Newspoll: Dominic Perrottet not done as Liberals gain ground in NSW election

The NSW government has cut Labor’s lead by half in the polls as the state election nears, with Dominic Perrottet extending his lead as preferred premier.

The NSW government has cut Labor’s lead by half in the polls as the state election nears, with Dominic Perrottet navigating internal party issues to broaden his lead as preferred premier over Labor’s Chris Minns.

In an exclusive Newspoll conducted for The Australian, popular support for Labor has dropped by four points since September to 36 per cent – trailing the ­Coalition whose primary vote has gone up two points to 37 per cent.

Dominic Perrottet remains NSW’s preferred Premier with voters, according to the latest Newspoll. Picture: NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

If the trend continues statewide at the March 25 election, a two-party-preferred 52-48 lead for Labor would see them take four seats – East Hills, Upper Hunter, Penrith and Goulburn – well below the nine seats needed to claim a majority.

According to The Australian, the result would leave Labor with 42 seats and the Coalition on 41, with the government losing Willoughby to independent Larissa Penn.

NSW Labor Leader Chris Minns. Picture: NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

It comes as Mr Perrottet has increased his lead as preferred premier over Mr Minns to 10 points, with 43 per cent of voters supporting the Liberal leader while backing for Mr Minns has dropped two points to 33 per cent.

The rise in support for Mr Perrottet as preferred premier went along with his net satisfaction rating rising three points since September to plus 9 per cent, with 50 per cent of those surveyed saying they were satisfied while 41 per cent were dissatisfied.

Mr Minn’s net satisfaction rating has dropped from plus 15 per cent in September to 8 per cent in the latest Newspoll, propelled mainly by a six-point lift in dissatisfaction rating.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Opposition Leader Chris Minns in Sydney over the weekend. Picture: AAP

Despite Labor’s drop in popular support, the Newspoll result showed that 48 per cent of were ready for a party change, while 36 per cent said the government should be re-elected.

It comes as PM Anthony Albanese deals with a cost-of-living crisis, and calls to give greater detail about the voice to parliament.

Popular support for the Greens remained at 12 per cent, the same as it was with September’s Newspoll and well above the party’s primary vote of 9.6 per cent at the 2019 election.

The combined vote of other independent and minor parties had gone up from 13 per cent to 15 per cent since last year, but was slightly down since the last election.

– with The Australian