Coalition scores 50th consecutive Newspoll loss with worst result for the year

Nationals leader Michael McCormack has taken an extraordinary personal swipe at Barnaby Joyce as talk of a leadership spill heats up.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has hit back at Barnaby Joyce with a brutal swipe about what it takes to have a “successful marriage” amid growing speculation about a Nationals leadership spill.

It comes after Mr Joyce this morning said he wouldn’t have “any guilt” about taking the Nationals leadership back from Mr McCormack.

Mr Joyce also claimed he was “the elected Deputy Prime Minister of Australia”.

But it was his comment that the Nationals weren’t “married” to the Liberals this morning that prompted Mr McCormack’s response today that he understood “what it takes to have a successful marriage”, which appeared to reference Mr Joyce’s marriage breakdown and relationship with ex-staffer Vikki Campion.

Vikki Campion and Barnaby Joyce during their first interview since the birth of their baby on Channel Seven’s Sunday Night program. Credit: Channel 7

Mr Joyce had made the remark as he rejected concerns that his push for a new coal-fired power station would affect the Liberals’ vote in the southern states.

“When you have a marriage it is a two-way relationship,” Mr McCormack said when asked about the comment at a press conference.

“You don’t always get what you want but you have to work together to build better outcomes for the family,” he said.

“I understand that and what it takes to have a successful marriage and make sure we work together to build a better Australia.”

Michael McCormack checks his watch in the House of Representatives in Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: Gary Ramage

Asked about Mr Joyce’s comment that he was the “elected Deputy Prime Minister”, Mr McCormack said: “He was the elected deputy Prime Minister and he resigned last February.”

“I am now the deputy Prime Minister and working hard with my colleagues to make sure you build a better rural and regional Australia and I will continue to do that.”

Earlier, Prime Minister Scott Morrison dismissed talk a leadership spill was looming for the National Party as “nonsense” as he vowed not to be distracted by the Coalition’s 50th consecutive Newspoll loss today.

The Prime Minister brushed off the latest Newspoll results, published in The Australian today, which showed the Coalition has lost popular support for the first time this year and suffered a hit in the two-party-preferred measure to trail Labor 46-54 per cent.

It’s the Coalition’s worst opinion poll position for 2019 and comes just two months before Australians head to the polls.

Scott Morrison has dismissed speculation Barnaby Joyce could be reinstalled as the Nationals leader in a looming leadership spill. Picture: Kym Smith

Mr Morrison acknowledged there had been “plenty of distractions” in recent weeks but said he would “just always remain focused on the job”.

“I never get distracted by the things at the fringes or the noise,” he told reporters in Sydney.

He also firmly dismissed growing speculation the National Party could dump its current leader before or shortly after the May election to reinstall Mr Joyce.

“We have a fantastic leader of the National Party in Michael McCormack and there will be no change to that,” Mr Morrison said.

“I think it’s all nonsense.”

He said Mr McCormack and the government would continue to focus on the drought and rebuilding the livestock industry in North Queensland after devastating floods earlier this year.

Mr Morrison also all but ruled out underwriting a new coal-fired power station, which Mr Joyce has been pushing for amid speculation a spill could be imminent.

“For such a project to proceed, it would require the approval of a Queensland State Government,” he said, adding that the Palaszczuk government had “no intention” of approving a new power station.

“I tend to work in the area of the practical, the things that actually can happen,” Mr Morrison said.

It comes after Mr Joyce this morning said he wouldn’t have any “guilt” about ousting Mr McCormack.

“I was elected by the Australian people at the last election as the Deputy Prime Minister so I’m not going to have any guilt about going back,” he told Channel Seven’s Sunrise program.

Mr Joyce reiterated that he wasn’t checking numbers and wouldn’t cause a spill but added: “If a spill is called, of course I will stand because the position is then vacant.”

He also clashed with Pauline Hanson during their joint breakfast television appearance, where the One Nation leader predicted the Coalition would be “annihilated” on election night.

Senator Hanson said the latest Newspoll had been “devastating” for the government.

“There are so many things that are affecting this country that the Coalition, they’ve been in government for five and a half years and they never did anything about it,” she said.

“That’s why they’re losing. They’re going to be annihilated.”

Asked why he hadn’t acted sooner to push for coal-fired power stations, Mr Joyce hit back: “Oh, what’d you do Pauline?”.

He dismissed her criticisms as “ridiculous”.

And frustrated by Senator Hanson’s interjections, Mr Joyce also threatened to end the interview unless Senator Hanson “shuts up”.

“I can’t hear you until Pauline is quiet. I’m going to have to give up unless she shuts up,” he told host Samantha Armytage.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is still preferred prime minister according to the latest Newspoll, but Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is closing the gap. Picture: AAP /Mick Tsikas

COALITION LOSES GROUND

The Liberal-Nationals primary vote dropped to 36 per cent in the Newspoll, as the Coalition lost ground to One Nation, which leapt two points to seven per cent.

The Greens remained steady at 9 per cent.

Despite the government’s renewed attack on Bill Shorten’s proposals for taxes and border protection, Labor held its ground with a primary vote of 39 per cent

This is the 50th consecutive Newspoll in which the Coalition trailed Labor. Under Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership, the party notched up 39 losses.

However, Mr Morrison recorded a four point improvement in his net approval ratings despite criticism over a speech he made on International Women’s Day in which he said that men should not have to make way for women’s empowerment.

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Disapproval with Mr Morrison’s performance has fallen from 48 per cent to 45 per cent and there has been a slight increase in overall satisfaction — a one point to 43 per cent.

The Labor leader recorded a similar shift with a rise of one point in approval to 36 per cent and a fall of two points in disapproval to 51 per cent.

Labor leader Bill Shorten has received a rise in approval in the latest Newspoll as Labor holds its ground with a primary vote of 39 per cent. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

When it comes to who is the preferred prime minister, Mr Morrison leads, however the gap between him and the Labor leader is closing, standing now at just seven points with Mr Shorten rising to 36 per cent.

The Newspoll indicated there has been a 4.4 per cent swing in the two-party-preferred split from the last election result. If mapped across all electorates the swing would potentially yield a loss of 18 seats for the Coalition.