Newspoll: Labor, Greens go backwards as Coalition hits three-year primary vote high

Support for the Coalition is at its highest point in almost three years, as Peter Dutton closes in on ­Anthony Albanese as preferred prime minister.

Primary support for the Coalition is at its highest point in almost three years, as Peter Dutton closes in on ­Labor leader Anthony Albanese as the preferred prime minister.

With less than a year to go before the next election, the ­Coalition’s primary vote has lifted two points to 39 per cent, according to an exclusive Newspoll conducted by The Australian.

The poll also shows the two major parties are now level, and there is a backlash against the Greens after it was accused by both leaders of stoking anti-Semitic protests over the Gaza war.

Conducted between June 3 and June 7, the poll shows the strongest primary vote for the Coalition since August 2021, while Labor’s primary vote fell to 33 per cent, erasing post-budget gains.
The two-party preferred vote has narrowed four points with the major parties now tied at 50-50.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Members of the Palestine Action Group gather ahead of a rally in Sydney. The Greens have been accused of stoking anti-Semitism. Picture: NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

The last time the two-party-preferred contest was this close was last November, following the failure of the voice referendum in October.

Voters’ approval ratings for Mr Albanese fell into negative territory in the wake of a rough two weeks for Labor in which the government was forced to back down over its failed criminal deportation policy.

Mr Albanese’s lead as preferred prime minister has narrowed to its closest margin since the last election, dropping from 19 points three weeks ago to eight in this poll.

Approval of Mr Albanese’s performance fell four points to 43 per cent while his dissatisfaction level rose three to 50 per cent, returning the Prime Minister to net negative approval of minus seven.

Mr Dutton’s performance lifted one point to 39 per cent approval while disapproval fell a point to 49 per cent.

The biggest shift was a six-point fall to 46 per cent in those who believed Mr Albanese would make the better prime minster over Mr Dutton, who rose five points to 38 per cent.

This is the closest the two have come since the election and the highest rating for Mr Dutton since he became Liberal leader.

The latest Newspoll suggests increased odds of a hung parliament at the next election, with Labor facing the prospect of being forced into minority government in coalition with the Greens or independents.

The Greens vote fell two points to 11 per cent, its lowest since September 2022, and more than a point down on its election result of 12.2 per cent.

Originally published as Newspoll: Labor, Greens go backwards as Coalition hits three-year primary vote high