Opinion: Malcolm Turnbull and Coalition can beat Labor after Newspoll boost

WITH Bill Shorten’s integrity under a cloud, Malcolm Turnbull has won a practical and psychological boost in his bid repel enemies inside and outside his own party, writes Des Houghton.

Malcolm Turnbull has vowed to lead the Coalition to the next election. Picture: Sky News.

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LABOR’S media cheer squad will be a little upset today.

Malcolm Turnbull has won a practical and psychological boost in his bid repel enemies inside and outside his own party.

The latest Newspoll shows the Coalition gaining ground on Labor.

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Barnaby Joyce and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull finally have some reasons to celebrate. Picture: AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy

Turnbull also increased his lead over Bill Shorten as preferred PM.

Barnaby Joyce’s thumping win in the New England by-election is another confidence boost.

Joyce had so far picked up 64.6 per cent of the vote, with his closest rival Labor’s David Ewings managing only 11.3 per cent.

Turnbull is now ahead of Mr Shorten by 39 per cent to 33 as preferred prime minister.

Another positive for Turnbull this week is likely to come with fresh national account figures pointing to healthy economic growth of more than three per cent.

Shorten’s integrity remains under a cloud on two fronts.

Like slippery Sam Dastyari, the Labor leader visited Huang Xiangmo at his Sydney mansion begging donations even though Labor officials were warned by ASIO about the business figure because of his links to the Chinese government.

Shorten has some explaining to do.

The result in the New England by-election and the Sam Dastyari scandal has Bill Shorten looking over his shoulder. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

So Turnbull’s leadership appears safe — for now. A loss by John Alexander in the Bennelong by-election may change all that.

Meanwhile, the marriage reform debate is back in federal Parliament and I’ll be interested to see if new laws provide for adequate religious freedom for people of faith.

In Queensland, the Labor Party is close to securing a majority in Parliament meaning the socialist union collection that runs this state can continue its business as normal.

Originally published as Opinion: Malcolm Turnbull and Coalition can beat Labor after Newspoll boost