Coalition takes lead over Labor for first time since Albanese won 2022 election, Newpoll shows

The Coalition now leads Labor for the first time since the 2022 election in a boost for Peter Dutton, as Anthony ­Albanese’s approval ratings hit a new low.

The latest exclusive Newspoll conducted for The Australian shows the Coalition has taken a slight on Labor by two points (51-49), just eight months ahead of the next election.

This is the first time the ­Coalition has pulled ahead of Labor since the 2022 election, the result of a slight shift in ­preference flows from minor parties.

The primary vote support for both the Coalition and Labor remains unchanged from the previous poll.

Labor’s primary vote stays at 31 per cent, which is below the 32.6 per cent of the last election and the equal lowest result for the party in this term in office.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: NewsWire/Tamati Smith.

The Coalition’s primary vote remains at 38 per cent, several points below what it would need to win the election.

The two-point shift in the two-party-preferred vote comes after a one-point fall in the primary vote for the Greens (12 per cent), and a one-point gain for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation (7 per cent). Support for other minor parties and independents, including the teal independents remains at 12 per cent.

The latest Newspoll indicates the continuing likelihood of a hung parliament at the next election.

The Coalition’s slight lead is not significant enough to win it the required seats to form a minority Coalition government, with a minority Labor government still more likely.

Pro-Palestine supporters gather during a protest at Hyde Park on October 06, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. Picture: Roni Bintang/Getty Images

The Newspoll’s results reflect a turbulent week dominated by the one-year anniversary of the October 7 anniversary of the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel.

The Albanese government has been accused of abandoning Israel, sparking a week of parliamentary debate over foreign policy, which has overshadowed the cost of living and the economy.

The ­Reserve Banks warned that there would be no immediate relief from high interest rates.

In terms of performance, Mr Albanese’s approval ratings fell to the lowest level since becoming Prime Minister: a three-point fall in his satisfaction ratings to 40 per cent and a three-point rise in dissatisfaction to 54 per cent.

His net negative approval ratings sank to minus 14, which is the lowest score for Mr Albanese.

The Prime Minister’s overall approval ratings are now equal to those of Mr Dutton.

Mr Albanese’s disapproval rating, however, is higher than that of Mr Dutton at 54 per cent compared to 52 per cent.

Mr Dutton’s approval rating lifted one point to 38 per cent.

The contest over who would make the better prime minister also narrowed, with Mr Albanese losing a point to 45 per cent with Mr Dutton staying on 37 per cent.

This eight-point margin is the best result for Mr Dutton since the election.