It’s the third consecutive poll where Labor has taken a commanding lead over the Coalition, registering 55 to 45 on a two-party preferred basis.

A turbulent final week in parliament saw approval ratings for both leaders drop with Mr Morrison’s satisfaction rating dipping a point to 42 per while those unhappy with his performance went up three points to 45 per cent.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is gaining ground on Scott Morrison. Picture Kym Smith

Mr Shorten also dropped a point with an approval rating of 36 per cent and one point rise in those dissatisfied with his performance as leader.

Mr Shorten however managed to close the gap on Mr Morrison’s lead as preferred prime minister gaining two points to 36 per cent while the Liberal leader dropped two points to 44 per cent.

Parliament returns in February, with the budget set for April 2 and an election mooted for mid-May.

One Nation ended the year with a primary vote of seven per cent — one point down on the last Newspoll.

The Greens remained the same on nine per cent.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has got some headaches. Picture: AAP

— with The Australian